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Thermoblock: care and descaling

Oct 04, 2026

Machines with a thermoblock, such as the Quick Mill Pop and Pippa, heat the water as it passes through instead of keeping a boiler full of hot water. They are quick to heat up but sensitive to limescale. The Quick Mill Silvano is a hybrid: a small boiler for the coffee and a thermoblock for steam and hot water.

How a thermoblock works

The water is pumped through a narrow channel in a heated metal block and is heated on the way. The channels are thin, so even a little limescale reduces the flow and heat transfer. That is why regular descaling is more important here than on a machine with a large boiler.

Many thermoblock machines have no three-way valve and should not be backflushed with a blind basket. Only do it if the manual says so. According to its manual, the Quick Mill Silvano should be backflushed with water at least once a week, see backflushing.

Descaling

We recommend descaling every 1–3 months depending on the water hardness and how much you use the machine. Measure the hardness with the BWT water test. With soft water and a filter, the longer interval is enough.

This is how to do it on the Quick Mill Pop according to the manual:

  1. Set the coffee temperature to the lowest possible value.
  2. Mix a descaler for coffee machines in the tank, such as Cafetto LOD descaler, following the dosage on the bottle.
  3. Place a large container under the group. Run coffee doses one after another until the tank is empty.
  4. Do the same for hot water: refill with solution and draw hot water until the tank is empty.
  5. Rinse the tank thoroughly, fill it with clean water and run coffee and hot water until the tank is empty again.
  6. Reset the coffee temperature.

Silvano: in the Silvano manual, Quick Mill advises against descaling it yourself and gives no instructions. Prevent limescale with the right water and contact us if the machine needs descaling.

Cleaning

  • After every use: rinse the portafilter and basket and brush away coffee.
  • Wipe the steam wand and run steam briefly to purge milk residue.
  • Every week: brush the group gasket and shower screen with a group head cleaning brush.
  • Now and then: put the baskets and portafilter (not the handle) in hot water for a few minutes to dissolve coffee oils. Wash the water tank.
  • Empty and wash the drip tray.

Common faults

  • The machine does not start: check the plug, socket, fuse and cable. See electrical faults.
  • No coffee comes out: the tank is empty, or the pump has overheated after long use. Let the pump cool down.
  • Uneven flow: clean the filter basket and adjust the grind.
  • No steam or hot water: fill the tank, clear the holes in the steam tip with a needle.
  • The flow gradually gets weaker and the steam weaker: a typical sign of limescale. Descale.

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