Water flowing from the steam wand when you're trying to brew, with nothing from the group head, points to a specific internal valve issue rather than a general blockage.

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01Steam knob not fully closed

Check first that the steam knob is turned completely closed — even a small amount open can redirect flow away from the group head, especially if the knob has been recently used or bumped.

023-way solenoid valve stuck or clogged

The solenoid valve directs water either to the group head (brewing) or elsewhere depending on machine state. Scale or coffee sediment can cause it to stick in the wrong position. Backflushing with a blind basket and Cafiza cleaning powder can clear sediment — see our descaling and solenoid cleaning guide for the exact process.

03Air lock after running the tank dry

If the water tank was run empty recently, trapped air can cause the pump to draw from the wrong path. Refill the tank fully, and run the steam wand briefly (into a container) to help purge air from the system before attempting to brew again.

Quick check If backflushing doesn't resolve it, the solenoid valve itself may need professional cleaning or replacement — this is a known wear point on machines with years of hard-water use and infrequent backflushing.