♥
- Fill the water tank up to the MAX line
- To eject any capsules, turn the machine on and pull the lever open.
- Once the machine is warm, press the button for an espresso or lungo. The pump will start making a noise.
- Take a look at the place where you would normally put a pod. If steam or water is visible, the problem has been solved. If you don’t see steam or water, it is possible to retry the process. This could take between 5-10 tries.
- After you have seen steam or water, turn off the lever and continue to make 5 more espressos or lungos without a pod.
Vertuo machines can’t run water-only cycles. They require that a pod with a barcode be inserted to allow for brewing. It is possible to cut off the foil, remove the coffee grounds and rinse the pod before placing it in the machine. To brew, fill the water tank up to the MAX line. Press the button. You may need to repeat this process 5-10 times before water begins to flow.
If your Nespresso machine stops working due to an air lock problem, there are some other options you can try:
Method 1 – Baster
- The water reservoir should be removed. Check the base of the tank for debris. Clean it up and try again.
- Fill the water tank. Place the tank over a sink, and then press the button at the base. If the water comes out, it is a good sign that there is nothing wrong with your tank. If water does not leak, you can clear any obstructions to the valve.
- To add water to the area where the water tank valve is usually connected, use a teaspoon, eyedropper or baster.
- The tank should be removed from the machine. The pump should be turned on and stopped immediately. Check to see if it has absorbed any water.
- If the machine stops working, reconnect the tank and turn on the pump. To start brewing, press the button. You should now see water running through the machine.
Method 2 – Persistence
- Fill the water reservoir up to the MAX line. It should be placed on the base at least three to five times. Make sure it clicks in place every time. To start the brewing process, press the button. It may take up to 10 to 15 minutes for the water to start flowing.
Method 3 – Patience
- Fill the tank up to the MAX line, then attach it back to the machine. Make sure it clicks. Allow the machine to sit for at least one hour. Now, turn the machine on to see if water flows through.
Do a factory reset
You can adjust the default pour settings of some Nespresso machines to control how much coffee you get. These settings may have been accidentally changed. The standard sizes depend on which model you have.
- Ristretto 0.85 oz
- Espresso 1.35 oz
- Double Espresso 2.7 oz
- 8 oz. Coffee
- Lungo 3.7 oz
- Gran Lungo 5 oz
- Alto 14 oz
- Pour over 18 oz
Descale Your Machine
Limescale can build up in your Nespresso if it is filtered, bottled or from the tap. This can block your machine’s water flow if left untreated. Your Nespresso may start to brew slower at first. Coffee pods should be brewed for between 20 and 33 seconds, while espresso pods should be brewed for between 68 and 85 seconds. It is possible that your coffee will not be as hot or as hot as it once was. The machine might stop making a full cup of coffee or not make enough water.
Descaling is a deep cleaning process that removes limescale buildup. It should be done at least once every three months. If you have hard water, you can do it more frequently.
Supplies Required
You should never use vinegar to scale your machine. It can cause damage to the internal metal parts. You should instead use a solution kit with safer and more effective cleansing acids.
Nespresso Descaling Solution
This is the official Nespresso descaling solution kit. This kit is compatible with all Original models. This solution will remove limescale from your machine. You’ll get 2 total uses from each pack, as it contains 2 kits.
General Descaling Instructions
These are the steps you should follow to descale your coffee maker once you have the descaling solution.
- Take the water tank from the machine, and empty it. The water filter should be removed from the tank.
- Follow the instructions on descaler packaging to add a descaling solution, clean water and water to your water tank
- Place a 1L empty container under the coffee outlet
- Turn on the machine. To enter descaling mode, follow the instructions for your specific model. Let the descaling process begin. The 1L container will start to get water-solution mixture.
- After the cycle is complete, empty the 1L container from the outlet and place it back in its original location.
- Rinse the water tank thoroughly and then fill it with drinking water up to the MAX limit.
- To remove any solution residue, you’ll need to run at least one rinse cycle with this water. Between each rinse cycle, refill the water tank and empty your 1L container.
- When done, exit descale mode. Some models will automatically turn off by pressing a button, while others require you to push a specific button.
- Rinse the drip tray, and any other parts that have been in direct contact with the solution. Fill the water tank completely with clean water. You are now ready to use your machine!
If your Nespresso machine stops working after the first attempt, or you have not run a descale cycle in a while, it may be necessary to repeat this process twice.
For instructions specific to your Nespresso machine see our guide for descaling Vertuo machines and our guide for descaling Original machines.
Contact Nespresso Support
After trying the above fixes, if your Nespresso machine still isn’t working, contact support. 1-800-562-1465 is the toll-free number.