Delonghi troubleshooting

Before we begin, we must understand that Delonghi is also a Nespresso and Dolce Gusto coffee pod machines manufacturer apart from fabricating its coffee machines.

This guide will focus on the coffee makers manufactured, designed, and marketed by Delonghi. We are talking about their exclusive super-automatic espresso and drip coffee makers. But first, we suggest you browse our Delonghi coffee machine user manuals repository in case you can’t find the manual for your Delonghi coffee machine at home.

Delonghi Espresso machines troubleshooting

Delonghi espresso machines are among the most robust and reliable coffee makers on the market, thanks to their good design and quality materials in their construction. However, the fact that these coffee makers are reliable does not exempt them from showing problems from time to time.

Instead of dealing with the issues of Delonghi espresso machines generically, we have created two guides of their most emblematic coffee makers; the Delonghi Dedica and the Specialista. With these two guides, we cover practically all the problems that can affect an espresso machine manufactured by Delonghi:

Delonghi Super-automatic coffee machines troubleshooting

As we did in the previous section, instead of dealing with the problems in a generic way, we have created a series of repair guides for the most representative models of Delonghi super-automatic coffee machines. With these guides, you will be able to solve the problems that affect the particular model of coffee maker you have, even if it is not the same as the one in the guides.

Delonghi drip and 2 in 1 coffee machines troubleshooting

Delonghi’s simplest coffee machines are the drip and the 2-in-1 (or combi) coffee makers, although the latter present, in addition to the problems of the drip coffee makers, those of the espresso machines. Go to the Delonghi espresso machines section for any problems related to the espresso brewing area.

Here we have prepared a small guide with the most common problems with Delonghi drip coffee machines:

Common problems with Delonghi coffee machines

Although we have just shown you the troubleshooting guides for the main types of Delonghi coffee machines, I now bring you the most common problems affecting any Delonghi coffee machine.

Check our Nespresso and Dolce Gusto troubleshooting guides if you have a coffee pod machine. Here we talk about Delonghi espresso, drip, and superautomatic coffee machines.

My Delonghi coffee machine doesn’t work (it won’t even turn on)

This is a classic issue; of course, it is not specific to this manufacturer. When a Delonghi coffee maker doesn’t work, to the point of not even turning on, the problem is usually in the electrical board, thermal fuses, or capacitors. These 3 elements are easy to buy and replace, as they are quite cheap.

Watch this video from our friends at Fixit about how to replace a thermal fuse:

If you are not experienced in dismantling and reassembling electrical appliances, we recommend you take your Delonghi to a specialized technical service. And, of course, if it is a relatively new machine and you still have it under warranty, don’t think about it: ask for a new one.

• Sourcing map Thermal Fuse 250V 15A TF 200 Celsius Degree Temperature Electrical Circuit Cutoff 5pcs

My Delonghi coffee machine leaks underneath

Unfortunately, this is not just a Delonghi problem but affects many other brands (and not only espresso machines). This problem has already been dealt with in-depth in this article: My coffee maker is losing water, but we’ll summarise here the most likely causes:

• If water is leaking from the bottom, it’s usually necessary to dismantle the coffee maker and see if there are any poorly sealed joints or leaking components. The boiler, water pipes, and water tank are the items you should check first.
• If your Delonghi is leaking water from the ladle, the problem is almost certainly caused by a defective rubber gasket in the coffee group. This component will be easier to access if you have an automatic coffee maker with a removable one.

My Delonghi coffee maker lacks pressure

If a Delonghi coffee machine lacks pressure, 99% of the time, it is due to a malfunction of the pressure pump. Sometimes it’s a leak, and then the repair is more straightforward (we saw it before), but other times, the pump has become clogged or broken:

• A descaling or thorough cleaning of the machine’s internal circuits in a blockage should be sufficient.
• In case of damage, it is necessary to replace the broken water pump.

The good news is that this type of pump (ULKA) for home coffee machines is quite cheap:

• Ulka EP5 Water Pump 48 W (German Import)
• Ulka EX5 Electric Pump Water Pump 230 V Universal for Coffee Machine, Espresso Machine

You’ll have to completely dismantle your Delonghi, do the operation, and reassemble it to replace it. If it’s under warranty, it’s much better to take it to the technical service and have it changed or fixed by them.

My Delonghi coffee machine does not heat

For the problem of the temperature in the Delonghi coffee machines, we will give two tips:

• First, decalcification. The residues may prevent the correct flow and operation of the Thermoblock. Therefore the water does not flow through it at the right speed, resulting in a low temperature, colder than usual.
• Secondly, change the Thermoblock or thermostat. The Thermoblock is the most common water heating system in home coffee machines, including Delonghi, and if it breaks down, the water cannot be heated. The coffee maker works as usual, but the coffee comes out at room temperature.

Finally, even if your machine is not expressly faulty or malfunctioning, here are some tips you can put into practice to make your coffee hotter:

• Before adding coffee to the filter holder, place your cup under the spout and press the button to brew coffee. Only hot water will come out, and your mug will be hot before you prepare your coffee. Allow the cup to warm up, and then discard the water.
• Use the cup-warmer tray properly – Enjoy the hottest espressos!
• Select a higher temperature level in the relevant settings menu if your machine allows it.

My Delonghi coffee machine doesn’t pour water

When a Delonghi coffee machine doesn’t serve water, the causes can be multiple. According to their ease of resolution, we will go over them individually, from lesser to higher severity.

• Bad water tank connection. We start with a truism, but sometimes we leave the tank poorly fitted, which does not close the connection with the machine’s circuit. Make sure that the water tank of your Delonghi coffee machine is installed correctly and connected to the base.
• Internal water pipes are clogged. We have already mentioned this in several cases, and you should be able to guess the solution: descaling. Problems with blockages and clogging often result from ineffective or infrequent cleaning.
• Leaks. The effect is similar to that of the previous section. Still, the solution is more complicated because it generally involves damaged sleeves or circuits that must be replaced (which means having to assemble and disassemble the coffee machine).
• Technical failure. The most severe and most complex case to repair. The power control board (PCB) has stopped working correctly and has to be replaced.

NOTE: Expert users can better diagnose the cause of the water problem in their Delonghi coffee machine if they take a few seconds to “listen” to it when it starts up. Depending on the noise generated, you can tell where the fault is coming from.

A Delonghi coffee maker that makes a lot of noise

If this is your case, you don’t have much else to do but try to isolate it from the bottom with some rubber, non-slip feet, or mats suitable for this use. When a Delonghi coffee maker makes a lot of noise, it’s almost always because of vibrations against the surface it’s standing on.

Remember that your Delonghi coffee machine will always make more noise if you place it on a raised platform, shelf, or platform than if it is placed directly on the kitchen worktop.

It would help if you also remembered that some coffee makers are noisier than others, so sometimes, this problem has no immediate solution and does not necessarily indicate any failure or malfunction of your Delonghi.

Finally, another crucial detail that influences Delonghi coffee makers’ noise is that those with a built-in grinder will always emit more decibels (for obvious reasons).

My Delonghi coffee machine doesn’t froth

We will turn our attention to the milk froth system on this occasion. As we already know, it will be a tube or steamer lance in the espresso machines. In contrast, it can be more complex systems (cappuccinos or milk tanks integrated into the coffee machine).

We will now go through different steps to check if our Delonghi coffee maker does not froth the milk correctly. We will distinguish two cases depending on the type of machine we have at home:

If it’s a super-automatic Delonghi machine:

• Check that the milk tank is correctly connected to the stand, that the lid is closed successfully, and has enough milk to froth (sometimes it has a little, but it’s not enough to start the process).
• If the machine takes the milk from an external container, check the two ends of the sleeve in charge of the process.
• Set the dial on the steamer to a higher setting. Sometimes it is very low, and although the process works correctly, it does not inject enough air to give density to the emulsion.

If it is a manual Delonghi espresso:

• Make sure the machine is descaled. A lousy cleaning can cause the remains of milk to solidify and prevent the correct functioning of these systems. As a preventive measure, always remember to let a jet of steam come out of the nozzle after emulsifying milk.

The filter holder does not fit appropriately into the coffee machine

It is not a problem exclusive to Delonghi. If the filter holder doesn’t fit in the coffee maker, it’s usually because the filter is too loaded with coffee. Lower it a bit, and try again.

Not enough coffee coming out from my Delonghi

When little coffee comes out of your Delonghi machine (or directly, no coffee comes out), you have to distinguish what kind of coffee machine we are talking about.

If it’s a manual espresso machine, the problem usually comes from a blockage in the pipes, and the first thing we’d do would be to descale the machine. It is the same cause that causes the pressure problems mentioned above. We should also check the holes in the pressurized filters if we don’t clean them often.

However, we can add a few more reasons if talking about a Delonghi super-automatic. Sometimes, these automatic machines (which we should not forget to have an integrated grinder) have an additional input for ground coffee. When we use it, we usually drop some remains of ground coffee inside the machine, in the coffee group in different places. And over time, they solidify and cause blockages.

Delonghi coffee machines lights flashing

If your Delonghi coffee machine flashes, we must follow some essential advice, although the final result will have nuances that will depend on the model in question. The fact is that not all machines have the same lights or the same behavior.

For example, on the Dedica EC-685, some lights indicate that the coffee maker is heating up, and you have to wait until they go off to make a coffee. Of course, this does not mean that there is a fault.

Other lights on the Delonghi coffee machines flash when you set them up to memorize an option.

Flashing is also used for resets. When you reset your Delonghi coffee machine, all the lights flash for 3 seconds to indicate that you will restore the factory settings.

On manual (portafilter) Delonghi espresso machines, the two coffee-making buttons (the 1-cup and 2-cup buttons) usually flash simultaneously to warn of one of the following circumstances:

• The water in the tank has run out.
• The tank is not connected to the coffee machine (or is disconnected).
• Clogging of the coffee filter.
• Obstruction in the coffee spout.
• The spray nozzle is open.
• The boiler is too hot and should be cooled down before making the next coffee.
• Need for descaling.

Check your Delonghi coffee maker user manual here.

The orange light on my Delonghi lights up

One of those minor doubts is usually installed among users for not reading the user manuals (or throwing them away too quickly).

Many Delonghi coffee machines include an orange light as a light indicator, which is nothing more than a decalcification warning.

What happens at first? The coffee maker doesn’t present any problems; we trust it and get rid of the manual within weeks or months. And, of course, the descaling notice appears for the first time after a long time. On the Dedica model, for example, it looks like this:

When descaling your Delonghi coffee maker, you must do it when that orange light goes ON. That is, with the decalcification notice active. Otherwise, even if you have done the process correctly and the machine is clean inside, the warning will still come out because the coffee machine will not know whether you have descaled it.

I’ve descaled my Delonghi coffee machine, but I keep getting the orange light.

Pablo Barrantes

The yellow light on Delonghi coffee machines

Same as the previous section. In some models, the decalcification warning comes from an orange light; in others, it is more yellowish. It is the same type of warning.

How do you descale a Delonghi coffee maker?

The time needed: 20 minutes.

If you need to descale your Delonghi coffee maker, the good news is that it won’t take long to complete the process, although if you are already experienced, you will do it almost by heart. The steps are similar whether it’s a manual Delonghi express or an automatic, but we’ve summarised them here just in case:

1. Fill up the water tank.
2. Add the descaler liquid.
3. Run a complete water cycle.
4. Repeat the previous step 2-3 times.
5. Clean the tank thoroughly and rinse.
6. Finally, discard the first coffee.

We recommend the official Delonghi Ecodecalk descalers, but you can look for the ones you need in our descaling liquids section.

As you have seen, many of these breakdowns in Delonghi coffee machines are not failures or problems as such, but merely a lack of knowledge or experience on the part of the users.