How do I clean an espresso machine?

Cleaning removes coffee oils. Descaling removes limescale. They are separate jobs with separate products.

After every use

Wipe the steam wand immediately and purge it. Dried milk is very difficult to remove and it harbours bacteria.

Knock out the puck and rinse the basket.

Flush the group briefly to clear grounds from the shower screen.

Weekly — backflushing

Only on machines with a three-way solenoid valve. Machines without one cannot be backflushed.

1. Fit the blind basket — no holes.
2. Add a measure of espresso machine detergent.
3. Run the pump for 10 seconds, stop, wait 10. Repeat five times.
4. Remove the basket, rinse, and repeat the cycle with water only, several times, until no foam appears.

This clears oils from the group, the shower screen and the solenoid.

Monthly

Soak the portafilter, baskets and shower screen in a detergent solution for 20 minutes. The residue that comes off is startling.

Do not soak the portafilter handle if it is wood or plastic.

Remove and scrub the shower screen and the group gasket area.

The drip tray

Weekly, in hot soapy water. It grows things.

The steam wand internally

Soak the tip in a milk-system cleaner monthly. Milk residue builds inside the holes and reduces steam power.

Why bother

Rancid coffee oil tastes exactly like it sounds, and it flavours every shot.