Krups Espresso Machine Not Heating? 5 Fixes

Quick Diagnosis: What's Causing Cold Espresso

Lukewarm Krups espresso is usually a setting or a cold cup, not a failed heater. All three Krups bean-to-cup manuals answer "The espresso or coffee is not hot enough" the same way: raise the coffee temperature setting and warm the cup with hot water first. On the XP6020 pump machine, Krups says to switch on 10-15 minutes before brewing and preheat the cups on the warming plate. Scale also cools drinks, and the machine tells you when to descale.

This page follows the Krups manuals for the EA8108 (EA81), EA8250 (EA82), EA8442 (EA84), XP6020 and Dolce Gusto Mini Me.

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Fix 1: Raise the Coffee Temperature Setting (Works About 42% of the Time)

• EA81 (EA8108): with the machine plugged in but not switched on, open the settings under the cup grid and step to coffee temperature (the CALC light comes on). Choose 1, 2 or 3; the factory setting is 2. Set 3 for hotter coffee, then leave settings. Settings survive a power cut.
• EA82 (EA8250): Settings → Coffee temperature, three levels.
• EA84 (EA8442): Settings → increase the coffee temperature.

Time: 2 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 42%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 2: Warm the Cup, and Let the Machine Warm Up (Works About 24% of the Time)

• Bean-to-cup: Krups says to heat the cup by rinsing it with hot water before brewing. The EA82 manual adds: preheat cups with hot water or under the steam nozzle.
• XP6020: switch it on 10-15 minutes before your espresso, and keep cups on the cup-warming plate. A pale-looking espresso is listed with a cold cup as one cause.
• Wait for the ready signal. The EA81's light flashes while it preheats and turns steady when ready. On the XP6020, the buttons don't respond until the TEMPERATURE light stops flashing.

Time: 1-15 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 24%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 3: XP6020 Not Heating: PENDING, Standby, After Steam (Works About 18% of the Time)

• TEMPERATURE light flashes fast at switch-on: the rotating control button isn't at PENDING, so the thermoblock can't heat. Turn it to PENDING.
• Standby: after 30 minutes unused, the XP6020 cuts power to the thermoblock and dims its light. Turn START/STOP to 0, wait a few seconds, and switch on.
• After steaming: the thermoblock is too hot for espresso, which stays blocked. Run hot water through the spout first to bring the temperature down.

Time: 2 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 18%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 4: Descale When the Machine Asks (Works About 8% of the Time)

Scale cools drinks. The Mini Me manual links drinks that are cooler or slower than usual directly to descaling.

• EA81, EA82, EA84: the CALC light or descaling message. Use Krups F054 descaler only (about 20 minutes, 0.6 L container). Remove the Claris cartridge first.
• XP6020: about every 2 months with hard water and 3-4 espressos a day. Use an espresso anti-scale packet in 500 ml of water, or 250 ml of white vinegar with 250 ml of water, as its manual allows.
• Dolce Gusto Mini Me: at least every 3-4 months, or when the power icon turns orange. Use Nescafé Dolce Gusto descaler, never vinegar.

Our Krups descaling guide and Krups clogged guide have the full steps.

Time: About 20 minutes
Cost: Descaler
Success Rate: About 8%
Difficulty: Easy

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Fix 5: Milk Not Hot, or No Steam (Works About 5% of the Time)

• Steam needs its own preheat. Steam needs a higher temperature than espresso, so the machine runs an extra preheat first: a message on the EA82, a flashing light on the EA81. Wait for it.
• Blocked nozzle: clear the tip and air holes with the needle supplied.
• No steam at all: empty the tank and remove the Claris cartridge. Fill with calcium-rich mineral water (over 100 mg/l) and run 5-10 steam cycles.
• Milk: start with cold milk, about 6-10 °C. Steam runs for at most 2 minutes per cycle.

Time: 10 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: About 5%
Difficulty: Easy

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When DIY Won't Work: Repair vs Replace

If coffee is still cold at the highest temperature setting, with warm cups and a fresh descale, contact Krups consumer service: 1-866-668-0325 in the U.S., 1-800-418-3325 in Canada. The manuals describe no thermostat or thermal cutoff an owner resets, and electrical repairs are for a qualified technician.

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Prevent Cold Espresso

• Temperature on the top setting if you like it hot.
• Warm the cup every time.
• Descale when asked, with the right descaler for your model.
• XP6020: switch on 10-15 minutes early.

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FAQ

How do I make my Krups espresso hotter?

Raise the coffee temperature setting (EA81 level 3, or the Settings menu on the EA82 and EA84), and warm the cup with hot water first. On the XP6020, switch on 10-15 minutes before brewing.

Why won't my Krups XP6020 heat up?

If its TEMPERATURE light flashes fast at switch-on, the control knob isn't at PENDING. If it was left unused for 30 minutes, it's in standby: switch it off and on again.

Does a Krups have a thermal cutoff I can reset?

None of the Krups manuals we read describes one. They send electrical faults to a qualified technician.

Why is my Dolce Gusto coffee cooler than usual?

The Mini Me manual says that means it needs descaling. Use Nescafé Dolce Gusto descaler, not vinegar.

Why is my coffee cold right after I steamed milk?

On the XP6020, espresso is blocked after steaming until you run hot water through the spout.

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Related Krups Guides

• Krups Coffee Maker Won't Turn On
• Krups Espresso Machine Troubleshooting
• Krups Coffee Maker Clogged
• Krups Descaling Guide

Sources: Krups EA8108 (EA81), EA8250 (EA82) and EA84XX Espresso Automatic instructions; Krups XP6020 instructions; Nescafé Dolce Gusto Mini Me (KP1208) user manual.