Absolutely nothing dispensing — not even a drip — from the group head is different from a slow or weak pour. Work through these in order.
01Water tank empty or not seated
Check the tank level first, and confirm it's pushed down fully and locked into place — a tank that looks full but isn't seated correctly won't feed water to the pump. This is the same seating issue that can also prevent the machine from powering on at all.
02Air lock in the water system
If the tank was run completely dry before refilling, air can get trapped in the internal water lines, preventing the pump from drawing water even once the tank is refilled. Run the hot water function repeatedly (without the portafilter) to help purge trapped air — this often resolves itself after a few cycles.
03Severely clogged shower screen or group head
Heavy coffee oil buildup or scale can fully block the shower screen (the small perforated disc water passes through before reaching the puck). Remove and clean the shower screen per Breville's instruction manual, and consider a full descale if it's been a while.
04Failed pump
If the tank is full, properly seated, air has been purged, and the shower screen is clean, a failed pump is the remaining possibility — you should hear the pump's characteristic buzzing sound when the machine attempts to brew. Silence during a brew attempt, combined with all the above ruled out, points to pump failure requiring service.
| Symptom | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Tank recently refilled from empty | Air lock |
| Gradually got weaker over time | Clogged shower screen/scale |
| No pump sound at all during brew attempt | Failed pump |