Nespresso machines are specifically designed to provide the perfect brew cup of coffee at the touch of a button!
However, if you’re having a problem with Nespresso Vertuo red and yellow light and have no idea how to deal with this, fortunately, you are landed at the right place. This article will discuss Nespresso Vertuo plus red and yellow light, so keep reading to learn how!
Key Takeaways
- The Red and Yellow (Or green) light alert is a descaling alarm on Vertuo Plus.
- If the light won’t go off even after descaling then go for the troubleshooting solution (Discussed in the article)
- There might be some other reasons why your Nespresso is blinking red (Discussed at the end of the article)
What do Nespresso Vertuo Red and yellow light mean?
Nespresso Vertuo Plus and Vertuo Plus deluxe machines have built-in descaling alerts. If Nespresso Vertuo plus showing half red and half yellow or yellow light may appear green under certain conditions, then it’s time to descale your machine.
Like for other kitchen appliances, descaling or regular maintenance is mandatory for smooth functioning; the same principles apply to your Nespresso machine.
The water you use for brewing pods contains minerals that accumulate inside the machine. If this residue is left untreated, it has a negative impact on the temperature and taste of your coffee and can also affect water flows.
If your geographical location contains more “hard water,” limescale buildup inside the machine is a big headache.
Limescale is caused by the accumulation of minerals in tap water (That’s why it is recommended to use filtered water). If you are unsure about the level of minerals in the water you used for brewing, then it is recommended to use a cost-effective water testing kit.
Descaling not only increases the flavor and overall quality of your coffee but also enhances your machine lifespan by maintaining your machine in good working order.
If you have Vertuo Next machine then check Why is my Nespresso blinking orange light
How to Fix Nespresso vertuo Half red and Half yellow (Or green) light error
To resolve this error, you need to descale your Nespresso machine to clean any residue or mineral buildup inside the machine.
Now the question arises, how often you should descale your Nespresso machine?
Nespresso recommends to descale your machine once every 3-6 months, or after brewing 300 cups of coffee.
If you have Vertuo Next, Vertuo, or Evoluo, see my related article on descaling the Vertuo line machine.
Nespresso Vertuo Plus Descaling Instructions
You should follow illustrated step-by-step on descaling Nespresso Vertuo Plus; see pages 21-23 in the user manual.
Following is the complete illustration of descaling Nespresso Vertuo machines
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  | NESPRESSO DESCALING KIT | DESCALING KIT Set of 2 descaling kits Available at a lower price | View on Amazon |
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What to do If the Half Red and Yellow Light Stays On After Descaling?
After following all descaling steps carefully and without interruption, the descaling alert should be automatically stopped, and a steady green light will appear.
Oftentimes, many people make the mistake of waiting more than 2 minutes between steps or neglecting to completely empty the tank. In this way, the machine stays in descaling mode and keeps blinking.
However, if for some reason the descaling light still stays on even after descaling; then, there might be the probability of extra scale buildup inside the machine. This is not surprising if you haven’t cleaned your machine for a while or avoided maintenance for a while.
Look at these questions and if your answer is yes, you have to descale your Nespresso machine 2 to 3 times.
- Are you using hard water for brewing coffee?
- Have you been ignoring the descaling process for a while?
- Did you not descale your machine for a period longer than three months?
A Solution for Red and yellow light error from Customer support you must try
- Empty the water tank and add 1 glass of water to it.
- Hold the lever down for 3 seconds to turn off the machine.
- Push the lever down and button for 3 seconds at the same time to enter the special menu function. Orange steady light will illuminate
- Enter the descaling mode by pressing the lever down once. Let it run until the water tank becomes empty.
- Add 1 more glass of water and press the button.
- Push the lever down and button for 3 seconds at the same time until the green light starts blinking which will eventually turn to steady green light.
- Wait for at least 10 minutes before brewing coffee to prevent overheating.
Resetting the Nespresso Vertuo Machine
If you have carefully followed all descaling instructions and your answer is no to all the above questions, but the descaling alert is still on, then you might need to reset your Nespresso machine.
Follow these instructions
- Hold down the lever for three seconds to turn it off.
- To enter the special functions menu hold down the button and the lever for three seconds.
- A steady orange light will turn to confirm that you are in the Special Functions menu.
- Now press the lever three times to enter the factory settings. To reset, press the button.
- An orange light will blink quickly three times and eventually turn to steady green, indicating that it is ready for use.
Check for blockage
The red light may start blinking sometimes because of the i-e in the coffee outlet or in the water tank.
To check the blockage in the coffee outlet, remove the coffee capsule and check for any coffee ground or debris that might be causing a blockage in the opening. To remove coffee grounds or other debris, use a paper clip or other similar objects to clear them away.
To check blockage in the water tank, remove the tank and observe the entrance for any mineral deposits or other debris. If you notice anything, clean it away with a toothpick or similar tool.
If, for some reason, Nespresso vertuo blocks itself, then contact Nespresso customer support.
Nespresso vertuo Red light Alert
Nespresso Vertuo Plus has various light alerts to communicate to its users. Let’s look at what these light alerts mean:
| Light on Nespresso Vertuo | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Steady light, half red and half green (or yellow) | Descaling alarm |
| The light blinks red twice, then steady green. | The water tank is empty, or no capsule in the machine. |
| Red light pulses(fades on & off) | The machine is overheated and is cooling down |
| The Red light blinks continuously | Error in machine |
| Steady Green light | The machine is ready to brew |
| Green light blinking 1/sec | The machine is heating up |
| The light blinks red twice then steady orange | The machine is entering the Special Function Menu |
| Regular blinking orange | The machine has entered the special function menu |
| The light blinks three times every 2 seconds, then back to steady red | Machine Head is in the wrong position |
Let’s discuss each of these Red error alerts in detail.
1)Steady light, half red and half green ( Or Yellow )
As discussed above, a steady light that is half red and half yellow or green indicates a descaling alert on the Nespresso Vertuo Plus.
In some situations, You can still use your machine for brewing even after a warning light alert for some time, but it is highly recommended to descale your machine as soon as possible.
Additionally, if your machine is not pumping water, it is due to scale buildup inside the machine. Therefore your machine requires descaling.
It roughly takes 20 minutes for the descaling process to complete, but remember, the descaling process, once started, cannot be stopped, so make sure that you have the supplies (descaling kit solution) you need during descaling and should have enough time to complete it.
2)Red light pulses (fades on & off)
When red light pulses (fades on and off), it means that your machine is overheated and is cooling down. In this condition, all you need is to wait for some minutes until the lights turn back to steady green.
If it doesn’t go back to steady green, you should contact Nespresso customer support.
3)Light blinks once per second
The light blinking once per second is another error typically experienced by Vertuoplus.
In that case, switch off and unplug the machine and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes. Switch on the machine again to see if the error has been resolved or not.
If the light is still blinking red then try resetting the Nespresso machine to factory settings.
4)Light blinks red twice than steady orange
This indicates that you are in the special function menu. Here, you can choose the specific function you desire by pressing the lever.
There are four special operations available in the function menu
- cleaning
- resetting to the default factory setting
- emptying the machine
- descaling
These are all outlined in the Vertuo Plus manual’s special functions section; it also includes the instruction for using the lever to activate them. Press once for descaling, twice for emptying the system, and three times for factory reset.
To leave the menu, push the button and the lever simultaneously for three seconds. The light will go steady green if you successfully leave the menu.
5) Light blinks red twice, then steady green
This error occurs under two condition
- Either your water tank is empty
- Or the capsule is incorrectly placed in the chamber
In this case, Fill the water tank and restart the machine. If that doesn’t work, remove the previously used capsule and insert a new capsule, make sure that the machine head is correctly closed, and press the start button.
6) The light blinks three times every 2 seconds, then back to steady Red
This alert occurs when your Vertuoplus machine head is in the wrong position. In that case, open the machine head and close it again properly.
If you see any obstacles (debris or accumulated coffee grounds) clean them properly, and press the lever again to close the machine head.
In case it doesn’t work, contact Nespresso customer support.
Read a detailed comparison between Vertuo Next vs VertoPlus Nespresso machines.
I hope this article has helped you in fixing Nespresso Vertuo Red and Yellow light alerts. I have discussed all the possible reasons in detail; if the problem persists you can contact Nespresso Customer Support.
Frequently asked question
Can you use vinegar to descale the Nespresso machine?
Nespresso doesn’t recommend you to use vinegar to descale the Nespresso machine.
White vinegar contains 5-8% acetic acid which can cause wear down of metal and ultimately lets your machine leak.
Also, using vinegar to descale your Nespresso can void the warranty on your machine.
You may like to read other Nespresso troubleshooting guides
- Why Is My Nespresso Machine Leaking
- Why is Nespresso vertuo next blinking white light and not working
- Nespresso foamer not working
- Tricks to turn up temperature when Nespresso not enough
