Help needed trying to solve a Starbucks Barista problem

[mp]

I have a Starbucks Barista at work. It is teamed up with a Baratza grinder. It was descaled just before xmas. It does not get much use. It is used maybe 2 or 3 times a month. What is the problem ... glad you asked. I push the switch to pull a shot. I can hear the water pump starting. It goes on and on, but no water comes out of the portafilter. As I say I descaled it just before xmas and it was working great after that. The heat seems fine. It's just that the water does not seem to be coming out of the portafilter. Doing a search on the internet suggested that the water line may have formed an air pocket due to the lack of use and they suggested a turkey baster or suction bulb to get rid of the air bubble. That is the best thing that I could come up with so far.

I thought I would post this here as there is a lot of hardware talent lying around; I'm just not sure many have a Starbucks Barista, but I have faith someone will suggest something that I will give a go to that would potentially fix the problem.

Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions.

 

[milowebailey]

It sounds like scale to me.... I've never messed with a barista.... Might need a deep de-scale.

[mp]

It sounds like scale to me.... I've never messed with a barista.... Might need a deep de-scale.

Hmm ... thanks Larry ... I will ponder over your suggestion.

 

[grinderz]

Do you get plenty of water out of the shower head without the portafilter installed?  If so, your portafilter is probably stopped up inside. Most Barista's (which were rebranded Saeco's) came with a spring loaded plunger valve inside the portafilter that only opens up once sufficient pressure has built up. This was supposed to alleviate the need for the stupid consumer to have to tamp and adjust the grind.

If you want, you can take the portafilter apart and remove the pressure valve parts and just dose and tamp as with a regular portafilter.

[mp]

Do you get plenty of water out of the shower head without the portafilter installed?

No, water is not reaching the portaflter.

I did have a problem before with the portafilter with the water not coming out. I disassembled it then re-assembled it. That seemed to fix that problem.

The pump is on, I hear it, but the water does not make it out.

 

[milowebailey]

Could be the pump.  On does not always mean good.


Disconnect the pump from the boiler and see if water is flowing.

[grinderz]

And water does not flow out of the steam wand?

[RobertL]

Have you checked to see if the water is going anywhere else? The drip tray or leaking inside the machine. I'm not familiar with this machine, does it have a pressure relief?

[grinderz]

I'm pretty sure these things did not have an pressure relief valve. I think the pressurized portafilter was supposed to handle that.

[SJM]

Here's the parts list for the Barista

http://espressocare.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=009&DEPT=1158362623&CAT=1158972009&SUBCAT=1158974604&ADMIN=YES

Have you been descaling it regularly?
I'd pull out the brew valve (42-45) and take a look at it.  It is probably similar to the Gaggias without 3-way solenoids, and tends to get clogged with scale.  A straightened paperclip can be your best friend.

Susan

[sea330]

Scaling problem, or pump is cavating, unable to build head pressure, sucking air some were maybe bad pump seal ,tear down  and isolate is in order.

[mp]

Could be the pump.  On does not always mean good.


Disconnect the pump from the boiler and see if water is flowing.

Good point ... I was wondering about that myself. All I need to do is see if I can find a schematic of this machine so that I can figure out where to start.

Thank you for that.

 

[mp]

And water does not flow out of the steam wand?

Water does come out of the steam wand.

Hmm ... that would have to mean it is not the pump then. No?

Thanks for asking that.

 

[mp]

Have you checked to see if the water is going anywhere else? The drip tray or leaking inside the machine. I'm not familiar with this machine, does it have a pressure relief?

I can say nothing is wet on the exterior of the machine. I will have to look into how to take the cover off the machine in order to check what you've suggested.

I have no clue. I do know that it is a thermoblock unit.

Thank you for this.

 

[mp]

Here's the parts list for the Barista

http://espressocare.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=009&DEPT=1158362623&CAT=1158972009&SUBCAT=1158974604&ADMIN=YES

Have you been descaling it regularly?
I'd pull out the brew valve (42-45) and take a look at it.  It is probably similar to the Gaggias without 3-way solenoids, and tends to get clogged with scale.  A straightened paperclip can be your best friend.

Susan

Thank you for that diagram Susan. I appreciate it.

The former owner was regular descaling. I did it just before Christmas however the machine does not get much use, so not much water has run through it since then.

When I get some time I'll see if I can take it apart.