Coffee tastes weak or watery, even on the strongest setting.

Safety first: Allow the machine to cool before internal cleaning.

• Adjust grind finer: Turn the grinder adjustment one or two steps finer while the grinder is running, following the SMEG manual.
• Increase strength setting: Use the highest aroma/strength setting so the dosing mechanism delivers more coffee per shot.
• Descale machine: Run a full descaling cycle to restore proper brew temperature and pressure.
• Service brew group: Remove the brew group, clean it thoroughly, and inspect the piston and seals. Replace brew group O-rings if they appear flattened or cracked.