Coffee Machine Usage Guide

General tips for getting the best from your coffee machine and avoiding common faults, from Braintree Appliance Repairs.

Getting the best from your coffee machine

1. Descale your machine regularly using the manufacturer's recommended descaler and schedule — limescale build-up is by far the most common cause of coffee machine faults, especially in hard water areas like Essex.
2. Use filtered or bottled water where possible if your water is very hard, to reduce limescale build-up between descales.
3. Empty and rinse the drip tray and used-grounds container regularly — letting them overflow can cause leaks and staining.
4. Clean the group head, steam wand and any milk frothing parts after every use — dried milk and coffee oils are a common cause of blocked or reduced-flow machines.
5. If using a bean-to-cup machine, use the correct grind setting and clean the grinder as per your manual — a clogged grinder is a common cause of machines jamming or stopping mid-brew.
6. Don't force the portafilter or group head if it feels stuck — this can damage the locking mechanism; a stuck fitting is usually a pressure or seal issue we can fix quickly.

If a fault persists after checking the above, it's usually down to a worn part rather than something you can fix at home — see Coffee Machine Repairs.