4 tips if the pressure gauge of your Sage piston machine isn't working

With these 4 tips, you can make sure the pressure meter of your Sage piston machine works again. Does the manometer still not work? Sadly, it's broken. Contact the customer service.

We'll go through these tips:

• Tip 1. Test if the machine builds up pressure.
• Tip 2. Use fresh coffee beans.
• Tip 3. Adjust the grind size.
• Tip 4. Use the right dosing and push it down straight.

First test if the machine builds up pressure. Use the rubber ring that came with the machine. Place it in the double-walled portafilter for 1 espresso. Make an espresso shot without coffee. If the needle of the pressure meter moves, the manometer works. Doesn't the manometer move? The machine doesn't build up pressure. We recommend to contact the customer service.

If you use old coffee beans, the coffee dissolves very easily. As a result, the water runs through the coffee very easily. The machine doesn't build up counter pressure. Fresh coffee beans are important when you make coffee. That's why you should always check the 'roasted on' date or the expiration date. This way, you know when the beans are roasted and when they expire. If you use high-quality coffee beans with your coffee machine, your bean grinder lasts longest. If you choose the right coffee beans, you won't find rotten or hard beans.

Maybe, the grind size of your ground coffee is too coarse. If the ground coffee is too coarse, the machine doesn't build up much pressure. The water runs through the coffee easily. If you use a finer grind size, the machine works harder and it builds up more pressure. The water runs through the coffee with more pressure. This way, the coffee is less watery and you get a nice crema.

As last tip, it's important that you use the right dosing in your portafilter. Make sure you don't use too much or too little ground coffee in your portafilter. On the piston machine, you can indicate how much ground coffee you need. There's a big chance you use too little coffee. We recommend to grind extra coffee. Afterwards, it's important that you press the coffee down evenly. We also call this 'tamping'. If you tamp the coffee straight, the water flows through the coffee evenly. Make sure that you hold the portafilter straight. Tamp until you feel pressure.