Quick Answer

Water on the counter usually traces back to a short list of places: the water tank not seated or locked, a drip tray that's full or not pushed fully in, purge water that misses the tray, coffee leaking around the portafilter, or the steam wand. Switch the machine off, unplug it, let it cool, wipe the counter dry, and then check those places one at a time while watching where fresh water appears.

Some water is expected. Breville's Bambino Plus and Barista Express manuals describe an auto purge that sends water into the drip tray, and De'Longhi's Dedica manual (EU edition) says water in the space under the tank is normal. Water that comes from the base, the vents or the housing seams, or keeps coming back after these checks, is different: stop using the machine, unplug it and contact the manufacturer's support. Don't open the housing.

Evidence in this guide: Manufacturer-researched (Breville and De'Longhi instruction manuals, checked October 28, 2026) and forum discussion (Reddit). Nothing here is Hands-on tested or a Measured mock-up. Where a step is our general advice rather than a manual instruction, we say so. This is a troubleshooting guide, not a ranking.

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Who This Guide Is For

If the water appears while you refill the tank under low cabinets, see How to Fill an Espresso Machine Under Cabinets. For a routine around a small drip tray, see Tiny Drip Tray Workflow for Compact Espresso Machines.

What Owners Ran Into (Forum Discussion)

These are individual owners' experiences, not a measurement of how often leaks happen or which models leak more.

On June 29, 2025 (UTC), one owner described a tank that leaked only once it was in the machine: "I’m unsure as to why my water tank is leaking like this. It was fine (??) when I filled it up with water and only went like that once it was seated inside the base." (Reddit, "Does anyone know why my new bambino is leaking like this?")

On January 22, 2023 (UTC), another owner found water hidden under the tray: "I saw some water coming from unde the machine so lifted the drip tray to see this. It's usually less but there's almost always water under the drip tray. Is this normal?" (Reddit, "Puddle under drip tray, is this normal? (Bambino)")

On March 4, 2026 (UTC), an owner linked the water to steaming: "whenever I run the steam wand water drips behind the drip tray and turns into steam too for some reason." A commenter replied the same day: "don’t run the machine at all without the drip tray, it regularly purges water to the tray for temperature and pressure management reasons." (Reddit, "What is causing my machine to do this? (leak behind drip tray)")

On May 25, 2026 (UTC), a Bambino Plus owner wrote: "Each time I backflush with my Bambino Plus, water gets underneath the drip tray (regardless if there's liquid in it or not already), which then results in the water getting underneath the machine." A commenter replied: "It's normal for water to exit the drain tube (exit from over-pressure valve) when backflushing, but it is supposed to land inside the drip tray and not flow under it." (Reddit, "Backflushing results in water under the drip tray [Breville Bambino Plus]") That is what owners say. We didn't find a Breville fix for this, so if it keeps happening, ask Breville Consumer Support.

On October 11, 2024 (UTC), an owner saw water leaving the machine itself: "every time after I brew, some water leaks under the machine. As you can see in the image, the leakage is happening from that particular side of the vents." (Reddit, "Water leaking under my espresso machine [Sage Bambino]")

On February 1, 2026 (UTC), an owner had tried to soak it up: "Each morning, I notice water stains and a sticky mess under my coffee maker. I have tried towels, silicone mats, and paper, but nothing works long-term." A commenter replied the same day: "This shouldn't happen, I suspect you have a leak somewhere" (Reddit, "Water keeps pooling under my coffee machine — what actually works?")

Put together, these posts point at the tank seat, the drip tray and purge water first, and show that towels and mats only hide a leak that keeps coming back.

What the Manuals Say

Page numbers are PDF pages.

Check Each Source, One at a Time

Do these with the machine switched off, unplugged and cool, and keep it upright. Dry the counter first so new water is easy to see.

Water tank seat and valve

Lift the tank out, look at the bottom, and set it on a dry towel to see if it drips on its own. Then push it down until it locks, as the Breville manuals above say. On a Stilosa, the Stilosa US manual (page 13) points to the valve at the bottom of the tank: clean the tank, or, if the valve is "blocked by limescale", descale the machine as the Stilosa US manual describes. If the tank or its seal looks cracked or damaged, contact the manufacturer for a replacement part; don't patch it.

Drip tray seating and overflow

Check that the tray is pushed fully in and empty it when the indicator shows. The Bambino US manual (page 17) says: "The drip tray should be removed, emptied and cleaned after each use or when the drip tray indicator rises through the drip tray grid." Also lift the tray and look underneath, as the owner above did; water hiding there can run under the machine later.

Auto purge: normal, as long as it lands in the tray

On the Bambino Plus and Barista Express, water released into the drip tray after steaming (and on the Barista Express, after shots and hot water) is described in their manuals as normal. It's a problem only if that water misses the tray or ends up under it. Don't run the machine without the tray in place.

Owners of the Bambino Plus describe water ending up under the tray after backflushing (see the forum section above). We didn't find a manufacturer explanation or fix, so if reseating the tray doesn't stop it, ask Breville Consumer Support.

Portafilter and group head

If water or coffee runs down the front during a shot, wipe coffee off the basket rim and lock the portafilter in fully. The Bambino US manual (page 18) says: "Clean excess coffee from the rim of the filter basket to ensure a proper seal in group head." The Stilosa US manual (page 14) lists "The portafilter is not positioned correctly" and "The rim of the portafilter is encrusted with coffee grounds".

If that doesn't help, the seal around the shower screen may be worn. Who can replace it depends on the model:

Steam wand

Point the wand into the drip tray or a jug before you purge it, as the Bambino US manual (page 19) says. If water drips from where the wand joins the machine, we didn't find a manual entry for that, so contact the manufacturer. For wiping the wand after milk, see Steam Wand Cleaning Cloth Routine for Milk Drinks.

Damp under the tank (Dedica)

The Dedica manual (EU edition, page 8) says: "It is normal for there to be water in the space under the tank. This should therefore be dried regularly with a clean sponge." That's dampness to wipe up, not a puddle spreading across the counter. We didn't find the same note in the Breville manuals we checked.

When to Stop and Contact Support

Stop using the machine, unplug it and contact the manufacturer's support if water comes from the base, the vents or the housing seams, if it keeps coming back after the checks above, or if it could be reaching anything electrical inside. Don't open the housing to look.

The manuals say the same thing in their own words:

If water has reached the plug, the cord or the outlet, don't touch them with wet hands. That's our general advice, not a manual instruction. See Espresso Machine Outlet and Cord Placement for Apartments for keeping the plug away from the wet zone.

Protecting a Rental Counter

The Bambino US manual (page 3) asks you to "Position the appliance on a stable, heat and water resistant, level, dry surface away from the counter edge". Beyond that, the following is our general advice:

We didn't find manufacturer information on how quickly water damages a counter or cabinet, so we don't give one.

Products Related to These Steps

These items help with the steps above. This is not a ranking. None of them fixes a leak.

Descaling is relevant to only one leak in this guide: the Stilosa tank valve "blocked by limescale" (Stilosa US manual, page 13). The Stilosa US manual (page 12) recommends "the De’Longhi descaler", so check with De'Longhi before using another brand. Descaling isn't a fix for other leaks. For routine cleaning and descaling as your manual describes, see How to Clean an Espresso Machine in a Small Kitchen.

FAQ

Is water under the drip tray normal?

Not as a regular puddle. The Breville manuals describe purge water going into the tray, so water under it usually means the tray isn't pushed fully in, is overflowing, or purge water is missing it. Reseat and empty the tray. If water still collects under it, contact the manufacturer.

Will a mat or towel fix the leak?

No. A mat protects the counter and shows you the water, but it doesn't stop it. One owner above tried towels, silicone mats and paper without a lasting fix.

Will descaling stop my machine from leaking?

Only in one case we found: the Stilosa US manual lists descaling when the tank leaks when carried because the valve is "blocked by limescale". The other leak causes in this guide aren't fixed by descaling.

Can I replace the seal myself?

Only where your manual says so. Of the manuals we checked, the Barista Express US manual describes replacing the shower-screen seal yourself. The Stilosa US manual and the Dedica manual (EU edition) send the gasket to Customer Services. The Bambino and Bambino Plus manuals don't say, so ask Breville.

My machine leaked overnight and soaked the cabinet. What now?

Unplug the machine, dry what you can reach, and tell your landlord or building manager. Then work through the checks above or contact the manufacturer before using it again.

I'm moving. Will the tank leak in the car?

The Stilosa US manual lists "The water tank leaks when carried" as a troubleshooting row. For emptying and packing, see How to Move an Espresso Machine When You Move Apartments: Empty, Dry, Pack, and Keep It From Freezing.

Sources

Manuals checked October 28, 2026. Reddit dates are given in UTC.

Bottom Line

Dry the counter, unplug the machine, and check the tank, the drip tray, purge water, the portafilter and the steam wand one at a time. Some water in the tray is normal; water from the base, vents or housing isn't. Stop, unplug and contact support for that, don't open the machine, and tell your landlord if the counter or cabinet got soaked.

Apartment Barista uses Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability can change at any time and should be checked on Amazon before buying.