Tip from the CoffeeNose👃
cleaning tips for espresso machines
Water filters just filter the water. To keep your machine in good condition and free from bacteria you should:
1. Descale the machine regularly. You can use descaling powder or liquid descaler. (at least twice per year)
2. Remove coffee oils from your shower screen with cleaning tablets or powder by backflushing (at least every week)
3. Remove coffee oils from your portafilter, baskets and puck screens with cleaning tablets or powder by soaking them (at least every week). Step 2 & 3 are easily combined.
4. Clean the grinding chamber and burrs with special grinder cleaning tablets. (at least every month)
5. Clean the milk steam pipe. This is the most important as milk bacteria are the most dangerous. (at least every day !)
For milk cleaning you need a special cleaner that works with the proteins. Regular cleaners, such as dishwasher liquid remove oils and dirt but don't work with proteins that have been heated by your frother.
Coffee oils dry out and become rancid, yes that does make your coffee taste gross. Dried coffee oils put a strain on the motor of the grinder and pump. An overheated motor is less energy efficient and might eventually break down.
To clean the rancid dried oils from the grinder burrs and grinding chamber use grinder cleaning tablets.
To clean the rancid dried oils from the grouphead use coffee oil cleaner.
Recommended cleaning based on daily usage. For prolonged non-usage keep your machine dry. empty out all the water and coffee. For heavy use and when using oily dark roast beans (not recommended) more fequent cleaning is recommended.
Always check the user manual of your machine for further instructions.
Tip: At least once a month you should remove your shower screen all together and soak it with your baskets (step 3). Even with regular backflushing the bottom will be shiny and clean but once you remove the shower screen you will see that the inside probably has some coffee oils stuck.
Make sure to remove the rubber silicone gasket before soaking. Lightly lubricate the gasket ring before replacing it. Use a food safe lubricant!
Always check the manual of your machine and the cleaning powder/liquid you use for detailed instructions.
During our workshops and courses we will show you how to run a smooth cleaning cycle!
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