Fix My Coffee Machine: What to Do When a Commercial Coffee Machine Breaks Down

If you have found this page by searching “fix my coffee machine”, there is a reasonable chance something has gone wrong at exactly the wrong moment.

Perhaps the espresso machine will not turn on.

Maybe there is no water coming through the groups.

The steam pressure has disappeared.

Or there is water somewhere underneath the machine where water definitely should not be.

Here is what to do next.

First: identify what has stopped working

Before calling an engineer, make a note of exactly what the machine is doing.

Useful information includes:

• machine make and model
• whether the machine has power
• any error message displayed
• whether the fault affects every group or only one
• whether steam and hot water are still working
• whether there is a visible leak
• what happened immediately before the fault appeared.

A photograph or short video can also be extremely useful when speaking to an engineer.

Check the simple things first

Some apparently serious coffee machine faults have straightforward causes.

Check that:

• the machine has electrical power
• the water supply is on
• nobody has accidentally closed an isolation valve
• the waste pipe is not obviously blocked
• the grinder is functioning correctly.

Do not remove panels or attempt electrical, boiler or pressurised-system repairs yourself.

Commercial espresso machines contain high-voltage electrical components, pressurised hot water and steam.

When should I switch my coffee machine off?

If there is a significant water leak, burning smell, electrical issue or anything that makes you concerned about safety, stop using the machine.

A coffee machine continuing to operate with one developing fault can sometimes turn a relatively simple repair into a much larger one.

For urgent commercial breakdowns, our emergency coffee machine callout service is designed to help businesses get equipment operational again.

Who can repair a commercial espresso machine?

Commercial equipment needs a commercial coffee engineer.

Modern Standard Service engineers work on equipment from major manufacturers including La Marzocco, Victoria Arduino, Nuova Simonelli, Thermoplan, Mazzer and Mahlkönig.

Our service and maintenance team supports businesses across the UK, including London.

If your existing machine is repeatedly failing, it may also be worth comparing the repair cost with replacement.

You can browse our complete range of commercial coffee machines, including traditional espresso machines and fully automatic equipment.

Preventing the next breakdown

The best emergency repair is the one you never need.

Regular maintenance helps engineers identify components approaching the end of their life, while correct water treatment can significantly reduce scale-related problems.

Cleaning is equally important.

A commercial machine should have a documented daily cleaning routine, with staff trained to recognise anything unusual before it develops into a serious problem.

We offer commercial coffee machine service plans built around preventative maintenance as well as reactive support.

So if your coffee machine has broken down and you need somebody to fix it, get in touch with Modern Standard Service.

Tell us what machine you have, where you are and what has happened, and we can help you work out the next step.