Coffee machines do not like sitting full of water.
Before storing
Descale first, if it is anywhere near due. Scale left in a dry boiler hardens and is far worse to remove later.
Empty the tank and run the pump until it draws air, to clear the lines as far as possible.
Drain the boiler if your machine allows it. Many prosumer machines have a drain valve; most domestic ones do not.
Empty and wash the drip tray, the portafilter, the baskets and any milk components. Dry everything.
Leave the tank out and the lid off so residual moisture can evaporate.
Where
Somewhere dry and above freezing. Water trapped in a boiler that freezes will crack it, and that is not a repair.
Coming back
Run two full tanks through before making coffee — one through the group, one through the steam wand and hot-water tap. Water that has sat in a machine for months is not something you want in a cup.
Then descale, even if you descaled before storing.
Short breaks
For a fortnight’s holiday, none of this is necessary. Empty the tank and the drip tray so nothing goes stagnant, and flush a tank through when you return.
Last reviewed 8 August 2026