Anyone here good with small appliances (Espresso machine)?

[Alfisti]

Lot's of mechanically inclined folks here so thought i would throw this out there as I cannot find a solution and it is $150 for a diagnostic fee.

I have a Breville Express machine that is notorious for a) pump failure and b) solenoid failure. I had the pump replaced 4 years ago after 3 years use.

I now have a problem and I am not 100% sold it is a pump issue. When I hold the button to prime the pump it sounds 100% fine, no weird noises, however the pressure gauge needle is not moving AT ALL. To clarify, it's not even flinching, like there is absolutely zero pressure. Pump issue right? Weird thing is, the steaming wand still works, as does the hot water dispenser which I THINK still use the pump.

It also gets a bit weirder, I experienced this issue the day before we went on vacation for 2 weeks, we returned and to my surprise the machine worked fine for 4 days before the same issue raised it's head.

If it is a pump and/or solenoid it will be about $400 to repair includng a fixed diagnostic fee of $150, I can buy a mildly used one with 10 months warranty for $600.

Before anyone suggests it, there is no alternative to this machine, the next step up that looks half decent on ones kitchen counter (wife to consider here gents) is $3K CDN.

Any help is appreciated.

[reallymarkedup]

How much is the overall cost of buying a better machine versus repairing the same one on a regular basis? I know you said "before anyone suggests it" but I literally owned a Breville as my first machine too. I'm aware of how many issues they have, it's primarily a designer kitchen brand that also happens to make espresso machines.

The Profitec Go is roughly $1500 CDN. I highly recommend you take a look at it. That's what, 3 repairs to the Breville? Chances are it will last you ten years minimum, probably more.

[Alfisti]

Yeah it makes no sense money wise, that unit is $1500 plus tax so $1700 then I need a separate grinder. I could fix the Breville 4 times, 3 at a minimum.

[vreihen16]

Did you check YouTube to see if there are any repair videos posted? You would be surprised what's on there for frequent/common appliance problems.....

[Gritty]

Your machine has a good grinder but thats all it does well. If your looking to save money, hide that machine and use it as a grinder. Buy something new and don’t put any more money into it.

[reallymarkedup]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Yeah it makes no sense money wise, that unit is $1500 plus tax so $1700 then I need a separate grinder. I could fix the Breville 4 times, 3 at a minimum.

You don't already have a separate grinder? Oh no no no, we have much bigger problems here than your Breville, brother. You haven't had a good cup of coffee yet, that's the problem!

I'm just pulling your leg, but ya that is a factor so I guess back to fixing the breville!

[DrVenture]

Depending on how hard it is to disassemble, a solenoid is relatively easy to test. Disconnect the wires and go across with an ohmmeter. the solenoid is likely marked and you can look it up and see what it costs to replace. An open (OL) on the meter would indicated a failed solenoid. A steady resistance reading would likely be good. Hard to guess what resistance it should read without the specs on the specific part. Maybe 50-100 ohms? You can apply voltage (120v) and usually hear them operate (click sound).

A solenoid might work intermittently. And if it is a failed "valve solenoid", I would expect it controls the flow of water to/from the pump and might result in zero pressure, even if the pump were running, assuming the gauge is after the valve. A lot of speculation on my part, so grain of salt.

https://www.ereplacementparts.com/va...p-3959575.html. < not sure your exact model.

Same thing with the pump, check resistance and apply voltage and it should run. Neither should have a dead short or open.

Solenoid, pump or tubing might also be gummed up with debris from hard water.

[2000cs]

When we had an expensive machine (Jura maybe?) I used online web pages and videos to figure out how to service it. My option was to send it somewhere far away and not have a coffee machine for probably months, plus an uncertain cost after a diagnostic fee. Or just order the parts and have them in a few days. So I learned to do as much as I could and then pitched it when the really expensive stuff started to fail.

[Alfisti]

OK plot twist, I went to show my brother in law the issue and it worked again, so it is intermittent.

Unfortunately i inherited my dad's lack of know-how, his name at work was sex fingers, because everything he touched he fucked. So, reading the above responses, it may well be the solenoid (thanks DrV), however i don't know what one is. I shall hit the google.

I cannot find a youtube video because no matter what i type in for a search I get responses saying you need to alter the grind/cup wall size etc, as in user error, this is not that, it's a mechanical problem.

[reallymarkedup]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I cannot find a youtube video because no matter what i type in for a search I get responses saying you need to alter the grind/cup wall size etc, as in user error, this is not that, it's a mechanical problem.

To be fair even once you've fixed the solenoid, you should probably grind finer.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by Gritty

Your machine has a good grinder but thats all it does well. If your looking to save money, hide that machine and use it as a grinder. Buy something new and don’t put any more money into it.

Originally Posted by reallymarkedup

You don't already have a separate grinder? Oh no no no, we have much bigger problems here than your Breville, brother. You haven't had a good cup of coffee yet, that's the problem!

I'm just pulling your leg, but ya that is a factor so I guess back to fixing the breville!

I know what a good cup of coffee is and yeah this machine doesn't quite pull it off. I've a lot of shit on the go right now, I simply don't have time to be fucking around to pull a perfect shot with a grinder and separate machine. I get my half inch of crema and i'm good, we mix with hot milk anyway (my standard coffee is a flat white). Next step up is near $2K for something that looks good on the benchtop and then i still need a grinder.

And the grinder is the weakest part of the unit, the pump is quite peppy.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by reallymarkedup

To be fair even once you've fixed the solenoid, you should probably grind finer.

Depends on the beans, darker, oilier beans i need to set the grinder more coarse or there's not enough pressure to make decent shot (15 bar pump). Less oily beans i can grind finer.

[2000cs]

Maybe this will help? https://www.thecoffeemillroasters.co...pumping-water/

[DrVenture]

Once you look up the parts for your specific unit, you should be able to identify them inside the opened unit.

Do I need to tell you to unplug the unit first? LOL

[Alfisti]

After reading and watching all the links you guys posted i am not sold it is the solenoid. It may be a blockage? Reason i say that is when it works, it 100% WORKS, a sin no weird noises, strong pump, good shot with decent creama, nothing iffy about it. Then next time I try it all SOUNDS 100% perfect but the needle is absolutely NOT moving and not water coming out from the portafiller.

[hubbahubba]

Is it parked correctly? JK, of course. But following along because I have the same unit and it's only a matter of time...

[DrVenture]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

After reading and watching all the links you guys posted i am not sold it is the solenoid. It may be a blockage? Reason i say that is when it works, it 100% WORKS, a sin no weird noises, strong pump, good shot with decent creama, nothing iffy about it. Then next time I try it all SOUNDS 100% perfect but the needle is absolutely NOT moving and not water coming out from the portafiller.

A solenoid is like a switch - on or off. In this case it regulates flow, allowing it when commanded. They can become finicky and occasionally fail to energize due to the plunger mechanism hanging up. And it might be a loose connection even.

There is no way to know if it is blockage or wiring or a failing solenoid until actual diagnosis. But, working fine at all, suggests no blockage. I would suspect a trickle if it allowed anything through and blockage were present. and that once the blockage cleared it would work fine until it clogged up again. But that is just a guess.

[Alfisti]

Yeah leaning back towards solenoid, 8 week wait to fix the fucking thing. I may try for a lightly use done or open box with warranty because repairing is a) a long wait and b) not gonna be much cheaper.

[Alfisti]

Spoke to a great repair guy who says it may not be solenoid given the sporadic nature of the issue, like control board. So wife has decided we need a $2500 fancy pants dual boiler machine because it'll look nice on the bench top.

Fucking spare me.

[DrVenture]

You are going to love it. It will be like kitchen art.

So, the repair guy thinks that a moving part (basically an electromechanical switch), is not likely to be sporadic, but that a control board keeps failing and fixing itself. That is interesting.

Sometimes electrical circuits do act up and then work again. In my experience, once an electrical component fails, it is usually permanent. Connection points, solenoids and relays tend to be prone to intermittent issues. But, I am no Breville repairman. I merely play one on TV. Great show called CSI Starbucks, check it out.

[reallymarkedup]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Spoke to a great repair guy who says it may not be solenoid given the sporadic nature of the issue, like control board. So wife has decided we need a $2500 fancy pants dual boiler machine because it'll look nice on the bench top.

Fucking spare me.

No man, your wife is always right but this time she's also right. It's worth it. Even on days where I put very little effort into the whole process the coffee is still legitimately ten times better than 95% of cafes will ever put out.

[DrVenture]

You all seem to be suggesting that I should replace my $20 Mr Coffee. I usually wait until they start leaking onto the counter.