As with all the Nespresso machine issues I have addressed on the blog, I will explore all the possible reasons why your Nespresso is not pouring water.
This implies that we will examine both situations in newly purchased coffee makers and those used for years. Since each case is unique, I will not take shortcuts in posing the different hypotheses.
Situation 1. New Nespresso no water coming out
The first case we need to address is Nespresso machines, which we’ve just purchased and are not pouring water. Although it may seem unusual, this happens more often than one might think.
All Nespresso machines come with a primed water circuit, meaning they already have water in their pipes, the thermoblock, and inside the pump. However, even with this, if the coffee maker has been idle for a long time or exposed to high temperatures, the water inside may have evaporated, leaving only air in the circuit.
To rule out other issues, you should listen to the pump working when you press any of the coffee preparation buttons. The sound of the pump is usually sharper than normal, though if it’s your first time using it, you might not be able to tell the difference.
If you don’t hear the pump, this indicates a different problem, and you should immediately contact the seller to have the coffee maker replaced under warranty.
Ensure the water tank valve is functioning
It may seem obvious, but I have often encountered stuck water tank valves, so it’s important to ensure yours works properly. Fill the tank and press your finger on the bottom until the water flows freely.
Once checked, ensure the valve lifts when you install the tank in the coffee maker. This is another problem I have come across when repairing Nespresso coffee makers. During the assembly process, something was installed incorrectly at the base of the coffee maker, preventing the tank valve from lifting.
Prime the circuit naturally
To extract the air from the circuit, you must fill the water tank to its maximum capacity since the more water there is, the greater the pressure exerted on the pump and the easier it will be for the water to flow.
Then, as if you were going to prepare a coffee, press the lungo button, without fear, as many times as necessary; if the pump is very dry, it will not be so easy to extract water, so you can also help by slightly moving the reservoir while the pump is running, forcing the water inlet a little more.
Prime the circuit forcefully
When it is necessary to force the extraction of air from the circuit, a bag or balloon filled with air will be used to push the water from the tank to the pump while coffee is being prepared; the additional pressure exerted will cause the air trapped in the circuit to escape immediately. This extraction system is known as the “airbag system.”
Below, you will see an example of a child’s balloon in the image. However, it can be done with any other bag that keeps the air trapped inside; freezer bags can also be very effective thanks to their small size and airtight seal.
Situation 2. Old Nespresso no water coming out
The methods in the previous section to extract air from the circuit should be applied before delving deeper into the problem, assuming that your coffee maker is no longer under warranty.
Remember that if the coffee maker is still under warranty, you should not disassemble or force any of its components, as this will immediately void the warranty. If your coffee maker is already old, the following guidelines will help you to try to solve the problem by removing some screws.
Dismantle the water pipes to remove air from the circuit
If you have already discarded the previous methods without them working, you must disassemble the coffee maker to get to the pipes and valves. Check all the components of the circuit to make sure that there is no air inside. Depending on the problem’s severity, you may disassemble some pipes to let the water out.
And if you confirm that air in the circuit is not the problem, there is most likely a blockage in the water pump.
The water pump of my Nespresso coffee machine is stuck
To release the water pump of your coffee maker, it will be necessary to disassemble the machine to access it. While preparing a coffee, hit the outside of the pump several times with force to loosen the piston.
Some parts, such as the piston, springs, and others, are prone to obstructions due to excess lime and other impurities in the water. For this reason, it is recommended that you carry out the descaling process of your Nespresso coffee machine regularly.
If you see that your coffee maker still leaks water, you can try to descale it to solve the problem, but if it does not, it will be useless.
The front pod perforating disc is clogged due to a lack of cleaning
Regular and adequate cleaning of your coffee maker can prevent obstruction problems from arising with the machine. If we have already discarded the internal circuit, we should check the front perforating disk since it has a series of small holes through which the coffee comes out, and if they are obstructed, nothing can pass through them.
With the help of an old toothbrush, you can scrub the disc using only a little clean water, which should remove the blockages. Occasionally, try brewing a coffee without pods to see if this solves the problem.
