De'Longhi Magnifica S Grinder Not Working? Unjam It and Get Beans Flowing
By Marco R. · Lead repair technician Updated June 17, 2026 
A Magnifica grinder problem usually announces itself in one of two ways: a loud grind with no coffee at the end, or silence when it should be grinding. They’re different faults, so the first step is to work out which one you’ve got.
First, which is it?
- Grinder runs loud, but no coffee follows: beans aren’t feeding, or the grind/brew side is jammed. Causes 1–3.
- No grinding sound at all: out of beans, a stall, or set too fine. Cause 4.
- It grinds but coffee is weak/watery: grind too coarse — nudge it finer (the opposite of a clog).
Cause 1 — Beans not feeding (oily or stale)
Why it happens: Dark, oily beans stick together and bridge the throat at the bottom of the hopper, so the grinder spins but no beans drop into the burrs. Stale, dried-out beans do the same.
The fix: Empty the hopper, wipe out the oily residue, and refill with fresh, medium-roast beans. Tap the hopper to settle them. If you’ve been using very dark/oily beans, switching roast often solves this for good.
Cause 2 — Grind set too fine (jamming the burrs)
Why it happens: Too fine a setting can pack and stall the grind, and it over-packs the brew unit downstream so nothing comes through.
The fix: Turn the grind dial inside the hopper one notch coarser — and only while the grinder is running. Test, and repeat one notch at a time if needed.
Cause 3 — Brew side blocked (looks like a grinder fault)
Why it happens: If the grinder works but a clogged brew unit or coffee spout stops the coffee, it can seem like the grinder “isn’t working.”
The fix: Remove and rinse the brew unit, clear the coffee spouts, and reseat. Full steps in not making coffee.
Cause 4 — No grinding sound (stall or foreign object)
Why it happens: A small stone or hard object that came in with the beans can stall the burrs, or the machine is simply out of beans.
The fix: Confirm there are beans. If you suspect a foreign object jamming the burrs, the Magnifica’s grinder isn’t user-removable the way a standalone grinder is — forcing it risks damage. A De’Longhi service centre can clear the burrs safely. Try a pre-ground brew (using the pre-ground chute and the pre-ground setting) to confirm the rest of the machine is fine in the meantime.
Repair or replace?
Bean-feed and grind-setting issues are free to fix and account for most cases. Even a jammed burr cleared by a technician is a modest job. There’s no reason a grinder complaint alone should retire the machine.
Stop it happening again
- Use fresh medium-roast beans; avoid very oily dark ones.
- Don’t leave beans in the hopper for weeks.
- Adjust the grind only while it’s running, in small steps.
- Keep the brew unit rinsed so the whole path stays clear.
Frequently asked questions
My Magnifica S grinder is loud but makes no coffee — why?
The grinder makes no sound at all — what's wrong?
How do I adjust the Magnifica grind safely?
Why does this keep happening with my beans?
Marco spent twelve years servicing espresso machines — first behind the bench at a specialty café group, then running his own repair workshop. He has stripped down, fixed and reassembled everything from a battered Gaggia Classic to high-end Swiss automatics. He writes the fixes here only after reproducing the fault on a real machine, and he'll always tell you when a repair isn't worth the money.