Nespresso Blinking Twice? (3 Working Solutions!)

Does your Nespresso machine’s light blink twice when you try to brew your coffee, clean the machine, or descale it? 

Maybe it blinks twice every second, or maybe it just blinks twice and stops? 

Either way, don’t panic. This is pretty normal.

Your beloved espresso maker is not gonna go kaput. It’s just trying to tell you something.

In this post, I will give you a quick rundown of why your Nespresso blinking twice in different patterns, and what has to be done in each scenario.

Why Is Nespresso Orange Light Blinking Twice?

An orange light on a Nespresso machine blinking twice conveys different messages depending on the blinking pattern.

If the orange light is blinking two times per second, it means that the machine is in need of a good cleaning. You probably haven’t run a cleaning cycle on it for some time and there could be coffee residue built up inside.

If the orange light blinks twice rapidly and then long off, your machine may have run into an error during the brewing process or descaling/cleaning. 

If you see this signal while trying to brew your coffee, the pod is most probably not sitting properly inside. 

If this happens while you are trying to run a cleaning cycle or descale the machine, there could be a used pod inside that you forgot to remove, or the hatch is not properly locked. 

What To Do If Your Nespresso Blinks Orange Twice

What you should do if your Nespresso blinks twice depends on the particular pattern of that blink.

Let’s go over what to do in both cases:

Orange Light Blinking 2 Times Per Second

If it’s blinking orange light twice a second, you should clean the machine thoroughly. Follow the steps below to give it a good cleaning:

1. Unplug the machine.
2. Open the machine head and take any remaining used capsules out.
3. Wipe the inside of the head with a paper towel to clean any coffee ground residue.
4. Take the water reservoir off the machine and give it a good rinse in your kitchen sink.
5. Fill the reservoir with fresh, cold water and set it back in the machine.
6. Rinse the cup support well.
7. Remove the capsule container and drip tray, and rinse them thoroughly too.
8. Replug the machine.
9. Close the machine head and twist the handle left to lock it in position.
10. You will see a blinking light by now, indicating the machine is heating up. The blinking will stop when the machine is ready for the cleaning cycle. 
11. Once the light stops blinking, push the button three times within two seconds. This starts the cleaning process. 

It can take up to two minutes for the water flow to appear and up to seven minutes to complete the cleaning program. 

Quick Tip: You can also pause the cleaning cycle anytime by pressing the button once, and make it continue by pressing the button once again.

Orange Light Blinks Twice Rapidly Then Long Off

If you happen to see the orange light blinking twice and go off while trying to brew coffee, try the following steps:

1. Check to see if the lever is locked properly. 
2. Open the machine head and to see if the capsule has been properly inserted.
3. Check whether enough water is in the tank. 

If the machine still blinks despite everything mentioned in the above steps being the way they are supposed to be, open the machine head and replace the capsule with a new one. 

4. Close the lid.
5. Unplug the power cord from the mains outlet and wait for ten seconds.
6. Replug the machine and start the brewing process again and if everything is back to normal.

While Cleaning

If you witness this blinking pattern while trying to run a cleaning or a descaling process, try doing the following:

1. Open the machine head and look inside it.
2. If there is a used coffee pod mistakenly left behind, take it off.
3. Make sure the lever is locked properly. 

If the blinking still continues, unplug the machine, wait for 10 seconds, and replug. The machine will most likely not blink anymore. 

Nespresso Blinking Red Twice

Nespresso VertuoPlus has a red and yellow (green) light signal system that indicates different things with various blinking patterns.

If the light blinks twice in red followed by steady green, it can be due to the water tank being empty, the used capsule still being inside, no capsule inserted, or an improperly inserted capsule. 

The light blinking twice in red followed by a steady orange is an indicator of the machine’s special functions menu being activated.

What To Do If Nespresso Blinks Red Twice?

If your Nespresso VertuoPlus is blinking red twice and changes back to steady green, do the following:

1. Check the water tank and, if there is not enough water in it, fill it up with fresh, cold water.
2. If there is a used capsule left inside, remove it. 
3. Make sure that you have inserted a new capsule, and inserted it correctly.

If the machine blinks in red twice and goes back to steady orange, simply go to its menu and select the special function you want by pressing the lever down.

FAQs

Why Does Nespresso Vertuoline Blink Twice Then Pauses?

If your Nespresso VertuoLine machine’s light blinks 2 times followed by a steady white light,  it means that you need to run the descaling process.

Why Nespresso Red Light After Descaling?

If your Nespresso is blinking the red light after descaling, it probably means it isn’t properly locked or it needs to cool down. It could also be an error in the special function.