One of the problems that our readers consult most frequently is, without a doubt, the issue of the lever that gets stuck in a Dolce Gusto coffee machine. When we talk about the lever on a Dolce Gusto coffee machine, we can refer to the control lowered and raised to puncture the capsule or to the horizontal lever on manual Dolce Gusto coffee machines used to select hot or cold water.
In essence, the automatic Dolce Gusto coffee machines, except for the Mini-Me, do not have a lever, but rather the temperature of the drink is selected using a button. Well, in today’s article, we will focus on the latter: the temperature selection lever.
If your problem is that the capsule holder is stuck, you’d better read this other article: My Dolce Gusto coffee maker is stuck. You should be aware that these are two different incidents.
Reasons why the Dolce Gusto Coffee machine could be stuck
All right, now that we know what leverage we’re talking about let’s describe the symptoms of the problem. We usually receive comments from readers who tell us that this lever is stuck in the neutral point (it doesn’t move right or left; they can’t select hot or cold water). The coffee maker cannot take the water in the tank, and the button light flashes alternately in red and green.
As you can see in our power button light colours guide, a situation that is not classified as one of the typical failures of the coffee machine – and in many cases, it’s a new coffee machine! The cause of this problem is not clear, but there are several solutions we can try.
- The first thing is to make sure that the water tank is fitted correctly in its correct position. Slight misalignment may be invisible to the human eye, but it can cause the connection between the tank and the water pipe of the coffee machine not to close. This is the most likely – and most natural to check – the reason for the brewer not sucking up the water and not being able to perform the rinses. Also, remember that the capsule holder must be closed and the capsule holder lever lowered.
- Secondly, assuming that all the parts are correctly fitted, make sure that the lever is tightened – with some force – to the right side. That is, if we want a cold drink, we must press it to the left, and if we want a hot drink, we must press it to the right. There is no need to force or be rough. Still, if the lever does not reach the top, it will remain in an unanchored position and, therefore, will jump to return to its original position (the centre) as soon as the coffee extraction begins. Under normal conditions, the lever should hold itself in place until brewing is complete.
- Finally, it is not superfluous to check the instruction manual and remember what the manufacturer says when the red light is flashing, and the steps to follow to perform the first rinse:
You must be aware that the Dolce Gusto Mini Me is a peculiar coffee maker. It’s an automatic coffee maker, but the temperature is selected with a lever, like all manual coffee makers. You can see the difference between the two types in the following article: Dolce Gusto Automatic or Manual? And this is a model that, despite its low price, has had quite a few problems with this issue. It is not difficult to find similar testimonials all over the Internet.
If none of the above advice works for you, it is probably an internal fault in the coffee machine, a mechanical issue or an electrical problem. As we have already said, this is a recurring problem in many Mini Me’s, even in brand new models or with very little use.
If you want to try to solve it by yourself (something we don’t recommend unless you know very well what you are doing), you can start by reviewing this instructive video:
In any case, never stop reading and following these tips for Dolce Gusto coffee machines – your coffee maker will thank you for it!
