DIAGNOSIS: Weak, watery coffee with little crema means the machine isn't building enough pressure during the spin. The most common culprit is a clogged or partially blocked needle that pierces the pod.
FIX: This is a cleaning job. Unplug the machine and let it cool. Lift the lever to open the head. Look at the top needle in the center and the four puncture pins in the pod holder. You'll likely see dried coffee packed in there. Use the provided tool (or a sturdy pin) to gently poke through the holes in the top needle and clear out any blockage. Wipe the area with a damp cloth. Then, run several water-only cleaning cycles (press button three times fast) to flush the system.
IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: The water pump might be weakening. Try using filtered or bottled water to see if your tap water's mineral content is accelerating scale buildup internally, which a surface clean won't fix. If it's still weak with filtered water, the pump or internal valves are likely failing.
HEADS UP: Never use a paperclip or anything that might snap off inside the needle. The official Nespresso cleaning tool is stiff and blunt for a reason. If you don't have it, a straight pin or a toothpick is safer than a bendable paperclip.