Faulty coffee machine brew unit: repair
Author: AMT SerwisUpdated:
The brew unit is one of the key components of every espresso machine. If you want to keep enjoying tasty, aromatic coffee, it pays to look after its condition.
How the brew unit works
You could say that the brew unit in an automatic coffee machine is the heart of the whole system. It is where ground coffee meets water, and where your favourite drink is created. The process may look simple, but nothing could be further from the truth. First, before the hot water even touches the coffee, the grounds have to be properly tamped. Only then is water pumped through at the right pressure and temperature. Crucially, that water has to be distributed evenly across the coffee bed so that brewing draws out the best flavour and aroma the beans have to offer. The spent grounds are held back by the brew unit's filters and passed into a dedicated container, while a delicious, aromatic coffee reaches your cup. All of this — described here in very simplified terms — is the work of the brew unit.
How to look after the brew unit
The brew unit is neither indestructible nor eternal. Proper care and maintenance will, however, help you avoid serious faults. What every owner of an automatic coffee machine can and should do is wash the brew unit regularly. Your machine's manual will tell you how to do it correctly. You can also follow the guidance we have published on our site:
Cleaning an automatic coffee machine — what to remember
Professional brew unit refurbishment
A lack of regular washing is not the only thing that can damage a brew unit. Failures are often the result of ordinary wear on certain parts. The typical problems we see most often are leaking seals and hoses, and a jammed brew unit lever. What can be done? The brew unit is a replaceable part — but buying a new one is a considerable expense. So before you make that decision, it is worth first confirming that the brew unit really is the cause of the fault. At our workshop you can have a free, no-obligation diagnosis. If it confirms that the brew unit is to blame, it is worth considering a refurbishment instead. A professionally carried out repair can bring the unit back to life and save you a substantial sum. What does the service involve? Above all, a thorough clean, replacement of the seals and hoses, lubrication of the moving parts, and a test to confirm correct operation. Can you order this at AMT Serwis? Of course you can.
How to recognise a faulty brew unit
How do you tell that the brew unit is not working properly? Here are a few typical symptoms:
- Ground coffee residue in your cup — grounds in the coffee, plainly speaking. If this is happening, you can suspect the brew unit is not working correctly.
- Water collecting under the machine, which may point to a leak in the brew unit.
- Small volumes of coffee being dispensed, which can also mean the brew unit is leaking, so the right amount of coffee never reaches the cup.
- Strange noises — cracking, grinding or squealing coming from the machine while it brews.
- The brew unit jamming.
If any of these apply to your machine, it is worth contacting a workshop to confirm the cause. It does not pay to wait in cases like these: continuing to use the appliance can lead to a bigger failure and a bigger repair bill.