Common Coffee Machine Problem in Cafés
Coffee machines are the most important equipment in any café. When the coffee machine breaks down, café operations are affected, service slows down, and customers are unhappy. This is why regular coffee machine servicing and preventive maintenance are very important.
Preventive maintenance helps to keep your coffee machine in good working condition, reduces breakdowns, and avoids high repair costs that usually happen when problems are ignored.
In this blog, we explain a common coffee machine problem in Malaysia:
water not coming out from the group head, or water flowing very slowly.
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How to Identify the Problem
This issue is usually easy to spot.
Most of the time:
- One group head works normally
- The other group head has slow water flow or no water at all
When this happens, the problem is normally inside the group head, not the whole coffee machine.
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Common Causes of Group Head Water Flow Problems
1. Coffee Grounds and Dirt Build-Up
The most common reason is coffee grounds and coffee oil build-up inside the group head.
When a coffee machine is not cleaned or serviced regularly, coffee residue slowly blocks the water pathway. Over time, this causes:
- Slow water flow
- Uneven extraction
- No water coming out at all
2. Faulty Solenoid Valve
If no water comes out at all, the problem could be the solenoid valve.
The solenoid valve controls water flow into the group head.
* If it does not open, water cannot pass through
* A faulty solenoid usually does not make a “click” sound
This is a common issue in commercial coffee machines that are heavily used in cafés and offices.
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3. Blocked Gicleur
The gicleur is a small part that controls water pressure to the group head.
Because it is very small, it can easily get blocked by dirt or scale. When this happens, water flow becomes weak or stops completely.
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How to Fix the Problem
Some group head water flow issues can be fixed with basic cleaning, but others require professional coffee machine servicing.
Step 1: Clean the Shower Screen and Diffuser
Remove the shower screen and diffuser plate and clean them properly. This helps remove coffee grounds that block water flow.
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Step 2: Perform Backflushing
If water is still coming out, do a backflush to clean the internal water pathway and remove built-up coffee residue.
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Step 3: Check and Clean the Solenoid Valve
If there is no water at all, the solenoid valve should be opened and cleaned.
If cleaning does not work, the solenoid valve may need to be replaced to restore normal water flow.
⚠️ Always turn off the water supply and power before working on the solenoid valve.
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Step 4: Clean or Replace the Gicleur
As a last step, clean or replace the gicleur.
⚠️ The gicleur is very small and fragile. Handle with care to avoid damage.
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Why Preventive Maintenance Is Important for Coffee Machines
Regular coffee machine preventive maintenance in Malaysia helps to:
- Prevent sudden breakdowns
- Improve coffee taste and consistency
- Reduce expensive repair costs
- Extend the lifespan of your espresso machine
- Keep café and office operations running smoothly
Many coffee machine problems start small and become serious when maintenance is ignored.
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Final Thoughts
Water not coming out from the group head is a common coffee machine problem, but it can usually be avoided with regular cleaning and preventive maintenance.
If your café or office coffee machine has slow water flow, unusual sounds, or has not been serviced for a long time, it is best to arrange a professional coffee machine servicing before a major breakdown happens.