De'Longhi Espresso Machine Error Codes Explained

34 De'Longhi codes and display messages, transcribed from De'Longhi's own manuals and support pages. 34 have a published meaning and at least one user-serviceable step, so they get a full page; the rest are listed here because you may see them, but De'Longhi does not publish what they mean and we will not invent it.

Code or message	What it is	Severity
DESCALEEletta / Magnifica S Cappuccino	Message: DESCALE	Routine maintenance
GENERAL ALARMEletta / Magnifica S	Message: GENERAL ALARM	Routine maintenance
REPLACE FILTERDinamica / Eletta Cappuccino Evo	Message: REPLACE FILTER	Routine maintenance
PRESS OK TO CLEANDinamica / Eletta	Message: PRESS OK TO CLEAN	Routine maintenance
SET DIAL TO CLEANDinamica / Eletta	Message: SET DIAL TO CLEAN	Routine maintenance
Alarm lights on the bottom rowMagnifica S	Alarm lights on the bottom row	Routine maintenance
Red descale light on or flashing	Red descale light is on or flashing	Routine maintenance
Descale light flashing frequentlyMagnifica Start / Magnifica Evo / Magnifica S / Dinamica	Descale light is flashing frequently	Routine maintenance
Descale light ON even after descalingLa Specialista	Descale light ON even after descaling	Routine maintenance
Descale light still on after descaling	Descale light still on after descaling	Routine maintenance
The machine needs to be descaled. Press OK to startEletta Explore	Message: The machine needs to be descaled (~50min)	Routine maintenance
At the end of descaling the appliance requests a third rinseMagnifica Evo / Magnifica S Smart / Dinamica	Descaling requests a third rinse	Routine maintenance
FILL TANKMagnifica S / Eletta / Dinamica	Message: FILL TANK	You can fix this
INSERT TANKMagnifica S / Eletta / Dinamica	Message: INSERT TANK	You can fix this
LESS COFFEEDinamica / Eletta	Message: LESS COFFEE	You can fix this
INSERT WATER SPOUTDinamica / Eletta	Message: INSERT WATER SPOUT	You can fix this
WATER CIRCUIT EMPTYEletta / Magnifica S / Dinamica	Message: WATER CIRCUIT EMPTY / FILL CIRCUIT	You can fix this
FILL BEANS CONTAINERDinamica	Message: FILL BEANS CONTAINER	You can fix this
ADD PRE-GROUND COFFEEDinamica / Eletta	Message: ADD PRE-GROUND COFFEE	You can fix this
INSERT MILK CONTAINERDinamica / Eletta	Message: INSERT MILK CONTAINER	You can fix this
EMPTY GROUNDS CONTAINERDinamica / Eletta	Message: EMPTY GROUNDS CONTAINER	You can fix this
INSERT INFUSER ASSEMBLYDinamica / Eletta	Message: INSERT INFUSER ASSEMBLY	You can fix this
INSERT GROUNDS CONTAINERDinamica / Eletta	Message: INSERT GROUNDS CONTAINER	You can fix this
FILL TANK WITH FRESH WATERDinamica Plus	Message: FILL TANK WITH FRESH WATER	You can fix this
GROUND TOO FINE ADJUST MILLDinamica	Message: GROUND TOO FINE, ADJUST MILL	You can fix this
All the lights flash brieflyLa Specialista	All the lights flash briefly	You can fix this
Just doing a little cleaningEletta Explore	Message: Just doing a little cleaning	You can fix this
GROUND TOO FINE ADJUST GRINDEREletta Cappuccino Evo	Message: GROUND TOO FINE ADJUST GRINDER (water filter fitted)	You can fix this
Please insert the brewing unitEletta Explore	Message: Please insert the brewing unit	You can fix this
The infuser cannot be extractedMagnifica Evo / Dinamica / Eletta	The infuser cannot be extracted	You can fix this
Alarm lights to the right or leftMagnifica S	Alarm lights to the right or left	You can fix this
FILL BEANS CONTAINER ESC TO CANCELEletta Cappuccino Evo	Message: FILL BEANS CONTAINER (funnel clogged)	You can fix this
Please store the milk carafe in the fridgeEletta Explore	Message: Please store the milk carafe in the fridge	You can fix this
Water circuit empty. Press OK to start filling processEletta Explore	Message: Water circuit empty (Eletta Explore)	You can fix this

When to stop and call a technician

The machine trips a breaker, smells of burning, or shows scorched wiring.
Water is leaking from inside the chassis rather than from the tank, tray or portafilter.
The fault involves the boiler, a pressure valve, the heating element or the pump itself.
The code returns immediately after a correctly completed reset or maintenance cycle.
The machine is under warranty — opening it yourself usually ends that cover.

Never bypass, disable or remove a safety device — a thermal fuse, pressure relief valve or lid interlock is the part standing between a fault and a fire. Do not open a pressurised boiler or work on mains wiring.

De'Longhi Espresso Machine Error Codes Explained

When to stop and call a technician

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