The espressso button dispenses a cofee but the larger button only dispenses a drizzle it has been descaled

There is another process to get into descale mode on some 7.1 machines. I got this from Illy Support:
Descale Cycle
• Turn off machine
• So the usual filling if container with descale fluid
• Turn machine on and within 15 seconds from power on – press and hold in the big cup
button until it gives 4 acoustic signals and then release your finger.
• The big blue cup button should now be flashing
• Press the big blue cup button once – the machine will now dispense water intermittently
from the coffee group head and the steam arm and the steam and coffee button will be
flashing alternately
• Once the descaling cycle has completed it will give out a long acoustic signal
• The coffee button will continue to flash
Rinsing Cycle
• Remove the water tank – wash out and fill with clean fresh water just over the MAX level
• Empty the container holding 1 litre of water and reinstate back under coffee group head and
point steam arm in container.
• Press the flashing big cup button once
• Water will again dispense intermittently from group head and steam arm
• An acoustic signal will sound out as soon as the rinsing cycle is complete.
• The Big Blue coffee button will be steadily lit
• Remove 1 litre container.
• Remove water tank – clean and refill with clean water

–red light should now be off and ready to make coffee

Descaling instructions:

1. Press the " " button until the CACL CLEAN symbol appears. Press the " " button to start the descaling.
2. The machine reminds you to insert the carafe and pull out the what is in there dispenser. The descaler symbol appears on the display. ...
3. Take out the water tank. Pour the entire bottle of Saeco descaling solution in the water tank.
4. Top up the water tank with fresh tap water to the MAX line. (Please ensure the max line is reached otherwise this will require further rinsing). Place the water tank back into the machine. ..
5. Place a bowl underneath the milk carafe dispenser and the dispensing spout.
6. Pull out the milk carafe dispenser to the right up to the " " icon.
7. Press the " " button to start the descaling cycle.
8. The machine will start dispensing the descaling solution at intervals. The bar on the display shows the progress. This takes about no moro then 25 minutes.

Their appears to be a scale build up inside the valve that dispenses the water when demanded. This is an electrical solenoid much like in fridge water dispensers but smaller. The scale is not letting the valve close completely after dispense. On a regular brewer running vinegar thru the machine a couple of cycles will usually dislodge the obstruction in the valve. If you can manually add water to the brewer, you should add the vinegar instead to clean the valve. Otherwise you may have to disassemble locate the valve and soak in descaler, or vinegar.

The discs tell the machine how much water to dispense through the disc. Some discs dispense a small amount for an Espresso, others give a larger drink. Normal cups will not fill, you need smaller coffee cups for most Tassimo drinks.
Check the packet to see how much it dispenses and check with a measurement jug to see if it is working properly, you may be surprised to find it is working fine.

Hi,
been talking to Gaggia (Philips) and they told me that with the newer Breras, you need to ill the water tank, put the machine into standby, then press the long and short cup buttons together for 6 seconds. This will start an auto descale programme (that they didn't mention in my manual!). A small amount of water will be dispensed through the coffee nozzles, then it will stop and the warning triangle and the prime warning light will come on. Place a large container under the panarello, then turn the knob to the right to dispense water. It will dispense about 50 - 100 mls (cold) water, then stop for about a minute. Just leave it and eventually it will empty the tank. Refill it and start again, but it will stop after a few seconds. Turn the knob back to central position, then it will dispense another small amount of water from the coffee nozzles, then stop with warning lights again. Turn the knob back right to dispense water, if it stops because of empty tank, just refill it. Eventually, the machine will stop and go to standby. Turn the knob back to the centre, refill tank yet again and the machine will start normally WITHOUT that descale warning light. HOORAY !!

Push and hold the button for the coffee you want, but hold it all the way through the process. Don’t release the button until you get the amount of coffee you want for that button, then release the button. That should get you the same amount next time. You can do this for each coffee button.

With all due respect, read page 18 of your instruction manual.

Have you tried to descale machine.

Hi,

Try this:

Standard descaling
Switch off the machine.
Pour a descaling product into the water tank.
Switch the machine on to the programming mode(see below). Place a large container under the steam/hot water dispensing tube and open the steam/hot water knob slowly, turning it counterclockwise.
Turn on the machine by pressing the main switch and let the descaling product flow out of the dispensing tube for approx. 1 min.
Close the knob again.
Turn off the machine with the main switch and let the solution take effect for approx. 5 minutes.
Repeat this procedure two or three times, to allow all of the descaling product in the water tank to flow out of the dispensing tube.
As soon as descaling has been carried out, rinse the tank thoroughly and fill it with fresh water.
Switch on the machine and let fresh water (approx. 2 l) flow out of the steam/hot water dispensing tube in order to rinse away residue.
The machine is now ready for operation.

When the machine is on, the warning light switches off automatically, by pressing the steam selection button for at least 5 seconds.

To enter the programming mode, turn the machine
off with the main switch.
Press steam , espresso coffee and the
main switch at the same time.

Release the buttons.

Hope this will help you.
/Mirran

by frother you mean it puts out steam ? if yes then I need to know how long you hold down the button and have you checked the hose in back to see if it has cracks or is kinked?