Fixing the Sirena Expresso Machine Steam Knob and Wand
If you purchased the Sirena Espresso Coffee machine from Starbucks, you have a lovely machine or perhaps a very expensive paper weight. It seems the steam wand assembly will fail in most of these machines. Finding a repair shop or shipping it off will cost about half of what the machine did. I manged to fix mine so I will post what I have learned here in hopes it will help someone else.
Symptom - Steam knob turns more than it used to and no steam comes out of the steam wand. It is likely the lever which turns steam on/off is no longer in its proper position or does not spin with the knob assembly.
The fix (Summary) - Open the machines top, turn knob until loose, reset lever to proper position, tighten set screw, tighten knob, reassemble machine.
Tools you will need - Short and regular phillips head screwdriver, hex-head allen wrenches (tiny and small), needle nose pliers, skinny screwdriver.
The fix (Detail)
- Unplug the machine, remove water container.
- Move to a safe work area where screws and other small parts will not fall into the sink.
- Using the short phillips head screwdriver remove the two side screws holding the light grey top on left and right.
- Using a small allen wrench or hex screwdriver remove the two screws holding the cup warmer.
- Pry the cup warmer open. Notice the gasket and where it fits.
- Using Phillips head screw driver remove the 4 remaining screws holding the top. Remove the top.
- Take a picture with your digital camera (for memory purpose incase you start moving things around or undo anything else.
- The knob should have a spring clamp on the inside of the machine which keeps it from slipping off. If yours does not, turn the machine upside down and shake it until it falls out. These tend to pop off if you turn the knob too far. You can push it back on with a pair of needle nose pliers. It fits in the groove of the knob inside the machine wall. If the spring just slips off you should order a new knob from SAECO or build it up with electrical tape at least.
- Loosen the knob about 1.5 turns (don’t force it, you may be creating the problem if it does not exist).
- You should notice a dull grey metal lever inside the circuit board which spins around the post the knob turns. This lever is likely in the wrong position or does not spin with the knob post. IF you can push it around freely with out turning the knob, this is definitely the broken part.
- The lever should move from a 9:00 position, clockwise to a 3:00 position to on the circuit board to turn the steamer on/off. Move the lever until it rests on a small shelf at the 9:00 position as you face the knob side of the machine. I use a small screw driver because my fingers are too large to fit in the space.
- Tighten the knob to its closed position (not overly tight). You will notice the lever has a set screw on top. Using the tiny allen wrench, tighten (turn clockwise) the set screw. DO NOT LOOSEN ANY FURTHER - it may come out and it is a pain to put back in without further dis assembly.
- You should now be able to turn the knob and the lever should move from 9:00 clockwise to 3:00, and the knob should stop. If the knob continues to turn after this, you did not get the set screw tight enough. Move knob back to closed position and lever back to 9:00 position and tighten again. Test again.
- This is also a good time to inspect the tubing and clamps that hold them.
- Before you reassemble - put water container back on and turn on and test. DO NOT STICK YOU HAND IN THE MACHINE WHILE OPEN. the boiler gets hot.
- If all is well, reassemble the top and cup warmer in the order you disassembled them.
- Make yourself a nice latte as a reward for your hard work.
Tip - To make frothier steamed milk:
- Turn on steam knob and let excess water run into a cup until it turns to steam, Close knowb
- Put milk pitcher under steam wand, open steam knob, and move pitcher up and down several times to introduce air.
- When milk reaches 130 degrees, introduce more air
- You should have a nice micro foam when the milk reaches 160 degrees, and extra thickness at 180 degrees.