Troubleshooting the Nespresso Blinking Orange Light and How to Fix it!
Hello, fellow Nespresso owner! Is your Nespresso blinking orange light lately? Well, you're not alone my friend!
This is a common issue with even the best Nespresso machines, but it can be fixed fairly easily. In this article, we'll discuss the two different lines of Nespresso machines and why the light might be blinking orange or red. We'll also provide instructions on how to descale your machine.
This way you can get back to using your Nespresso machine and feel confident that it is hard at work making the best cup of coffee for you!
So, keep reading our article to learn everything you need to know to troubleshoot your coffee machine!
Which Nespresso Machine do you Own?
Before we start discussing how to fix the Nespresso machine blinking orange light, let's first figure out which Nespresso machine you have and whether you should be reading this article!
Quite frank, right?! Well, we don't want to waste your time...
There are two different lines of Nespresso machines: the OriginalLine and VertuoLine. The main difference between these two lines is that the VertuoLine uses centrifugal brewing whereas the OriginalLine does not.
The VerutoLine was introduced in 2014 and it brews coffee using a pod that spins at 7000 rotations per minute! This creates a more rich and full-flavored cup of coffee.
If you're not sure which line your machine belongs to, don't worry! We'll help you figure it out.
Nespresso OriginalLine
The Nespresso OriginalLine was introduced in 2004. These machines are compact and easy to use. They make a great cup of coffee, but they don't have all the bells and whistles of the VertuoLine.
Some popular models in the OriginalLine include the Citiz, Pixie, Inissia, and Essenza Mini. These models range in price from $100-$200.
One way to know if you own a Nespresso machine from the OriginalLine is by the coffee capsules. For these machines, the capsules are small and are all the same size.
Nespresso VertuoLine
The VertuoLine was introduced in 2014 and, as we mentioned before, these machines use centrifugal brewing. This means that the coffee pods spin at a high speed to extract all the flavor from the coffee beans.
Some popular models in the VertuoLine include the Evoluo, Vertuo, and VertuoPlus. These models range in price from $200-$400.
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One way to know if you own a machine from the VertuoLine is by the Nespresso pods. These pods are larger than the ones used in the OriginalLine and come in different sizes for different types of coffee drinks.
Now that this is out of the way, keep reading to learn why your Nespresso is blinking orange light or red light.
Why is my Nespresso blinking orange light?
Now that we know which machine you have, and who this troubleshooting article is meant for, let's figure out why is your Nespresso blinking orange light or red light.
There are a few reasons why this might be happening:
- Your machine needs to be descaled
- The water reservoir is empty
- The used capsule container is full
- There's a problem with the heating element
- And a few other reasons...
We'll go through all of these reasons and explain what you need to do to fix the issue.
Decoding the Nespresso Blinking Lights
If you're wondering what all the different colors mean, don't worry! We've decoded all the Nespresso blinking lights for you.
Here are the most common ones:
Orange Light Status for Nespresso Evoluo, Vertuo, and Vertuo Next
First, we are going to go over and decode the orange lights for the Nespresso Vertuo, Vertuo Next, and Evoluo.
1. Two blinks per second - Clean the coffee machine
If your Nespresso machine is giving you this specific indicator light, it's probably because it needs to be quickly cleaned.
First, check to see if there are any coffee grounds that are covering the barcode scanner in the machine head. If there are, open the machine head and take out the old capsule. Then, unplug the power cord and run some hot water over a paper towel. Wipe down the spinning component inside the head as well as the capsule holder.
That should do the trick!
2. Three blinks per second - Empty the Nespresso machine or Descale it
If you see this light, it's time to either descale your machine or empty the coffee capsules container. The descaling will usually take around 20 minutes to be done, so make sure you're not pressed for time.
You also want to make sure you are using the right descaling solution and there are many out there. The one that we found works great is the Nespresso descaling kit (obviously). It's not the cheapest, but it is guaranteed to work since it is made by Nespresso for Nespresso machines. Best part is you can buy it from Amazon (link below).
Later on in this article, we will show you how to descale Nespresso coffee machines!
3. Pulse down or Fading to off - The coffee machine needs to cool down from overheating
This is a safety feature to prevent your machine from overheating. If you see this light, it means that the Nespresso machine has been used too many times in a short period of time and needs to cool down for 20 minutes.
4. Two blinks and steady - There's an error in the machine
If you see this light, it means that there's an error in the machine. Try unplugging the machine for 30 seconds and then plugging it back in.
If this does not get resolved then you should contact Nespresso Support to further assistance.
5. Light on for 2 seconds then off for 1 second - Refill the water tank
This one is pretty easy and straightforward. If you see this light, it means that the water tank is empty and needs to be refilled!
6. Blinks 5 times in 10 seconds - Factory reset your coffee machine
If you see this light, it means that you need to factory reset your coffee machine. To do this, make sure there aren't any forgotten capsules in the Nespresso machine, then close the head and leave the handle in the unlock position. Then press the button 5 times in 3 seconds.
You will know that it was reset because the light will flash 5 times orange and then changes to steady white.
7. Blinks alternately 3 times then steady - Descale your machine
If you see this light, it means that your machine needs to be descaled right away, but not immediately! We will show you how to do this later on in this article.
Again, make sure you are using the right descaling solution, and we found that this one from Amazon is ideal because it is made by Nespresso for Nespresso machines (see link below).
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Red Light Status for Nespresso VertuoPlus
Now we are going to go over and decode the red lights for the Nespresso VertuoPlus.
1. Steady red light or blinks once per second - There's an error in the coffee machine
Similar to the previous blinking orange light, if the red light is steady or the light blinks once per second, then this means that there's an error in the machine. Try unplugging the machine for 15 minutes and then plugging it back in.
If this does not get resolved then you should contact Nespresso Support and provide them with this code: WVP17.
2. Pulse down or Fading out - The coffee machine needs to cool down from overheating
Again, this is a safety feature to prevent your machine from overheating. If you see this light, it means that the Nespresso machine has been used too many times in a short period of time and needs to cool down.
So wait for the flashing to be done and turn steady green before trying to use the machine again.
If this does not get resolved then you should contact Nespresso Support for further assistance and give them this code: WVP18.
3. Blinks red light twice then steady green - Refill the water tank
This red blinking pattern is similar to the orange light pattern, which means that you need to refill the water tank!
4. Blinks red light twice then blinks orange - An error while a special function is running
If you see this flashing pattern while a special function is running, then open the head of the coffee machine and eject the capsule, and then restart the function by pressing the button.
If you see it in the "Emptying the System" mode, then remove the water tank.
5. Blinks red light twice then steady orange - This is the Special Functions Menu
When you see this pattern, then go ahead and choose your desired function by pressing the lever down.
6. Blinks three times then steady red - The coffee machine head is in an unknown position
If this happens, then press the lever up and wait till the machine head stops, release any obstacles, empty the used capsule container, and then push the lever down to close the coffee machine head.
7. Steady light with half red and half green - Descale your machine
When you see this pattern, it means that you can operate the coffee machine a couple more times before the descaling process becomes necessary. And this Nespresso descaling solution from Amazon is the best one!
How to Descale your Nespresso Machine?
Step One:
First, grab the Nespresso descaling kit (see Amazon link below) if you have it on hand. If you don't, then make your own by mixing one part water with one part vinegar.
We actually recommend that you use the descaling solution rather than vinegar, but if you don't have it on hand and you HAVE to descale it in this instance, then go ahead and use vinegar. But try not to make that a habit!
Step Two:
Empty the water tank and then fill it up with the Nespresso descaling agent (the amount will be stated on the bottle) or instead fill the water tank with the vinegar solution.
Step Three:
Place a container under the coffee spout to catch the liquid and turn on your machine.
Step Four:
Each machine has its own descaling instructions, so it would be best to check out Nespresso's site for the instructions for each coffee machine. The video below will show you the instructions for the Vertuo Next.
Step Five:
Once the cycle is finished, run two to three cycles of fresh water through your machine to rinse it out.
And that's it! You've successfully descaled your coffee machine and it should be back to working order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Nespresso blinking orange light after descaling?
If your Nespresso machine is blinking orange after you've descaled it, there may be a problem with the heating element. We recommend taking it to a local repair shop to have it checked out.
What does a Nespresso Vertuo red light after descaling mean?
If you see a Nespresso Vertuo red light after descaling, it means that there's a problem with the machine. Again, we recommend taking it to a Nespresso store or local repair shop to have it checked out.
How do I get my Nespresso to stop descaling mode?
On VertuoLine machines, you can stop the descaling mode by pressing and holding the button for three seconds. On OriginalLine machines, you can stop the descaling mode by pressing and holding the button for two seconds.
How do you reset the Nespresso descaling light?
To reset the Nespresso descaling light, you'll need to factory reset your machine. On VertuoLine machines, you can do this by pressing and holding the button for five seconds. On OriginalLine machines, you can do this by pressing and holding the button for three seconds.
Conclusion
We hope this article was helpful in troubleshooting the Nespresso blinking orange light. If you're still having trouble, we recommend taking your coffee machine to a Nespresso store or a local repair shop for further assistance.
If you're seeing a blinking light that was not decoded in this article, then please let us know and we will make sure to find a fix for you!
