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The E61 group: how it works and how to service it

Oct 03, 2026

The E61 group was launched by Faema in 1961 and is still used today by Rocket, Profitec, Quick Mill, ECM and Torre, among others. It is heavy, thermally stable and easy to service.

How it works

  • Thermosiphon: hot water circulates between the boiler and the group without a pump. That is why warm-up takes 15–20 minutes.
  • Cam and valves: when you lift the lever, a cam first opens the water flow to the coffee. When you lower it, the water is shut off and the three-way valve releases the pressure into the drip tray.
  • Pre-infusion: a small chamber in the group fills before full pressure reaches the coffee, giving a gentle start.

Lubricating the cam

When the lever becomes stiff or squeaks, the grease on the cam has been washed away, often by detergent during backflushing. Here is what to do:

Safety: Switch off the machine, unplug it and let it cool down before you clean or open anything. The boiler is under pressure and the water is over 100 °C.

  1. Let the machine cool down completely.
  2. Unscrew the small nut or cap on top of the group and remove the lever as described in the manual for your model.
  3. Pull out the cam. Wipe off old grease and coffee.
  4. Check the O-rings on the cam. If they are flat or cracked, replace them (they are in the exploded diagram on the spare parts page).
  5. Lubricate the cam and O-rings with a thin layer of food-grade silicone grease. Never use petroleum jelly or mineral oil.
  6. Reassemble and test the lever before you switch the machine on.

Not sure? Servicing the cam is simple but requires the group to be completely cold and depressurised. Have a technician do it if you would rather not open the group yourself.

Full group service

Every 1–2 years at home (more often with hard water): replace the group gasket, shower screen, cam seals and valve seals, and clean the valve seats. All parts are in the exploded diagram for your model.

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