The Breville Duo Temp Pro is a quality semi-automatic espresso machine that serves as an excellent machine for coffee lovers who want to delve into the art of making excellent espresso.
No machine is perfect, though, and pulling the perfect balanced shot comes with a learning curve. We’ve put together a list of common problems and helpful solutions to help you through potential pitfalls when using this espresso machine.
The Most Common Breville Duo Temp Pro Problems And Solutions
Problem: Channeling
Channeling occurs when the pressurized water that is being used to brew your espresso shot doesn’t move evenly through the puck, but instead finds “paths of least resistance” in the puck and rushes through these cracks or pinholes. This leads to uneven extraction and a bad-tasting shot.
This problem can occur when you’re using a Breville Duo Temp Pro or any espresso machine, but don’t worry! We have some solutions for you to try.
Solution 1: Clean the Shower Screen
If you’re noticing channeling in your puck, try pulling out the portafilter to watch the water flow out of your group head. If the water doesn’t flow evenly, the problem could be a blocked or dirty shower screen.
Remove the shower screen and clean off any debris. Replace the shower screen and ensure that the water is now flowing freely from all around the group head, with no blocked areas.
Solution 2: Change Your Tamping Technique
Whether you’re using a Breville Duo Temp Pro or any other espresso machine, your tamping technique will always have an impact on the quality of your shot.
Be sure that your tamp is as level as possible – any tilting to one side or the other can cause the water to run to that side, causing channeling.
Solution 3: Adjust Your Grind
A fine coffee grind is important for a great-tasting espresso, but too fine a grind size can lead to channeling. If you’re finding channeling in your espresso puck, try adjusting to a slightly coarser grind.
Dialing in the perfect grind size can be a lot of trial and error, but the final result is well worth the effort!
Problem: Pump Has Lost Power
The Duo Temp Pro uses a vibratory pump, which is a small piston that moves back and forth to pump water through the machine. These pumps are small and inexpensive, making them ideal for home espresso machines, but they have a lifespan of around 5-6 years, so it’s conceivable that your espresso machine will outlast its pump.
If your machine isn’t pumping water at all, and you don’t hear the sound of your pump working, it’s a safe bet that it needs to be replaced.
If your pump is making unusual sounds or you feel that it isn’t pumping as well as it once did, do a test by running the pump with no portafilter in place. Around 250-300 ml of water flow in 30 seconds at 10 bars of pressure indicates a good flow. If your flow rate is too slow, your pump may be faulty.
Solution: Replace the Pump
It’s quite easy and inexpensive to replace the pump on your Breville Duo Temp Pro.
Purchase a replacement pump like this one.
The video below will give you an idea of how to replace the pump. While this video shows a Breville Infuser, the process for replacing the pump is the same for both machines.
Problem: The Steam Wand Is Not Producing Steam Or the Milk Texture Is Poor
If your steam wand isn’t producing steam or isn’t steaming sufficiently to create quality milk foam, don’t despair! First, check the simplest fixes: make sure that the dial is turned to “steam’ and that there is water in the tank.
If both of these easy fixes don’t solve the problem, there could be a blockage in your steam wand.
Solution: Unblock the Steam Wand
Your Breville Duo Temp Pro came with a cleaning tool that has a small pin on it. Insert this pin into the tip of the steam wand to try to clear out any blockages.
If this doesn’t get the steam flowing, use the wrench in the center of the cleaning tool (or any wrench that fits) to remove the tip of the wand. Clean the wand according to the instructions in your user manual.
Problem: Coffee Is Not Flowing From the Portafilter Basket
There’s nothing more disappointing than dosing and tamping your portafilter, only to watch a weak dribble of espresso, or worse, nothing at all, flow from the machine.
If espresso isn’t flowing from your portafilter, the culprit could be the espresso puck or the filter basket itself.
Solution 1: Tamp Less Firmly or Use Less Coffee
The Breville Duo Temp Pro is a semi-automatic espresso machine, which means it allows the user to tweak and adjust the shot. It also means there’s some room for error when dosing your portafilter. If the coffee is tamped too firmly or the dose is too large, water will be unable to flow through the puck.
Try using less coffee in your portafilter basket and tamping it less firmly to allow water to flow through.
Solution 2: Clean the Filter Basket
The small holes in your filter basket can become clogged, preventing the flow of water. Use a pin to clear the small holes in the filter basket. Then place the empty filter basket into the portafilter and run water from the machine through the basket.
If the coffee gunk in your basket is stubborn, you can dissolve a cleaning tablet in hot water and soak the filter basket overnight in this solution.
Happy Caffeinating!
