Espresso machine repair: what to do when your machine can’t break through the pods

You’ve placed the Nespresso capsule in the machine correctly and lowered the lever of your coffee maker, but the machine doesn’t puncture the pod. It can’t make you a coffee ... Arg! If you’re in this situation, checking the following possible malfunctions will allow you to fix the issue.

THE CAUSES FOR THIS FAILURE:

• Unsuitable capsule

• Disarmed pump

• Faulty pump

• Piston of the clogged brewing unit

• Out-of-service brewing unit

WARNING
Before working on your appliance, be sure to disconnect it from the electrical power supply.
Risk of electric shock.

Unsuitable coffee capsule

If you use so-called “plastic compatible pods”, your device may not be able to puncture them. The plastic material of this type of plastic capsule may deform without being pierced. Try the machine with an aluminum capsule to see if that solves the problem. If this is the case, never buy that type of plastic lidded pod again! If the problem persists, proceed to the next step.

Deactivated Nespresso pump

The pump of your espresso machine is used to pressurize the water in order to project it after perforating the pod’s lid. The pump may become deactivated and no longer deliver the correct power to pierce the aluminum pod. This happens frequently if you demand a coffee when the water tank is empty. To reset the pump, start by adding water into the tank. Next, press the large cup button on your device. Lift the metal arm of the machine to the maximum and hold it open until the water drains into the brewing unit. Close the lever to check that the water is flowing through the coffee outlet.

Defective pump

If the previous attempt did not restart the pump, it is possible that it is full of limescale. Try descaling the machine and then test it again. If the coffee is still not flowing, that means that the pump is not working and it will be necessary to replace the faulty pump.

Buy descaler for my espresso maker

The piston of the brewing unit is clogged

Inspect the front of the plunger that is used to pierce the capsules using 3 needles/spikes that may be scaled, or clogged by a piece of aluminum torn from a pod. In this case, remove the debris and/or perform a complete descaling of your machine. If you notice a leak on the back of the pod during the preparation of the next coffee, this indicates that the plunger needs to be replaced.

The brewing unit is out of order

Due to a mechanical action, the brewing unit first punctures the capsule. At the same time, pressurized hot water mixes with the coffee grounds in the pod and this is how coffee flows into your cup. But, if this element is defective, the coffee will not come out. Producing hot water at best. In this instance, the spare part will need to be replaced.