This can have several reasons:

1. Please check if the sealing ring in the brewing unit is properly seated and looks intact. If the sealing ring is defective, replace it (Art. 146674 or  145630). If the group handle can be “overtwisted” when clamping it, there might be a defect on the group handle holder. In this case please contact us.

2. The group handle is not inserted correctly: Insert the group handle in such a way that it is tight.

3. Coffee grounds are still on the edge of the group handle: Remove the excess coffee grounds

4. The brewing unit is dirty: Clean the brewing unit using a small brush. After that clean the brewing unit.

5. There are too much coffee grounds in the group handle so that it does not properly close with the brewing unit seal: Use less coffee grounds.

The outlet is not intended for being removed. You will need a new group handle.

Select a finer grinding level, increase the amount of coffee grounds OR try to tamp firmer.  Initially always change one of these variables only. The pressure gauge gives you a clue if the brewing pressure has increased after the a.m. parameters have been changed.    

This can have several reasons:

1. The unit is not connected to the power supply. à Check if the plug the unit is correctly plugged into the socket.

2. The brewing unit is dirty. Clean the brewing unit using a small brush. After that clean the brewing unit.

3. The unit is calcified. à Descale the unit according to the operating instructions.

This can have several reasons:

1. The unit has run dry or has not been used for a long time and must be vented: Open the hot water lance / steam lance in order to vent the unit.

2. The water tank has not been correctly placed: Make sure that the water tank is always placed correctly.   

This can have several reasons:

1. Check whether there is enough water in the water tank and fill the water tank with fresh water, if necessary.

2. The control knob for the steam lance / hot water lance is open: Turn off the control knob.

3. The unit has run dry / has not been used for a long time and must be vented: Open the hot water lance in order to vent the unit.   

Here it is about a so-called under-extraction (pressure on the pressure gauge keeps below the optimal range). This can have several reasons:

1. The coffee grounds have been ground too coarse: Set a finer grinding level for your coffee grinder.

2. The coffee grounds have not been sufficiently pressed / tamped in the filter screen: Tamp the coffee grounds a bit firmer.

3. The amount to grind / grinding quantity of coffee grounds in the filter screen is too little: Fill more coffee grounds into the filter screen.

4. The coffee grounds have not been freshly ground or old beans were used. Use fresh beans and always grind them directly fresh prior to each preparation. Already 10 minutes after grinding, the coffee grounds have lost more than 50% of their flavours.    

Here it is about a so-called over-extraction (pressure on the pressure gauge keeps below the optimal range). This can have several reasons:

1. The coffee grounds are ground too fine: Set a coarser grinding level on your coffee grinder.

2. The coffee grounds have been pressed (tamped) too firmly: Tamp the coffee grounds applying a little less pressure.

3. The amount to grind / grinding quantity of coffee grounds in the filter screen is too high: Fill less coffee grounds into the filter screen. In this case, it is possibly very difficult to clamp the group handle into the brewing group.

This can have several reasons:

1. The group handle is clogged: Empty the group handle and fill it again with fresh coffee grounds. Make sure you do not press the coffee grounds too firmly and the coffee grounds are not ground to fine.

2. The unit is calcified: Carry out a decalcification according to the operating instructions.

3. The brewing unit screen is soiled: Remove the brewing unit screen and thoroughly clean it using a dish-washing brush / a sponge and some detergent under running water.

This can have several reasons:

1. Cups, filter insert and group handle are cold or not sufficiently heated up. Always heat the entire circuit, thus including cups, filter insert and group handle before preparing espresso. Here we recommend a so-called "empty extraction" (without coffee grounds in the group handle): Let hot water for some seconds with the group handle clamped in with coffee grounds! Let coffee grounds run into the desired (espresso) cups in order to preheat all components.

2. The brewing temperature is too low: If possible, increase the temperature in the device settings (depending on model).  

This can have several reasons:

1. The coffee beans are too old or too dry: Use fresh beans and grind them directly prior to each preparation.

2. The coffee grounds are too coarse: Set a finer grinding level for your coffee grinder.

3. The coffee beans were stored too long or too warm: Pay attention to the storage location. However, to not put the beans into the refrigerator. We recommend to store the coffee beans at room temperature airtight in the original packaging (after removing the beans, force the air out of the packaging and close it) and to put the amount of beans required for approx. one day into the bean container of the coffee grinder. This way, the beans keep being fresh as long as possible.

4. Possibly pre-ground coffee from the supermarket was used. Always grind the coffee fresh and prior to each preparation.

5. The brewing unit and/or the brewing unit screen is soiled: Remove the brewing unit screen and thoroughly clean it using a dish-washing brush / a sponge and some detergent under running water. Then, with the machine switched off, clean the brewing unit thoroughly (in cold condition) using a damp cloth.

6. Cups are soiled or greasy: Clean the cups.

This can have several reasons:

1. Generally, pure Arabica espressos (100% Arabica) have a less or lighter crema than expresso mixtures with Robusta/Canephora share. For a nicer, voluminous and golden brown crema, GRAEF recommends an espresso mixture with a minimum 20-30% Robusta/Canephora share.

2. Espresso beans have been roasted too light: Take a different type of coffee with a darker, stronger roast.

3. The grinding level is set too coarse: Set a finer grinding level for your coffee grinder.

4. The amount to grind / grinding quantity of coffee grounds in the filter screen is too little: Fill more coffee grounds into the filter screen.

5. The brewing temperature is too low: If possible, increase the temperature in the device settings (depending on model).

6. Cups, filter insert and group handle are cold or not sufficiently heated up. Always heat the entire circuit, thus including cups, filter insert and group handle before preparing espresso. Here we recommend a so-called "empty extraction" (without coffee grounds in the group handle)*: Let hot water for some seconds with the group handle clamped in with coffee grounds! Let coffee grounds run into the desired (espresso) cups in order to preheat all components.

This can have several reasons:

1. Espresso beans have been roasted too dark: Take a different type of coffee with a lighter, less strong roast.

2. The grinding level is set too fine: Set a coarser grinding level on your coffee grinder.

3. The amount to grind / grinding quantity of coffee grounds in the filter screen is too high: Fill less coffee grounds into the filter screen.

4. The brewing temperature is too high: If possible, lower the temperature in the device settings (depending on model).

5. The cups are possibly too hot. Prior to preparation, warm up the cups only slightly or briefly.

This can have several reasons:

1. Espresso beans have been roasted too light or are not suitable for espresso preparation: Take a different type of espresso mixture with a darker, stronger roast.

2. The grinding level is set too coarse: Set a finer grinding level for your coffee grinder.

3. The amount to grind / grinding quantity of coffee grounds in the filter screen is too little: Fill some more coffee grounds into the screen.

4. Your coffee mixture has possibly an aid-intensive types of Arabica. Take a different coffee mixture with less acid-intensive types of Arabica.

5. The brewing temperature is too low: If possible, increase the temperature in the device settings (depending on model).

6. Cups, filter insert and group handle are cold or not sufficiently heated up. Always heat the entire circuit, thus including cups, filter insert and group handle before preparing espresso. Here we recommend a so-called “empty extraction” (without coffee grounds in the group handle): Let hot water for some seconds with the group handle clamped in with coffee grounds! Let coffee grounds run into the desired (espresso) cups in order to preheat all components.

This can have several reasons:

1. Espresso beans have been roasted too dark or too strongly. As a result, the espresso possibly tastes bitter or even burnt: Take a different type of coffee with a lighter, less strong roast.

2. The grinding level is set too fine: Set a coarser grinding level on your coffee grinder.

3. The amount to grind / grinding quantity of coffee grounds in the filter screen is too high: Fill less coffee grounds into the filter screen.

4. The brewing temperature is too high: If possible, lower the temperature in the device settings (depending on model).

5. The cups are possibly too hot. Prior to preparation, warm up the cups only slightly or briefly.

This can have several reasons:

1. The unit is soiled. Clean the brewing unit and the brewing head screen regularly, that is also the filter screens and the group handle.

2. The beans are of lower quality. Always ensure a high-grade quality and freshness of the beans.

3. The coffee beans are too old, possibly they are oxidised and thus rancid. Always ensure freshness of the coffee beans.

4. For an optimal flavour, use the coffee beans ideally within 3 to 4 weeks at the latest after opening the packaging.

This can have several reasons:

1. The ground coffee grounds are too old. Already 10 minutes after grinding, the coffee grounds have lost more than 50% of their flavours in the open air! Therefore always grind the coffee grounds freshly into the group handle and immediately after that prepare a fresh and aromatic espresso.

2. The coffee beans are too old, possibly they are oxidised and thus rancid. Always ensure freshness of the coffee beans.

3. The grinding level is set too coarse: Set a finer grinding level for your coffee grinder.

4. The beans are incorrectly stored. Store the beans in such a way that no oxygen and day light can get into the beans. This is best done by using the original bean packaging closed by a clip. In doing so, the air should be pressed out of the packaging in advance.

This can have several reasons:

1. The unit is calcified or soiled. Descale or clean the unit thoroughly.

2. The grinding level is set too coarse: Set a finer grinding level for your coffee grinder.

3. The coffee grounds were not tamped firmly enough. Try to tamp the coffee grounds a bit more firmly.

Clean the brewing unit always thoroughly, e.g. with a brewing head brush and the GRAEF cleaning tabs.

Possibly too few coffee grounds were filled into the group handle. Fill in more coffee grounds.

Clean the brewing unit always thoroughly, e.g. with a brewing head brush and the GRAEF cleaning tabs.

The grinding level is set too fine: Set a coarser grinding level on your coffee grinder.

The steam jet is possibly clogged. Descale the steam lance and clean the steam jet using the cleaning tool. You can also screw off the steam jet and clean it during the night in a container using water and some detergent.

This can have several reasons:

1. The milk is too warm. The milk should be well cooled before using it.

2. The steam jet is possibly clogged. Descale the steam lance and clean the steam jet using the cleaning tool. You can also screw off the steam jet and clean it during the night in a container using water and some detergent.

3. The steam jet is not correctly positioned in the milk. When frothing up, position the steam jet approx. 1 cm below the milk surface.

All circuits must be descaled one by one (see operating instructions). One circuit is not sufficient. Make sure that the water tank does not run empty during descaling. This can result in a malfunction.

The display is correct. Only the top left / right edge illuminates red. You can start the descaling program via the menu.

Instead of an inbus key, please use a 10 Torx bit. Should the screw cannot be used after that any more, we will be pleased to send you a replacement screw (slot). If you can neither loose the screw using a 10 Torx bit, please send it in, because we have a special tool in the central service.   

First insert the brewing head gasket. Then put the inner screen with the edge facing upward into the larger main screen. Then put this onto the brewing head and attach the screens to the brewing head using the small screw.

Note the following alignment of the individual components:

Basically, you can use the unit also without the water filter cartridge. This filters the water, however, before it gets into the lines of your machine. As a result, less lime deposits occur, leading to a longer service life.