Schaerer Coffee Machine Message: Grounds Container Missing or Full
Grounds container missing or Empty grounds container on a Schaerer Coffee Art Plus Touch means the machine does not see the grounds container in place, or the container is full. Insert or empty the container and put it back in. If the message stays, call for service.
Low: an operator prompt, usually cleared by emptying and reseating the container.
- Code
- Grounds container missing / Empty grounds container
- Maker
- Schaerer
- Equipment
- Super-automatic coffee
- Applies to
- Coffee Art Plus Touch (Model 040381-00090EUS)
What does Schaerer Grounds container missing mean?
The grounds container catches the used coffee pucks from the brewing unit. The machine checks that the container is in its place, using a limit switch, and that it is not full. If the container has been taken out, for example for the cleaning program or for emptying, or if it has filled up, the machine shows Grounds container missing or Empty grounds container and stops making coffee drinks until the situation is fixed. The idea is simple: with no container or a full one, the used grounds would have nowhere to go. After a busy rush or just after the container was pulled out for emptying are the times staff usually see this. If the container is correctly in place and empty and the message stays, the limit switch that reads its position may have failed, which is the other cause the manual lists.
Affected models and control systems
Schaerer Coffee Art Plus Touch, model 040381-00090EUS (SAP 1340900024), from 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
- Grounds container missing or Empty grounds container on the display
- Coffee drinks blocked
- Message right after emptying the container
- Container full of used grounds
Possible causes
Listed in Schaerer's documentation
- Grounds container removed for the cleaning program, emptying or other reasons
- Grounds container full
- Limit switch defective
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind Grounds container missing on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Container not pushed fully home after emptying
- Spilled grounds under the container holding the limit switch open
- Container fitted at an angle
- Damaged container flange that does not reach the switch
Safe checks before calling for service
- Pull out the grounds container and empty it.
- Wipe any loose grounds from the compartment where the container sits.
- Slide the container fully back into place until it stops.
- Wait a moment and see whether the message clears and the drink buttons come back.
- If the message stays, note whether the container was empty and fully in, and call for service.
How a technician diagnoses Grounds container missing
- Confirm the container is empty, undamaged and fully seated.
- Clear loose grounds from the compartment.
- Test the limit switch with a meter while moving the container in and out.
- Check the wiring between the limit switch and the PC board.
- Replace the limit switch if it does not change state.
- Run a test drink to confirm the message clears.
- The limit switch is wired to the PC board, and testing it means working inside the machine with the cover off.
- The compartment sits below the brewing unit, where hot parts and moving mechanics are close.
- A switch that fails intermittently needs the machine to be run and watched, not guessed at.
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
Why does the message appear right after I emptied the container?
The container may not be fully seated, or grounds may be holding the limit switch open. Wipe the compartment and push the container fully in.
Can I keep serving while it is on?
No. Coffee drinks are blocked until the machine sees an empty container in place.
What if the container is empty and in place?
The limit switch could be defective, which is a service job.
Need help with Schaerer Grounds container missing?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.