Maintenance and cleaning of your espresso machine

Cleaning and maintenance of your espresso machine

Espresso machines may seem like complicated and high-tech equipment, which they indeed are. But fortunately, they are relatively easy to keep clean. After brewing a espresso or steaming milk, there will be coffee grounds and milk residues left behind. Over time, these residues can affect both the quality of your coffee and damage the machine. We have seen countless machines come in for maintenance, full of dirt and deposits. This can damage the machine and degrade the quality of your drinks. We want you to enjoy clean and flavorful coffee every morning and for your machine to last a long time. Here are some simple steps to keep your machine in top condition.

Water and your espresso machine

The biggest problem we see in our technical department is limescale buildup due to poor water quality. This can significantly shorten the lifespan of the machine and lead to expensive repairs. Solve this problem by always using filtered and soft water. First and foremost, test your water. Even if About you have a whole house water softening system, it may not be enough. Total water hardness should be between 35-85 ppm. For both plumbed-in and reservoir machines, we recommend a water softening and filtration system. Investing in such a water purification system or a water filtration system for the water tank is a lifelong assurance against the biggest cause of machine failure. Convinced About that water is an important component? Read more in the article About the importance of water for your machine.

Daily maintenance

Cleaning the Group Head After you have ground, tamped, and extracted your espresso, it is important to immediately flush the group head. Remove the portafilter right after brewing and wipe it clean. Then flush the group head for 1-3 seconds to ensure that all coffee residues and oils are flushed away. About If you let the coffee grounds sit in the group head, it can lead to buildup that is difficult to remove later.

Cleaning the Steam Wand Cleaning the steam wand is also very important because milk residues can damage the wand and affect the taste. Flush the steam wand both before and after you steam milk. Place a cloth over the end of the steam wand and turn it on for 1-2 seconds before steaming the milk. This ensures that there are no water residues from the steam wand in your milk. After steaming the milk, immediately wipe the steam wand clean and flush it again for 1-2 seconds. This is best done with a damp cloth.

Water Backflushing Another routine you can add is a quick water backflush. In our office, we always keep a single- or double-spouted portafilter loaded with a “blind” filter. When we are done for the morning, we do a quick flush and wipe down. About If you want to be extra thorough, you can also wipe down the rest of the machine.

2-4 weeks maintenance

Every second to fourth week, you should perform a thorough cleaning. This means removing the shower screen and soaking both the screen and the portafilter basket in a solution of Puly Caff plus cleaning powder, or alternatively Puly Caff plus cleaning tablets. Use a brush to scrub the group head and perform a complete backflush with cleaning agents either in powder form or tablet form.

Every sixth month

Every sixth month, it is important to clean your grinder and steam wand (About if you use it). Two products make this very easy: Puly milk cleaning agent and Urnex Grindz tablets for the grinder. You can perform the cleaning without these products, but they make the process quick and easy. Soak the steam wand with Puly agent and run a small amount of Grindz through the grinder. This is also a good time to check the filter in your water softening system and replace it About if needed.

Once a year

Once a year, it is a good idea to replace the group head gasket and screen. This is an easy way to ensure that your espresso continues to taste good and that the machine operates well into the future.

By following these maintenance routines, you can ensure that your espresso machine stays clean and operates optimally. Not only will this improve the taste of your coffee, but it will also extend the lifespan of your machine and reduce the risk of expensive repairs. Cleaning and maintaining your espresso machine does not have to be time-consuming or complicated, but it is an important part of keeping the machine in top condition and enjoying the best possible espresso every day.