If you own a De’Longhi espresso machine, you know they’re one of the best brewers out there. They consistently top “best of” lists year after year and they have a model that can meet anyone’s needs and budget.
While they are top-of-the-line machines, they still can run into issues from time to time. De’Longhi espresso machines can be quite an investment, so it’s crucial to be able to troubleshoot and fix issues when they arise, rather than spending money on a new machine. Luckily, there are a number of great resources to fix the most common issues you may run into with your brewer to have it back up and running in no time at all.
If your De’Longhi is acting up, don’t panic! I’ve compiled some of the best information out there to address a DeLonghi on the fritz.
Check if your De’Longhi is under warranty
No matter the issue, it’s good to know whether or not your machine is covered under the warranty. You don’t want to risk voiding the warranty by trying to fix something yourself when you could have just given customer service a call to have them help you resolve the issue.
De’Longhi has different warranties depending on the machine you own, so make sure you know which one applies to yours. Automatic espresso machines have limited two-year warranties, while manual espresso machines only come with a limited one-year warranty.
The clock starts from the date your machine was purchased, so you must have proof of purchase or register your machine so that you are in their system ahead of time. If your De’Longhi is under warranty, try giving their customer service line a call at 1-800-322-3848 to have a representative help you troubleshoot.
If it isn’t under warranty, De’Longhi will still perform out-of-warranty repair service on certain machines. With this option, you pay a fee to have them take a look at your machine, run diagnostics, and repair it, if possible.
Use the Product Assistant on De’Longhi’s website
De’Longhi’s customer service is just as high-quality as its products. Their FAQ page has an incredibly helpful tool called Product Assistant that can walk you through simple troubleshooting tips with your machine. It’s easy to use and can help you fix minor issues on your own or guide you on how to proceed should it end up being a more complicated problem.
First, you choose the type of product you’re having trouble with, ultimately narrowing it down to your exact machine. From there, it has prompts to seamlessly guide you through common issues with the brewer or you have the option to type in the problem you’re having into a search bar for it to find you relevant results.
Common problems and how to fix them
There are many issues you may encounter with your De’Longhi that only require a quick step to fix. For others, you may need to do some more involved diagnostics but can still resolve it on your own.
The espresso isn’t hot enough
If your brew isn’t staying warm, De’Longhi recommends preheating your cup before pouring the espresso into it. You can do this by either running hot water over the cup before use or placing it under the machine while running a rinse cycle.
If this doesn’t work, it’s possible the machine’s circuits have cooled. You can warm them back up by pressing and holding the rinse button to run a rinse cycle.
Should the problem persist, try descaling your espresso machine. Since the process varies greatly depending on which product you have, I recommend doing an internet search for “how to descale De’Longhi [insert your espresso machine model here].” Descaling is recommended for many different kinds of coffee brewers, as it prevents the buildup of limescale from the water that runs through it, which can negatively impact the way it functions.
The espresso is watery
No one likes watered-down espresso, so if your machine is making a watery brew, the problem could be a clogged funnel. To fix this, take a brush to clean away any built-up coffee grounds. This video tutorial is specific to the Magnifica S but works similarly on other machines as well:
The espresso isn’t creamy
Just as bad as watery espresso is espresso that isn’t creamy enough. If you run into this, your machine may not be grinding the coffee finely enough. In this case, lower the grinding level using the adjustment dial. But be sure to only do this while the coffee mill is running and remember, it will take two brews before the new grinding level takes effect.
The machine is making noise when idle
It might seem like an alarming problem, but the reason is likely just a normal machine operation. If you just recently brewed some espresso, it’s possible that condensation is dripping onto the vaporizer, which is still hot. While it is harmless, you can prevent this by emptying the drip tray.
Espresso is coming out too slowly
The problem here could be the opposite of coffee not coming out creamy enough. In this case, it could be that your coffee is being ground too finely. This can be fixed by increasing the grinding level to a higher number. The same caveats as lowering the level apply.
Espresso isn’t coming out of the spout
If your espresso isn’t dripping from one or both spouts on your machine, the problem is likely a clog. This can be easily fixed by wiping the spouts down with a cloth and using a toothpick to get any tricky debris that won’t come off with the cloth.
Top-notch customer service
There’s a reason De’Longhi espresso machines are some of the most popular on the market. Not only do they brew a great cup of espresso, but they don’t break easily and are easy to fix when a problem does arise.
While this article doesn’t cover every single issue that could come up, it should at least get you on the right track. De’Longhi’s website, especially the FAQ page, is one of the best I’ve seen from a large business in terms of customer service. The Product Assistant can help with a lot of issues, but if you can’t find the solution you need, you can still get assistance.
You can either chat online with a live person during normal business hours or provide your contact information after hours and they will call you back within one business day. It doesn’t get much better than that!
