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What you need

This teardown is not a repair guide. To repair your Nespresso CitiZ, use our service manual.

  1. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown, Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • The CitiZ is a compact coffee-making gizmo. Opening it requires a proprietary tool that Nespresso doesn't sell.

    • You can get into it with a pair of needle-nose pliers. The pliers I used aren't ideal — you want something that can get into the recessed slots.

  2. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 2, image 1 of 1
  3. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 3, image 1 of 3 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 3, image 2 of 3 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • Now that the screws are removed, use a screwdriver or a spudger to pry the tabs holding the bottom case on.

    • The easiest place to get in is the power plug. Be careful not to nick it. (And make sure you're unplugged from the wall!)

  4. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Carefully open the lower case and set the machine on its side.

  5. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • The plastic strain relief bracket on the power cable is challenging to remove. Insert a small flathead screwdriver into the small slot on one side to disengage the tab.

  6. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Nespresso makes heavy use of spade connectors inside this machine.

    • Grab one side firmly with your pliers and pull on the other side of the connector with your fingers. Do not pull on the cable, because you can pull it free from the spade connector.

  7. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the blue neutral wire.

    • Remove the power switch from the case.

  8. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Firmly grasp the power cable connectors and remove them from the power switch.

  9. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Insert the tip of a spudger into the silicon tube and slide it off the nipple.

  10. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 10, image 1 of 2 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • Thread the remaining tubes and wires through the bottom case to free it from the main unit.

    • Remove the bottom case.

  11. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 11, image 1 of 3 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 11, image 2 of 3 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 11, image 3 of 3
    • Removing the outer shell requires some force.

    • There are a series of tabs on all four sides of the shell.

    • Start by using a flathead screwdriver or spudger to pop the first tab.

    • Work your way around the case, freeing tabs as you go.

  12. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 12, image 1 of 3 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 12, image 2 of 3 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 12, image 3 of 3
    • Keep prying!

  13. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the outer shell.

  14. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Extricate the control button wires from the case assembly.

  15. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 15, image 1 of 2 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 15, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the blue tube from the flow meter.

    • This part, which measures water flow, is referred to as a 'debimetre' in Nespresso's part lists. It is part # 932-9521.

    • Remove the sensor data cable.

  16. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • The pump feed tube uses a clever retaining clip. Remove this clip with your pliers. It does not require much force.

    • Repeat this for the clip attaching the valve to the water heater.

  17. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the valve assembly from the frame.

  18. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 18, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the power cable from the spade connector on the side of the water pump.

  19. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 19, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the side panel from the other side of the unit. The tab positions are similar to the first side panel.

  20. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 20, image 1 of 3 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 20, image 2 of 3 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 20, image 3 of 3
    • Disengage the tabs holding the top assembly to the case.

  21. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 21, image 1 of 2 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 21, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the front spout.

    • Remove the top case. Be careful, the button cables are captive to the case. Disentangle the cables and set the top next to the frame.

    • You will not be able to completely remove the top case until the circuit board is removed. (The button cables do not disconnect from the main circuit board.)

  22. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 22, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the plastic outer circuit board cover.

  23. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 23, image 1 of 2 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 23, image 2 of 2
    • Power cables, from left to right: heat (white), neutral (blue), pump (dark grey), pump ground? (light grey), line (brown).

    • Disconnect each cable with your pliers.

  24. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 24, image 1 of 2 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 24, image 2 of 2
    • Slide the water pump out. The rubber vibration isolator doubles as a mounting bracket that neatly slides out from the plastic frame.

  25. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 25, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the (rather over-engineered) silicon mounting bracket holding the coffee feed line in place.

  26. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 26, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the latches and slide the heating assembly out of the frame.

  27. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 27, image 1 of 2 Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 27, image 2 of 2
    • Free the latch on the right side of the circuit board and then carefully lever it out.

    • Don't use too much force on the plastic bracket on top of the circuit board because there are two vulnerable capacitors on the rear left side of the board.

  28. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 28, image 1 of 1
    • The remaining cables can not be removed from the board. Don't try!

  29. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 29, image 1 of 1
    • The BTB12 AC 12 Amp triac requires a large heat sink that is riveted onto the main board.

  30. Nespresso CitiZ Teardown: step 30, image 1 of 1
    • Voilá!

32 Comments

A tool or a bit for those oval-head screws can often be bought at suppliers for coffee automates e.g. branded "Jura", "AEG", "Siemens", "Krups"

VauWeh - Reply

Where is the heating element then?

Junhao Eric Tan - Reply

Hi Junaho.

Did you have a look to Step 26 ?

Christophe S - Reply

I see, my bad.

Junhao Eric Tan - Reply

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