Cleaning an espresso machine

Regularly cleaning your espresso machine is very important to keep it in optimal condition and to continue enjoying the best coffee taste. Every machine, whether semi-automatic or fully automatic, requires a different cleaning method.

Cleaning a semi-automatic machine

If you have a semi-automatic machine, it is necessary to clean the group head. Oil from the coffee beans and old coffee residue remain in the group head when you make an espresso. It is therefore important to clean the head regularly. This way, you won't taste any old coffee residue in your freshly brewed espresso.

To clean the cup(s), remove the portafilter from the group and use a brush to clean the group to remove coffee residue.
Replace the filter basket of your portafilter with a blind filter and add cleaning solution to the blind filter.
Put the portafilter back into the group and turn on the machine, just as you would when making an espresso. Let the machine run for about ten seconds and then stop it. Repeat this about four times.
Now remove the portafilter from the group again and rinse the cleaning agent out of the blind filter.
Brush the group again to make sure the coffee residue is gone.
Repeat the rinsing once more to remove any remaining cleaning agent.
Once you have removed the filters from the portafilter, you can wash them to remove the old coffee oil from the bottom.

Naturally, it is necessary to wipe the steam wand clean immediately after frothing the milk. This prevents milk from caking on the outside of the wand. Burnt milk on the outside of the wand can be easily removed with a damp cloth.

The spout of your portafilter collects a lot of coffee oil. By unscrewing it and placing it in a bath of water and detergent, it will be like new again.

Cleaning a fully automatic machine

Many fully automatic machines, such as a JURA, have an automatic cleaning program. There is a big difference between cleaning a fully automatic and a semi-automatic machine, but cleaning is just as important for both types of machines. Just as it is very important to change the oil in your car, it is also important to descale your fully automatic machine.

Your espresso machine requires descaling approximately every three months. Many machines have a light that illuminates or a message on the display warning you that it is time to descale your machine. Jura 2-in-1 descaling tablets are a good product for descaling your machine.

JURA has its own descaling tablet, which is recommended for JURA machines. The tablets, specially developed for JURA automatic machines, ensure thorough, effective, and long-lasting descaling. The optimized phosphate-free formula guarantees TÜV-certified hygiene, along with environmental protection and perfect coffee results.

Cleaning your espresso machine with vinegar is not recommended. Limescale is porous and can retain the taste of vinegar for a long time. It can also damage the seals in your espresso machine.

In addition to regularly descaling your fully automatic machine, it is a good idea to filter the water that goes into your appliance. These filters remove chlorine and other impurities to keep your machine in top condition and enhance the taste of the coffee. There are filters that fit perfectly into the water reservoir of your fully automatic machine.

In addition to descaling your fully automatic machine, it is important to regularly clean the brewing unit. The cleaning program uses a cleaning flavouring that removes coffee oil from the brewing system. You can simply drop a Kaldi CleanMachines cleaning tablet or JURA 3 in 1 Cleaning Tablet into the coffee supply bypass and start the cleaning program. The brewing unit and brewing filter are thoroughly rinsed with hot water, and any remaining coffee oil is cleaned off.

If your fully automatic machine is capable of making a cappuccino, it is also advisable to clean your milk system regularly. The function of a milk system cleaner is to clean the parts of your machine that you cannot reach yourself. The cleaner breaks down the grease in the tubes and the milk system of your fully automatic machine and removes milk residue.

Keeping your espresso machine clean is very important if you want the machine to perform optimally. If you want to enjoy a delicious coffee every day, you must take good care of your machine.