Troubleshooting - 7-Piece 15-Bar Espresso Machine

This is usually caused by an overflowing drip tray. Remove the drip tray, empty it into the sink, and place it back in the machine.

It's completely normal for excess water to flow into the drip tray during and after brewing, steaming, or cleaning. The drip tray is designed to catch this - we've made it easily removable so you can empty it quickly.

If the leaking continues after emptying the drip tray, please contact us at cs@espresso-works.com and we'll help you resolve it.

This usually happens when there are coffee grounds on the rim of the portafilter. Before locking the portafilter into the machine, make sure the rim is clean and free of loose grounds. We'd also recommend wiping the brew head area with a damp cloth after each use to prevent grounds building up.

If the leak persists even with a clean rim, your silicone gasket in the brew head area may be worn. Contact us at cs@espresso-works.com to request a replacement gasket and instruction card, or pick one up directly from our Replacement Parts page.

If you notice water around or underneath the water tank, there are two possible causes:

The leak is coming from the connection between the tank and the machine (or from the bottom of the machine, not the drip tray)

Remove the water tank and check whether the leak stops. If water was leaking from the connection point between the tank and the machine, or from underneath the machine itself (not the drip tray), the issue is likely with the internal tubing. Unfortunately, this isn't something that can be repaired at home.

Please contact us at cs@espresso-works.com and we'll arrange a replacement.

The leak is coming from the bottom of the water tank itself

Lift the water tank off the machine and check whether water drips from the bottom of the tank. If it does, the spring-loaded piston valve inside the tank is damaged. This part can't be repaired, but the fix is simple - you'll need a replacement water tank.

You can order one directly here: AEW-1000 Replacement Water Tank →

There are a few things to check:

The green "READY" light isn't on yet

The steamer will only work once the green READY indicator light is illuminated. Wait for it to come on before attempting to froth.

The cup you're using is too wide or shallow

For best results, use a tall, narrow cup - or the stainless steel frothing pitcher that came with your machine. A wider cup makes it harder for the wand to create proper froth.

The steam wand is clogged with milk residue

This is the most common cause. Remove the black steam wand cover and wipe down the stainless steel wand with a damp cloth. Use a toothpick to clear any milk buildup from inside the wand. A good trick is to submerge the wand tip in a cup of boiling water first to loosen the residue, then follow up with the toothpick.

Important: Clean the steam wand after every single use. Milk residue builds up quickly and will clog the wand if not cleaned regularly.

If the problem continues after cleaning, get in touch via our Contact Us page or email cs@espresso-works.com.

There are a few common causes:

The machine needs cleaning

Built-up coffee oils and old residue affect flavour significantly. Follow the cleaning steps in our Setup & How-To Guide, or refer to the Cleaning & Maintenance section of the AEW-1000 User Manual.

The coffee is stale or improperly stored

The best flavour always comes from freshly ground beans. If you're using pre-ground coffee, make sure it's stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Check the use-by date - old coffee is the most common reason for off-tasting espresso.

The grind is too coarse

If your espresso tastes weak or watery, your grounds may be too coarse. Try grinding a little finer - but not so fine that the grounds feel like powder when rubbed between your fingers.

First, make sure the power cord is properly plugged into a wall socket and that the socket is switched on.

If the machine still won't respond, try a different wall socket to rule out a power supply issue.

If neither works, please contact us at cs@espresso-works.com and one of our team will be in touch to help.