semiatic

De’Longhi PrimaDonna Soul: what the lights mean

Bean-to-cup with a colour touch screen and milk container (ECAM61X.3Y, 61X.5Y and 61X.7Y)

The PrimaDonna Soul shows its warnings as short sentences on its touch screen and adds a few icons for energy saving and the Coffee Link app connection. De’Longhi’s Instructions for Use for the ECAM61X.3Y, 61X.5Y and 61X.7Y models list them in section 21, ‘Displayed messages’, with the cause and remedy for each; the ECAM612.55.SB support page links that manual. This page covers the Soul only: the other PrimaDonna lines (Class, Elite, Avant) have their own manuals, and we have not read them.

Every De’Longhi PrimaDonna Soul light we could source, 20 in all, each with De’Longhi’s meaning and steps. This is the PrimaDonna Soul’s pattern; another De’Longhi machine may use the same light for something else — check the manual for your model.

Fill tank with fresh water

Water

The water tank is too low.

“Insufficient water in the tank (A20).”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Take the tank out, fill it with fresh water and put it back in the machine.

Source:

Insert water tank

Water

The water tank is missing or not pushed fully in.

“The tank (A20) is not correctly in place.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Insert the tank correctly and press it in as far as it will go.

Source:

Fill water tank and empty grounds container

Container or tray

The tank is too low for the drink, and the grounds container will soon be full, so the machine asks for both now.

“The amount of water in the tank is not enough to make the beverage and the message to empty the grounds container will be displayed shortly.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Fill the tank and empty the grounds container together; De’Longhi says this way you can make several drinks in a row without being stopped again.

Source:

Empty grounds container

Container or tray

The used-grounds container is full.

“The grounds container (A25) is full.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Empty and clean it as the manual’s section 16.3 describes, then refit it.

Source:

Insert grounds container and drip tray

Container or tray

The grounds container or drip tray is out, or not pushed fully in.

“The grounds container (A25) and/or drip tray (A24) is not correctly in place or is missing.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Slide the drip tray, with the grounds container in it, back in as far as it will go.

Source:

Insert infuser assembly

Fault or blockage

The brewing unit (infuser) is not in the machine.

“The infuser (A11) has not been replaced after cleaning.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Put the infuser back as the manual’s section 16.9, ‘Cleaning the infuser’, describes.

Source:

Fill beans containers

Container or tray

The bean container is empty.

“The coffee beans have run out.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Fill the bean container with coffee beans.

Source:

Add pre-ground coffee, maximum one measure

Mode running

You chose a drink made with pre-ground coffee, so the machine is waiting for it.

“Preparation with pre-ground coffee has been selected.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Check the funnel is not blocked, add one level measure of pre-ground coffee, press “Next” on the screen and follow section 7.4 of the manual.

Source:

Pre-ground mode is not allowed with this beverage

Mode running

The drink you picked cannot be made with pre-ground coffee.

“The pre-ground coffee function has been selected for a beverage where use of pre-ground coffee is not possible/envisaged.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Press “OK” to go back to the previous screen and choose another drink, or switch pre-ground off.

Source:

Ground too fine. Adjust mill using the dedicated function in machine settings.

Fault or blockage

The coffee ran too slowly or not at all. Usually the grind is too fine; if a water softener filter is fitted, an air bubble in the circuit can cause the same message.

“The grinding is too fine and the coffee is delivered too slowly or not at all.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Press “OK” and adjust the grinder with the ‘Adjust mill’ function in the settings (manual section 6.4).
  2. If a water softener filter is fitted, press “OK” and run a little hot water until it flows evenly; if that does not help, remove the filter (section 19.3).

Source:

Select a milder taste or reduce the quantity of pre-ground coffee

Fault or blockage

There was more coffee in the brewing unit than it can take.

“Too much coffee has been used.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Pick a milder “Aroma” for the drink, or use at most 1 measure of pre-ground coffee. Press “OK” or wait for the message to go.

Source:

Remove central outlet cover and coffee spout

Cleaning due

The coffee spouts are due for cleaning.

“The spouts (A16) and (A17) need cleaning.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Take off the central outlet cover and the coffee spout and clean them as the manual’s section 16.7 describes.

Source:

Insert milk container

Container or tray

You chose a milk drink but the milk container is not fitted properly.

“The milk container (D) is not inserted correctly.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Push the milk container in as far as it will go; the machine beeps when it is in (if the beep is switched on).

Source:

If needed, fill milk container using the refill lid

Container or tray

There may not be enough milk for the drink you chose.

“While preparing milk-based beverages, if the milk in the container is not enough to make the selected beverage, the appliance recommends you top up the container (D) without removing it.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Open the small refill lid on top of the milk container and pour in milk, no higher than the MAX mark; there is no need to take the container off.

Source:

STORE milk container in the fridge

Cleaning due

A milk drink is done and the milk container is still on the machine.

“A milk-based beverage has been prepared and the milk container is still inserted in the appliance”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Take the milk container off and put it in the refrigerator.

Source:

Descaling needed. Press "OK" to start (~50 min)

Descale needed

The machine needs descaling; the guided cycle takes about 50 minutes.

“The machine must be descaled.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Press “OK” and follow the guided procedure, or “Cancel” to do it later.
  2. If you cancel, a descale symbol stays on the home screen as a reminder (manual section 17).

Source:

Replace water filter. Press OK to start

Water filter

The water softener filter is used up.

“The water softener filter (C7) is exhausted.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Press “OK” to replace or remove the filter now, or “Cancel” to do it later (manual section 19).

Source:

Water circuit empty. Press OK to start filling process

Water

There is no water in the internal water circuit.

“The water circuit is empty”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Press “OK”: the machine fills the circuit and stops by itself. Water in the drip tray afterwards is normal.
  2. If the message persists, check the water tank is fully inserted.

Source:

Cleaning underway

Mode running

The machine found dirt in its internal circuits and is cleaning itself.

“The appliance has detected impurities in its internal circuits.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Wait until the machine is ready again, then choose your drink again.
  2. Contact De’Longhi customer services if the message keeps coming back.

If that does not fix it: how to contact De’Longhi.

Source:

General alarm: refer to user manual / Coffee Link App

Fault or blockage

The inside of the machine is very dirty.

“The inside of the appliance is very dirty.”

— De’Longhi, PrimaDonna Soul ECAM612.55.SB and the other ECAM61X models
Which light
Text message on the display
Colour
Colour not named by the maker
Steady or flashing
Steady

What De’Longhi says to do

  1. Clean the inside of the machine thoroughly as the manual’s section 16, ‘Cleaning’, describes.
  2. If the message is still there after cleaning, contact De’Longhi Customer Services.

If that does not fix it: how to contact De’Longhi.

Source:

Near relatives

Machines from the same maker whose lights are close to these, each on its own page from its own manual. A light that looks the same can still mean something else, so check each one.

  • De’Longhi Rivelia — Bean-to-cup with a colour touch screen and two swappable bean hoppers (EXAM44X.3Y with a steam wand; Rivelia LatteCrema EXAM44X.5Y with a milk carafe)
  • De’Longhi Magnifica Plus — Bean-to-cup with a colour touch screen that writes sentences (ECAM32X.6Y and 32X.7Y)

When De’Longhi says to get help

Contact De’Longhi Customer Services — the manual’s words — if the general alarm stays after a thorough clean, or if “Cleaning underway” keeps returning.

Sources

Every line on this page comes from De’Longhi’s own documents, read on the date shown. Nothing is taken from third-party manual sites.

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