All Categories
Troubleshooting
Why Is My Espresso Channeling?
Channeling is when water finds a shortcut through your coffee puck instead of flowing through it evenly. It's one of the most common causes of inconsistent espresso.
Read articleWhy Does My Espresso Machine Trip the Breaker?
A machine that trips your circuit breaker can be an electrical issue, a load issue, or in some cases a sign of internal failure. Here's how to tell them apart.
Read articleWhy Won't My Portafilter Lock In?
If your portafilter is locking past the 6 o'clock position or won't seat properly, the cause is almost always one specific thing and it's an easy fix.
Read articleWhy Is My Espresso Machine Leaking from the Group Head?
Water dripping or leaking from the group head during or after a shot is almost always one of three issues — and most are fixable at home.
Read articleWhy Is My Espresso Machine Not Heating Up?
If your espresso machine isn't reaching temperature or takes much longer than usual to heat up, there are a few common causes worth checking before calling for service.
Read articleWhy Is My Coffee Weak or Watery?
Weak or thin coffee is almost always an extraction or ratio problem — and both are easy to fix once you know what to look for.
Read articleWhy Is My Grinder Not Grinding or Feeding Coffee?
When your grinder stops producing coffee or slows dramatically, there are a handful of likely causes — most of which you can resolve yourself.
Read articleWhy Is My Espresso Machine Steaming Poorly?
Weak steam, sputtering, or watery milk texture usually points to one of a few fixable causes. Here's how to diagnose them.
Read articleWhy Is My Espresso Machine Pump Loud or Noisy?
A sudden change in pump sound — louder, higher-pitched, or rattling — usually means one of a few specific things, most of which are fixable at home.
Read articleWhy Is There No Water Flow from My Group Head?
When the pump runs but no water comes out of the group head, the cause is usually one of a small handful of issues you can check in order.
Read articleWhy Does My Espresso Taste Sour or Bitter?
Sour and bitter are the two most common espresso problems — and they're opposites. Each points to a different cause and a different fix.
Read article