Schaerer Coffee Machine Message: Critical Temperature
A critical temperature message for the coffee, hot water or steam boiler on a Schaerer Coffee Art Plus Touch names the boiler concerned. The manual lists an electrical problem between the sensor and the PC board, or a defective sensor, and says to call for service.
High: a boiler reports a critical temperature and must be checked.
- Code
- Crit. Coffee temp. / Crit. Hot water temp. / Crit. Steam temp.
- Maker
- Schaerer
- Equipment
- Super-automatic coffee
- Applies to
- Coffee Art Plus Touch (Model 040381-00090EUS)
What does Schaerer Crit. Coffee temp. mean?
Each boiler has a temperature sensor wired to the PC board. When the board reads a critical temperature for the coffee, hot water or steam boiler, the machine shows the Crit. Temp. Message for that boiler. The manual lists two causes for it: an electrical problem between the sensor and the PC board, or a temperature sensor that is defective. A critical reading can be real or a false one produced by wiring or the sensor, and the control cannot tell the difference. The manual gives no operator step other than to call for service. An operator should switch the machine off and not use the boiler that is named, because the cause can only be found by measuring. The three boilers have their own messages, so the one named is the one to describe on the service call, along with what the drinks were doing just before.
Affected models and control systems
Coffee Art Plus Touch from Schaerer, model 040381-00090EUS (SAP 1340900024), as described in that model's operating manual.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- Crit. Coffee temp., Crit. Hot water temp. Or Crit. Steam temp. On the display
- The named boiler stopping
- Drinks of that type blocked
- Hot or steaming parts of the machine
Possible causes
Listed in Schaerer's documentation
- Electrical problem between the sensor and the PC board
- Temperature sensor defective
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind Crit. Coffee temp. on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Sensor wire shorted against the boiler
- Plug loose or corroded
- Heater staying on and the boiler really too hot
- Sensor reading falsely high
Safe checks before calling for service
- Switch the machine off and let it cool.
- Note which boiler is named.
- Do not open the machine.
- Switch on once after it has cooled.
- Call for service with the boiler name.
How a technician diagnoses Crit. Coffee temp.
- Confirm which sensor is named and read the message history.
- Compare the sensor reading with a thermometer on the boiler once it has cooled and warmed up again.
- Check the sensor and the wiring to the PC board for damage and corrosion.
- Check that the heater switches off at the set temperature.
- Check the board input for that sensor.
- Replace the sensor or the damaged wiring, then verify the boiler at temperature.
- A genuinely overheated boiler is a scald and pressure hazard, so it is checked cool and depressurized.
- Measurements on the sensor circuit are made with the machine open and powered.
- The reading might be false, and only a test with a reference thermometer tells.
How Crit. Coffee temp. differs from similar codes
The sensor defect messages list the same causes; the Crit. Messages are for critical temperature.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- Schaerer owner support
- Edition
- User Manual | 03.2021 | v03 (Version 03 / March 2021)
- Models / control
- Coffee Art Plus Touch (Model 040381-00090EUS)
- Section
- Error Messages, pp. 23-24
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Schaerer super-automatic coffee error codes
Is the boiler really too hot?
It may be, or the reading may be false. The manual lists wiring or a defective sensor and does not say which.
Can I keep using the machine?
Not on the boiler that is named. Leave that drink type off until a technician has checked it.
Will it clear on restart?
Only if the problem was momentary. A damaged wire or failed sensor will bring the message back.
Need help with Schaerer Crit. Coffee temp.?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.