Empty drip tray or empty grounds container: what it means and why it stays on
On the machines covered here this message is a request: the tray or container is full, so please empty it. It can also appear when the container is not full, or after a timer, and one reason on Jura and Philips is how the container was emptied.
Machines covered: Jura E8, ENA 8, Z10 and E6; Philips LatteGo 2200, 3200 and 5400 and Saeco; De’Longhi Magnifica, Dinamica and the ECAM22. Other lines may behave differently and we have not checked them.
The three brands side by side
| Brand | Wording you may see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jura | Empty grounds, Empty coffee grounds container, Empty drip tray | The container or tray is full and drinks are blocked. Jura describes no timer. | Empty both, with the machine switched on. |
| Philips / Saeco | Empty coffee grounds container (we could not confirm any other Philips wording) | The container needs emptying, but the message can also show before it is full. | With the machine on, remove the container, wait at least 5 seconds, then refit it. |
| De’Longhi | EMPTY GROUNDS CONTAINER; INSERT GROUNDS CONTAINER; INSERT GROUNDS CONTAINER AND DRIP TRAY (Maestosa) | EMPTY: the container is full. INSERT: it was not put back after cleaning. | EMPTY: empty, clean and refit. INSERT: remove the drip tray and fit the container. |
Jura
On the Jura E8, Z10 and E6 the messages are literal: the container or tray is full, and the machine will not make any drink until you act. The E8 words them as Empty grounds and Empty drip tray. The Z10 and E6 use Empty coffee grounds container plus a separate Empty drip tray prompt, and the ENA 8 uses the same grounds wording.
What matters for a message that will not clear: Jura’s manuals say to empty the container while the machine is on, because otherwise the counter does not reset. Emptying it while the machine is off leaves the counter as it was. A separate message, Drip tray not fitted, means the tray is missing or not seated, so refit it firmly.
The Z10 and E6 manuals also warn never to pull out the drip tray during brewing. Wait until the display asks for it or the machine is ready. Our Jura empty drip tray page and the Jura troubleshooting guide cover the rest of the message table.
Philips and Saeco
Philips support says the message does not go away if the container was emptied with the machine off, because the cycle counter was not reset. It also says the message can appear when the container is not full.
- Switch the machine on.
- Remove the grounds container.
- Wait at least 5 seconds.
- Refit the container.
Philips lists the EP3347/90, EP5547/90 and EP5544/90 for this fix on one support page, with more behind its "show more" link. We could not read Philips manuals, so we could not confirm other on-screen wording for Philips, including any "insert drip tray and grounds container" message. See also our Saeco and Philips troubleshooting page.
De’Longhi
De’Longhi separates two situations. INSERT means the container was not replaced after cleaning: remove the drip tray and push the container in. On the Maestosa the message also names the drip tray, and you open the front door first. EMPTY means the container is full: empty it, empty the drip tray, clean both and refit.
The Dinamica page adds that whenever you take out the drip tray you should empty the container as well, even if it holds few grounds, or it may overfill and clog.
If the light or message shows and the container is not full, the De’Longhi UK FAQ says the machine prompts on a coffee count, or every 72 hours. It also says to empty the container only with the machine on, since otherwise the machine will not register it. That FAQ text came through to us slightly garbled, so treat the exact figures as that source’s statement.
ECAM 11, 12, 20, 21 and 22 models use lights, not text. In a manual copy hosted by a retailer, not by De’Longhi, a steady grounds light means the container is missing and a flashing light means it is full. Coffee cannot be made until it is emptied. Treat this as medium confidence. Our Magnifica and Dinamica page and the De’Longhi hub have more.
If the message will not clear
- Empty the container with the machine switched on, not off.
- Philips says leave it out for at least 5 seconds. Jura and De’Longhi give no figure.
- Refit the container and tray fully and firmly.
- Remember it may be a timer or counter prompt, not a full container.
Unplug before working inside the machine. Do not force a tray, container or door. If the message stays after these steps, contact the manufacturer or a qualified technician. See our error codes index and the hubs for Jura, Philips and Saeco and De’Longhi.
Beyond the fix
Tips and tricks
- Empty the container with the machine switched on and then wait about 10 seconds before refitting it. A Jura technician and a parts seller both give 10 seconds, though Jura's manuals do not.technician video
- Clean the metal contacts on the tray and the gap beside them, dry them well, and check the tray sits fully in.technician video
- Never pull the tray while the machine is brewing, per the Z10 and E6 manuals. Wait until the display asks.manufacturer manual
Common mistakes
- Emptying with the machine off, so the grounds counter never resets, per Jura's manuals.
- Assuming the wait time is official. It comes from technicians, not from Jura.
Easily confused with
- Drip tray not fitted is a seating or micro-switch fault, not a full tray.
Further reading
Questions
Why does my coffee machine say empty grounds container when I just emptied it?
One reason it can stick is how the container was emptied. Jura says emptying the container with the machine off does not reset the grounds counter. Philips says the same, and adds that you should leave the container out for at least 5 seconds before refitting it. De’Longhi’s UK FAQ also says to empty it with the machine on.
Can the message appear when the container is not full?
Yes, on two brands. Philips says the message can show before the container is physically full. De’Longhi’s UK FAQ says the machine is set to prompt after a certain number of coffees or every 72 hours.
What is the difference between INSERT and EMPTY on a De’Longhi?
In De’Longhi’s Help Center pages, INSERT means the grounds container (and sometimes the drip tray) was not put back after cleaning. EMPTY means the container is full and needs emptying, cleaning and refitting.
Can I pull out the drip tray while the machine is making a drink?
On the Jura Z10 and E6, no. The Z10 and E6 manuals say never to pull the tray out while a drink is being made. Take it out when the display prompts you or the machine is ready. We found no equivalent statement from Philips or De’Longhi, so we give no advice on that for those brands.
Sources
Jura manuals: E8, Z10, E6. Philips: Saeco troubleshooting, support article XC000015554. De’Longhi: Help Center, EMPTY, Help Center, INSERT, Dinamica, Maestosa, ECAM22 manual (retailer-hosted copy), UK FAQ. Other models and editions may differ. CodeFix is independent and not affiliated with Jura, Philips, Saeco or De’Longhi.