Setup
How to Set Up a New Espresso Machine
A new espresso machine needs a short setup routine before its first real shot — skipping it usually shows up as an odd first cup or an air-locked pump, not a defective machine.
Rinse and prime first
Run water through the group head and steam wand with no coffee to clear manufacturing residue and prime the pump, following your manual's specific priming sequence if one is given. Skipping this step is a well-documented reason a brand-new machine can sputter or fail to build pressure on its very first use — trapped air from shipping and first fill is one recognized cause, and the manufacturer's documented priming sequence is the standard first step before assuming a defect.
Let it reach temperature — fully
Give the machine its full documented warm-up time before the first real shot — a machine that has not stabilized at temperature will pull an inconsistent shot no matter how well you grind and dose. Reaching the target temperature at the boiler is not the same as the whole brew path (group head, portafilter) being thermally stable; many experienced users add a few extra minutes beyond the stated heat-up time specifically for this reason.
Expect the first few shots to be a dial-in, not a verdict
Your first shots are as much about learning your specific grinder and machine as judging the equipment. New burrs, an unfamiliar dial, and your own unfamiliarity with the machine's quirks all add variance — treat the first week as calibration, not a final verdict on the machine (see our first-shots guide).
Common setup mistakes
Using tap water in an area with known hard water without any filtration is the most consequential early mistake, since scale buildup starts from the very first fill (see our water requirements guide). A close second is skipping the manual entirely and assuming all espresso machines set up identically — priming sequences, first-use instructions, and recommended break-in steps differ enough between manufacturers that it is worth the ten minutes to check.
A simple first-session checklist
Read the manual's first-use section — rinse/prime per instructions — fill with appropriate water — allow full warm-up — pull a "throwaway" shot or two before judging anything — start a simple log of grind, dose, and time so your first real dial-in has a paper trail to work from.
If the pump won't build pressure at all
Trapped air is one recognized, documented cause, particularly during first fill and shipping. Before concluding that the pump is defective, repeat the manufacturer's documented priming procedure a few extra times with the portafilter removed, and confirm the water tank is seated correctly rather than just filled.
What to check before contacting support
If shots still won't run after repeating the documented priming procedure, also check that any tank-side one-way valve or float isn't stuck and that the portafilter is locked in completely rather than just resting in the group head. If the problem continues after these checks, stop troubleshooting the pump or any internal component yourself and follow the manufacturer's support guidance — this is not a case to keep working around on your own.
Setup mistakes vs. genuine defects
A setup mistake (skipped priming, wrong water, incomplete warm-up) produces symptoms that come and go or improve with the checklist above. A genuine defect — persistent leaking from an unexpected location, a heating element that never reaches temperature after a full warm-up cycle, or unusual grinding noises unrelated to coffee — does not resolve with re-priming or a longer wait, and is worth contacting the manufacturer about rather than continuing to troubleshoot on your own.