Flashing Lights & Warning Symbols

What flashing lights mean on coffee machines

If your coffee machine has flashing lights, blinking icons, or a warning triangle, it’s telling you one of three things:

  • A routine action is needed (cleaning, empty tray, refill water)
  • A condition is out of range (temperature, pressure, flow)
  • A fault has been detected (sensor, heater, pump, communication)

This page helps you identify the most common flashing-light patterns, what they typically mean, and what to do next.

What to do when an error appears

How to use this page

  • Step 1: Note exactly which light(s) are flashing (power, clean, water, steam, triangle, group lights)
  • Step 2: Note flash pattern (steady flash, rapid, alternating, all lights)
  • Step 3: Check the relevant section below
  • Step 4: If you still can’t identify it, use the chat assistant and tell it:


    Manufacturer
    Model
    Which lights are flashing
    Any text/error on screen


The most common flashing lights (quick meanings)

Water / Tap / Droplet icon flashing

Most likely means:

  • Water tank empty or not seated
  • No mains water supply (plumbed machines)
  • Air in the system after running dry
  • Inlet filter blocked
  • Flow fault (low flow / no flow)

What to do:

  • Refill and re-seat the tank
  • Check mains tap is open (if plumbed)
  • Run a hot-water dispense for 20–30 seconds to purge air
  • Check and rinse tank inlet filter / hose filter
  • If it returns immediately, treat as a flow fault

Drip tray / Waste / Bin light flashing

Most likely means:

  • Drip tray full or not seated
  • Grounds container full (bean-to-cup machines)
  • Internal float stuck

What to do:

  • Empty and wash drip tray
  • Empty grounds container
  • Re-seat both firmly
  • Clean and free the float if present

Temperature / Thermometer / Heating light flashing

Most likely means:

  • Machine is heating (normal)
  • Boiler temperature not reached in time
  • Over-temperature safety condition

What to do:

  • Wait 5–15 minutes if machine is warming up
  • If it continues and drinks are disabled, power cycle
  • If it reappears, treat as a heating system fault

Clean / Descale light flashing

Most likely means:

  • Cleaning cycle due
  • Descale cycle due
  • Brew circuit needs flushing/backflush (espresso machines)

What to do:

  • Run the machine’s cleaning programme
  • Run descale only if the machine indicates descale specifically
  • If you’re unsure which, use the chat assistant and state the exact icon shown

Steam light flashing

Most likely means:

  • Steam circuit warming up
  • Steam temperature not stable
  • Steam function disabled due to ECO mode or fault

What to do:

  • Exit ECO mode (if enabled)
  • Purge steam wand briefly
  • If still flashing with no steam, treat as a steam/heating fault

Warning triangle / Alarm icon flashing

Most likely means:

  • Active alarm is present
  • Some machines store alarms and show them as a triangle icon even after the pop-up clears

What to do:

  • Tap the triangle (touchscreen machines) to view active alarms
  • Power cycle if it is a “machine block” alarm
  • If it returns, log the alarm text or pattern and contact service / use the bot

Flash pattern meanings (generic guide)

Slow flash (steady rhythm)

Most likely:

  • Attention required (refill, empty, clean, warm-up)

Rapid flash

Most likely:

  • Fault state or safety stop
  • Flow issue (no pulse/low flow) is common

Alternating flashing lights

Most likely:

  • System alarm, communications issue, or boiler fill/heating fault

All lights flashing together

Most likely:

  • “Machine lock” / “total block” alarm
  • Boiler fill timeout
  • Main system fault (heater/board/pressure sensor)

What to do:

  • Turn off at the main switch, wait 60 seconds, turn back on
  • If it returns, do not keep resetting — capture the pattern and escalate

Use the chat assistant for the fastest diagnosis

Tell the chat:

  • Manufacturer + model
  • Which lights/icons are flashing
  • Flash pattern (slow/fast/alternating/all)
  • Any message on screen

The assistant will:

  • Identify the most likely cause
  • Walk you through the next step

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