Our pucks come out wet and soupy. Is the machine broken?

Not by itself. On many ECM groups the puck stays wet, because the release at the end of the shot vents pressure without pulling the water off the puck. If the portafilter sprays when you remove it, or the group keeps dripping, the release path needs a look. Otherwise a slightly finer grind or a fuller dose usually dries the puck.

Should we send our portafilter and baskets with the machine?

Yes. Many group and gasket faults only show with the baskets you actually use. Bag them on their own so they do not rattle against the machine, and include any aftermarket basket or shower screen you have fitted.

The handle is harder to lock than it used to be. What changed?

Usually one of three things: a new gasket that has not bedded in, a dose too high for the basket, or scale building on the group lip. Try a lighter dose first. If the handle stays stiff, the gasket and group need a look on the bench.

ECM · LOS GATOS

Service · All ECM Models

ECM Espresso Machine Repair · Los Gatos, CA

ECM group and portafilter repair for Los Gatos, from Almond Grove and Belgatos to Blossom Hill and Monte Sereno.

$150 pickup deposit. Pickup, bench diagnosis, and return are included. The deposit is not credited toward the repair. Repair work is quoted separately.
Bench diagnosis: up to one week. Most repairs: 3–4 weeks.
Same-day pickup may be available. Same-day repair is not offered.
CSLB #1136642

Call (925) 999-4095

ECM in Los Gatos

ECM in Los Gatos kitchens.

Some complaints that sound like machine faults start at the portafilter. A basket filled too high presses into the shower screen and locks the handle tight. A wet, soupy puck can be normal on one machine and a sign of a failing group valve on another. Grounds in the cup can come from a worn basket or a gasket that no longer holds the basket still. We sort out which is which before quoting, so you do not pay for a part the machine did not need.

For a pickup from Almond Grove, Belgatos, Blossom Hill or Monte Sereno, send the portafilter and the baskets you use along with the machine. On our bench we check the basket fit, the gasket, the shower screen and the valve inside the group. The written quote names what needs work, and it waits for your yes.

$150 pickup deposit. Pickup, bench diagnosis, and return are included. The deposit is not credited toward the repair. Repair work is quoted separately. Bench diagnosis can take up to one week; most repairs take 3–4 weeks. Same-day pickup may be available, but same-day repair is not offered. 6 months on parts and labor; 90 days on consumables.

Common repairs we do

What we repair on the bench.

Portafilter stuck in the group after a shot. An overfilled basket, a swollen gasket, or a group valve that holds pressure after brewing can each lock the handle. We check dose against basket size, replace the gasket and screen if needed, and test that the group releases pressure when the lever comes down.
Grounds in the cup. A basket with a split or stretched holes, or a gasket that lets the basket shift under pressure, can pass grounds into the shot. We inspect each part, replace the worn one, and check the fit with your own baskets.
Lever down, but pressure stays in the portafilter. When the brew lever closes, the group should vent the pressure above the puck into the drip tray. A scaled or worn valve inside the group holds it instead, and removing the portafilter sprays grounds. We clean or replace the valve parts and recheck the release.

Models we service

ECM product lines.

espresso machines

Pricing and warranty

What it costs. What we stand behind.

$150

Pickup deposit. Pickup, bench diagnosis, and return included. Repair quoted separately.
3–4 weeks

Most repairs. Bench diagnosis can take up to one week.
6 / 90

6 months on repair parts. 90 days on consumables.

Recent work

ECM jobs we have closed.

Walnut Creek, CA · Home Espresso Machine, E61 Group

ECM Espresso Machine in Walnut Creek: Scale-Blocked Valve Replaced and Full Maintenance

A Walnut Creek home barista's ECM espresso machine had one of its boiler valves blocked solid with scale. The fitting behind it was crusted shut, so the machine could not do what that valve is there for, and the rest of the water path was on the same track.
Read case →

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Nearby cities

ECM service in neighboring cities.

More cities

ECM across our service area.

FAQ

ECM in Los Gatos questions, answered.

Our pucks come out wet and soupy. Is the machine broken?

Not by itself. On many ECM groups the puck stays wet, because the release at the end of the shot vents pressure without pulling the water off the puck. If the portafilter sprays when you remove it, or the group keeps dripping, the release path needs a look. Otherwise a slightly finer grind or a fuller dose usually dries the puck.
Should we send our portafilter and baskets with the machine?

Yes. Many group and gasket faults only show with the baskets you actually use. Bag them on their own so they do not rattle against the machine, and include any aftermarket basket or shower screen you have fitted.
The handle is harder to lock than it used to be. What changed?

Usually one of three things: a new gasket that has not bedded in, a dose too high for the basket, or scale building on the group lip. Try a lighter dose first. If the handle stays stiff, the gasket and group need a look on the bench.
What does the ECM pickup deposit cover?

$150 pickup deposit. Pickup, bench diagnosis, and return are included. The deposit is not credited toward the repair. Repair work is quoted separately.
How long does ECM bench repair take?

Bench diagnosis can take up to one week; most repairs take 3–4 weeks. Same-day pickup may be available, but same-day repair is not offered.
What warranty applies to ECM coffee-machine repair?

6 months on parts and labor; 90 days on consumables.

Need ECM service in Los Gatos?

Tell us what the machine is doing. We will confirm pickup.