Experience with a blocked coffee machine?

[pikey]

Hi,

We have a year old super little Gaggia Cubika - it's great and we love it.



Recently the flow has been slower and slower until now where nothing flows at all. The machine makes all the right noises, you can see it sucking up the water and it will output through the steam nozzle so I'm pretty sure the pump works, but somewhere, something is blocked.

I can't find the instruction book, it's not available on line and calling Gaggia service only had a "send it in and we'll fix it for a fee".

Has anyone any ideas on how to un-block a machine or something to try? I can't see how it can be much of a blockage and am tempted to delicately take a screwdriver to it!

Thanks

Ben

Edited by pikey on Sunday 30th August 16:09

[V8mate]

I've got a Gaggia Syncrony Logic - went 'bang' this morning

Pretty sure that's down to a build up of scale.

Went to Gaggia UK website and it says they have just been taken over by Philips and that repairs may be delayed during handover. http://www.gaggia.uk.com/serviceindex.htm

Will have to see if there are any independent specialists.

[SwanJack]

Have you cleaned the grouphead? http://coffeegeek.com/guides/dirtygrouphead? (You'll need an allen key if its like my Gaggia Classic. You'll be amased how much muck theree'll be there. I'd put money on cleaning the grouphead fixing your problem, the better coffee shops clean theirs daily, some even more than that.
If that doesn't work try putting a cleaner, such as this one https://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/Joe-Glo-Cleanin... into the water reservoir to try and dissolve any blockage.
I think that you can forget any suggestions for 'backflushing' as IIRC your's doesn't have a three way valve.

Edited by SwanJack on Sunday 30th August 19:04

[johnnywgk]

Only one thing from me, you say the steam thingy works, so pump is ok.

Not a pro but i think the steamer works off pressure, not a pump, like i say not a pro.

[pikey]

SwanJack said:

Have you cleaned the grouphead? http://coffeegeek.com/guides/dirtygrouphead? (You'll need an allen key if its like my Gaggia Classic. You'll be amased how much muck theree'll be there. I'd put money on cleaning the grouphead fixing your problem, the better coffee shops clean theirs daily, some even more than that.

Thanks for that - great link! Just the thing I was looking for.

I'll try it in the morning