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Commercial espresso machine: daily cleaning and service

Oct 04, 2026

A commercial machine such as the Rocket Boxer, La Nuova Era Altea or an Elektra in a café runs for many hours a day. A fixed closing routine keeps the taste consistent and prevents most breakdowns.

Daily closing routine

  1. Backflush each group with cleaning detergent (see below).
  2. Soak the portafilters and baskets in hot water with cleaning detergent. Do not immerse the handles.
  3. Clean the steam wands.
  4. Wash the drip tray and grate and flush the drain with hot water.
  5. Brush the group gaskets and shower screens with a group head cleaning brush.
  6. Wipe down the outside, for example with Puly Igienic.

Backflushing per group

  1. Insert a blind basket and add cleaning detergent, such as Puly Caff Plus or Cafetto TEVO, following the dosage.
  2. Run for 10 seconds on and 10 seconds off, 5 times.
  3. Remove and rinse. Backflush with clean water until no detergent is left.
  4. Brew a shot and discard it.

Do one group at a time, or all at once if you have a blind basket for each group. Read more in Backflushing: how and when.

Steam wands

  • Wipe with a damp cloth and purge after every jug.
  • At closing: clean the steam wands with Cafetto MFC milk system cleaner as instructed.
  • Blocked holes: unscrew the steam tip and clear it with a needle or a paper clip.

A pitcher rinser next to the machine makes it easier to keep the milk jugs clean during the day.

Every week

  • Unscrew the shower screens and soak them in cleaning detergent.
  • Clean the hot water spout, carefully so that it does not get bent out of shape.
  • Check that the drain hose is not blocked and that the water drains away freely.
  • Check the group gaskets. If it leaks around the portafilter, see replacing the group gasket.

Water filter

Commercial machines need soft, filtered water. For the Boxer, Rocket specifies an inlet pressure of 1.5–6 bar and recommends a filter on the incoming water. We recommend BWT Bestmax Premium M for 1–2 groups and Premium XL for higher consumption. Replace the cartridge according to its capacity, but at least every 12 months. Read Plumbed-in water connection and BWT Bestmax.

Service and when to call a technician

Group gaskets and shower screens wear out much faster in a café than at home. Have a technician set a service interval based on your volume. Call a technician immediately if:

  • The RCD trips or the power cable is damaged.
  • The boiler does not refill, or keeps filling all the time.
  • The safety valve blows or the pressure gauge shows abnormal pressure.
  • There is a leak inside the machine or water has reached the electronics.
  • The flow gets weaker despite cleaning, which may indicate limescale.

Can't find the fault? Contact us with the model, serial number and a short description, ideally with a video. We will help you find the right spare part or a service technician.

Barista & Espresso