Coffee Appreciation

will have to descale obvs. is it as simple as filling the reservoir with the solution and going through the priming etc (run the steam wand for a bit then the group and leave to sit, repeat and flush?)

Ok, remove the element above the shower screen too, which is attached with two allen bolts (5mm IIRC). Brush/scour any crap out. You can leave these parts off when you de-scale. Leave these parts in a cup of descaler while you do the rest of the machine.

Yep. Although some would say otherwise, I'd kick off with a strong solution and run it into a jug for say, twenty seconds until the water gets hot and comes out foamy. Let a little come out of the steam wand too. Turn the machine fully off and leave to sit for half an hour. If there isn't any sediment in the decaler that came out, then you can return it to the tank to fulsh again (and repeat). You may need to do this a fair bit if it's really clogged. I've had to descale kettles overnight before in extreme cases.

You'll also want to back-flush the unit too, so as to de-scale the other routes where water may wish to pass. To do this, block the portafilter's exit somehow (you can buy a "blind basket" to do so easily). I've blocked one with some cork in the spout fitting before. Anyway, put some descaler in the basket, then run the pump for 15 seconds or so. No liquid should come out. Now release the pump switch (and heater too) and you'll hear a big "splosh" as liquid returns back through the unit.

Have a look on Google, and I bet someone will have posted some pictures.

Also, there's a small chance that you pump may be goosed, but I'd say it's more likely to be scale, just as was the case with mine.

Roddy