The Best Way To Clean Your Espresso Maker In Your Kitchen

FeastHome – If you’ve ever had a chance to shop for an espresso maker for you kitchen, you’ll realize that countless brands are offering a world of possibilities. And the search may be overwhelming but finding the best espresso maker for the money is worth it.

But that’s just the first part of a rewarding coffee experience. Even if it’s a simple espresso machine, it deserves as much attention to detail in maintenance as other complex models.

Not to mention the right aesthetics needed to blend with the interiors of your kitchen. Let’s look at some of the ways we can care for our espresso makers that make our homes more productive.

A Quick Guide On Cleaning Your Espresso Machine

Modern espresso machines can make different espresso drinks, and they are equipped with add-ons like steam wands and coffee grinders.

There are specific espresso machine cleaning products in the market that will help make your job easier, and the frequency of cleaning all depends on how much contact it gets with coffee and how often you use it.

This means, even if it’s the best espresso maker for the money, cleaning it will require some effort on your part. Know more by reading espresso machine reviews here.

2 Major Reasons For Cleaning Your Espresso Machine

• Lifespan

Cleaning your espresso maker regularly increases the machine’s lifespan. Espresso makers like super automatic barista types can be expensive. Like any other valuable property, it should be treated as an investment and be cared for accordingly. The parts of your coffee maker that make direct contact with coffee should be cleaned after every use. And if you rinse your mug that often, your machine deserves the same treatment.

• Taste

The best coffee beans can’t save you from an espresso machine that needs cleaning. The buildup of oil and other substances can significantly change the way your coffee tastes, and it would be such a waste to throw away freshly ground specialty beans.

>> Want to know more about the best espresso maker for the money? Our friends from Earl Of Coffee would be happy to help. Go to www.earlofcoffee.com for tips and detailed product reviews.

How To Clean The Group Head

The group heads in an espresso machine easily get a lot of oil buildup that may cause issues with taste. To prevent this from happening, it’s vital to clean group heads after every use.

1. Brush the group head with a cleaning brush or a toothbrush to remove coffee particles.
2. Attach the portafilter with a blind basket in place of its brewing baskets.
3. Apply a small amount of espresso machine cleaning powder to the blind basket.
4. Operate like you would when you’re about to prepare coffee and insert the portafilter to the group head.
5. Switch on the water supply and keep it going for 10 seconds.
6. When it reaches 10 seconds, switch it off for 3 seconds and turn on the water supply again for 10 seconds. Repeat this cycle at least four times.
7. Detach the portafilters and use water to rinse off any cleaning powder left.
8. Brush the group heads to ensure it’s clean and free from coffee particles.
9. After reinserting the portafilters, rinse off any residue from the group heads by repeating the 10-second cycle four times. This step ensures it is free from cleaning powder and is ready for use anytime.

How To Clean The Portafilter

Unlike the group heads, a portafilter is easier to clean. And since it’s heavily in contact with coffee during use, it should be cleaned regularly to ensure it doesn’t retain coffee oils in the process. That’s why even the best espresso maker for the money needs to be cleaned periodically. If you don’t have one yet, check some of the selections here.

1. Put a small amount of espresso machine cleaning powder in a basin or the sink.
2. Fill the basin with hot water.
3. Immerse the portafilter heads with their brewing baskets in the water while carefully excluding the plastic handles to avoid corrosion.
4. Keep the portafilter heads underwater for 15 minutes.
5. After 15 minutes, remove the portafilters and brew heads from the mixture.
6. Brush the portafilters using hot water and leave to dry so they’re ready to use the next morning.

How To Clean The Steam Wand

As long as the steam wand is cleaned regularly, you don’t need a deep cleaning for them at all. The steam wand accumulates caked milk when it is left to dry without wiping.

A simple wipe using a clean, dry cloth after every use usually does the trick. If this fails, it should be immersed in a pitcher of water and continue steaming to soften hard-to-remove milk stains.

Conclusion

Finding the best espresso maker for the kitchen is just a part of the whole interior decorating process. Cleaning is an entirely different story.

When cleaning your espresso maker, make sure you don’t miss cleaning the furniture that keeps it in place. We like to put it this way: If you rinse your mug after every use, your furniture deserves the same attention so does your coffee maker.

Whether it’s the group head, portafilter, brewing baskets, or the steam wand, a thorough clean of your coffee maker and its surrounding area allows you to better enjoy your coffee at home.