Cleaning

by **Raf** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 2:04 pm

I'm no maniac when it comes to cleaning my machine, but I gave it a good cleaning just now (it was about three weeks ago - sorry Carolyn!) and I was amazed at how much better my shot was immediately after a good backflush + descaling. The pour was thicker, wobblier, darker and tasted a lot thicker than usual. I definitely should clean my machine more often.

So how's everybody's cleaning routine? Daily, weekly, monthly? Poll!

by **kingseven** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 3:21 pm

I have to do it daily, practise what you preach and all.....

by **HughF** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 3:53 pm

The Gaggia Carezza I own doesn't have a 3-way solenoid so no answer to the poll fits. I remove the showerplate every so often and de-scale every few months.

Cheers,

Hugh

by **peterj** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 9:46 pm

With La Spaziale the point is that you don't have to put detergent into the head, it is still good to flush the solenoid with water every day. If you are not familiar withe the machines you take out the head and showers, clean in detergent and then rinse before replacing into the head (weekly). No gauzes to replace etc. I don't like coffee chemicals in touch with coffee, for a few reasons. :!:

by **phil** » Sun Feb 29, 2004 12:19 am

I backflush daily with water, about weekly with Puly. I probably should do the Puly thing more often but it's a question of finding the time.

by **michel** » Sun Feb 29, 2004 2:35 pm

phil wrote:I backflush daily with water, about weekly with Puly. I probably should do the Puly thing more often but it's a question of finding the time.

Exactly the same for me...

by **alans** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 10:03 am

I'm another for the "wish I could back flush" option. On the Pavoni Pro I have to run the cleaner through the whole boiler which is a lot more time consuming, so I don't do it as often as I should.

by **phil** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 1:10 pm

I really don't know why you run the cleaner through the boiler Alan, unless it's a way to get it to foam through the head? When I had a Pavoni Pro I used to just clean the head with dilute washing up liquid applied via kitchen paper. The portafilter and basket were likewise scrubbed with a gentle pan scourer. Do you really need Puly or Urnex or whatever if you don't have a machine with a 3-way valve?

by **alans** » Mon Mar 01, 2004 5:05 pm

I have to get cleaner through the piston and shower head, both get a lot more coffee gunk than I expected. I guess I could remove them and soak them but I think it's easier to run through some clencaf cleaner and descaler now and again.

Do you really need Puly or Urnex or whatever if you don't have a machine with a 3-way valve?

Well you definatly need something! I can taste when I've left it too long.

by **moccafaux** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:31 am

If the state of the coffee-preparation-area reflects my state of mind I am ready for the asylum, momentarily.

by **carolynb** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 11:12 am

I cast my vote - you can all guess what it was!!
I have to confess that I only use the home machine at weekends (well Sundays anyway) so I only backflush that once a fortnight - shock horror.

by **flozza** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 12:24 pm

I side with caroline on this one...
your coffee will have a much better taste as a result

by **flozza** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 12:26 pm

sorry carolyn :oops:

by **cleverdic** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 12:39 pm

This thread prompted me to get out my lifetimes supply of cleaning powder and do a thorough backflush which I try to do every month but I've mislaid my blind portafilter and putting tin foil in my double portafilter just doesnae work. Grrrr... :evil:

Richard

by **Sunnyfield** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 4:10 pm

Weekly, I start to taste bitterness if I leave it for more than two weeks.

Cleaning

How often do you backflush (with product) your machine?

Cleaning

Who is online