Our Citiz started to make watery espresso. It does this on the normal espresso setting or on the lungo setting. It starts out coffee color and then it quickly runs clear. It isn’t creama- it is CLEAR and makes it taste like an Americano (yuck!). We did the descale thing just in case- no difference. We tried every brand of coffee pods out there (of course including Nespresso)- no difference. Is there anything you would suggest trying?
Posted May 31, 2021, 1:18 PM UTC
Maybe you have accidentaly increased the amount of water running through each pod? Try measuring if an espresso really is 40 ml for you
Mine ran clear once when I used a Starbucks by Nespresso pod. It had been crushed up and got stuck inside the capsule area (it never deployed after it was finished). Maybe check your machine for stuck pods?
Have you checked what the capsule looks like after it's perforated? It sounds like the machine might not be perforating them properly
Adding to some of the good advice you have received already (reset to factory the settings, check the brewing chamber, check the pods if they are fully perforated at both ends, lots of water in the collection bin, etc.). Weigh the extraction, see if you get the prescribed weight, ~40 g/1.3 oz for an espresso.
Unfortunately, there are no machine techs here on the sub.
Water that exits clear is either bypassing the capsule because of a defective brewing chamber or passing through a defective capsule; there really are no other ways for water to get from the pump tube to the exit tube. Remove the used capsule bin and check if water is also streaming down the interior while brewing. That indicates a damaged o-ring seal at the rear of the brewing chamber.
DIY Nespresso repairs are possible but not easy due to the assembly methods and specialized bits. The cost of factory service (US$150) may be more than you could spend simply replacing the unit.