DeLonghi EAM3500 Automatic Coffee Maker

1. Description of the Appliance

This section details the components of the DeLonghi EAM3500 automatic coffee maker.

Appliance Components:

• A. Grinding coarseness regulator
• B. Coffee beans container
• C. Bean container lid
• D. Central lid for ground coffee
• E. Compartment for measure
• F. Cup warmer tray
• G. Ground coffee funnel
• H. Milk container lid/milk frother
• I. Frothed milk spout
• J. Milk intake tube
• K. Nozzle
• L. Water tank (removable)
• M. Milk container
• N. Power cable
• O. Cup tray
• P. Measure for pre-ground coffee
• Q. Drip tray (removable)
• R. Hot water spout
• S. Service door
• T. Coffee grounds container (removable)
• U. Coffee spout (adjustable in height)
• V. Mobile drawer
• X. Infuser
• Z. Control panel

Control Panel Components:

• 1. Display: Shows messages and settings.
• 2. MENU light: Indicates when menu settings are active.
• 3. Menu Button: Activates or deactivates menu parameter setting mode.
• 4. Button: Selects ground coffee or navigates menu parameters.
• 5. Button: Rinses the appliance or confirms menu parameters.
• 6. Button: Selects hot water or confirms menu parameters.
• 7. Appliance ON/OFF button: Powers the appliance on or off.
• 8. Coffee taste selection button: Adjusts coffee strength (extra-light, light, strong, extra-strong).
• 9. One or two cups short coffee button: Brews a short coffee.
• 10. One or two cups normal coffee button: Brews a normal coffee.
• 11. One or two cups long coffee button: Brews a long coffee.
• 12. Cappuccino or frothed milk button: Prepares cappuccino or frothed milk.

2. Safety Warnings

Read these instructions carefully and keep them for future consultation. This appliance is designed for making espresso coffee and heating drinks. Use with care to avoid scalds from water and steam. It is intended for domestic use only. The manufacturer is not responsible for damage caused by incorrect or unreasonable use. Do not touch hot surfaces; use handles. Never touch the appliance with wet hands or feet. Not intended for use by unsupervised children or infirm persons. Keep children away from the appliance. In case of failure, unplug from the mains and do not tamper. Repairs should only be carried out by an authorised service centre using original spare parts.

3. Installation

After unpacking, ensure the appliance is complete and undamaged. Keep packing elements away from children. Place the appliance on a stable work surface away from water taps and heat sources. Ensure at least 5 cm clearance from side/rear walls and 20 cm above. Do not install in environments below 0°C. Verify mains voltage matches the appliance rating plate. Connect to an efficiently earthed socket with a minimum 10A rating. If the plug does not match the socket, have it replaced by a qualified professional. The power cable must not be replaced by the user; contact an authorised service centre for replacements. Personalise water hardness as soon as possible (Section 16.6). Follow step-by-step instructions for first-time use.

4. Using for the First Time

1. Language Selection: Plug in the appliance. When prompted, press the OK button for at least three seconds to select English. The display will show 'ENGLISH INSTALLED'.
2. Fill Tank: The appliance will display 'FILL TANK'. Remove, rinse, and fill the water tank with fresh water, not exceeding the MAX line. Reinsert the tank securely.
3. Initial Rinse: Place a cup under the hot water spout. If the spout is not attached, attach it as shown in the diagrams, aligning arrows. The display will show 'PRESS OK'. Press the OK button. A small amount of water will run off automatically.

5. Turning On and Preheating

1. Press the ON/OFF button (button 7). The display will show 'HEATING UP PLEASE WAIT...'.
2. Once preheating is complete, the appliance performs an automatic rinse cycle, displaying 'RINSING PLEASE WAIT...'. Hot water runs off from the spouts into the drip tray.
3. Tip for hotter coffee: For short coffees, fill the cup with the hot rinsing water first, then empty it to preheat the cup.
4. The appliance will then display 'READY STANDARD TASTE', indicating it is ready for use.

6. Preparing Coffee (Using Coffee Beans)

1. The appliance is preset for normal taste. Use the coffee taste selection button (button 8) to choose extra-light, light, strong, or extra-strong taste.
2. Place one or two cups under the spouts. Lower the spouts for a creamier coffee.
3. Press the short coffee button (button 9), normal coffee button (button 10), or long coffee button (button 11) to brew. Press twice within 2 seconds for two coffees.
4. The appliance grinds beans and dispenses coffee. It stops automatically when the desired quantity is reached and ejects grounds.
5. After a few seconds, the 'READY' message reappears.
6. To turn off, press the ON/OFF button (button 7). An automatic rinse cycle will run before shutdown.
7. Note 1: If coffee dispenses slowly, turn the grinding coarseness regulator (A) one click clockwise.
8. Note 2: If coffee dispenses too fast, turn the regulator one click anticlockwise. Avoid excessive adjustment.
9. Note 3: To make coffee hotter, preheat cups with hot water or place them on the cup warmer tray. Preheat the infuser by pressing button 13 if more than 2-3 minutes have passed since the last coffee.
10. Note 4: Coffee delivery can be stopped by pressing the selected coffee button.
11. Note 5: To increase coffee quantity, press and hold the selected coffee button within 3 seconds of delivery completion.
12. Note 6: If 'FILL TANK' is displayed, refill the water tank.
13. Note 7: If 'EMPTY GROUNDS CONTAINER' is displayed, empty and clean the grounds container and drip tray. This occurs every 14 single or 7 double coffees.
14. Note 8: Do not remove the water tank while the appliance is running coffee.

7. Changing the Quantity of Coffee in the Cup

The appliance is preset for short (40ml), normal (80ml), and long (120ml) coffees. To change these:

1. Press and hold the desired coffee button (short, normal, or long) for at least 3 seconds until 'PROGRAM QUANTITY' is displayed and coffee is dispensed.
2. When the desired level is reached, press the same button again to memorise the new amount. The appliance will display 'READY'.

8. Regulating the Coffee Mill

The grinder is factory preset. If coffee delivery is too fast or too slow, adjust the grinding coarseness regulator (A) while the mill is on.

• Turn clockwise (1 click) for faster delivery (coarser grind).
• Turn anticlockwise (1 click) for slower delivery and creamier appearance (finer grind).
• Adjustments are noticeable after brewing at least 2 cups.

Note: Traces of coffee may be present from factory testing.

9. Preparing Espresso Coffee with Pre-Ground Coffee

1. Press the ground coffee function button (button 4, often depicted as a coffee scoop icon). The display shows 'READY PRE-GROUND'.
2. Lift the central lid, place one measure of ground coffee in the funnel, and proceed as in Section 6. You can make one coffee at a time by pressing the short, normal, or long coffee button once.
3. To return to using beans, press the ground coffee function button again to reactivate the grinder.
4. Note 1: Never add ground coffee when the appliance is off.
5. Note 2: Use only one measure of ground coffee.
6. Note 3: Use the supplied measure only.
7. Note 4: Use only ground coffee for espresso makers.
8. Note 5: If the funnel clogs with more than one measure, use a knife to push down the coffee, then clean the infuser and appliance.

10. Producing Hot Water

1. Ensure the appliance is ready.
2. Attach the water spout (if detached) and place a container under it.
3. Press the hot water button (button 6). The display shows 'HOT WATER'.
4. Hot water is dispensed. To stop, press the button again. Dispensing stops automatically when the set quantity is reached. Do not run for more than two minutes at a time.

11. Changing the Quantity of Hot Water

The appliance dispenses 250ml of hot water by default. To change this:

1. Attach the water spout and place a container under it.
2. Press the hot water button (button 6) for at least 2 seconds. The display shows 'HOT WATER PROGRAM QUANTITY'.
3. When the desired amount is in the cup, press the hot water button again to memorise the new quantity.

12. Preparing Cappuccinos (Frothed Milk and Coffee)

1. Select coffee taste using button 8.
2. Remove the milk container lid.
3. Fill the container with approximately 100g of milk per cappuccino (max 750ml). Use skimmed or semi-skimmed milk at refrigerator temperature (approx. 5°C).
4. Ensure the intake tube is correctly inserted into the rubber washer and replace the lid.
5. Remove the hot water spout and attach the milk container to the nozzle, aligning arrows.
6. Position the milk tube and place a large cup under the spouts.
7. Press the cappuccino button (button 12). The display shows 'CAPPUCCINO'.
8. The appliance dispenses frothed milk, then grinds and dispenses coffee. The 'ready' message reappears.
9. Note 1: Interrupt milk/coffee dispensing by pressing the cappuccino button.
10. Note 2: If milk runs out, refill the container and press the cappuccino button again.
11. Note 3: To clean the milk frother channels, place a recipient under the spout and press and hold the CLEAN button on the milk container lid for 3 seconds. The display shows 'CLEANING'. Refrigerate the milk container promptly.
12. Note 4: Adjust milk/coffee quantities as per Section 14.

13. Preparing Frothed Milk (Without Coffee)

1. Remove the milk container lid.
2. Fill the container with the desired quantity of milk.
3. Replace the lid and attach the milk container to the appliance.
4. Place a cup under the milk spout.
5. Press the frothed milk button (button 12) twice within 2 seconds. The display shows 'MILK FROTHING'.
6. Frothed milk is dispensed. Clean the channels as per Section 12, Note 3.

14. Changing the Quantity of Coffee and Milk for Cappuccinos

To customise cappuccino proportions:

1. Fill the milk container to the maximum level.
2. Press and hold the milk button (button 12) for at least 3 seconds until 'MILK FOR CAPPUCCINO PROGRAM QUANTITY' is displayed. Release the button; milk will dispense.
3. When the desired milk quantity is reached, press the milk button again to memorise it.
4. The appliance will then dispense coffee, displaying 'COFFEE FOR CAPPUCCINO PROGRAM QUANTITY'.
5. When the desired coffee quantity is reached, press the coffee button again to memorise it. The appliance displays 'READY'.

15. Cleaning and Maintenance

Ensure the appliance has cooled down and is unplugged before cleaning. Never immerse the appliance in water. Do not use solvents or abrasive cleaners; a soft damp cloth is sufficient. Never wash components in a dishwasher.

15.1 Cleaning the Coffee Maker

• Empty and clean the grounds container regularly (as per Section 6, Note 7).
• Clean the water tank regularly.
• Empty and clean the drip tray when the water level indicator (red) becomes visible.
• Check coffee spout holes for blockages; use a needle to clear them if necessary. Clean the nozzle with a sponge.

15.2 Cleaning the Infuser

The infuser requires regular cleaning to prevent malfunction.

1. Turn off the appliance (button 7) and wait for the display to go off.
2. Open the service door (Fig. 14).
3. Remove and clean the drip tray and grounds container.
4. Press the two red release buttons on the infuser inwards and pull it out. Important: The infuser can only be removed when the appliance is OFF.
5. Wash the infuser under running water without detergents. Do not use a dishwasher.
6. Clean the inside of the appliance, scraping coffee residues with a plastic/wooden fork and vacuuming them up.
7. Replace the infuser by sliding it onto the supports and pin, then push the 'PUSH' symbol until it clicks. Ensure the red buttons snap out; otherwise, the door cannot be closed.
8. Replace the drip tray and close the service door.
9. Note 1: If the infuser is not correctly inserted, the service door will not close.
10. Note 2: If insertion is difficult, squeeze the infuser from above and below.
11. Note 3: If still difficult, leave the infuser out, close the door, unplug, plug back in, wait for self-diagnosis, then reinsert.

15.3 Cleaning the Milk Container

• Remove the milk spout and intake tube.
• Wash all components with hot water and washing-up liquid, ensuring no milk residues remain in the lid's holes.
• Reattach the intake tube and milk spout.

16. Changing and Setting Menu Parameters

After pressing the ON/OFF button (button 7) and when the appliance is ready, you can access the menu to modify parameters:

• Clock
• Auto-start time
• Descaling process
• Coffee temperature
• Appliance auto-off time
• Water hardness
• Factory default values
• Washing process

16.1 Setting the Clock

1. Press the MENU button (button 3).
2. Press NEXT repeatedly until 'CLOCK 00:00' is displayed.
3. Press the CHANGE button (button 5 or 6, depending on context) to set the time. Holding it changes the time rapidly.
4. Press OK (button 5 or 6) to confirm.
5. Press MENU or NEXT to exit or change other parameters.

16.2 Setting Auto-Start Time

1. Ensure the clock is set correctly.
2. Press MENU, then NEXT repeatedly until 'START TIME 00:00' is displayed.
3. Press CHANGE to set the auto-start time.
4. Press OK to confirm.
5. Press NEXT; the display shows 'AUTO-START NO'. Press CHANGE to set 'AUTO-START YES' and OK to activate. A symbol ⚙️ will appear on the display when auto-start is set.
6. Press MENU or NEXT to exit or change other parameters.

16.3 Descale

Lime scale builds up over time. Perform descaling when the appliance displays 'DESCALE'.

1. Ensure the appliance is ready.
2. Press MENU, then NEXT repeatedly until 'DESCALE NO' is displayed.
3. Press CHANGE to display 'DESCALE YES'.
4. Press OK to start the descaling program.
5. Empty the water tank. Pour in the descaler solution and add 0.5 litres of water. For future descaling, use the recommended descaler.
6. Attach the water spout and place a 1.5-litre container under it.
7. Press OK. The descaler will run off into the container. The display shows 'APPLIANCE IN DESCALE'. The program runs for about 30 minutes.
8. After 30 minutes, 'RINSING FILL TANK' is displayed. Empty the container, rinse and refill the water tank with clean water.
9. Press OK. Hot water will run off into the container. The display shows 'RINSING'.
10. When the tank is empty, 'RINSING COMPLETE PRESS OK' is displayed. Press OK and refill the water tank. The descale program is now terminated.
11. Note: If the descaling cycle is interrupted, restart it from the beginning. Regular descaling is essential to maintain the guarantee.

16.4 Changing Coffee Temperature

1. Press MENU, then NEXT repeatedly until 'HIGH TEMPERATURE' is displayed.
2. Press CHANGE until the desired temperature is shown.
3. Press OK to confirm.
4. Press MENU or NEXT to exit or change other parameters.

16.5 Changing Appliance Auto-Off Time

The appliance defaults to switching off one hour after the last coffee. This can be extended up to 3 hours.

1. Press MENU, then NEXT repeatedly until 'OFF AFTER 1 HOUR' is displayed.
2. Press CHANGE to set the desired auto-off time.
3. Press OK to confirm.
4. Press MENU or NEXT to exit or change other parameters.

16.6 Setting Water Hardness

The descale warning is based on a factory setting. Adjusting it to your water hardness reduces descaling frequency.

1. Use the provided 'Total Hardness Test' strip. Dip it in water for a few seconds, then wait 30 seconds for colour changes and red dots to appear.
2. Turn on the appliance (button 7).
3. Press MENU, then NEXT repeatedly until 'WATER HARDNESS 4' is displayed.
4. Press CHANGE repeatedly until the number matches the number of red squares on the test strip (e.g., WATER HARDNESS 3).
5. Press OK to confirm. The appliance will now provide descaling warnings based on actual water hardness.

16.7 Resetting Factory Default Settings

1. Press MENU, then NEXT repeatedly until 'RESET TO DEFAULT NO' is displayed.
2. Press CHANGE to show 'RESET TO DEFAULT YES'.
3. Press OK to reset. The appliance displays 'READY'.

16.8 Washing Process

This function is for technical service personnel only.

17. Changing the Language

Press the CHANGE button for at least 5 seconds until various languages are displayed. Select the desired language following the instructions in Section 4.1.

18. Meaning of Messages and What to Do

• FILL TANK: Water tank empty, incorrectly positioned, or dirty. Fill/rinse/descale the tank.
• GROUND TOO FINE ADJUST MILL AND INSERT WATER SPOUT AND PRESS OK: Appliance cannot make coffee. Insert hot water spout, run off water. Adjust grinding regulator clockwise if coffee runs off too slowly.
• EMPTY GROUNDS CONTAINER: Grounds container full or missing. Empty and clean the container and drip tray. Reinsert the container.
• INSERT GROUNDS CONTAINER: Grounds container not replaced after cleaning. Open service door and insert it.
• ADD PRE-GROUND COFFEE: Pre-ground coffee not added when function selected. Add ground coffee as per Section 9.
• FILL BEANS CONTAINER: Coffee beans have run out. Refill the bean container. If the grinder is noisy, contact DeLonghi service.
• DESCALE: Indicates lime scale presence. Perform descaling as per Section 16.3.
• PRESS NEXT CHANGE: Infuser likely left out after cleaning. Leave service door closed, infuser out, and follow display instructions.
• CLOSE DOOR: Service door is open. Ensure infuser is correctly inserted (Section 15.2, Note 1) if the door cannot be closed.
• INSERT INFUSER ASSEMBLY: Infuser likely left out after cleaning. Insert infuser as per Section 15.2.
• LESS COFFEE: Ground coffee funnel clogged. Clear funnel with a knife (Section 9, Note 5). Too much coffee added. Select milder taste or reduce quantity.
• GENERIC ALARM: Appliance interior is very dirty. Clean thoroughly as per Section 15.2. Contact service if the message persists.

19. Problems to be Resolved Before Calling the Service Centre

If the appliance is not working and an alarm light is on, refer to Section 18. If no alarm light is on, check the following:

Problems and Solutions:

• Coffee not hot: Cups not preheated, or infuser too cold. Preheat cups or infuser.
• Coffee not creamy enough: Coffee ground too coarsely or wrong type of coffee. Adjust grind finer or use appropriate coffee.
• Coffee runs out too slowly: Coffee ground too finely. Adjust grind coarser.
• Coffee runs out too quickly: Coffee ground too coarsely. Adjust grind finer.
• Coffee does not come out of one spout: Spout holes blocked with dry coffee. Clear with a needle. Mobile drawer blocked; clean hinges.
• When coffee buttons pressed, only water dispenses: Ground coffee blocked in funnel. Remove and clean.
• When ON/OFF button pressed, appliance does not come on: Appliance not plugged in. Check power cable connection.
• Infuser cannot be removed for cleaning: Appliance is on. Turn appliance OFF first.
• Pre-ground coffee used, but no coffee dispenses: Too much ground coffee added; adjust quantity. Button not pressed correctly; ensure correct button is pressed. Ground coffee added when appliance is off; switch on first.
• Coffee does not come out of spouts, but around service door: Spout holes clogged; clear with needle. Mobile drawer blocked; clean thoroughly.
• Milk does not run out of milk spout: Intake tube not inserted correctly; insert properly. Milk container lid is dirty; clean it.
• Milk not well frothed: Milk container lid dirty; clean it.
• Milk contains bubbles or squirts out: Milk not cold enough or not skimmed/semi-skimmed. Use cold, skimmed/semi-skimmed milk. Try a different brand.