What actually breaks pre-ground mode on the De'Longhi Magnifica?

[Thomas Martinez]

seeing as how peoples are still complaining about the magnifica not making espresso despite having pre-ground beans despite the design of the machine it almost always comes down to user error (as stubborn as a magnifica is with there program inputs lol)
there are four main issues (as with any machine with this many feature and buttons):
first is that you have to select the scoop mode for pre-ground beans prior to brewing. If not selected the machine will grind your beans as it normally would.
second is ensuring that you add the pre-ground beans before the machine is fully power on and ready to brew.
third is correctly placing the grounds into a proper funnel. The bean hopper is right next to the pre-ground bean funnel so it is easy to mistakenly place the grounds into the bean funnel.
fourth is using the correct amount of ground beans. Ensure it is levelled to one scoop only. Neither more nor less or the machine will fails to properly brew your coffee.
none of this is complicated but as with most machines people end up coming into these forums with the same four issue. It seems like de longhi could of made the beans funnels a bit different to avoid the confusion or made the scoop button more prominent to get people to select it prior to brewing. Have you noticed any other issues regarding the pre-ground bean mode? if so please share!

 

[M.C. Escher's]

funnel thing got me for like 3 weeks when i first got mine. I was constantly putting my grounds into the bean hopper rather than the funnel for pre-ground beans. Stupid layout by de longhi.

 

[Unbeli]

missed something. The grounds has to be ground for espresso (not for drip). If the grounds are too coarse the machine will brew the grounds but you will get the same watery shot. This has nothing to do with pre-ground beans mode but rather the grinder settings.

 

[Mysteri]

wait does the scoop that comes with the magnifica actually measure the proper dose? i thought it was around 7g but not for sure.

 

[Tired Teira]

wait does the scoop that comes with the magnifica actually measure the proper dose? i thought it was around 7g but not for sure.

mine measures to about 6.5g. It could be because of the way i measure it but it is close to that amount.

 

[Misty Mandrill]

mines so finicky that i sold mine and bought a breville machine. Life is too short to deal with these messes.

 

[Unbeli]

mine measures to about 6.5g. It could be because of the way i measure it but it is close to that amount.

6.5g is a little on the low side for a double dose. It should be closer to 7g and 8g for a proper espresso. I would have thought that if it was that low my machine would have complained more.

 

[A Boy and His Jackham]

you forgot the most important one. The brew unit has to be properly seated into the machine for the pre-ground mode to work. If it is not properly seated then regardless of how much effort you put into getting the settings correct the machine will just act like it did not recognize the pre-ground mode. This took me months to figure out. Once i figured out how to properly seat the brew unit it started working right away. De longhi does not mention this in their manual. The second most common reason for people to think their magnifica is broken is the brew unit getting gunky with grounds so a simple cleaning will fix the issue.

 

[M.C. Escher's]

you forgot the most important one. The brew unit has to be properly seated into the machine for the pre-ground mode to work. If it is not properly seated then regardless of how much effort you put into getting the settings correct the machine will just act like it did not recogni…

yes this. I have to clean the brew unit every couple of week now and it has not failed me once since.

 

[Planet of the]

is the pre-ground mode worth using at all though? i feel like the point of a magnifica is that it will grind your beans for you.