A Schaerer asking for an empty grounds container needs a different response from one that cannot detect the container at all. Begin with the exact model and the complete screen message. The tables below keep SOUL NA, Coffee Club and Coffee Art C separate.
Operator actions are limited to the tasks described in the cited manuals. A service referral means stop at that point; the table does not instruct you to test a board, open a boiler or free a grinder with tools. Page numbers refer to physical PDF pages.
SOUL NA: refill and container messages
Source: SOUL NA Operating Instructions, version 04-2026. Its cover prints a dash in the document-number field. The rows below come from PDF pages 221–223 and 226. The manufacturer provides the manual in its US download library.
On a narrow screen, scroll the table sideways to read every column.
| Message or code | Manual meaning | Next step | PDF page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk empty | The milk level in the milk container is empty or too low. | Clean the milk container before refilling it; follow the milk-handling instructions in this manual. | 221 |
| Grounds container full | The grounds container contains approx. 60 – 70 coffee cakes. | Empty, rinse and dry the grounds container, then reinsert it. | 221 |
| Inserting grounds container | The grounds container is missing. The grounds container has not been fully inserted into the machine. | Reinsert the grounds container fully. | 221–222 |
| Fill external drinking water tank (equipment variant) | The fill level of the external drinking water tank (equipment variant) is too low. | Refill the external drinking-water tank following the tank instructions. | 222 |
| Empty waste water tank (equipment variant) | The fill level of the external waste water tank has been reached. | Empty and rinse the external waste-water tank; put its level sensor back in position. | 222 |
| Fill with beans (center grinder empty) | The center bean hopper is empty. | Refill the center bean hopper. | 222 |
| Fill with beans (right grinder empty) | The right bean hopper is empty. | Refill the right bean hopper. | 222 |
| Fill ground coffee in manual inlet | No ground coffee was poured into the manual inlet. | Add ground coffee through the manual inlet and close its cover. | 222 |
| Fill choco or milk powder into 1. container (1. powder container empty) | The first powder container is empty. | Refill the first powder container. | 222 |
| Fill choco or milk powder into 2. container (2. powder container empty) | The second powder container is empty. | Refill the second powder container. | 222 |
| Hot water temperature too low, steam boiler temperature too low | The heating phase is still running. There is an error when heating up. | Wait for the machine to heat up. If the message stays, call a technician. | 222–223 |
| Milk level low | The fill level in the milk container is too low. | Clean and refill the milk container as instructed by the operator manual. | 226 |
| Grounds container full soon | The grounds container will soon contain approx. 60 – 70 coffee cakes. | Empty the grounds container. | 226 |
| Close user panel | The user panel is open or has not been fully closed. | Close the user panel until it clicks into place. | 226 |
| External drinking water tank soon empty (equipment variant) | The fill level of the external drinking water tank (equipment variant) is too low. | Fill the external drinking-water tank. | 226 |
The external-tank messages apply to the equipment variant with those tanks. They are not instructions to disconnect a machine from the building’s plumbing. Follow the manual’s milk hygiene and cleaning precautions when refilling; don’t reach into an operating grinder or brew unit.
A general out-of-service screen
PDF pages 218–220 distinguish a simple fault display from a specific message view. The simple view asks for service staff without showing the full technical detail. In Guest mode, the manual also describes errors that prevent beverage output without giving the guest a detailed fault view (PDF pages 96–98).
Send a photo of that screen to the responsible operator. It does not establish that the pump, heater or payment unit failed. The operator or technician can retrieve the specific message through the controls available to their role.
Payment initialization and payment faults
SOUL NA, PDF page 227, gives this waiting message:
| Message or code | Manual meaning | Next step | PDF page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wait until the payment system is fully initialized. | Initialization is in progress. | Wait until the payment-system initialization is complete. | 227 |
The payment-system error in the next table instead describes a communication fault. Don’t treat a persistent error as normal startup merely because both messages mention payment.
SOUL NA: faults to refer for diagnosis
Source: the same SOUL NA Operating Instructions, version 04-2026, PDF pages 223–224. Meanings are the manufacturer’s descriptions; a list of possible causes is not a confirmed diagnosis of your machine.
| Message or code | Manual meaning | Next step | PDF page |
|---|---|---|---|
| HW boiler heating time-out, steam boiler heating time-out | Although the heater is switched on, the set temperature was not reached within 5 min. | Call a technician. | 223 |
| Hot water boiler NTC short-circuited, steam boiler NTC short-circuited | The main board does not detect any resistance. A maximum temperature (approx. 150 °C or 302 °F) is measured. Beverage dispensing is blocked. | Call a technician. | 223 |
| Brewing unit overcurrent | Overcurrent was detected on the motor of the brewing unit. | Call a technician. | 223 |
| Brewing unit closed current | Even when the brewing unit is not in operation, it must consume a minimal amount of current. If this is not the case, there is a fault. This may be caused by the brewing unit, the power board or the wiring. | Call a technician. | 223 |
| Inserting decalcification cartridge | The descaling product required for the descaling process is missing. | Insert the specified descaling cartridge when the descaling procedure requests it. | 223 |
| Brewing unit time-out | The brewing unit does not have a home position switch. The position of the brewing cylinder is detected by measuring the current value. The following peak values are detected: upper and lower position. The following time-out is defined: If no current peak is detected within 10 s of the brewing unit being moved, Brewing unit time-out is displayed. | Call a technician. | 223 |
| Water flow error | During dispensing of a coffee product, the flow meter performs less than the defined number of minimum revolutions. A blockage or partial blockage somewhere in the entire water system is likely. | Call a technician. | 223 |
| Steam supply error | The level sensor detects a low level in the steam boiler. An attempt is made to fill the boiler. However, no water was detected by the level probe within 60 s. The filling process is canceled. The dispensing of beverages that require steam is blocked. | Call a technician. | 223 |
| Modbus processing error BP | Communication error between power unit and touch screen | Call a technician. | 224 |
| Modbus processing error MR | Communication error between cooling unit and touch screen | Call a technician. | 224 |
| Payment system error | Communication error between payment system and touch screen | Call a technician. | 224 |
| Machine out of service | Setting in Self-service mode if no beverages can be dispensed for various reasons. | Check beans, milk and powder, and finish any pending operator cleaning or descaling. If the message stays, call a technician. | 224 |
| Communication errors (various) | Communication error between software and various modules, such as the HCU power section, Flavour Point, brewing unit, manometer, etc. | Call a technician. | 224 |
One interrupted-sensor row is omitted because its cause description is unclear in this edition. Have service interpret that message against the machine’s documentation.
Coffee Club: numbered error table
Source: Schaerer Coffee Club Operating Instructions, V01, October 2018, US edition, PDF pages 95–96. Its electrical warning on page 94 says there are no user-serviceable parts inside the housing.
| Message or code | Manual meaning | Next step | PDF page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Brewing unit stalling current/ Brewing unit stiff | Call a technician. | 95 |
| 88 | Boiler: Excess temperature | Call a technician. | 95 |
| 89 | Boiler: heating time error | Call a technician. | 95 |
| 161 | Water error: Brewing water | Call a technician. | 95 |
| 162 | Water error: When cleaning | Call a technician. | 95 |
| 163 | Water error: Warm rinsing | Call a technician. | 96 |
| 186 | Steam boiler: level | Check that the grounds container is correctly installed. If the message persists, call for service. | 96 |
| 188 | Heating error; Steam boiler overtemperature | Switch the machine off and call a technician. | 96 |
| 189 | Steam boiler: heating time error | Call a technician. | 96 |
| 9083 | Cooler temperature is in the frost range | Check the cooler temperature setting against its operating instructions. | 96 |
| 9516 | Right grinder blocked | Call a technician. | 96 |
| 9517 | Left grinder blocked | Call a technician. | 96 |
The Club manual includes additional cleaning and restart instructions for some rows. We refer the internal heating, grinder and brew-unit faults to a technician here. Emptying or seating the grounds container does not require opening the machine.
Coffee Club after a break in operation
Before returning an idle Club to use, follow its recommissioning instructions. The same manual, PDF page 100, states:
After a break in operation, we recommend running the cleaning programme at least twice before recommissioning.
Use the system-cleaning instructions on PDF page 71 for that procedure. Reopening cleaning does not clear an unresolved heating or brew-unit fault.
Watery chocolate without a numbered error
Coffee Club PDF page 97 distinguishes a blocked powder portioner producing watery chocolate from a failure to dispense chocolate with water appearing in the grounds container. The latter instruction is to stop using the chocolate outlet and call Schaerer service. For the portioner, use the documented powder-container cleaning procedure on PDF page 87; if cleaning does not restore operation, book a technician.
Coffee Art C: display-message table
Source: Schaerer Coffee Art C User Manual, version 04, March 2021, PDF pages 23–24, from the Schaerer US manuals library. Coffee Art Plus uses a separate manual and is not covered by this table.
| Message or code | Manual meaning | Next step | PDF page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grounds container missing | The grounds container was removed (cleaning program, emptying, etc.); or The limit switch is defective. | Insert the grounds container. Call for service if the message remains. | 23 |
| Empty grounds container | The grounds container is full. | Empty and reinsert the grounds container. | 23 |
| Cleaning program | Appears when a programmed count of beverages has been dispensed without the machine being cleaned. | Complete the daily operator-cleaning procedure in manual pages 17–20. | 23 |
| Grinder left/right no beans | Appears when the bean hopper on the left- or right is empty or when a coffee bean has become stuck. Beverage output is blocked! | Refill the bean hopper if it is empty. Leave a jam to a technician. | 23 |
| Grinder left/right blocked | An object (such as a stone) has become jammed in the left or right grinder. Beverage output is blocked! | Call a technician. | 23 |
| Heating coffee water/hot water/ steam | The temperature is 10° C below the programmed temperature. | Wait for the target temperature; call for service if it does not reach it. | 23 |
| Service request | The programmed number of beverages (cups/month) has been reached. Service is required. | Call a technician. | 23 |
| Grinder left/right overloaded | Left/right grinder is overloaded. Grinder left/right blocked. | Call a technician. | 23 |
| Grinder current fault | PC board issue. Electronics issue. | Call a technician. | 23 |
| Brewing unit current fault | PC board issue. Electronics issue. | Call a technician. | 23 |
| Water flow error | No water connection. Pump problem. (pump pressure < 5bar) Brewer is blocked. Water system is blocked. Grind level is too fine. PC board and flow meter are improperly connected. Electrical problem (e.g. PC board). | Call a technician. | 23 |
| Crit. coffee temp. | Electrical problem between the sensor and PC board. Temperature sensor issue. | Call a technician. | 24 |
| Timeout coffee heater | The set temperature of the coffee boiler was not reached within 4 minutes of the unit switching on. | Call a technician. | 24 |
| Hot water heater timeout | The set temperature of the hot water boiler was not reached within 4 minutes of the unit switching on. | Call a technician. | 24 |
| Brew unit timeout | The brewing unit motor does not run. | Call a technician. | 24 |
| Initializing | The software and processor are being restarted. The brewing unit moves to the initial position. | Let initialization finish. A persistent or repeated restart needs service. | 24 |
The refill prompt can also be associated with beans that have become stuck. Filling a hopper does not clear a mechanical jam. Keep hands and objects out of a running grinder and have a technician handle a blockage.
For independent Schaerer service, send the model, the displayed text and which function stopped. Contact the manufacturer’s warranty service first if the machine is still under its warranty.
The SOUL request-versus-forced-cleaning guide explains the cleaning schedule and beverage lock in more detail.