The espresso machine no longer heats up

Your espresso machine takes care of you every morning by supplying you with a good coffee to get the day off to a good start! But this time it isn't heating up? Despite its importance (vital for some), breakdowns can occasionally occur. As is often the case, a lack of maintenance can be the cause, but this is not the only possibility!

POTENTIAL CAUSES OF THIS FAULT:

• Scaling of the resistor

• The resistor has malfunctioned

• The temperature sensor is faulty

• The control thermostat

• The safety thermostat is activated (or the thermal fuse)

• The main circuit board (PCB) is faulty

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

Scaling of the resistor

A maintenance failure may be one of the causes of your appliance breakdown. In this case, the scaling of the heating element may prevent your machine from making a good, hot coffee. In fact, if it is scaled up, the heating time will be extended. You can descale the resistor of the espresso machine using a descaler designed especially for your appliance, or indeed using bicarbonate of soda or a citric acid-based solution.

Purchase descaler for my espresso machine

The resistor has malfunctioned

Your espresso machine needs hot water to work, otherwise you will be drinking your coffee cold!While some people like it cold, for others it's out of the question! If the machine doesn't heat up, it can't make coffee and will become blocked up. As a result, the water always stays cold. In this case it is without doubt the resistor that is responsible, as its role is to heat the water prior to distributing it. If this part is faulty, it can no longer supply hot water to your appliance and therefore it risks producing light-coloured cold coffee. In this case, the resistor will probably have to be replaced. Before considering replacement, test the part with a measuring device (multimeter).

Purchase a resistor for my espresso machine

The temperature sensor is faulty

Some coffee machines have a temperature sensor that functions with a circuit board. Because this sensor measures the temperature of the water, its malfunction may explain why the water is no longer heated. In this case you may have to arrange its replacement.

The control thermostat

Present on some coffee makers, this part may also be responsible for your hot water problem. In fact, this thermostat regulates the water temperature before sending it, under pressure, into the percolator. If it is faulty, the temperature will no longer be regulated and the water will be cold when it reaches your cup!

The safety thermostat is activated (or the thermal fuse)

The safety thermostat is used to cut off the power to the heating element of your espresso coffee maker in the event of overheating, which is usually due to scale clogging the heating tube of the resistor. You can check the level of scaling on the tubes connected to this component and perform a descale if necessary. If the thermostat is faulty or activated, the flowing water may produce light-coloured, cold coffee. Generally, modern machines will flash and stop working altogether if the thermostat is faulty. A faule code may also be displayed on some models.

Purchase a safety thermostat for my espresso maker

The main circuit board (PCB) is faulty

The circuit board allows you to manage all of the functions of your espresso machine (starter, pump, resistor...). If everything else detailed above has been checked and the water still isn't heating up, it may be that the circuit board requires replacement. You can either do this yourself or call upon the services of a manufacturer-approved engineer.