Why is Delonghi Espresso Machine Making Weak Coffee?

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We need a strong espresso shot from our beloved Delonghi machine. But what if it starts creating weaker coffee? This is problematic. So here are quick reasons why is the Delonghi espresso machine making weak coffee.

1. The coffee beans are not fresh, or the grind needs to be more coarse.
2. The water temperature needs to be hotter.
3. The coffee-to-water ratio is incorrect.
4. The coffee maker is not clean.
5. The filter is clogged or needs to be replaced.
6. The brewing time is too short.
7. The machine is malfunctioning or needs to be descaled.
8. The type of coffee being used is not suitable for the machine.

These common reasons can cause your espresso machine to make weak coffee. Thankfully, you can fix each problem right at home. 

Below in this article, I describe how to fix your weak coffee issue. And how to get the perfect coffee that inspires you. So, let’s dig into the solutions. 

8 Reasons Delonghi Espresso Machine Making Weak Coffee With Solutions 

Reason 1: The Coffee Beans Are Not Fresh, or the Grind is Too Coarse

If you’re using old beans or the grind needs to be more coarse, your espresso might appear weaker than expected. Freshly-roasted beans are always best for making espresso, so buy freshly roasted beans from a trusted source. 

Additionally, the grind needs to be fine. If it’s too coarse, the water will pass through the grounds quickly, resulting in strong coffee.

Solution: 

Make sure you buy fresh beans from a reputable source and use a burr grinder to get a consistent and fine grind size.

Reason 2: The Water Temperature is Not Hot Enough

If the water temperature isn’t hot enough when brewing your espresso, it will taste weak and sour. DeLonghi machines should automatically heat the water to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Still, if yours isn’t reaching that temperature, it could be an issue with either the heating element or the thermostat.

Solution: 

Check the heating element and thermostat to ensure they are working properly. If not, they may need to be replaced or reset accordingly. 

If everything seems to be functioning normally, try increasing the water temperature setting on your machine. Then see if that helps improve the taste of your espresso.

Reason 3: The Coffee-to-water Ratio is Incorrect  

A common mistake many people make when making espresso is using too little coffee relative to water. This can result in an overly weak cup of espresso. So if this sounds like something you’ve been doing, it might explain why your coffee has been coming out weak lately.  

Solution 3: 

Ensure you use enough coffee for each shot (around 7-9 grams). And adjust until you get the desired flavor profile from your espresso shots.

Additionally, ensure not to overfill your portafilter since this can lead to channeling. And further leading to weaker-tasting shots of espresso due to under extraction of flavors from the grounds.

Reason 4: The Coffee Maker Is Not Clean  

Suppose your De’Longhi machine hasn’t been cleaned in a while. In that case, it may not be producing as strong-tasting shots of espresso anymore. Which is due to accumulated residue or buildup on its internal components (such as its boiler).

Solution 4: 

Make sure you regularly clean all parts of your machine according to its user manual instructions. 

Including descaling/cleaning out any built-up residue on its boiler or other internal components (like its shower screen). Doing so should help restore some of its lost performance over time and help improve the strength/taste of its shots of espresso again.

Reason 5: The Filter is Clogged or Needs to Be Replaced

The filter in your espresso machine needs to be clean to make good-quality coffee. Over time, oils from the beans build up on the filter and cause it to become clogged. 

Solution 5:

You can clean the filter by soaking it in hot water for 15 minutes and then scrubbing it with a soft brush. If your filter is still clogged after cleaning, it is probably time to replace it.

Reason 6: The Brewing Time is Too Short

If your brewing time is too short, you will need more time for all the flavors of the beans to be extracted into the cup. 

Solution 6:

To ensure that you are extracting all of the flavor possible from your beans, you should adjust your brewing time according to the bean type. For example, if you are using light roast beans, you should increase your brewing time as they require more extraction than darker roasts.

Also Read: Delonghi Espresso Machine Troubleshooting – 7 Problems Fixed

Reason 7: The Machine is Malfunctioning

Your espresso machine needs regular descaling to maintain optimal performance. This process involves removing any scale buildup accumulated over time due to hard water usage or minerals from the beans. 

If you do not regularly descale your machine, it may start producing weak coffee due to improper extraction caused by scale buildup on crucial components such as pumps or valves.  

You can purchase an espresso descaler solution online or in most specialty coffee stores and use it according to package instructions to descale your machine properly.

Reason 8: The Type of Coffee Being Used Is Not Suitable for Your Machine

Different types of coffee require different grinds for them to perform their best when brewed with an espresso machine. 

For instance, if you are using dark roasted beans, they will need a finer grind than light roasted beans, which require a coarser grind setting on the grinder to extract correctly when brewed with an espresso machine. Make sure you use a grind size appropriate for the type of bean, as this can greatly impact how strong (or weak) your final cup turns out.

What Causes Weak Coffee?

There are several reasons why your espresso may need to be stronger than you’d like. Here are some common causes and what you can do about them:

• Not Using Enough Coffee Grounds: If your espresso is coming out weak, chances are it’s because you’re not using enough coffee grounds in the first place. You should use 2 tablespoons (10 grams) of finely ground espresso beans for every 6 ounces (or 180 mL) of water.
• Water Temperature Is Too Low: Another possible cause is that the water temperature in your machine isn’t high enough when brewing the espresso. Most machines should reach around 195°F/90°C when brewing, so make sure yours is set to that temperature before starting the brew cycle.
• Not Tamping Properly: To get a good extraction from the grinds, they must be tamped firmly into the portafilter basket before brewing. If they’re not pressed down properly, then the water won’t flow through them correctly, resulting in a weaker cup of espresso. Ensure you’re tamping down with 30-35 pounds (14-16 kg) of force so that everything gets evenly packed into the basket for optimal extraction.
• Tamper Size Is Wrong: The size of your tamper can also affect how well your grinds are extracted during brewing, so make sure that it’s compatible with your portafilter basket size before using it to tamp down the grinds.

Also Read: Why is Espresso Machine Overheating? How to Avoid It?

Conclusion

Making great-tasting espresso requires precision and attention to detail. Otherwise, you could end up with a cup of watered-down disappointment instead. 

Hopefully this blog post has helped shed some light on why your De’Longhi machine might have been producing weaker cups of coffee. I provided potential solutions for returning on track with brewing delicious espressos again soon.