The maintenance and cleaning requirements for a coffee machine generally include both daily care and periodic professional servicing. Daily cleaning tasks typically involve:
- Emptying the grounds bin and drip tray to avoid buildup and odors.
- Refilling beans, water, and milk for readiness.
- Rinsing removable parts like filter baskets and portafilters.
- Wiping down the exterior of the machine.
- Cleaning the steam wand immediately after frothing milk.
- Backflushing group heads to prevent residue buildup.
- Soaking and cleaning group gaskets and shower screens.
Weekly or monthly tasks might include rinsing the brewing system, deep cleaning hoppers, and cleaning the grinder with a brush. Descaling the machine to remove mineral deposits is essential, ideally every one to three months depending on water hardness and usage. Professional maintenance every 3-6 months for light use, or quarterly for medium to heavy use, includes:
- Deep cleaning and descaling boilers and internal parts.
- Checking and replacing worn parts such as gaskets.
- Inspecting water flow, heating elements, and pressure.
- Adjusting grinding settings.
Following this routine prevents buildup of coffee oils and limescale that can impact coffee taste and machine performance, extending the machine's lifespan with consistent quality maintenance.
