Please read through the entire setup guide before following along. If you have any questions, contact our team at Clive Coffee. Additional information can be found in the ECM Estetika User Manual.
Step 1: Inspect the box and the machine for damage
Remove the machine from the box and place it on a stable, level, water-resistant surface. Because of the machine's weight, it is best to lift it with both hands from underneath, and easier with two people.
Before adding water and turning on the machine, inspect for damage that may have occurred during shipping. If you notice any damage, contact us immediately.
Save all packaging for returns and tech support.
Step 2: Water quality and filling the reservoir
Before introducing water to your machine, it is essential to test it to ensure it is adequately soft, in the range of 35 to 85 ppm (parts per million). Water in this range helps prevent scale and protects your machine over the long term. To learn more, check out our blog post, The Importance of Water and Your Espresso Machine. Do not use distilled or reverse osmosis water, as it lacks the mineral content your machine needs, and do not use carbonated water.
Open the water tank flap on top of the machine, lift out the reservoir, and rinse it. When you reinsert it, orient it so the magnetic float point faces up and the valve sits at the bottom right, then seat it so the edges rest flush against the housing.
Fill the reservoir with filtered, softened water to just below the edge, and close the flap.
Please note that you may need to refill the reservoir after the initial boiler fill phase.
Step 3: Turning on your machine and filling your boilers
Your machine is set for use on a 110V outlet. Before turning the machine on, check that the steam and hot water levers are closed (in the middle position), the machine is off, and the drip tray is inserted correctly.
The following steps cover how to use the machine with the water reservoir. If you are plumbing the machine in, see Step 7 before continuing.
Plug your machine directly into a grounded outlet (do not use an extension cord or power strip) and press the on/off button to switch it on. The LED ring will illuminate. If you have any concerns about your outlet or circuit, consult a certified electrician.
Fill mode will now commence, indicated by the "Fill" icon on the brew group display. Place a container under the group head and press one of the brew buttons to start the pump filling the brew boiler. Wait at least 30 seconds for water to flow steadily from the group head, then press the same brew button again.
The "Fill" icon disappears, and the steam boiler fills automatically. As soon as the steam boiler filling is finished, you will no longer hear any pump noise. After the boilers are filled, the machine starts heating.
Note: You may need to refill your water reservoir during or immediately after this process. If no water comes out of the group head after 90 seconds, contact our team.
Before your first shots, rinse the machine with 2 to 3 reservoirs of fresh water:
Once the machine has heated up, switch it off.
Place a large container under the hot water wand and open the hot water lever to drain water from the boiler.
Close the lever and refill the reservoir.
Switch the machine back on and wait for it to reach temperature.
Repeat steps 1–4 two to three times.
With the machine on, run the remaining water out through the group head.
Step 4: Fast Heating and pulling your first shots
The Estetika heats both boilers simultaneously. With Fast Heating enabled, it reaches brewing temperature from a cold start in about ~6 minutes. Without it, heat-up can take up to 15 minutes, depending on room temperature. Fast Heating briefly overheats the machine to bring the group up to temperature faster, and can be turned on or off in the Advanced User Settings.
Because Fast Heating overheats the boiler, the machine will prompt you to perform a short flush to bring the group back down to your set brew temperature. When the "Flush" icon appears, place an empty container under the group and press a brew button. The flush stops automatically after about 3 seconds. You have about 60 seconds to complete this flush.
The Estetika is ready to make espresso once your set brew temperature is shown on the brew group display.
With coffee dosed and tamped, lock the portafilter into the group head and press a brew button to begin. You can press the flashing button to stop a shot at any time. See Step 5 to program each button's volume for hands-free dosing.
Step 5: Programming volumetric dosing
The three brew buttons (I, II, and III) each store their own shot volume, so once dialed in, a single press pulls the same measured shot every time. Pre-infusion can also be enabled or disabled for each button individually.
To program a button while pulling a shot, make sure your coffee is prepped, lock the portafilter in, and place your cup under the portafilter.
Press and hold the button you want to program for 4 seconds. Its LED flashes, and the display shows ON or OFF, the current pre-infusion setting for that button.
Set pre-infusion to ON or OFF for this button.
With pre-infusion OFF: Briefly press the same button to start the shot. Its LED flashes, and a timer starts. When the shot reaches your target volume, press the button again. The value flashes on the display for 2 seconds, confirming the volume is saved to that button.
With pre-infusion ON: Briefly press the same button to start the active pre-infusion (the pump runs). Press it a second time to end the active phase; "---" appears while the coffee soaks. Press it a third time to resume brewing, then a fourth time to end the shot. The volume and pre-infusion timing are now saved to that button.
You can also set an exact volume in milliliters through the menu under Brew Settings > Brew 1, 2, or 3 Settings > Volume. The same menu lets you switch pre-infusion on or off for that button (PI Pause) and set its active (Start) and passive (Time) durations in seconds.
To stop or extend a shot at any time, press the flashing brew button. Pressing a different button mid-shot switches to manual brewing, up to a 60-second maximum.
Optional: turn on the Shot Observer in the Observer Settings menu to get under-extracted, well-extracted, or over-extracted feedback against a target time you set for each button.
Step 6: Steaming milk
Make sure the steam boiler is switched on and has reached its set temperature before steaming.
Purge the steam wand: place a container under it, open the steam lever for about 3 seconds to clear condensation, then close it.
Prepare your milk steaming pitcher. The colder the milk, the better. Keeping the pitcher in the refrigerator helps.
Match your milk steaming pitcher size to the drink you want to make. E.g., If you're making an 8-oz latte, use a 12-oz steaming pitcher. If you're making a 12-oz latte, use a 20-oz steaming pitcher.
Using the steam wand as your guide, slide it down the spout of the steaming pitcher and submerge its tip. Tilt the steaming pitcher slightly to the left so the steam wand is angled. Dip the pitcher down until the steam tip is visible just above the surface of the milk.
To start steaming open the joystick lever. It opens in either the up or down position.
When you reach your desired milk texture and/or temperature, return the steam lever to the middle position to close it.
Using a damp microfiber cloth, wipe down the steam wand, then quickly purge it to remove any milk particles from the steam tip. Wipe dry.
Step 7: Operating the machine in plumb-in mode
Ensure that you use the provided braided metal water supply line. Do not reuse an old plumbing hose.
Line pressure must stay between 1 and 2 bar. If your supply can exceed 2 bar, install a pressure regulator and add a shut-off valve within easy reach.
We highly recommend installing a filtration and softening system with a pressure regulator between your machine and your water source. For most home users, the single-stage filtration and softening system is sufficient. For home users with very to extremely hard water, the two-stage commercial water softening and filtration system is a better choice.
Follow the steps below to use the Estetika in plumb-in mode:
Connect the braided line to the water connection nozzle on the underside of the machine using the supplied adapter, then connect the other end to your water supply.
Turn the rotary valve on the underside of the machine into the mains water position, pointing toward the water connection nozzle.
Enable Advanced User Settings, open the Tank Mode menu, and set it to OFF to switch the machine into plumb-in mode.
Run roughly 5-8 liters of water through the machine before pulling your first shot.
If desired, the included drain pan can be connected to the drip tray and a wastewater line. The drain pan requires a corrugated wastewater hose, which is not included. If you install it, remember to remove the rubber stopper in the middle of the drip tray. If you are unsure about your plumbing connection, have a qualified professional install the machine.
Additional Resources
If you need help dialing in your equipment or pulling shots, check out the articles below or contact our team of coffee experts and technicians. Our phone consultations and post-purchase dial-in support are here to help you get the most out of your machine.