Maintaining and cleaning your espresso machine

Cleaning and maintaining your espresso machine

Espresso machines may seem like complicated, high-tech pieces of equipment, and they are. But luckily, they are relatively easy to keep clean. After brewing a espresso or steamed milk, there will be coffee grounds and milk residue left behind. Over time, this residue 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 reduce the quality of your drinks. We want you to enjoy clean, 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 build-up due to poor water quality. This can greatly shorten the life of your machine and lead to expensive repairs. Solve this problem by always using filtered and soft water. First and foremost, test your water. Also About If you have a whole house water softening system, it may not be enough. Total water hardness should be between 35-85 ppm. For both direct-connected and reservoir machines, we recommend a water softening and filtration system. Investing in such a water purification system or a water filtration system for water tank is a lifelong insurance 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 immediately after brewing and wipe it clean. Then flush the group head for 1-3 seconds to ensure all coffee residue and oils are flushed away. About If you leave the coffee grounds 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 as milk residue can damage the wand and affect the taste. Rinse 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 is no water residue from the steam wand in your milk. After steaming the milk, immediately wipe the steam wand clean and rinse it again for 1-2 seconds. This is best done with a damp cloth.

Water backwash Another routine you can add is a quick water backwash. In our office we always keep a single or double spouted portafilter loaded with a “blind” filter. When we’re ready for the morning, we do a quick rinse and wipe down. About If you want to be extra careful, you can also wipe down the rest of the machine.

2-4 weeks of maintenance

Every two to four weeks you should do a thorough cleaning. This involves removing the shower screen and soaking both the screen and the portafilter basket in a solution of Puly Caff plus cleaning powder, alternatively Puly Caff plus cleaning tablets. Use a brush to scrub the group head and do a complete backwash with detergent either in powder or tablet form.

Every six months

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

Once About the year

Once About year, it's a good idea to replace the groupset gasket and screen. This is an easy way to ensure that your espresso continues to taste good and that the machine works well far into the future.

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