my machine is grinding beans but then no water brews, just dry grounds in the filter. what do i check?

Diagnosis

The brew cycle is failing to initiate after grinding. The water pump isn't engaging, often due to a clogged water inlet or a failed pump.

How to Fix It

Check for a water path obstruction.

1. Ensure the water reservoir is fully seated and the valve at the bottom isn't blocked. Remove it and check for debris.
2. Run a water-only cycle (without beans) by pressing 'Brew'. Listen closely for a humming pump sound. If you hear it but no water flows, the internal tube from the reservoir is likely kinked or clogged with scale.
3. If you hear no pump sound at all, the pump or its control board may have failed.
4. As an interim fix, try priming the system: pour a cup of water directly into the top of the machine where the grounds are, then press 'Brew'. Sometimes this kicks it loose.

If That Didn't Work

Severe scale buildup in the internal heating chamber can block water flow entirely. This necessitates a vigorous descaling attempt (multiple cycles with commercial descaler), but if the pump is silent, it's likely an electrical component failure.

Heads Up

Do not let the machine repeatedly try to heat without water flow. This can overheat and trip the thermal fuse, creating a more expensive repair.