Wega Espresso Machine Malfunction Diagnostics.

Traditional espresso machines are very robust, and often they require very little maintenance to keep them running smoothly, although we suggest that you have the group gaskets and diffusers changed once a year. Over time, small faults can develop, many of which can be solved easily with tools around your own premises.

Q. No boiler pressure, groups fail to dispense liquid.

A. Check pilot light (15 above) along with power switch (14). If switch (14) is at 0 then turn it to 2 and pilot light (15) should light up. Boiler pressure will be at norm. after 20 minutes. If switch (14) is at 2 and the pilot light does not light up still, then there is a problem with mains power into the machine. Check the on/off switch where the machine is wired into the mains system, and all fuses associated with this.

Q. Machine has been working OK, but unexpectedly has lost boiler pressure.

A. Check fuses on mains system and the machine has not be turned off (0 on switch 14). If these are OK then check the water pressure (see above). This should be at point (b) above between 0 and 8, if it is at point (a) 0 then no water is getting into the machine. If the machine has not been able to draw in water while being used, it will detect this fault and shut down automatically to protect the expensive boiler elements from being burnt out. On Wega models issued mid 1998 onwards, a red light will light up in this situation, on automatic models all the lights on the keypads will flash. To remedy this problem turn the water on either at the copper pipe/machine pipe joint or at the mains. Turn the machine off then on again and normal operation should resume.

Q. Water is present under the machine on the counter.

A. Most common problem is a clogged waste pipe, resulting in waste water backing up the pipe and leaking over the waste collection bowl. Lift the drip tray off the machine (that is the lower solid portion as well as the upper grills.You will see in the centre of the machine workings visible a black bowl with a grey ribbed pipe leading out of it. This is your waste pipe and collecting bowl, both of which can become clogged up with coffee grounds. Pour hot water and cleaner solution (ie Puly Caff from us, 900g for £7, email).In addition if the grey ribbed pipe from the machine to the drain point is kinked at all or has to go up and then down, air locks can occur in the pipe causing the water to back up and overflow from the waste collecting tub. Straighten waste pipe and ensure it goes down from the machine smoothly with no kinks upwards.

Q. Espresso Delivery too fast, Espresso lacks Crema.

A. Make sure you are using the shallow single shot filter pan with the single spout group handle. The deep straight sided double shot pans are designed to hold two shots of coffee, if you put the double shot pan in the single spout handle and dose one shot of coffee into it, then the extraction will be poor. Swap the deep double shot pan for the correct bevelled single pan in the single spout handle. Also, it is not possible to make one coffee using the double spout handles by putting one shot of coffee into the pan - the double pans are designed to take two shots (14g) of espresso ground coffee only. If you try using one with one shot (7g) it will cause a poor espresso extraction.

A. Adjust your coffee grinders setting to make the grind finer. (Ground coffee should be just slightly coarser then powder.)

Q. Espresso Delivery too slow.

A. Adjust your coffee grinders setting to make it coarser (but not too coarse!)

Q. Water dispensed from the group slowly.

A. Clogged diffuser/jet. Often due to lack of backflushing groups. Backflush your group with a teaspoon of puly caff espresso machine cleaning powder. Now backflush at least 6 times to clean solution out. If this does not help request for an engineer to change your diffusers.

Q. Steam power has dropped on one of the steam arms (generally the most commonly used one)

A. This fault is associated with a lack of purging the steam arm after foaming milk. When you turn the steam tap off after foaming milk, a small amount of milk is drawn back into the arm. Over time this can build up and clog up the arm and steam jets at the tip. To avoid this throughout the day, purge the steam arm by pointing the steam arm at the drip try and turning it on for 20 seconds. To remedy a lack of steam, take a pair of pliers or mole grips and grab the steam tip at the bottom of the arm, twist clockwise and it should unscrew - eventually seperating from the steam arm. Soak the steam tip overnight in Puly Caff solution, then use a paper clip to poke the steam holes clear before fitting the tip back on the arm. If this has not increased the steam considerably, take the tip off again, then make a Puly caff solution to quarter fill a steam jug, then immerse the steam arm in the solution, steam the solution until it boils, and then repeat a cycle of steaming on and off. Finally, steam cold water to clear the puly out. This should clean the interior of the arm.

Q. Sometimes the grinder does not seem to dose enough coffee into the handle.

A. Make sure you keep the dosing chamber half full of coffee, if you let it get too empty air pockets form in the sections that hold coffee that do not get filled when you later grind more coffee. If you think that you have got a short dose, open the dosing chamber lid and tip the coffee back in. Then re-dose with one full lever pull. If you feel that a dose is short of coffee, do not half pull the lever to get a bit more coffee - the next person will definately get a short dose next time! If the grinder does not always dose coffee when you pull the lever, or the handle dose not spring back, then you have a mechanism problem and will need to get the grinder looked at by an engineer.

Q. Water constantly runs or drips through the group head itself or into the drip tray from behind the stainless steel facia plate.

A. This fault is due to the three way electromagnetic valve having a blockage. The Solenoid valve opens to let the mains water through when you operate the group, and closes while releasing group pressure when you turn the group off again. Limescale or particulates can block the movement of the valve leaving it partly or fully open which allows the mains water to flow or drip through. A quick solve to this problem is to operate the group repeatedly, so the valve opens and closes. Continued operation will ultimatley clear the blockage and allow the valve to seal correctly. Be advised it might take a lot of turning the group on, leave for 20 seconds and turn off, before the blockage is clear. In extreme cases the Solenoid will need changing.

Q. The lower needle on the circular gauge does not move when I make coffee.

A. The round dual gauge on your espresso machine is called a dual manometer, normally the upper needle shows boiler pressure and normally should sit around 1 bar pressure. The lower needle shows mains water standing pressure when you are not making coffee, and a good average is 3 to 4 bar. When you brew coffee the pump will kick in boosting the lower needle to 9 bar - the correct pressure for espresso extraction. If the needle does not go upto nine bar when you brew coffee, the pump head is probably seized and unable to generate the pressure required. Generally the pump head will need replacing.