With this model its possible for the duct to not move properly and so the coffee goes straight down the back down into the drip tray. Its easy to fix and doesn’t require any tools. (although a small flat head screwdriver and a credit card are handy)
You will need to possibly buy a part, so its a good idea to read this whole guide before starting. Any time you see numbers in brackets eg (24) that means I am referencing a part from the official parts list at the bottom of this page)
First you need to verify that it is in fact the improperly moving spout(7) that causing the issue so you need to take the front cover off. This is quite straight forward but you will need to apply a bit of force to the sides to get into the machine.
- Unplug the machine from the wall
- Remove all the bits you can, water tank, milk frother, drip trays etc
- Pull the bottom of the outer cover (1) outwards. They should click out then you can pull them a little bit to remove the front cover
4. Once the front cover(8) is removed, plug the machine back in, put the water tank (24) back on with water in it.
5. You dont need to put a pod in, but if you flick the pod opening back and forward you can inspect the operation.
If the duct(7) doesn’t move up and down, or gets pushed forward when the distributor (34) moves forward then this guide might be for you.
What has happened is the there are two little plastic guides on the front of the distributor (34) that have probably broken off
You Could try and use some super glue and make new guides with some plastic nibs, for example cut some short bits off a cotton bud stick 2-3mm long and glue them here on here.
But I found it easier to just buy the part, they are quite cheap on ebay (I just searched “nespresso en 210 distributor” and found one for AU $8.75 )
Removing and re-attaching the part is easy, but can take a few goes to get the bit where you need it.
6. turn the machine on and open and close the pod lid(54) until the distributor(34) starts moving
7. when it is all the way at the back turn the power off at the wall. this will allow you to remove the spout (7)
8. I found it easiest to remove the spout(7) by squeezing it in the middle then pushing the spout(7) into the machine.
Once the spout (7) is removed you need to get the distributor (34) closer to the front of the machine so you can pry it off.
9. Turn the power on and off at the wall and move the pod switch/lid (54) until you get the Distributor(34) top to be visible in the gap between the top and the front. it might take a few goes to get it where you want it to be.
10. Now you can use a screwdriver, or a kitchen knife or any suitable thin blade type thing to push the tab at the top off the distributor(34) off the infuser(33). Where the screwdriver is placed in this picture lets it come up and off easily.
11. Remove the Distributor from the machine
I didn’t need to move the Infuser(33) back to remove the old distributor(34) but you might need to. Try not to though, as the infuser moving forward might damage the machine. If you are worried about this, leave it more or less in place but not clipped in, then it shouldn’t push things around too much.
Now we just do everything in reverse.
- Fix or get your new distributor(34)
2. Place it back into the machine where you took the old one out. I found it easiest to place the bottom clip in first, then I applied a bit of pressure with a screwdriver to get the top clip over the latch.
you can test the distributor(34) is working now but turning the machine on and opening and closing the pod cover/switch until the machine tries to make a coffee, it doeskin need a pod and will just make hot water.
3. Move the Distributor(34) to the back of the machine using the power method mentioned above. (video for step 7 of the disassembly)
4. replace the spout (7) whichever way you find easiest. I found putting in in from the rear to be the most straightforward.
You need to be careful here to get the spout onto those little plastic guides and not break them. be patient 🙂
Now you should do another test to make sure the spout moves up and down along the guides like it should. then you can replace the front cover (8)
5. To replace the front cover simply pull the sides out a little bit again and place it into the machine, I found I needed to click the covers back in afterwards to get a tight fit.
A quick note to be careful here. Kathryn from the comments below reports that “when putting the front cover back on, I snapped the 2 little tabs either side at the top of the outer cover, above and either side of the distributor in the outer cover itself. They are almost impossible to glue back on so now “
So take care 🙂
6. Enjoy a coffee
Parts list.
Thank you for this great tutorial! It saved my Nespresso U! You rock Sir!
Thank you for this! So thorough and exactly what I needed. Only 3 days without my nespresso while I waited for the part to come from Amazon. You are awesome!
Great post. Thank you for the info. Had the same issue with a XN2501 🙂
Sorted my machine – brilliant thank you!!!
Thank you I was able to mend my machine
Thanks. Just the extra info I needed to replace the drip stop that had become dislodged when a pod got mangled!
Great work. Saved me buying a new machine
Thanks so much for this solution! My machine works a treat now and I bought 2 of the distributors, just in case I broke one putting it in so now I have a spare.
Given you were so great to add in some ‘take care’ notes along the way, a quick note that you might like to add near the end of the instructions at step 5…when putting the front cover back on, I snapped the 2 little tabs either side at the top of the outer cover, above and either side of the distributor in the outer cover itself. They are almost impossible to glue back on so now I cannot click the outer cover back in for a snug fit 🙁
Still super happy that my machine now works though! Thanks again 🙂
thank you so much mine is a C55 and it worked perfectly
Thanks so much for this excellent tutorial. It turns out there was nothing broken on mine but after following your instructions and cleaning all the parts the flow was so much better that the root cause (pressure building up and leaking from the rear seal as it had nowhere else to go) was so much better.
Absolutely briliant, many thanks. I found that when fitting the new distributor, trying to fit the bottom clip first (many times) resulted in almost breaking the top tab, so for me, fitting the top tab first followed by the bottom tab was much easier.
I have a Pixie that makes clear hot water at times now after I found a gasket in the pod dump. The gasket looks like it might seal around the back of the pod inside of the infuser part. Would someone please take a small mirror and look into the back of the infuser to see if you see a black gasket around the 4 blades that cut the holes in the back of the coffee pods.
Thank you so much for making this. We managed to fix our machine quite easily after sourcing a new part .
Perfect advice thank you!! I managed to fix with a little super glue.. not as smooth as it should be so I’ve ordered the replacement part. Saved me buying a new machine 🙂
Had the same problem as Kathryn above but still very happy that the machine now works.
A big thank you from me as well!
Brilliant instructions and a massive $ saver! Part cost me around $17 with postage from Ebay – so much better than either taking to repair shop or buying a new one (which is probably the option I would have gone for). Instructions and videos were great and made replacing relatively straightforward. Thanks so much!
Thank you for a great tutorial! Besides saving me money and an otherwise functioning coffee machine, fixing it myself made me feel quite accomplished 😀
Many thanks. Great explanation.
You absolute legend! Your tutorial was just the ticket to get my much-loved Krups “U” model working once again; it just needed a spare distributor part from eBay and a bit of patience, and everything was done and dusted! Perfect!
Thank you for giving back, by taking the time to help trouble shooting with this tutorial
Problem solved!
Sorry Dehlonghi/Nespresso, but no new machine needed here!
Thank you so much for a fantastic repair guide. I have previously repaired a friend’s Nespresso that had the same problem, but the instructions I found were very complicated and required quite taking off the cover. Your guide was very easy to use and so much quicker. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this! I was ready to throw my machine away, but this tutorial saved it’s life
Hiya – what is part #51 and where should it go – mine is out? Thanks
Thanks so much for making this tutorial available. It was just what I needed to get my coffee machine working again!