The coffee maker market is a crowded one, with many brands vying for your dollars every time you make a pot of brew! This can be tricky at times as not only do some brands claim to have better features than others, but also which feature set is the most important to you as an individual user really changes depending on your taste in coffee and how much money you are willing to spend.
With that said, let’s take a look at what makes a good espresso machine and why it’s so great to have one in your kitchen! We will then discuss how to clean your Moka Express or Prestige Stainless Steel V-Bread Maker easily and correctly, and finally, learn some helpful tips about using yours safely.
Good quality espresso machines use very high temperatures to extract the flavor from the beans. If these heat levels are too low, then the extracted flavors may lack depth and intensity, and could even hurt your taste buds slightly because of the acidity. Too high, however, and things get ugly quickly!
Interior plastic components can melt under excessive heat, allowing water to seep into the surrounding area.
Wipe the machine down with a mixture of baking soda and water
After you use your coffee maker, the first thing is to make sure it’s off! Most makers have a switch or lever that goes from espresso to cafe mode. You can wipe this clean with a soft cloth.
After that, check the carafe for moisture. If the carafe is warm to the touch, then there was some liquid in it which has now evaporated. This isn’t too big an issue unless it left residue behind.
If however, the carafe looks like it’s sweating a little bit, then try drying it out by running it under a cold tap (not the shower) for a few minutes. Make sure nothing is stuck in the drink slots as these could cause blockages.
Scrub the machine with a dry toothbrush
While it is not recommended to use water when cleaning your coffee maker, washing the internal parts of your espresso or drip machine using only hot, distilled water is okay!
Simply pouring boiling water onto the components will most likely cause damage to the device. That’s why it is important to wash the machine down using a brush and some dried baking soda or powder.
The baking soda helps remove any residue that may have settled in the brew chamber or other areas of the machine. You can also use white vinegar to clean the machine out as it has antioxidant properties.
Never use alcohol to clean your coffee maker because it could potentially hurt the functioning of the pump. This could result in burnt milk froth or even burning of the plastic pump component itself.
Run water with a cup of boiling water
The first step in cleaning your coffee maker is to run it through our routine clean process that we mentioned before. Make sure you do this after each use!
After using the machine, let it sit for a few minutes to ensure there are no wet patches from liquid leftover. This will help dried up oils seep back into the oil reservoir, where they can be re-melted and reused.
Once it’s dry, run some hot (but not boiling) water over it to rinse off any residue or dirt. If needed, use a soft cloth to wipe down the parts of the machine.
Run water with a cup of cold water
The first step in cleaning your espresso machine is to run some water through it. Make sure you use a glass mug, not a plastic one as this could potentially contain chemicals that would never fully dry out.
It is very important to run good quality water over the components of the coffee maker. This includes any removable parts like dasher or frothers, steam wand, pump, K-Cup holder, and if using an immersion blender, soak part of it.
Once all parts have been soaked, remove them and wash under running water. These should be dried thoroughly before being put back together. Once again, make sure they are both clean and dry!
Removal of burnt off oils can sometimes leave lint which will prevent proper functioning of the machine. You may want to rinse these areas several times and check for signs of trouble.
Flush the machine with water
While under warranty, you should always wash your coffee maker of clean! If your brewer is not working properly, then it is unlikely that cleaning it will fix the issue.
Running some tests or making an inspection can help determine if this model is within the limited warranty period. Once the guarantee expires, trying our most efficient method to ensure the best performance out-of-the-box may no longer work.
There are several ways to thoroughly rinse your espresso machine. You can use bottled water, distilled water, or tap water. It does not matter as long as the liquid is free of contaminants and caffeine.
Once fully dried, remove the plastic parts (if possible) and wipe down any exposed metal surfaces using alcohol or paper towels. This includes the pump, milk frother, boiler, valve handle, and other internal components. Wipe each area twice for best results.
After completing all steps, put the machine back together and test it out! Hopefully, you did not have to replace anything too expensive. Now, let us talk about how to take good care of your new machine.
Reminder: Only dry your equipment after testing it for functionality! Using wet wipes or cloths could risk damaging the appliance.
Let the machine dry itself
The first step in cleaning your coffee maker is to make sure it has full access to air. You can do this by opening the lid or any other part of the device that may have become blocked up during use.
Once you have made sure it has adequate airflow, then you can choose to either leave the machine alone and let it self-dry, or you can begin the clean process.
If you are just starting to brew using the espresso system, we recommend doing that first before attempting a more complicated method. That way you will know if there were problems while brewing due to dirty components!
When everything is completely dried and outgassed, run some water through the entire system to wash away all residue. Then, spray some heat safe silicone spray onto all parts of the machine and wipe down with a soft cloth. This will prevent future buildup and possible damage.
Never put alcohol into an electric appliance as it could cause serious injury or death.
Re-season the machine with a spray of oil
After using your coffee maker, leave it for a few minutes to come back into place. While this may sound tedious, leaving it longer will ensure that it re-seals properly and works like new!
After cleaning the internal parts, rinse them off under cold water. Make sure to check the drip tray first as there may be some leftover espresso or milk from before you started washing the machine.
Once everything is dry, use an oily cloth to wipe down any excess oils or liquids in the pot. This includes the filter basket and brew group area where wetness could occur.
Finally, apply a light coating of vegetable or olive oil to help prevent drying out of the seals. Let it sit for a minute until dried and then sand it lightly with a powder brush to remove any residue.
Check the water reservoir for leaks
An easy way to check if your machine is working is to run some brews and see how many drops of water come out of the top every time you make a drink.
If it’s only one drop, then there may be a problem with the dispenser or the water level in the tank. If it’s more than one drop, then make sure that the milk or cream setting is not being over-used as that could cause it to leak.
Another thing to check is if the spout is dripping! This could indicate a clog somewhere down below the coffee maker. Unfortunately, this can sometimes require opening up the machine which might risk ruining the seal around the carafe.