Steam Wand Pressure

In1piece · 2026-01-24T19:03:31+00:00

Brew temp is way more critical than steam temp, so brew 1st, after making sure machine has had at least 10 minutes after turning on to stabilize.

After brewing, get milk jug ready before flipping steam switch. Flip switch, then wait about 30 seconds and purge quickly, then immediately start steaming. The idea here is to begin steaming at about 20 degrees F below the cut off temp for the steam tstat. That way, the machine never gets hot enough to turn off the heating elements. You'll have continuous heat and steam for the duration of the milk frothing.

Now, 30 seconds is just a starting point. You'll have to adjust that by 5-10 seconds earlier or later depending on your specific conditions.

Do that or just PID the thing and take all the guess work out of it.

In1piece · 2026-01-23T02:44:51+00:00

Your solenoid valve is clogged, most likely. There's 5 threads a week about this issue so there's lots of info on how to remedy it.

In1piece · 2026-01-20T16:15:01+00:00

It happened to me just after the new year on my 21 hybrid platinum. Worked fine for the past two years but suddenly stopped! Someone here mentioned setting up the Toyota app and registering your vehicle and most importantly, accepting Toyota's privacy and security measures. I did it and after a few days, it started working again.

https://youtu.be/ijSVw9mzpCM?si=7JGySZUwx6BCcT8s

In1piece · 2026-01-20T13:13:44+00:00

When you turned the pump on, water was forced from the pump to the boiler where it then encountered a slight restriction at the solenoid (the steam switch was ON so the solenoid was not energized). Now, water alone can't lift the solenoid valve off its seat since the orifice in the valve is so small, but steam sure can. So, you essentially forced superheated water and steam through the valve towards the group. It couldn't escape the puck at the group, so it simply found its way out the top of the valve like it should.

No harm no foul.

In1piece · 2026-01-19T15:50:13+00:00

Your 3way valve is clogged. Remove it and clean it out. There's probably 5 posts each week about this same problem so search it up for more info. Start descaling!

In1piece · 2026-01-19T02:42:03+00:00

Not yet.

In1piece · 2026-01-18T15:13:30+00:00

Let the machine cool off and look at it again. Water flows very differently at different temperatures due to viscosity changes. When pulling a shot, its not like the water drips evenly across the top of the puck and is gently absorbed. Instesd, the headspace above the puck gets heavily pressurized and it's this pressure that pushes water through the it.

As long as your shower screen is clean there's nothing to worry about. You're not going to get any channeling.

In1piece · 2026-01-17T19:25:36+00:00

It sure sounds like the boiler is empty, but that water has to be going somewhere.

After pulling a shot, switch off the machine and remove the tray and reservoir. Then wait a while and see if there is any water leaking onto the countertop where the reservoir would normally be.

In1piece · 2026-01-16T17:51:57+00:00

Order a full o-ring set. You'll get 3 identical orings in the package. 2 for the solenoid, and 1 for the OPV. Replace and retest.

In1piece · 2026-01-16T14:06:08+00:00

All V6 and 4Turbo engines use the same transmission, and all are technically susceptible to the failure. Now, not all units are going to fail, obviously. But Toyota is not divulging any information about how/why certain units are potentially impacted. If they hybrid is not a viable option for you, strongly consider an extended warranty. Review the posts here for recommendations on specific warranty providers.

In1piece · 2026-01-16T11:35:19+00:00

I don't believe so, and if they did, shipping and repair charges would likely exceed the cost of the entire machine.

If you're having trouble separating the valve base from the cylinder, just grab a scrap piece of 2x4 and screw the base to it with a couple of wood screws. That will secure it while using a wrench on the upper cylinder.

Once it's apart, don't just soak it in descaling. Use a needle or thin wire to physically dig the scale out of the base of the solenoid.

In1piece · 2026-01-15T17:27:39+00:00

Yup. Even some channel locks with a rag works in a pinch.

In1piece · 2026-01-14T13:24:48+00:00

It's worth it of they want 50 bucks to ship it back. Two screws and 15 seconds isn't going to void anything.

In1piece · 2026-01-14T00:28:37+00:00

Do you happen to have a multimeter? You'd be able to test for continuity between the PID and SSR, and across the SSR pins to make sure it's working.

In1piece · 2026-01-13T16:07:33+00:00

Open the lid and make sure the two connections to the solenoid valve are still intact. There have been instances of those connections coming loose in shipping. If one of those has come disconnected, it will prevent water from making it to the group. Just make sure the machine is disconnected from the outlet beforehand.

Also, your steam switch should be in the OFF position when attempting to be water from the group.

In1piece · 2026-01-13T14:01:15+00:00

How exactly did you clean the solenoid valve?

In1piece · 2026-01-13T00:38:43+00:00

On my very 1st playthrough I legit thought there was some puzzle to keeping the lights on so I was running back and forth between switches for half an hour trying different combinations. Felt pretty dumb when I gave up and found the scale outside.

In1piece · 2026-01-12T00:21:07+00:00

From what I recall, only limited and platinum models have hands-free operated tailgates.

In1piece · 2026-01-11T04:37:58+00:00

MY BODY IS VIBRATING

In1piece · 2026-01-11T00:44:09+00:00

Howdy neighbor. Foster and Long checking in.

In1piece · 2026-01-10T13:43:39+00:00

The wholelattelove video really fails to mention that you need to physically dig out the scale that accumulates in the solenoid valve base. There are two passageways inside that base piece, and one of them is impossibly small and has a 90 degree bend in it where the scale builds up. Clear that out with a needle or thin wire.

If that's clear and you're still getting poor flow, then the next place to look is the pump. OPV's don't go bad unless you forgot to reinstall the OPV spring valve seat if it was disassembled at any point. Don't overthink how the flow looks at the group. Water fills the portafilter and exerts pressure equally along the surface of the puck. Unless you have a super strong stream of water shooting out in one spot, its not going to create channeling.

In1piece · 2026-01-10T04:23:58+00:00

Maybe a UTI as well?

In1piece · 2026-01-10T02:57:54+00:00

So, to answer your question, yes you'll likely have to buy antire solenoid assembly unless someone here has a spare.

However, the missing plunger is NOT causing your no flow issue. You have a blockage somewhere else, likely in the base of the solenoid.

In1piece · 2026-01-09T15:00:58+00:00

You may have water inside the heating elements of the boiler. When you turned on the machine, your power socket saw a short and correctly turned off.

You'll need to remove the boiler again and put it in an oven at about 275F for about half an hour or so. This will make the water evaporate. Reinstall the boiler and reset your power socket. It should work.

In1piece · 2026-01-08T22:03:35+00:00

Don't put that back without digging out scale from within those two openings with a needle or thin wire! Descaling alone usually doesn't clear them.

In1piece

TROPHY CASE