Espresso Machine Cleaning & Maintenance
Espresso machines seem like complex, high-end equipment...and, well, they are. Luckily, though, they’re very easy to keep clean. After pulling a shot or steaming milk, there will be residual coffee grounds and milk buildup. Over time, the buildup will affect the quality of your coffee and, more importantly, can damage your machine. We have seen countless machines come in for maintenance with a lot of grime. This is damaging your machine and affecting your drink quality. We want you to have great, clean-tasting coffee every morning, and a machine that lasts a very long time. So we’re going to walk you through some quick and simple tasks to help you keep your machine clean and in tip-top shape.
Water and Your Espresso Machine
The single biggest issue we see in Clive Coffee's tech department is scale buildup caused by poor water quality. It will substantially shorten the machine's life and lead to costly repairs.
Nip this potential in the bud by using only filtered, softened water. It is shockingly easy to do. First, always test your water. You may believe that because you have a whole-home softening system, you are in the clear. That is not always the case. Total water hardness should be between 35 and 85 ppm.
For both plumbed-in machines, we recommend this water softening and filtration system. Either install it in-line with your machine or under the sink to fill a pitcher of water. For $250, it is life-long insurance against the single most significant cause of failure. For those with extremely hard water or who need more robust softening for a coffee cart or café, the two-stage commercial filtration and softening system is better suited to your needs. Convinced that water is an important component? Dive deeper with The Importance of Water and Your Machine.
Daily Maintenance
Purging the Group Head
After you grind, tamp, and extract your espresso, it is important to flush, or purge, the group head immediately. You can do this by simply taking your portafilter out as soon as you can after pulling your shot and wiping it clean. Then, purge the group head for 1-3 seconds to ensure all coffee grounds and oils are flushed from the screen. If you let the espresso grounds sit up in the group head, it will cause buildup. Even if your screen appears clean on the outside, the inside may look very different, which can be detrimental to even the most basic extractions.
Purging the Steam Wand
Steam wand purging is critical, as milk buildup can cause blockages and significantly impact flavor. You want to make sure to purge your steam wand both before and after you steam your milk. You can do this by simply placing a microfiber towel over the end of the steam wand and turning it on for 1-2 seconds prior to steaming your milk. This ensures you aren’t getting any residual water from the steam wand into your milk. After you have steamed your milk, be sure to wipe the steam wand clean immediately, then purge it again for an additional 1-2 seconds.
Water Backflushing
Another option to add to your daily routine is a quick water backflush. In our offices, we keep the single or double-spouted portafilter loaded with a backflush blank at all times. Once we are done for the morning, a quick flush and wipe down of the dispersion screen. I am particularly concerned about keeping my setup spotless, so that also means wiping the rest of the machine—but it's not necessary to wipe it down after every use. In addition to purging the group head, using the IMS precision shower screen and IMS precision portafilter baskets with the food-safe nanoquartz coating keeps your shower screen clean for longer. Some people will also use a puck screen for cleanliness and more even flow.
Every 2-4 Weeks
Full clean time. For this interval, remove the dispersion screen and soak both the screen and your portafilter basket in a Cafetto EVO solution. Scrub your group with a brush, then perform a full detergent backflush.
Every 6 months
Every six months, it is important to clean your grinder and your steam wand (if you use it). Two products make this extraordinarily easy: Cafetto Milk Frother Cleaning Powder and Cafetto Grinder Cleaner. Soak your wand in the milk cleaning solution per Cafetto's instructions, and run 1 packet of grinder cleaner through your grinder. It is also the right time to check the filter on your water softening system and, if necessary, replace the cartridge. We recommend checking your water hardness every quarter through the bleed line of your softening and filtration system.
Once a Year
At the year mark, it is a good idea to replace your group gasket and screen. It is a simple way to keep your espresso pulling well deep into your ownership. For a nice upgrade, check out the premium group head maintenance kit. It's also a good time to check whether you need more cleaning equipment. Make it easy on yourself and get the entire cleaning kit.
Espresso Equipment Maintenance Reminders
If you buy an espresso machine from us, you will automatically be enrolled in our maintenance and cleaning email reminders. However, if you didn't, we'll still let you subscribe. Just promise us your next purchase will be with Clive. Cheers.