Gaggia is an Italian brand of small household appliances producing and marketing espresso machines for domestic and commercial use for more than 45 years. And although the brand was acquired just over 20 years ago by Saeco International Group (a subsidiary of Philips), it still has its design line.
Gaggia coffee machines are high quality, but if you own one and want to enhance its performance, extend its life and avoid problems with it, you will need to know how to use and maintain it properly; if you don’t know how to do this, check out our guide to all Gaggia coffee machine user manuals.
However, some problems can occur with your Gaggia coffee machine after many uses or times. In this article, we bring you the most common faults that could affect the proper functioning of your machine and, of course, the simplest solution to these problems.
Problem with the Gaggia coffee machine not frothing milk
The milk system is highly susceptible to clogging due to residue build-up, as milk is a much denser liquid than water. In many cases, the blockage occurs at the milk outlet nozzle, so it is necessary to keep this part clean. Otherwise, it will stop working as it should.
Here are a few simple steps to remove these annoying obstructions:
- Turn off the coffee machine and wait for it to cool down.
- Remove the milk spout.
- Push the piece inside the spout to expose a small hole at the other end.
- Wash the nozzle components thoroughly under running water, and clean the small hole, ensuring it is not clogged, if necessary, by inserting a very thin object through it.
- With the help of a paper clip or something similar that you can insert into the mouthpiece holder, clean the inside thoroughly, pushing out any debris that may be causing a blockage there.
- Let some water with steam come out of the machine to check that there are no obstructions in the milk ducts.
- If you notice that the water comes out diagonally and not vertically, there is still a blockage, so wash the milk unit thoroughly until there is no more residue.
- Finally, put the spout back in place.
Problem with the grinder of a Gaggia coffee machine
It can happen that when you start your coffee machine, the grinder seems to be working normally, but the coffee beans are not being ground. This means that there is an obstruction that does not allow grinding to take place.
If you use an “oily” coffee bean, your grinder will have a greater tendency to clog. When buying coffee, keep this in mind; it should be as natural as possible (do not use roasted coffee). Here are the steps to unclog the grinder of your Gaggia coffee machine:
- Turn off and unplug the coffee maker.
- Disassemble the coffee maker.
- Unclog the grinder.
- Remove all the coffee residue inside the grinder; you can help yourself with a hoover, clean it very well with a small brush that can sweep away any coffee residue left inside.
- Check and clean the ground coffee outlet duct; it must not have any accumulation of residue; if this happens, the grind will not be able to pass through it.
- Remove the grinder from its place by removing all the cables connected to it, and clean all the parts that make it up very well.
- Reconnect the cables to the grinder and put it back in place.
- Place and tighten the grinder cover very well.
- Reassemble the coffee machine.
The brewing unit of the Gaggia super-automatic coffee machine jams
When the brewing unit is inserted into the coffee maker, it may get stuck in the wrong position. Here are the steps to follow to unblock the unit without damaging it:
- Turn off and unplug the machine.
- Remove the drip tray and coffee grounds container.
- Open the service door, and there you will find the brewing unit.
- Remove the screw located just to the side of the brewing unit.
- Hold the brewing unit firmly and pull it out with a little force.
- When removing the brewing unit, you notice that the spout is still inside; pull it gently downwards and put it back into the unit.
- Replace the screw you removed from the infusion unit.
- Before putting the unit back in place, ensure it is in the correct position; the front of the unit is on the side with the letter “N”, indicating a neutral position.
- Lock the brewing unit; on the back, you will find a slot with a tab that you need to press with your finger or a flat screwdriver until it clicks into place.
- Inside the brewer, locate a slot above where the brewing unit goes; this is the switch that tells the machine when the brewing unit is in place; insert an object that fits into the slot to press down until it clicks, simulating the unit going in.
- Put the drip tray and grounds container in place and close the brewer’s service door.
- Switch on the machine and wait for the system to reset.
- Now insert the brewing unit into the machine, and it will be correctly in place.
The Gaggia coffee machine does not dispense coffee
It is normal for residues to accumulate in some parts of the machine and cause blockages with each use. If your machine stops dispensing coffee, check the coffee group as it may be obstructed if you do not clean it constantly, it is recommended that this cleaning is done at least once a week.
Here are the steps to follow to achieve a thorough cleaning of the coffee group:
- Turn off and unplug the coffee maker.
- Remove the drip tray.
- Open the service door.
- Locate the coffee group, press the PUSH button and pull the handle horizontally without turning it to remove it from the machine.
- Carefully clean the coffee spout with the appropriate cleaning tool supplied with the machine.
- Clean the inside of the machine where the coffee group is placed; you can use a soft, damp cloth.
- Remove the coffee collection drawer and wash it carefully, do the same with the drip tray using only running water.
- Carefully wash the coffee group under running water and carefully clean the upper filter (do not use detergents or soap to clean the coffee group); use a soft brush to remove any hard-to-remove coffee residue.
- Allow the coffee group to air dry completely.
- Before putting the coffee group back in place, ensure it is in the rest position: the two reference marks on the side of the coffee group should match. If not, gently press the lever down until it touches the base of the coffee group so that the two reference marks coincide.
- Push the coffee group back into its housing until it clicks into place without pressing the PUSH button.
- Push the coffee grounds drawer and the drip tray back into the machine and close the service door.
The filter holder of the Gaggia espresso machine does not fit properly in place
It is impossible to do so when trying to fit the filter holder in place because it seems that something is not allowing it to fit correctly. In this case, it will be necessary to check the filter holder bracket to identify what prevents it from fitting into place.
Follow these steps to fix the problem:
- Turn off and unplug the machine.
- Empty the water tank.
- With the help of a small screwdriver, carefully remove the filter plate on the holder support, remove the screw in the centre, and the plate will come out easily.
- Once the plate has been removed, the part with the outlet holes that take the water to the filter holder will be exposed. You must also remove this piece with the help of a size five hexagonal spanner and turn it in the correct counterclockwise direction.
- Now you will be able to see the rubber gasket on the filter, remove it and check that it is in perfect condition and clean, as the accumulation of coffee residue can cause it to wear out, and it will have to be replaced by one in good condition.
- Find too much coffee residue around the gasket. This will likely prevent the filter holder from fitting into place, so clean this area with a damp cloth to remove any obstruction and dry it very well before putting the parts back in place.
- Put the rubber gasket back in place and the other parts you removed from the filter, making sure the screws are tightened securely.
- Finally, take the filter holder to the bracket and ensure it will fit snugly.
