That was pretty creative on your part for grinding the coffee beans, kudos.
Most people do not realize that the water systems are gravity pressurized system, even though gravity doesn't exist in my mind, it is just physics. For every foot of height of the water column it represents .433 pounds of pressure, as the height decreases so does the pressure, so without the power for the pumps to keep them filled to the top there will surely be a loss in pressure.
My Monday, today, is starting great. I look forward to what the rest of it brings.