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If your espresso machine pump is not working, you want to fix it before reattempting to make your morning cup of coffee. You may be experiencing an issue with your best coffee maker due to an air pocket inside your pump and its tube, loose wires, or a clog in the steam wand.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
If you hear the pump turn on without water coming out of the group head, your problem is probably an air pocket or clog. If you have trouble with your percolator, check out our article on a coffee percolator not working.
The water pump remains crucial to the function of an espresso machine. The water that passes through the pump also passes through the coffee grounds at high pressure to extract your desired flavor. However, your machine’s pump may not work properly if there are loose wires, air pockets, or clogs. Unfortunately, you probably need to take the machine for repairs if the issue stems from loose cables inside the machine.
Insider Tip
Remove the water filter or water softener from the end of the tube before attempting this process.
You can probably fix the other two problems easily. However, if you recently acquired your expresso machine or recently emptied the water reservoir, you may have an air bubble in your pump, so read on to find out how to fix it. Otherwise, you may need to check out our article on unclogging and descaling your steam wand to remove leftover milk. You may also be interested in how big of an inverter do I need to run a coffee maker.
Warning
If you have loose wires, you may not be able to fix them on your own, but you can call a repair specialist.
F.A.Q.S
Why are there coffee grounds in my cup after brewing?
If you have a Keurig, this issue may be caused by a blockage from coffee grounds around the exit needle. You may also have trouble if your grinds are too thin and pass through the filter.
How do I adjust my machine’s steam boiler temperature?
Your espresso machine probably has a pressure meter, which can be changed by turning the center screw. However, do not adjust the temperature too much because espresso has specific temperatures necessary for brewing.
What is the correct boiler pressure for an espresso machine?
Most espresso machines operate under the idea that nine bars of pressure are ideal.
STAT: If your espresso machine is making a loud noise and water is not flowing to the water tank, this is usually caused by trapped air. (source)
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