Why Your Breville Has No Pressure: Reasons Revealed (2024)

It’s early morning, you’re still waking up, and you’re craving that perfect shot of espresso from your Breville. You fill the water tank, add fresh coffee beans to the grinder, tamp the grounds, and hit the button, expecting that exquisite espresso to stream into your cup. Except…your Breville has no pressure.

What a downer.

Instead of extracting at the ideal 9 bars of pressure, your espresso drips out at a snail’s pace, with no pressure at all.

If this has happened to you and you’re wondering why your Breville has no pressure, this article should help.

Your problem may be related to the water supply, the internal system, temperature regulation, or a handful of other factors. So, let’s jump in. After all, we want you pulling perfect shots again in no time; so, we’re under a bit of pressure here.

Water Supply Issues

First, we need to ensure water can properly enter the espresso machine. If the water tank is empty, the lines are disconnected or clogged, or if sediment buildup is blocking flow, you won’t have pressure.

Similarly, if the solenoid valve, which precisely controls water flow, or if the water pump itself fails, water won’t enter correctly.

Start troubleshooting here by checking the following:

Ensure the water tank is filled to the max.
Inspect lines and tubes leading to the coffee machine for any leaks/clogs.
Check if the pump makes noise and vibrates as it tries to build pressure.
Test if the steam wand or hot water discharge still works (indicates the pump works).

If no or little water comes through, issues with the lines themselves or pump/valve electrical failures are likely preventing flow into the coffee grounds basket and will need repair.

Breville Internal System Issues

Assuming water is flowing inside normally, specific internal failures can also lead to inadequate or no pressure.

First, the over-pressure valve is designed to release excess pressure over 9 bars back into the water tank. If this small valve develops leaks or fails, pressure can continuously drop as fast as the pump tries building it.

Listen closely while making espresso to hear if there’s air hissing out anywhere, and have this replaced if the leaking persists.

Next is an inadequate seal around the group head where pressurized water enters the coffee grounds basket. There is a rubber group gasket between these components, which can wear, crack, or even get small coffee grounds lodged under it over time.

This allows pressure to leak out no matter how the pump performs. You’ll need to thoroughly clean the group head area and likely replace this inexpensive part.

Lastly, if the group head itself gets blocked with mineral buildup from years of using tap water or small debris trapped in its screen, pressurized water can’t enter the grounds bed normally.

You need to inspect this area while running the machine, taking note if any jets of water make it through. Descaling maintenance or wiping the metal filter screen can typically resolve this.

Catch these issues early before the pressure disappears completely.

Temperature Regulation Issues

Espresso extraction relies on heating water to the optimal 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit range. So, any problems with heating elements, sensors, or components such as the thermoblock or thermocoil maintaining proper temps can therefore also contribute to low or no pressure.

What you need to do is monitor extraction temperature closely, running a descaling solution if below the ideal range. Have a technician test heating equipment and electronics if adjustable PID settings don’t resolve.

Getting back to proper operating temperature is crucial for pressure.

Other Issues

A couple of other less common issues could also lead to weak or no pressure while pulling your morning shot of espresso.

Electrical failures are rare, but damaged wiring, problems with the power supply feeding key components like the pump, or even control board issues can prevent proper operation.

You won’t be able to diagnose these yourself—the machine will power on but there will still be zero pressure happening.

In these cases, it’s best to unplug the espresso machine and have an appliance repair shop fully assess the electronics.

A damaged power switch or internal computer board typically needs professional replacement.

Electricity short circuit Electrical failure resulting in electricity wire burnt

Troubleshooting Tips

Hopefully checking water supply components, internal seals and valves, temperature control, and electricals will reveal why your Breville has little to no pressure.

Here are some useful troubleshooting tips as well when trying to diagnose issues:

Always check the easiest solutions like filling the water tank first before disassembling complex parts.
Consult detailed step-by-step repair guides both online and in your machine’s manual when testing components.
Consider getting your coffee maker professionally cleaned and pressure tested annually to catch problems early.
Use a pressurized filter basket if all else fails to simulate adequate pressure.

Proper preventative maintenance goes a long way to consistently pulling flavorful shots.

The Final Scoop

It can be frustrating when you want nothing more than a perfect hot cup of coffee but your home espresso machine fails at the last step, stopping you from enjoying that caramel colored 30ml shot of espresso. No pressure means a poor extraction leading to weak or even no espresso in your cup.

By checking water flow issues from the tank, inspecting common leaks around internal valves and seals, monitoring temperature control, and assessing electronics, you should be able to accurately diagnose why your Breville has no pressure.

Identify and address any underlying problems before they worsen and interfere with your daily ritual! Here’s to finally sipping that aromatic espresso shot you’ve been craving from a fully functioning machine.