No water through the group head

WHAT YOU MAY NOTICE

Your Bambino sounds like it is trying to pump, but little or no water comes through the group head.

Coffee may only drip through very slowly, or nothing may come through at all.

SAFE NEXT STEP

Remove the portafilter and run the group head with nothing fitted.

If water flows normally without the portafilter, try a slightly coarser grind, as coffee that is ground too fine can choke the machine and stop the shot flowing.

If there is still very little or no water with the portafilter removed, make sure the water tank is full and seated correctly.

Another thing you can try at home is to check if your filter basket is blocked. Dual-walled filter baskets can become blocked over time; try using a different filter basket to rule this issue out.

Check whether the steam wand can dispense hot water as well.

If the flow has gradually weakened across the machine, carry out a descale.

HOW WE CAN HELP

If the machine still cannot move water normally, we can test the pump, internal water path and valves to establish where the flow is being restricted.

The fact that one outlet works while another does not can also help us narrow down which part of the system is affected when we are testing in the workshop.

Steam wand weak or not working

WHAT YOU MAY NOTICE

The steam wand may produce very little steam, take much longer than normal to heat milk, spit mostly water or stop producing usable steam altogether.

SAFE NEXT STEP

Allow the machine to cool.

Use the small pin on the supplied cleaning tool to clear each hole in the steam tip.

If necessary, remove the tip using the integrated spanner, clean it thoroughly and refit it.

If the tip is clear but the steam is still weak, stop repeatedly running the steam function as trapped steam can build a lot of internal pressure if it’s not being relieved.

HOW WE CAN HELP

A blocked tip is the simplest cause, but weak steam can also come from a restriction further inside the machine, poor water flow, a heating problem or another internal fault.

We can test the steam path and establish whether the problem is isolated to the wand or part of a wider machine fault.

Water comes from the wrong outlet

WHAT YOU MAY NOTICE

You may select steam or hot water but see water coming from the group head instead.

You may also notice water appearing from the wrong outlet during startup or while changing functions.

SAFE NEXT STEP

Switch the machine off and allow it to cool.

Try the machine once again after restarting it to confirm whether the incorrect routing is repeatable.

If water continues to come from the wrong outlet, do not keep cycling through the functions in an attempt to clear it.

HOW WE CAN HELP

If the machine is moving water but sending it to the wrong place, that points more towards an internal valve or control issue than a failed pump.

We can test each water path and establish why the machine is not directing water correctly.

Bambino not heating properly

WHAT YOU MAY NOTICE

Coffee may be much cooler than normal, steam may be weak, or the machine may appear to start normally but fail to produce properly heated water.

SAFE NEXT STEP

First preheat the cup and portafilter, as the Bambino itself heats very quickly and cold brewing equipment can make the finished drink seem cooler.

If the brewing water or steam itself still seems unusually cool, switch the machine off, allow it to cool and restart it once.

If the issue persists, avoid repeatedly trying to compensate by extending steaming or extraction times.

HOW WE CAN HELP

If the machine genuinely is not reaching its expected temperature, the problem may sit within the heating system, temperature sensing or the electronics controlling it.

We can test the actual water and steam temperatures/pressure and diagnose the underlying fault.

Water leaking underneath the Bambino

WHAT YOU MAY NOTICE

You may find water underneath or behind the machine while brewing or steaming.

The leak may be occasional at first and become more noticeable over time.

SAFE NEXT STEP

Check that the water tank and drip tray are fitted correctly and are not cracked or overflowing.

Some water around the drip tray can also be normal after the machine purges.

If water appears to be coming from inside the machine rather than the tray, unplug it and allow it to cool.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Leaks can develop from internal seals, connections, pumps or other water-carrying components.

The place where water appears underneath the machine is not always where the leak began.

We can operate the machine under test, identify the actual source and repair the affected component.