I have a Cuisinart EM-100 that I purchased 6 months ago. Recently, about the last couple weeks, when I pull the espresso, it is coming out very, very slow. Pretty much only a drip, so the coffee is getting burned and it makes a rumble noise. I have cleaned the unit with vinegar/water through both the coffee part and the steam wand. Although, that wand is not causing any problems. I have checked the rubber gasket, and it is fine. When I use the espresso part but don't put any coffee in it, it is dripping steady (although one side drips perfect, the other side sort of sputters). I have also cleaned the portafilters. Any suggestions as to what may be causing the coffee not to pull through?

1) The coffee you are using may not be ground finely enough to provide a proper extraction time, resulting in water rushing through the ground coffee much too quickly. Think of it like water running through a handful of pebbles as opposed to a handful of sand. You want "sandier" coffee.

2) Your gasket (the rubber part that seals the portafilter to the group head) may be worn/damaged and is leaking water when you are brewing. Attempt to contact FF! or Saeco to secure a replacement gasket. When you are not using the machine, don't tighten the portafilter all the way in to the head, either leave it completely disengaged or only loosely attached. This saves wear on the gasket.

3) Your brew water may be too hot. Purge your boiler right before brewing by running water into a bowl without the portafilter locked in. After a few seconds the superheated water will be run out and you're ready to brew.