Coffee machine shows an error or can’t see the beans? Reset, step by step
Error messages after descaling and “no beans” with a full hopper are common problems. A restart, a rinse and cleaning the hopper usually fix them.
- Most common cause
- unfinished rinse or clumped beans in the hopper
- Time
- 15–30 minutes
- Repair shop, if nothing helps
- 200–680 zł
Before cleaning the bean hopper, turn the machine off and unplug it. Never put metal tools into the grinder opening. Warning: a factory reset erases your settings (coffee strength, water amount, water hardness, time, saved recipes). Write them down first.
Step by step
Turn the machine off and unplug it
Turn it off with the button, then with the switch on the back (if there is one). Unplug it for 2 minutes, then turn it on again.
Check the tank, the grounds container and the drawer
The water tank must sit fully in place, stand straight and have enough water. The grounds container or drawer must be inserted. Sensors often report an error for exactly this reason.
Finish the rinse after descaling
After descaling, the machine often waits for a rinse. Run a whole tank of clean water through the coffee spout and the steam or milk spout. The message usually disappears then. On a Jura, confirm the rinse message and wait until the program ends.
Restart during an unfinished program
If the descaling program won’t finish, turn the machine off in the middle and turn it on again. It usually goes back to normal after you finish the rinse. On a Philips, also take out the AquaClean filter if one was fitted.
Check the brew unit
On Philips and Saeco machines, open the service door, take out the brew unit and put it back in, then close the door until it clicks. A badly seated brew unit causes an error.
Clean the bean hopper if the machine can’t see the beans
Pour out the beans and wipe the hopper dry. Oily beans leave a residue that stops them falling into the grinder. Use a vacuum cleaner or a brush to remove clumped coffee from the grinder opening. On a DeLonghi, wipe the bean sensor and shake the hopper. On a Philips, loosen clumped coffee with a wooden spoon or a brush.
Add dry beans and test
Use less oily beans, not flavoured or caramelised ones, because they coat the grinder. On the first test the grinder may run empty for a moment.
Last resort: factory reset
Warning: a factory reset erases your settings and saved recipes, so write them down first. If the machine keeps freezing, go to the settings and choose restore factory settings (if your model has that option). The name and location of the option depend on the model, so check the manual.
- The error comes back after a restart, a rinse and a factory reset.
- The grinder runs but the beans aren’t ground, or you hear grinding noises.
- The machine doesn’t draw water, or water leaks from under the casing.
- You smell burning, or the machine trips the fuses.
How much does a repair shop charge?
| Diagnosis and cleaning at a repair shop | 140–340 zł |
| Replacing a sensor or microswitch | 200–480 zł |
| Replacing the control module | 410–1100 zł |
| Replacing the grinder | 410–950 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
You can fix most errors after descaling and bean problems yourself in a quarter of an hour. If it’s the control board in a basic machine, a new one can be cheaper. A more expensive, high-end machine is usually worth repairing. Check it in the calculator.
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Open the calculator →FAQ
Why does my machine show an error after descaling?
Most often the rinse wasn’t finished. Run a whole tank of clean water through the coffee spout and the steam or milk spout.
What should I do if the machine can’t see the beans?
Clean the hopper dry, remove clumped coffee from the grinder opening and add less oily beans.
Does a factory reset delete my coffee programs?
Yes, it erases your settings and saved recipes. Write them down before the reset.