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Cleaning Your Espresso Machine

You've made your choice and gotten your espresso machine home. Your first brewed shot was a success and now you're wondering...when should I clean? That all depends on how often you are pulling a shot. The oils from the coffee beans accumulate in the machine over time and cause a film to build on the filter basket and behind the water screen. In time, this causes the holes in the filter to become clogged. This filming and clogging will cause your espresso to have an "off" or unpleasant taste. Each machine comes with cleaning instructions. Read them carefully before you start and use the proper cleaning detergent.

Daily Care:
After every use, make sure to wipe the steam wand and after each brewing session, run a shot of hot water through your machine. If you are brewing more than two shots a day, rinse the grouphead with water. Put the portafilter in place loose, then wiggle it as you run the pump to loosen any residue that may be clogging the holes. Use a brush to scrub away any of the remaining deposits, then wipe the screen with a wet cloth. Also, clean out your grinder's chute and the doser on the grinder.

Weekly Care:
If your machine has a three-way solenoid valve (this will be noted in the manual), backflush using a blind filter and cleaning detergent.

Monthly Maintenance:
Take apart the grouphead's dispersion screen and soak all steel parts in the detergent your manual recommends. Soak your portafilter in the recommended grinder cleaner. Scrub everything that touches the espresso during the brewing process. Take apart your grinder, clean out the burrs and remove all built-up coffee grinds. Stiff brushes or old toothbrushes are often handy for this.

Once or Twice a Year Maintenance:
Descale your espresso machine. When doing this, make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructs as close as possible. Check your grinder's burrs and replace them if necessary.

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