The production of fully automatic machines is resource-intensive, their purchase price high. Therefore: coffee drinkers who have their defective machine repaired are saving money and the environment.
This is what repair shops often repair
What’s inside: 0.6 kg of electronics, 7 kg of plastics, 3.2 kg of metals. © thinkstock (M)
Does not heat up. According to manufacturer-independent workshops, the biggest weak point is the heating system. The repair costs an average of 145 euros. © U. rainshield
Machine leaks. Worn out valves are the second most frequently replaced by repair companies. Costs an average of 100 euros. © U. Rain log
Coffee hardly flows or not at all. A defective pump is the third most frequently repaired by installers. For this they charge on average 110 euro. © U. Rain log
After only five years, fully automatic coffee machines break down on average. At the network of independent repair shops, they account for around a third of all repair requests – no household appliance ends up there more often. Machines are expensive, but typical repairs are relatively inexpensive: 84 percent of cases are repaired, the others often fail due to high costs. Repair is also worthwhile from an ecological point of view.
This is how much the repair may cost
The cost limit that we recommend for repairs according to our calculations is based on age: in the first four years of use, owners should invest no more than half of the purchase price in repairs. The older the appliance, the less the repair should cost. From the seventh year on, it is recommended to invest a maximum of 20 percent.
Independent. Objective. Incorruptible.
Coffee machines – what the industry says
Spare parts, warranty, service life: the answers from the main suppliers
Supplier / brand
How long do spare parts last?
What service life do you calculate for your machines??
How long do you guarantee your machines??
BSH / bosch, siemens
De’longhi
Electrolux / AEG
At least 10 years
Groupe SEB / rowenta, krups
Jura
Melitta
At least 15 000 covers
2 years, maximum 15,000 covers
Miele
20 years / about 25 000 covers
Otto / privilege
Panasonic
Philips / saeco
Repair it yourself, save money
Not every problem requires a professional. It is worth looking for the reason yourself first. If, for example, the grinder is not running, something may have jammed in it. Often it can be cleaned with the vacuum cleaner. If the coffee runs somewhere other than into the cup, a seal or gasket may need to be replaced. Troubleshooting and simple repairs can be helped by websites of the suppliers and by hobbyists like floriankaiser.De and juradiy.De as well as user videos on youtube. In addition to instructions, coffee drinkers can also get help from komtra.De and juraprofi.De spare parts for several brands.
Cheap spare parts from third party suppliers
Many companies state that they keep spare parts in stock for five to ten years (table of fully automatic coffee machines). We checked ten suppliers to see whether important parts for a ten-year-old model are available. With the exception of melitta, we found the following everywhere.
The price differences between original spare parts and those from third-party manufacturers can be considerable. At AEG, for example, a new pump for the inspected model costs around 182 euros, and just under 19 euros at a third-party online supplier; the original heater is available for 161 euros, and costs 78 euros at another manufacturer.
Ecologically, repair makes sense
The production of a fully automatic coffee machine has such a negative impact on the environment, especially because of its 600 grams of electronics made of valuable raw materials, that owners should use it for as long as possible and repair it if it is defective.
* environmental damage points according to ecoinvent. user repairs three times: charged for 10 years; first repair after 5 years. User never repairs: charges for a new purchase approximately every 5 years. use calculated for the environmental impact of consumption of electricity, water, coffee, descaler and cleaner. © foundation warentest
Repairing usually saves money
On average, a fully automatic coffee machine breaks down three times in ten years. Having it repaired each time costs less overall for the typical defects than having to buy a new one each time it is damaged.
* user repairs three times: charged for average purchase price of 810 euros and three repairs at an average of 118 euros each; first repair after 5 years. User never repairs: charged for about 2 appliances in 10 years (new purchase after 5 years). usage costs: electricity, water, coffee, descaler, cleaner. data basis: survey of readers and workshops. © foundation warentest
More details: a table with the spare parts costs of the suppliers surveyed for the sample machines can be found in the info document spare parts costs.