Francis Francis X1 blowing thru ESE pod

The issue you are experiencing with your Illy Francis Francis X9 may be due to a malfunctioning seal or gasket.

The coffee pod holder and brew head are sealed together with a rubber gasket, which creates a tight seal to prevent leaks. If the gasket is damaged or worn, it may not create a proper seal, causing water to leak out of the machine.

I believe to troubleshoot this issue, you can try removing the coffee pod holder and inspecting the gasket for any damage or wear. If you find any issues with the gasket, you can replace it with a new one to ensure a proper seal. You can purchase replacement gaskets from Illy or from a third-party supplier.

Another possible cause of the issue could be a clogged or dirty brew head. Over time, the brew head can become clogged with coffee grounds or other debris, which can cause water to leak around the edges. To clean the brew head, you can remove it from the machine and soak it in a solution of hot water and white vinegar to remove any buildup or debris.

It's also possible that the issue is related to the machine's pump or water flow system. If the pump is not working properly, it may not be able to generate enough pressure to push water through the coffee pod. In this case, you may need to have the machine serviced by a qualified technician to diagnose and repair the issue.

had that probleme ( if you check the pin that pierce that k cup or pod ( it has small hole in it take a tooth pick and put it true that hole to get the dried up coffee out ( if that seem to not work ( u can blow in that needle also) and if that dont work take the top off ( screws ) and find the feeding line could full of dried up coffee ... ;) that is your problem

You need to use the single-serving size one-hole basket, not the double, with the diffuser valve seated beneath the basket. Then the Illy ese pod should be inserted with the decal facing up. Finally, and most importantly, when you lock the filter assembly into the machine, you need to close it firmly. Brown water can mean that the basket assembly is not sealed in tight enough.

I HAVE BEEN USING THE GAGGIA CLASSIC FOR 34 YEARS AND I ALWAYS BELIEVED THIS MACHINE IS BEING DESIGNED FOR SPECIFIC COFFEE QUALITY. THE ILLY ESE PODS ARE NOT FOR THIS MACHINE, TRY LAVAZZA PODS INSTEAD THAT IS SHAPED PERFECTLY WITH GAGGIA FILTER HOLDER FOR PODS.

There were two versions of the Francis Francis X1; one without the logo (older) and one with. I guess your only chance is ebay; but why would someone sell the holder without the machine?

My X1 came with an ESE pod holder and a ground coffee holder so they are definitely available.

Hi
There are 4 nuts that hold the chrome head on. They are either 7mm or 8mm nuts. Loosen then and the head should twist out.

There are two different handles made for this unit (I own an X1 and have both). Both of these handles have baskets.

First - The pod handle has a basket area that is very shallow, about 1/3 of an inch deep and the basket has very small holes.

Second - The handle for loose grounds came with two baskets, one for a single dose, and one for a double dose. Both removable baskets have the very small holes for the espresso to drip through.

You must have a basket in the handle in order to use the machine. If you try to make espresso without a basket, you'll just make a mess. Besides, the machine will never be able build enough pressure to extract espresso from the grounds.

Search the net (ebay?) for francis francis x1 handle.


Good luck

You need a ground coffee adapter, these are available from various sites online. Do a web search for X1 ground coffee handle and you'll find one. Make sure it's the right one for your machine (check to see if you have the aluminium or brass boiler version)

Just found this site - It's in the UK and I'm not sure if you are but they will probably export to you.

http://tinyurl.com/lhxvg6

Regards
Richard

Some leaking from the group head of the machine is totally normal while the machine is heating. The reason for this is that the valve that sits above the shower screen is simply a spring and rubber ball. The spring expands, creating a seal with the rubber ball and the boiler, once the boiler reaches a specific temperature. Until the boiler temp is reached, leaking from the group head will occur.