elite gourmet coffee maker making a loud noise and not brewing all the water

Diagnosis

The loud noise, combined with water not fully brewing through, indicates a significant flow restriction. In the Elite Gourmet EHC-5055, the most likely culprit is mineral scale (limescale) buildup inside the internal heating tube and water passages. This scale acts like a clog, forcing the pump to work much harder (causing the loud noise) and preventing water from flowing properly to saturate all the grounds. A misaligned or clogged filter basket can contribute, but the symptom pair points strongly to scale.

How to Fix It

Descale the coffee maker immediately.

1. Fill the reservoir with a descaling solution. For this model, use a 1:1 mix of white vinegar and clean, cool water.
2. Place an empty carafe on the warming plate and start a full 5-cup brew cycle.
3. Once the cycle is complete, discard the vinegar solution from the carafe.
4. Rinse the carafe thoroughly. Then, fill the reservoir with clean water and run two more full brew cycles to flush all residual vinegar from the system.
5. Wipe down the warming plate and ensure the filter basket is clean, properly seated, and free of old coffee grounds.

If That Didn't Work

If the noise and incomplete brewing persist after descaling, inspect the water reservoir. Ensure it is fully and correctly locked into its base, as a misaligned reservoir can prevent a proper seal and cause pump cavitation. Next, check for a physical obstruction. Look inside the showerhead (where water drips onto the grounds) for visible scale chunks or debris and clean it with a pin if clogged. Finally, if the unit has been used with extremely hard water for a long time, the scale buildup may be severe enough that a single descaling cycle wasn't sufficient; try repeating the descaling process.

Heads Up

Never run a descaling solution stronger than a 50/50 vinegar mix, and never use harsh chemical descalers not intended for coffee makers, as they can damage the internal seals and components. Regular descaling (every 1-3 months, depending on water hardness) will prevent this issue and extend the life of your brewer.