How do you keep home coffee machines running clean?

Home espresso machines decline through neglect, showing weak steam, uneven water flow from the group head, or leaks at the portafilter during extraction. Maintenance starts with quick cleaning of the steam wand and shower screen after every shot, then a blind basket backflush before shutdown to clear internal residue. Regular deep cleaning with specialized powder follows.

The group head gasket eventually ages and needs replacement, and the steps are straightforward once the machine is cool. Filtered water matters as much as cleaning, because scale builds in the boiler and shortens the machine's life. The routine described here is based on the coffee machines used at Front Street Coffee shops and suits a coffee enthusiast at home.

Many coffee enthusiasts have added an espresso machine to their home, yet due to a lack of cleaning and maintenance knowledge, the machine develops problems over time such as weakened steam, uneven water flow, or even leaks at the portafilter. This article systematically covers maintenance methods for home espresso machines: from the quick cleaning of the steam wand and shower screen after each coffee is made, to using a blind basket to backflush and remove internal residue before shutting down, and then to regular deep cleaning of the steam wand, shower screen, and portafilter basket with specialized cleaning powder. The article also explains in detail the steps for replacing the group head gasket once it ages, and reminds users that water must be filtered to prevent scale from damaging the boiler. The practical experience covered in this article is based on the machine models used at Front Street Coffee shops, and is suitable for coffee enthusiasts to follow.

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Specialty coffee is becoming increasingly popular in China, and many enthusiasts have started buying coffee equipment, tools, and beans online, figuring out on their own how to make a cup of coffee they like.

In recent years, many espresso machines aimed at home users have appeared on the market, so many people choose to keep one at home.

However, many people do not have an in-depth understanding of espresso machines. They do not clean up promptly after use, nor do they perform regular deep maintenance, and as a result, small problems gradually emerge after the machine has been used for a while...

For example, the steam gets weaker and weaker, the group head dispenses water unevenly, or the portafilter leaks during extraction after being locked in... How should you deal with these situations? And how should you normally maintain an espresso machine?

"Daily Cleaning of Home Coffee Machines"

The machine currently used at Front Street shops is an espresso machine suitable for both home use and community or small coffee shops. Machines for home use are usually easier to clean because they are not used very frequently. But quick cleaning after use and regular cleaning of parts still cannot be ignored~

Daily cleaning refers to the steps that need to be carried out immediately after making coffee. It mainly focuses on two parts: timely cleaning of the steam wand and timely cleaning of the group head shower screen.

1. Timely cleaning of the steam wand

After heating and steaming milk, a thin layer of milk foam will remain on the surface of the steam wand. If it is not dealt with immediately, the high temperature of the steam wand will cause the milk foam to stick to it and gradually burn on. Over time, it will not only easily spoil and smell bad, but the solidified milk will also clog the steam holes, causing the steam output to decrease later on.

So after steaming milk each time, immediately wipe off the remaining milk foam with a clean damp cloth, then turn the steam wand over the drip tray area (do not point it at anyone), and then turn the steam on again to purge it briefly. The purpose is to expel any milk that may remain inside the steam holes.

2. Timely cleaning of the group head shower screen

The shower screen is the mesh plate on the group head, and it comes into direct contact with the coffee grounds during every extraction. Because the coffee grounds are tamped tightly, the coffee liquid can only pass through the basket once the pressure reaches a certain range, so before it seeps out, part of the coffee liquid may still flow back. Even when it finally seeps out, some coffee oils and grounds will remain in the shower screen.

If it is not cleaned for a long time, a large amount of residue and oils will accumulate in the shower screen and pipes, which in turn affects the flavor of the coffee extraction.

So after each espresso extraction, remember to remove the puck from the basket. The coffee residue attached to the shower screen can be flushed away by pressing the group head water release button, or brushed off the shower screen with a cleaning brush.

"Cleaning the Coffee Machine Before Shutting It Down"

Home coffee machines are not used very frequently, so it is generally not necessary to use specialized cleaning powder often. But you can still use the blind basket that comes with the machine (that is, a basket without water outlet holes) to perform a backflush, using the pressure generated by the coffee machine itself to let hot water continuously flush the group head. At the same time, because the water cannot flow out, it will be drawn back into the pipes, carrying away coffee residue and discharging it.

After the backflush is finished, remove the blind basket portafilter, then turn the switch on so that the group head is dispensing water, and use a brush to clean the coffee grounds or coffee stains left in the grooves of the group head (brush gently, and be careful of splashing hot water). Finally, wipe down the entire coffee machine with a clean cloth.

After turning off the power, also open the steam wand switch to release the remaining steam, to avoid steam water staying in the pipes for a long time and forming scale. Finally, empty the water container of the coffee machine, clean it, and dry it.

"Regular Deep Cleaning of Coffee Machine Parts"

Even if you clean promptly after making coffee each time and also clean before shutting down, over time it is still hard to avoid coffee stains remaining inside the shower screen, and milk residue will more or less clog the steam holes.

1. Deep cleaning of the steam wand

There are two reasons for clogged steam holes: one is blockage by scale, and the other is blockage by milk residue. Usually the tip of the steam wand can be removed. If it cannot be removed, soak the entire steam wand for cleaning.

For the former, you need to use specialized scale cleaning powder diluted according to the ratio and soak it. For the latter, you can first soak it in hot water, then use a specialized steam hole cleaning brush or a SIM card pin to clear it, and finally turn the steam wand over the drip tray area, turn the steam on again to purge it briefly, and see whether the steam output has recovered.

If it has not recovered, and you have also confirmed that it is not caused by clogged holes, then you need to contact the coffee machine after-sales service or a repair technician to check it.

2. Deep cleaning of the shower screen

Although we often clean the shower screen, the shower screen is a bowl-shaped part, so brushing only reaches the bottom, and the inside cannot be brushed. But if the shower screen is removed frequently, it is easy to deform. So you should prepare specialized coffee machine cleaning powder (available online in small packages).

Next, operate as in the daily backflush, only with one extra step of adding powder. First remove the basket from the portafilter, replace it with the blind basket, and put about 3g of coffee machine cleaning powder into the blind basket.

Then lock on the portafilter and press the extraction button. Due to the resistance of the blind basket, the coffee machine will release pressure during pressurized extraction, thereby "sucking" the cleaning powder into the pressure relief pipe and achieving a cleaning effect. The backflush with cleaning powder should not last too long, about 15 seconds each time, operated continuously 3-5 times, because the pressure relief valve may be at risk of damage if it works for a long time.

After 5 backflushes, pull out the portafilter, and you can see water with coffee grime and foam in the blind basket. At this point, you need to press the extraction button to first discharge part of the dirty water containing coffee cleaning powder, and then use a cleaning brush to scrub the group head and shower screen clean.

3. Deep cleaning of the portafilter basket

If you use a portafilter with a spout, a lot of coffee liquid and oils will remain inside, and if not cleaned for a long time, it will give off a bad smell. Therefore, you need to prepare a basin of boiled hot water, pour in a little coffee machine cleaning powder, stir evenly, and soak the portafilter and coffee basket in the basin for 30 minutes. After that, rinse away the dirty water containing cleaning powder with clean water.

"Regular Maintenance of the Coffee Machine"

If water leaks from the side during coffee extraction, or the portafilter cannot be locked in tightly and aligned after being attached, then the gasket may have hardened~ At this time, we need to buy a new gasket to replace it.

(The left is a hardened gasket; the right is a new gasket.)

The group head structure of each coffee machine is different. As for how to disassemble the group head and take out the gasket, it is recommended that you contact after-sales service first, and then proceed with disassembly.

First turn off the machine, wait for the coffee machine to cool down (to avoid burns), and then remove the group head. Next, we can first soak and clean the shower screen / rinse it clean of coffee stains with clean water and a brush.

Then, after removing the aged gasket, use a clean cloth to wipe away the coffee residue on the group head, as well as some carbonized gasket residue left behind because the aged gasket was not replaced in time.

Then put the new gasket over the shower screen and install them back onto the group head together. The method of replacing the gasket differs among different group head models, so you absolutely must ask after-sales service clearly before starting~

"About the Water Used for the Coffee Machine"

For home espresso machines, filtered water is recommended~

Unfiltered water / water with too many impurities or minerals can easily cause scale in the coffee machine boiler. In mild cases, it affects the taste performance of the coffee; in severe cases, it reduces boiler efficiency. If a large amount of scale attaches to the boiler, the cost of repairing and cleaning the boiler is not a small expense.

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.