Over time, leftover bits of ground coffee can clog up your espresso or drip machines. While this is not usually a problem unless you are trying to make excellent beverages, it will prevent that!
Clogged up brew heads can cause poor quality drinks due to lack of fluidity in the drink. This could also lead to burnt flavor and water being over-extracted, which would potentially burn off some of the caffeine content.
This article will go into detail about what types of grinds need to be cleaned out, as well as how to do so. If you ever have issues with his machine, give these tips a look!
I’d like to note – while cleaning an espresso machine is similar to making a normal pot of coffee, there are slight differences. When boiling liquids are involved, extra care must be taken! I recommend starting at the very least reading our how to make good espressos guide before diving into this one.
Rinse with water
While not mentioned in our how-to article for cleaning your coffee machine, rinsing the used pods or filters is an important step! This removes leftover oils from the process of brewing and also washes away some acid that can remain from wetting the filter.
Making sure to scrape off any dried grounds as you rinse will help prevent stuck sediment clogging up the brew system.
Use a baking soda paste
The first step in cleaning your coffee machine is to use a baking soda paste to get rid of any built up minerals or acid that have congealed inside the machines.
A few drops of vinegar can be mixed into some baking soda, and then spread onto all areas of the machine where there are stuck-on particles. Let it sit for a minute before rinsing with water.
Use a lemon juice paste
There are two main ways to clean your coffee machine pod or brew basket. The first is using a brush, which some people call scrubbing it. This can be done manually or with use of an automatic cleaning device.
In either case, taking a few minutes before making drinks for tips will make sure your machine stays in good working order!
The best way to do this is by starting with a baking soda and water mix. Once mixed, apply the solution to a soft cloth and wipe down both the top and bottom parts of the coffee maker.
After wiping each area, let the coffee maker sit for a minute- this helps set the leeching agent and cleans any leftover debris.
Use a liquid detergent
While using paper filters can work, not everyone has access to them or prefers this method. Using an automatic coffee maker with plastic pods makes cleaning these machines much easier.
Most major grocery stores sell special cleaners for espresso machine parts. These are easy to use and usually do the trick!
We recommend mixing a few drops of cleaner in each cup before brewing your next pot.
Use a dry detergent
The best way to clean your coffee machine is by using a powder or liquid-based cleaning product that has no alcohol in it. These are called non-detersgents as they do not contain chemicals that leave a residue.
Most people use dishwashing liquids (also referred to as washing powders) for this, but these usually have alcohol in them so cannot be used with some models of espresso maker.
We recommend choosing an all-purpose cleaner instead. They are typically just a source of baking soda and vinegar mixed together. This mixture can be left to work its magic while you wait for your pot of drip coffee to finish!
Baking Soda | Help remove buildup
A good quality batch of bakingsoda will always say ‘Sodium Carbonate’ on the label. This formof sodium is very active and will help eliminate residues and grayscale build up in the machinesparts.
Make sure to only pour a small amount at first into any one area, let it sit for a minuteand then test if the cleanup was successful.
Flush the machine with water
After you use your coffee maker, the next thing you should do is flush out the components of the machine. This includes rinsing out the filter basket, cleaning the brew group (where the milk or cream goes), and washing the carafe or cup for hot beverages.
When was the last time you washed the carafe? Most people never wash it because they believe that using warm liquid will take care of it. But this is not true! The espresso machine may actually require cleanliness under some conditions.
Carafes can retain residual moisture or sugar from past uses. If left alone, these substances can begin to calcify and build up over time, making the surface hard and potentially causing flavor changes or total failure of the device.
This article will talk about how to properly wash your carafe in the safest way possible while also giving helpful tips.
Run through the cycles in the machine
While some people may suggest using water or dry cleaning fluid to clean your coffee maker, both of these can actually damage the parts of your brewer.
Using too much liquid can cause corrosion which would be bad for your machine.
Instead, you should run each part through its own cycle. This includes washing with hot water and alcohol, use of dish soap, and an abrasive cleaner such as glass beads or steel wool.
Never use acidic cleaners like vinegar since they could etch into the metal components.
Change the filter
The first thing you will want to do is change your coffee machine’s filter. Most newer machines have an attachment place for a paper or metal mesh filter, but even those can become clogged eventually.
When that happens, the drink quality degrades as all of the flavor components cannot pass through the filter. As such, the taste becomes more bland and watery.
It is best to always start off with a new filter since this part does not require electricity. You can either buy one pre-fitted, or use taping technique to attach your current one.
Make sure to match the type of filter with the brew mode your machine has! I will talk about these next.