How to empty Nespresso machine? (Guide for All Models!)

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Johny Morrisson


There are 3 scenarios in which you need to empty the Nespresso Machine

  • When you are going on vacation or moving home and would like to transport your Nespresso with you.
  • When you are storing Nespresso in your cupboard and won’t be using it for months.
  • When you are shipping the machine to the Nespresso customer care center for repair

Many customers are confused about how to empty the Nespresso machines, so I have written a detailed article on emptying every Nespresso machine.

Is it necessary to empty the Nespresso machine?

Yes, Draining your Nespresso machine is crucial for its optimal performance. When you brew coffee, water flows from the reservoir into the machine’s internal pipeline. If you store the machine without draining the machine, residual water remains trapped in the inner pipeline.

Over time, this stagnant water can accumulate minerals that eventually harden in the form of limescale deposits. Limescale buildup can clog the machine’s delicate pipes, hindering efficient water flow and potentially leading to damage or leakages.

Additionally, if you live in a cold geographical location, water left in the machine pipeline can freeze, potentially damaging the internal components.

How to drain The Nespresso machine?

Nespresso has two lines of capsule-based espresso machines- the Vertuo line and the original line.

  Nespresso original line machineNespresso Vertuo line machine
Nespresso Lattissima seriesNespresso Vertuo Plus
Nespresso Creatista seriesNespresso Vertuo Next
Nespresso Essenza, Citiz, Pixie, InissiaNespresso Vertuo Evoluo

How to Empty Nespresso Vertuo Machine

Nespresso vertuo plus machine

  • Remove and empty the water tank and place it again.
  • Open the head to eject any previously used capsules 
  • Turn the machine off, by pressing the lever down for about three seconds.
  • Place a mug under the coffee outlet.
  • Press and hold the button and the lever simultaneously for about three seconds, and a steady orange light will turn on to indicate that you have entered the special functions menu.
  • Press the lever down twice and the orange light will start blinking.
  • To start the empty cycle, press the button once.
  • The light will keep blinking while the emptying process is in progress. The machine will turn off automatically after the emptying process.

Nespresso Vertuo Next, Vertuo or Evoluo

  • Remove and empty the water tank and place it back.
  • Place a larger mug under the coffee outlet.
  • Open the machine head to eject any previously used capsules.
  • Close the head and turn the handle to the left to the locked position.
  • Press and hold the button until the machine begins to drain water into the container.
  • The light will keep blinking orange throughout the emptying process.
  • The machine will automatically turn off when completed.

Also Read: Vertuo Plus vs next

How to Empty Nespresso Original Line Machines

Nespresso Lattissima one

  • Switch on the machine.
  • Remove the water tank and the milk frother from the machine.
  • Eject any previously used capsule from the machines
  • Place a mug under the coffee outlet
  • Press the milk button for three seconds to enter menu mode.
  • Press the lungo and milk drink buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds.
  • The milk button will start blinking.
  • To start emptying, press the blinking milk button again. The emptying process will start and all the lights blink during the process.
  • Once completed, the machine will switch off automatically.

Nespresso Lattissima Touch

  • Switch on the machine. 
  • Remove the water tank and the milk jug from the machine.
  • Eject any previously used capsules
  • Place a mug under the coffee outlet.
  • Simultaneously press the warm milk and latte macchiato buttons for three seconds to enter the menu mode. The cleaning and descaling light will start to blink.
  • Press the espresso button first, then press the cappuccino button.
  • The warm milk button will start to blink.
  • Press that button and the machine will start the emptying process.
  • While the machine is emptying, the buttons will keep blinking. When completed, the machine will switch itself off.

Also read: Nespresso Lattissima touch vs one

Nespresso Lattissima pro

  • Press the Gear Icon on the main menu
  • Scroll down and select “empty fluid system.”
  • Follow the instructions that are displayed on the screen to empty the machine.

Nespresso Gran Lattissima

  1. Switch on the device. 
  2. Remove the water tank and the milk jug from the machine.
  3. Eject any previously used capsule.
  4. Place a mug under the coffee outlet
  5. Press the hot milk and flat white buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds. Descaling and cleaning light will start to blink
  6. Press the espresso button and the machine will start draining. All lights will blink throughout the process.
  7. When completed, the machine will shut off automatically.

Also Read: Nespresso Gran Lattissima Review

Nespresso Creatista pro & plus

  • Place an empty jug under the coffee outlet.
  • Select the maintenance section from the menu. 
  • Select the empty cycle option, and your machine will start emptying.

Essenza Mini & Essenza Plus, Citiz, Pixie, Inissia

The steps for emptying Nespresso Essenza Mini & Essenza Plus, Citiz, Pixie, and Inissia are the same.

  • Simultaneously press the Lungo and espresso buttons to turn off the machine.
  • Remove the water tank and any previously used capsules.
  • Place a mug under the coffee outlet.
  • Simultaneously press the Lungo and espresso buttons for five seconds and the emptying process will start. The lights will remain blinking throughout the emptying process.
  • When the emptying process is complete, the machine will turn itself off. 

Other steps to empty the Nespresso machine for storage

Now you know how to drain Nespresso machines completely here are some additional steps you must take before storing your Nespresso machine:

1. EMPTY PODS FROM NESPRESSO

There is a Waste Capsule container on the side of the machine that you must empty and clean before storage

To empty the container, gently tug it outwards, allowing it to partially open. (Sometimes it gets stuck in this position)

To remove it from the machine, Do a lift out and up motion to get the bottom side out all the way.

Now empty the waste Capsule container and send the pods to the Nespresso recycling program.

2. Clean and Empty the drip tray

To clean the tray, gently remove it from the machine and give it a thorough wash with warm, soapy water, effectively removing any residue.

Before placing the tray back into the machine, ensure it is completely dry.

3. Clean and Empty the Water reservoir

Simply Detach the water reservoir from your machine and rinse it with fresh water properly.

After doing all these steps, your Nespresso machine is completely ready for storage or transporting from one place to another.

Final thoughts

I hope you find this detailed guide on How to empty Nespresso machine helpful, I have detailed the procedure for almost all the Nespresso models.

It is highly recommended to empty the Nespresso machine when storing the machine or transporting it from one place to another.

If you have any questions, Do let us know in the comments!

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Johny Morrison is a founder and content creator at Coffee About. He knows everything there is to know about coffee and loves sharing his passion with others.

You can often find him sipping a single-origin pour-over, rich French press, or pulling espresso shots at home. Johny loves full-bodied dark roasts – the bolder, the better!

As a former barista, he takes coffee equipment seriously and enjoys experimenting with the latest gear. When he’s not brewing or blogging, Johny is scouting local cafes for his next coffee fix.

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