Once you have purchased your home espresso machine, you must be very excited with your new toy and would be making many cups of aromatic espressos. These coffees can really be a very good starter to a new day.
However, what many users tend to overlook is the regular maintenance of the home espresso maker that they have bought. Even though your machine may not be as heavily used as the commercial espresso makers, it is still a vital step in order to prolong its lifespan. How do you ensure that your espresso machine is given its due attention where cleaning is concerned so that you can continue to enjoy your cup of espresso coffee each morning for many mornings to come? Below are the top 3 tips to help you.
1. Remove and wash all removable parts
After each use, it is important that you remove all removable parts from the espresso machine and wash them with mild soap and water. Dry them well before putting them back. This is especially necessary if you do not use the machine frequently. You do not want to see moulds growing on the sides when you next open up the maker for use a few weeks later!
2. Thoroughly clean other parts
There will be some parts that cannot be removed from the maker for wash. However, that does not mean that you leave these parts alone. You have to use a clean damp cloth and wipe away the stains on these parts. Basically, the part where the motor and socket reside in are the areas which you cannot wash with water, thus you have to take note to clean them thoroughly after each use.
3. Fortnight or monthly flush
It is important that you carry out this step of flushing the machine at least once a fortnight or at the very most, once a month. This will ensure that the tiny cracks and other difficult to reach areas are also thoroughly cleaned.
All you need to do for “flushing” the maker is to allow the machine to run through the espresso making process with just plain water. This means you will turn on the home espresso maker and allow it to drip as though you are making a cup of espresso coffee but without adding the necessary coffee powder. This step is to ensure that the coffee stains in the inner parts of the machine are given a chance to be washed.
If on the first wash you discovered that the water has turned brownish as it drips, run it through a second time or even a third time if necessary. You should get only plain water as the end result if your espresso machine has already been thoroughly washed.
Once you have carried out the above 3 vital steps dutifully and also ensure that you are using the right kind of espresso powder so that you would not clog the machine, you will find that your home espresso machine is able to last you a longer period. Choosing the best home espresso machine is important but so is carrying out the necessary maintenance.
