Coffee tastes burnt or bitter and appears very dark with little crema.

Safety first: Allow the machine to cool if it feels excessively hot.

• Adjust grind and dose: Use a slightly coarser grind and reduce tamping pressure. Avoid overfilling the basket.
• Shorten extraction: Stop the shot earlier or select a smaller coffee volume.
• Clean coffee path: Backflush (if your model supports it) with a blind filter and coffee cleaner, and clean the portafilter, basket, and spouts thoroughly.
• Check temperature setting: If your Ariete model has adjustable temperature, lower it one step.
• If taste remains burnt: The thermostat may be running too hot and should be checked by a service technician.