Gaggia Velasca Black Operating instructions

TROUBLESHOOTING
English Version
Velasca Black & Velasca Prestige

Troubleshooting VELASCA Black & Prestige
GRINDER
MILK
NOISE
FUNCTIONALITY
DISPLAY
BREW GROUP
POWER/CHARGING/BATTERY LIFE
LEAKING
DISPENSING
PERFORMANCE
ALARM
ERROR NOTIFICATIONS

GRINDER
My GAGGIA espresso machine does not grind the coffee beans.
In the unfortunate event your GAGGIA espresso machine will not grind the coffee beans, the coffee funnel may be blocked
Unblock the coffee funnel with a spoon handle
•1) Switch the machine OFF and wait until you hear no more sounds (this can take up to 15-20 seconds).
•2) Remove the brew group.
•3) Open the lid of the pre-ground coffee funnel and place the spoon handle into the funnel.
Note: If there is no pre-ground coffee funnel, insert the spoon handle into the coffee funnel from below
•4) Move the handle up and down until the clogged ground coffee falls down. Note: Some force may be required
•5) Remove all fallen ground coffee and place back the brew group.
•6) Brew an espresso.
•7) After brewing, check if the funnel is still free from ground coffee. If not, repeat the unblocking procedure.
To prevent the coffee funnel from getting blocked:
•Do not pour/spill any water into the coffee bean container
•Clean the coffee funnel weekly

GRINDER
If your GAGGIA espresso machine will not grind the coffee beans but the grinder is turning,
unblock the coffee funnel and change the grind setting.
Unblock the coffee funnel, perform extra cleaning
Unblock the coffee funnel with a spoon handle and clean with a vacuum cleaner
1. Switch the machine OFF and wait until you hear no more sounds (this can take up to 15-20 seconds).
2. Remove the brew group.
3. Open the lid of the pre-ground coffee funnel and place the spoon handle into the funnel.
Note; If there is no pre-ground coffee funnel, insert the spoon handle into the coffee funnel from below
4. Move the handle up and down until the clogged ground coffee falls down. Note: Some force may be required.
5. Remove all fallen ground coffee with a vacuum cleaner.
6. Then put the vacuum cleaner on the outlet of the coffee funnel and cover the pre-ground coffee funnel with your hand. Or
visa versa, put the vacuum cleaner on the top and cover the bottom.
7. Place back the brew group, switch the machine back on and brew an espresso.
8. After brewing, check if the funnel is still free from ground coffee. If not, repeat the unblocking procedure.
To prevent the coffee funnel from getting blocked:
•Do not pour/spill any water into the coffee bean container
•Clean the coffee funnel weekly

GRINDER
Change the grind setting to a coarser grind
•Change the grind setting to a coarser grind
•The grind setting know is placed in the bean container. For some machines you need an extra tool to change the grind
setting, the multi-functional tool.
•Place a cup under the dispensing spout.
•Press the button to brew a large coffee
•When the grinder starts to grind the beans, press the grinder adjustment knob down and turn the knob one notch at a time.
Stop turning when the grinder stops grinding. For some machines you need to use the multi-functional key (coffee scoop)
to change the setting. Place the back-end of the pre-ground coffee scoop on the grinder adjustment knob, press it down
and then adjust one notch).
•Brew a cup of espresso and adjust again when needed.

MILK
My VELASCA PRESTIGE espresso machine does not froth the milk.
In the unfortunate event your GAGGIA espresso machine's milk carafe won't froth the milk, there might be a simple solution.
The milk carafe/parts are dirty
1. Detach all parts and clean them with warm water /washing-up liquid
2. For a thorough cleaning use the Gaggia Milk circuit cleaner
3. When cleaning does not improve the milk frothing result, descale your machine. Internal circuits might be clogged up with
scale
The milk carafe dispensing spout is not completely pulled out or set in the correct position
•Pull the dispensing spout of the milk carafe fully out, set to milk froth
Different types of milk result in different amounts of froth and froth qualities
We have tested the following milk types which proved to deliver a good milk froth result:
•Semi-skimmed or full-fat cow’s milk
•Soy milk
•Lactose free milk
When cleaning does not improve the milk frothing result, descale your machine. Internal circuits might be clogged up with scale.

MILK
My VELASCA BLACK espresso machine does not froth the milk.
Using a Classic Milk frother or Pannarello
The Classic Milk Frother/Pannarello parts are dirty
1. Remove the external and upper part and clean them with warm water /washing-up liquid
2. Use cold milk (approx. 5°C / 41°F) and froth the milk by gently swirling the container and moving it up and down
3. Clean the steam wand with a wet cloth
4. Check the steam wand on clogging. If there is dirt remove it with a needle
When cleaning does not improve the milk frothing result, descale your machine. Internal circuits might be clogged up with scale.

NOISE
My GAGGIA espresso machine makes squeaking sounds
If your GAGGIA espresso machine makes high-pitched noises while brewing coffee, there is no need to worry.
Moving parts on the inside
Your GAGGIA espresso machine is working vigorously on the inside to brew you a nice cup of coffee. Sometimes this is
accompanied by scratching sounds, which is normal and does not affect the quality of your coffee.
Cleaning and maintenance:
•Weekly remove and rinse the brew group under the tap.
•Grease the brew group with the Philips / Saeco grease. frequency depending or brewed cups per day.
•When brewing 1-5 cups per day, grease every 4 months
•When brewing 6-10 per day, grease every 2 months
•When brewing more then 10 cups per day, grease every month

NOISE
My GAGGIA espresso machine makes an odd noise
Sounds are normal when using your GAGGIA espresso machine. If you hear unusual sounds, discover here what could cause
this and how to easily resolve it.
The coffee funnel is blocked by ground coffee
Unblock the coffee funnel with a spoon handle
1. Switch the machine OFF and wait until you hear no more sounds (this can take up to 15-20 seconds)
2. Remove the brew group
3. Open the lid of the pre-ground coffee funnel and place the spoon handle into the funnel
Note; If there is no pre-ground coffee funnel, insert the spoon handle into the coffee funnel from below
4. Move the handle up and down until the clogged ground coffee falls down Note: Some force may be required
5. Remove all fallen ground coffee and place back the brew group
6. Brew an espresso
7. After brewing, check if the funnel is still free from ground coffee. If not, repeat the unblocking procedure
To prevent the coffee funnel from getting blocked
1. Do not pour/spill any water into the coffee bean container
2. Clean the coffee funnel weekly
There are coffee beans trapped under the water tank
1. Remove the water tank
2. Remove any beans that are located at the bottom of water tank compartment
3. Place back the water tank filled with water
4. Restart the machine by switching it OFF and back ON

NOISE
The brew group is clogged by dirt or not well greased
1. Switch the machine OFF and wait until you hear no more sounds (this can take up to 15-20 seconds)
2. Remove the brew group and rinse it with fresh water, especially the filter on the brew group
3. Make sure the brew group is well greased, see movie for instructions
4. Place back the brew group, coffee grounds container, drip tray and close the service door
5. Switch the machine back ON
For a thorough cleaning of the brew group, use the coffee oil remover tablet
The machine needs to be descaled
Descale the machine with the GAGGIA decalcifier. Lime-scale deposits in the water circuit can also cause unusual sounds.
The grind setting is set to a fine grind
1. Adjust the grind setting to a courser grind
You can adjust the grind settings by the knob inside the bean container.
2. Only adjust the grind settings when the machine is grinding coffee beans
3. Place a cup under the coffee spout
4. Press the 'Espresso' button to brew a coffee
5. When the grinder starts grinding, place the grinder adjustment key on the grinder adjustment knob
6. Push it down and turn it one notch to the left or to the right to adjust the setting

FUNCTIONALITY
There is coffee powder in the interior/under the brew group
Ground coffee in the interior or under the brew group can have various causes. Most causes do not directly lead to a ??technical default.
Powder during first time use
Some coffee powder was left behind after testing
We test all machines before leaving the factory. Although your machine has been carefully cleaned, there might be some coffee residual left.
We guarantee however that the appliance is absolutely new.
Powder when brewing a pre-ground coffee
Only use one stroked coffee spoon of pre-ground coffee with the provided coffee spoon
1. Restart the machine by switching it off and back on
2. Select pre-ground coffee with the aroma strength button
3. Add one stroked coffee spoon of pre-ground coffee
4. Press the espresso button
Powder after some days of usage
This is normal behavior due to the fineness of coffee powder
1. Because of the fineness of the ground coffee powder, some coffee powder residues in the interior and under the brew group are
normal
2. Weekly clean the brew group and the inside of your machine with a damp cloth
There is an increase of coffee powder that ends up in the interior/under the brew group
The piston of the brew group is not well greased
1. Switch the machine OFF and wait until you hear no more sounds (this can take up to 15-20 seconds)
2. Remove the brew group and rinse it with fresh water, especially the filter on the brew group
3. Make sure the brew group is well greased
4. Place back the brew group, coffee grounds container, drip tray and close the service door
5. Switch the machine back ON

DISPLAY
The display of my GAGGIA machine is not working
Is the power cord connected correctly to your GAGGIA coffee machine?
Check if the power cord is connected properly on the reverse side. Especially the part that goes into the machine.
The power cord is connected but the display is still not switching on.
Try another power socket.
If the machine is still not switching on, please send your GAGGIA coffee machine to service.

BREW GROUP
I cannot insert the brew group into my espresso machine
Set the brew group in a neutral position
1. Place back the coffee ground container and close the service door. NOTE: Leave the brew group out.
2. Press the power button to turn off the espresso machine
3. Wait at least 5 seconds and turn on the espresso machine.
4. Set the brew group in a neutral position before inserting it. Watch our video for clear instructions.
5. Push the black lever all the way down
6. Align the two arrows on the yellow circle
7. Push the yellow lock pin in an upwards position
8. Remove the coffee ground container, open the service door and insert the brew group.
Did this not solve the issue? Please contact us.
Check if the power cord is connected properly on the reverse side. Especially the part that goes into the machine.

BREW GROUP
I cannot remove the brew group from my espresso machine
Set the machine in a neutral position
1. Close the service door, place back the coffee ground container and drip tray.
2. Press the ON/OFF button to switch the machine OFF. Wait until the machine is completely switched OFF and you hear no
more sounds (this can take up to 15-20 seconds).
3. Press the ON/OFF button to switch the machine ON. Wait until the machine is completely switched ON and you hear no
more sounds.
Do not take any actions as opening the service door/removing drip tray or coffee ground container before the machine is
ready for use.
4. Remove the drip tray and coffee ground container.
5. Open the service door and try again to remove the brew group. Push the handle to the side and pull the brew group towards
you.
Machine is still in descaling mode
During descaling the brew group can never be removed. First finish the descaling process and then try again to remove the brew
group.
Tips for easier removing
Turn the machine about 45 degrees so that you face the brew group when you open the service door.

POWER/CHARGING/BATTERY LIFE
My GAGGIA espresso machine does not switch on
Check the power cord
1. Make sure the electrical cord is inserted correctly. Push the power cord firmly into the coffee machine and the power socket.
2. Check if the power button at the back of the coffee machine is switched on.
Connect to another power socket
Check if there are too many appliances connect to the power supply group.
Try to connect the machine on an another power socket
All solutions are not working
In case all the solutions are not working, the machine needs service.

LEAKING
My GAGGIA espresso machine is leaking
What is the color of the water that leaked and where is it leaking?
1. Brownish water / water containing coffee particles in the drip tray or under the machine, see possible causes 1,2,3
2. Lots of clear water under the machine, see possible cause 4
3. Coffee / water is leaking behind the coffee spout, see possible cause 5
Cause 1: the drip-tray is full and overflown
1. If you see water in the drip tray do not worry. This is water from the self-rinsing cycles made by the machine during use,
which ends up directly in the drip tray.
2. To prevent the drip tray from overflowing:
3. Empty the drip tray when the 'drip tray full indicator’ pops up through the drip tray cover
4. Fully insert the water tank
5. Before you start descaling the machine, make sure that the drip trays are empty
6. Place the machine on a horizontal surface
Cause 2: the drip tray is removed during use
If the drip tray is removed, it cannot collect anymore the water drops that fall from the brew group. This is normal behavior. Dry
the space under the machine.

LEAKING
Cause 3: The brew group or coffee residue drawer is clogged
1. Switch the machine OFF and wait until you hear no more sounds (this can take up to 15-20 seconds)
2. Remove the brew group and rinse it with fresh water, especially the filter on the brew group
3. Clean the area under the brew group with a damp cloth
4. Place back the brew group, coffee grounds container, drip tray and close the service door
5. Switch the machine back ON
Cause 4: Lots of clear water under the machine
The water tank is not fully inserted, make sure you push it to the back as far as possible.
If this does not solve the problem, please contact our Consumer Care Center to help you out as the machine might need service.

DISPENSING
My GAGGIA espresso machine only dispenses a few drops of coffee
If your GAGGIA espresso machine dispenses only a few drops, this can have various causes. Find out how to easily resolve this
by following these simple steps.
The brew group is clogged by dirt of not well greased
1. Switch the machine OFF and wait until you hear no more sounds (this can take up to 15-20 seconds)
2. Remove the brew group and rinse it with fresh water, especially the filter on the brew group
3. Make sure the brew group is well greased, see movie for instructions
4. Place back the brew group, coffee grounds container, drip tray and close the service door
5. Switch the machine back ON
The coffee spout is clogged
Clean the coffee spout with a pipecleaner/needle
When using anAquaClean Filter
1. The AquaClean filter is not well prepared or the filter is clogged
2. Remove the filter from the water tank.
3. Immerse the filter upside down in cold water and wait until no more air bubbles emerge
4. Place back the filter in the water tank and first dispense 2-3 cups of hot water. Then dispense an espresso
5. If it still does not work, remove the filter from the water tank
6. Dispense 2-3 cups of hot water and then an espresso. If this works, the filter is clogged and needs to be replaced

DISPENSING
The machine needs to be descaled
Descale the machine with the GAGGIA decalcifier. Internal circuits might be clogged up with scale
The grind setting is set to a fine grind
Adjust the grind setting to a coarser grind
1. You can adjust the grind settings by the knob inside the bean container
*Only adjust the grind settings when the machine is grinding coffee beans
2. Place a cup under the coffee spout
3. Press the 'Espresso' button to brew a coffee
4. When the grinder starts grinding, place the grinder adjustment key on the grinder adjustment knob
5. Push it down and turn it one notch to the left or to the right to adjust the setting
During first time use it is normal behavior
It is normal that the first brewed cups can be watery as the GAGGIA adapting system is still adjusting. Brew 5-7 more cups of
coffee.

DISPENSING
The coffee brewed with my GAGGIA espresso machine is watery
Your GAGGIA espresso machine brewing watery coffee can have several causes. Discover how to easily resolve this and enjoy your
espresso machine.
During first time use it is normal behavior
It is normal that the first brewed cups can be watery as the GAGGIA adapting system is still adjusting. Brew 5-7 more cups of coffee.
The brew group is clogged by dirt or not well greased
1. Switch the machine OFF and wait until you hear no more sounds (this can take up to 15-20 seconds)
2. Remove the brew group and rinse it with fresh water, especially the filter on the brew group
3. Make sure the brew group is well greased, see movie for instructions
4. Place back the brew group, coffee grounds container, drip tray and close the service door
5. Switch the machine back ON
For a thorough cleaning of the brew group, use the coffee oil remover tablet
The coffee funnel is blocked by ground coffee. Unblock the coffee funnel with a spoon handle
1. Switch the machine OFF and wait until you hear no more sounds (this can take up to 15-20 seconds)
2. Remove the brew group
3. Open the lid of the pre-ground coffee funnel and place the spoon handle into the funnel
Note; If there is no pre-ground coffee funnel, insert the spoon handle into the coffee funnel from below
4. Move the handle up and down until the clogged ground coffee falls down. Note: Some force may be required
5. Remove all fallen ground coffee and place back the brew group
6. Brew an espresso
7. After brewing, check if the funnel is still free from ground coffee. If not, repeat the unblocking procedure
To prevent the coffee funnel from getting blocked
1. Do not pour/spill any water into the coffee bean container
2. Clean the coffee funnel weekly