How to clean your espresso maker and grinder
27.10.2021
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Cleaning a portafilter machine and coffee grinder takes no more than half an hour. Regular cleaning is essential, otherwise the coffee will become unpalatable and, worst-case scenario, the machine may stop working.
I always keep my Rocket Mozzafiato Cronometro R clean – from the outside. Because this makes it so shiny, I forget that I should also give it a thorough inside cleaning every now and then. Big mistake. After two weeks of neglect, a musty, bitter brew reminds me a deep clean is long overdue. Luckily, it doesn’t take me longer than 30 minutes. This how-to applies to all machines with an E61 brewing unit.
How to clean your espresso maker
Your goal is to remove as much old coffee residue as possible from the filter basket(s) and group head (that’s the chunky part at the front that holds the portafilter). In addition to old coffee powder, sticky coffee oil deposits there and becomes rancid over time.
Here’s what you need to clean the portafilter and grinder:
- Coffee spoon to remove filter baskets
- Backflush disc (also called blind filter; an insert with no holes for your portafilter, usually supplied with the machine)
- Pipe cleaning brush
- Cleaning powder
- Cleaning granules for the grinder
- Bowl
- Kitchen sponge
- Microfibre cloth
Step 1: disassembly
Your coffee maker must be on, but it doesn’t have to be fully heated. If it isn’t already, turn it on now.
First, loosen the filter basket from your portafilter. This is most easily done using a coffee spoon. Simply clamp the spoon in at the edge and lift out the filter basket.
It’s a little more difficult to remove the filter screen at the bottom of the brew group. The back of a coffee spoon is also perfect for this. It takes some patience and strength to remove the filter, including the gasket, from the group head. But don’t worry, you won’t break anything in the process.
Step 2: clean filters and portafilter
It’s best to use the same powder that you use to clean the coffee maker. I use the classic from Puly. Dissolve one coffee spoon of the powder in about two litres of water and briefly soak the portafilter, filters and gasket. Then, use the kitchen sponge and small tube brush to clean everything thoroughly until no coffee residue is visible.
Once you’re done, pour out the water and rinse everything thoroughly with clean water. You can now press the filter basket back into the portafilter and insert the filter screen back into the group head.
Step 3: clean the group head
Now comes the boring part: backflushing the group head. To do this, you need the blind filter – in the case of my coffee machine, the blind filter is permanently attached to a portafilter. Depending on your model, you may have to place the blind filter inside the filter basket you just cleaned, or replace the filter basket with a blind filter basket. Put a pinch of cleaning powder into the blind filter and insert the portafilter into the group head (like you normally would to brew coffee). Turn the machine on for about 10 seconds, then turn it off, wait another 10 seconds and repeat this process at least five times. Careful: the dirty water will come shooting out through the valve at the bottom of the group head with a fair amount of pressure. Once you’ve finished backflushing with the cleaning powder, remove the blind filter, rinse and reattach it. Then, repeat the backflushing process using only clean water.
Finally, put the normal filter basket back into the portafilter and rinse everything again. Your machine is clean!
How to clean your grinder
Thanks to cleaning granules, cleaning your grinder is a breeze. Instead of coffee beans, run 15 grammes of the granules through your grinder. After that, be sure to grind another 30 grammes of beans, which you’ll have to throw out. If you skip this, your coffee will taste like the cleaning granules. Bam. Done.
For ultra-thorough cleaning, you can also take apart the grinder. But it’s better to leave this to a professional, as this could void the warranty. You’ve been warned.
Questions and answers
How often should I clean my machine?
I clean my machine every week and drink between two and five cups of coffee per day. If your machine is in constant use, you’ll have to clean it more often. If you use it infrequently, cleaning it once a month is enough.
Do I need to clean the water tank, too?
Yes. If you use filtered water (which you really should), it’s enough to clean the water tank with washing-up liquid and a cloth every few months. Be sure to rinse the tank out several times to ensure no washing-up liquid gets into your espresso maker. Never put the tank in the dishwasher.
What about descaling?
You don’t really need to descale your portafilter, provided you use filtered water. Should descaling become necessary, it’s best left to a professional; it involves disassembling the machine.
What about the steam wand for frothing milk?
You clean the steam wand after every use, so it’s always clean. Simply wipe it down thoroughly with a damp microfibre cloth. Release some steam again to prevent milk residue from building up in the lance or – worse yet – backflushing into the machine itself.
What about the exterior of the machine?
That’s quick and easy: use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe it down. I use glass cleaner to avoid streaking. In addition, you can wipe down the drip tray each time you empty it. But don’t get blinded by the shine: it’s what’s on the inside that counts!
Simon Balissat
Teamleader Editorial
Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.
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