Keeping your commercial espresso machine clean and maintained is a key habit we encourage anyone to get into. This will improve the performance and life of your equipment and reduce the risk of machine breakdowns and expensive engineer repairs.

We have listed a guide of the key tasks for you to complete on a daily and weekly basis for your reference.

 

Espresso Machines Daily Cleaning Schedule

Back flush group heads with fresh water; Place the banking plate in the group handle, place in the group head, run the head for 10 seconds and stop to allow the pressure to release through release valve. Repeat until water from valve is clear. Repeat on all group heads.

Prevent steam wand blockage; When using the steam wand check it is clean before use. After every use, blast steam to clean any milk from the nozzle, wipe wand with a clean cloth.

Daily steam wand cleaning; At the end of the day clean the steam wand with a clean cloth and food safe disinfectant, remove all residue. Check for 4 jets of steam from the steam nozzle, unblock with cleaning brush attachment if necessary. Do NOT use an abrasive pad/cloth. Do NOT leave the steam wand to soak.

Wipe down working surfaces; Wipe down all working surfaces with an anti-bacterial detergent and rinse. Do NOT use an abrasive pad/cloth.

Clean coffee grinder; Wipe down working surfaces of the coffee grinder, remove and clean drip tray. Do NOT wipe inside the hoppers.

Empty knock out box; Empty knock-out box and clean.

Empty waste container; If the machine waste runs into a container, empty it and clean out the container.

 

Espresso Machines Weekly Cleaning Schedule

Back flush group heads with back flush detergent; Use espresso machine group head cleaning detergent only. Place the banking plate in the group handle, put a small amount of cleaning detergent in the banking plate, place in the group head, run the head for 10 seconds and stop to allow the pressure to release through a release valve, wait for 10 seconds and repeat. Repeat until water from valve is clear, remove group handle and wash out any remaining detergent, repeat process with water only to ensure all detergent is flushed out. Repeat on all group handles.

Clean group handles; Remove baskets from group handles, place group handles and baskets in warm water with a small amount of backflush detergent, ensure all plastic handles are not immersed in water as the backflush detergent will stain them. Leave to soak until all coffee grease is removed, use a group head cleaning brush if dirt is stubborn. Rinse handles with clean water and replace all baskets.

Wipe down working surfaces; Wipe down all working surfaces with an anti-bacterial detergent and rinse. Remove drip tray and clean. Do NOT use an abrasive pad/cloth.

Clean cup warming area; Remove all cups etc from the top of the machine, remove plastic grid and clean, clean cup warming area on the top of the machine with a damp cloth and disinfectant. Do NOT use excessive amounts of water.

Clean coffee grinder hopper; Remove coffee bean hopper from grinder, don’t forget to push the tab across it if it contains beans, empty beans into a container, use warm water and a small amount of backflush detergent to clean coffee grease from hopper, rinse with clean water. Dry thoroughly before placing beans back into the hopper.

If you are experiencing issues with your espresso machine, the following troubleshooting guide may be a useful reference tool. Some of these may be a little technical for most coffee equipment users but may featured also offer simple solutions to potential issues. If in doubt, please feel free to call us here at Denby Dale Coffee Ltd.

NO POWER TO ESPRESSO MACHINE
1. The coffee machine switch is in position ‘O’ or ‘1’ – Turn the ecoffee machine switch to correct setting
2. The switch is defective – Replace the main switch
3. The mains power supply switch is in the ‘OFF’ position – Place the mains switch in the ‘ON’ position
4. The connection to the electrical mains is defective or fuse blown – Check for defective connections and replace fuse

NO WATER TO BOILER
1. The water mains tap to commercial coffee machine is closed – Open the water mains tap
2. The cut-off tap to the automatic level device is in the closed position – Open the automatic level device tap
3. The pump filter is closed – Replace the pump filter
4. The motor pump is disconnected or blocked – Check the motor pump
5. The water filling solenoid is defective – Replace the water filling solenoid valve
6. The water inlet solenoid valve is clogged – Clean or replace the filter of the solenoid valve

EXCESSIVE WATER IN BOILER
1. The solenoid of the automatic level device is defective – Replace the solenoid valve of the automatic level device
2. The heat exchanger is perforated – Replace the heat exchanger
3. The manual valve remains inserted – Check the level probe, the earth of the frame and the operation of the electronic control unit

STEAM DOES NOT COME OUT OF ARM NOZZLES
1. The electrical heating element is defective – Replace the electrical heating element
2. Nozzles are blocked (probably with milk) – Unscrew nozzle and clean, use pin if required
3. The pressure switch contacts are oxidized – Clean the contacts or replace the pressure switch
4. The heating element protection thermostat has cut in – Reset the heating element protection
5. The nozzle sprayer is closed – Clean the steam nozzle sprayer
6. Machine switch position incorrect – Turn the machine switch to correct position

STEAM & WATER COMES OUT OF THE NOZZLES
1. The boiler level is too high – Check the status of the level probe: verify correct position and check for surface lime-scale

ESPRESSO MACHINE NOT DISPENSING
1. No water mains – Check that there is water in the mains
2. Group solenoid valve is defective – Replace the group solenoid valve
3. The pump is blocked – Replace the pump
4. The control unit fuse is burned out – Replace the solenoid valve protection fuse (1A)
5. The injector is clogged – Clean or replace the injector
6. The group solenoid valve is clogged or dirty – Clean or replace the solenoid valve
7. The group filter is clogged – Clean or replace the filter
8. The volumetric dosing device is blocked – Check/replace the dosing device

MACHINE LEAKING
1. The tub does not drain – Check drainage
2. The drain tube is detached or broken or has obstruction to water flow – Check and restore the connection of the drain tube to the tub
3. Wear & tear parts such as valves, o ring, seals have worn out – Front end espresso machine service required
4. Hydraulic leaks in the hydraulic circuit – Identify and eliminate hydraulic leaks

COFFEE IS TOO COLD
1. The electrical heating element is defective – Replace the electrical heating element
2. The electrical connection is defective – Check for any defective connections
3. Limescale on the exchangers and/or heating element – Clean the coffee machine
4. The pressure switch contacts are oxidized – Clean the contacts or replace the pressure switch
5. The heating element protection thermostat has cut in – Reset the heating element protection
6. Coffee machine power switch in wrong position – Turn the machine switch to correct position
7. In the CTS system, the lime-scale has reduced the circulation of water – Clean the connections of the exchanger, clean or replace the 2 circulation tubes
8. The delivery group is cold – Eliminate air pockets in the hydraulic circuit in the following manner:
– disconnect the electrical supply to the pump
– close the water tap of the softener
– perform a dry run of delivery for a few minutes
– reconnect the electrical supply to the pump
– open the water outlet of the softener
– perform delivery until water comes out
– wait a few minutes for heating

COFFEE IS TOO HOT
1. Boiler temperature is too high – Reduce pressure in the boiler by turning the appropriate screw on the pressure switch
2. The flow reducer of the group is not suitable – Replace the injector with one of a smaller diameter

DELIVERY OF COFFEE IS TOO FAST
1. The coffee ground too coarse – Adjust the grinding of the coffee to finer setting
2. The diameter of the injector is too large – Replace the injector with one of a smaller diameter
3. Boiler temperature is too high – Reduce pressure in boiler

DELIVERY OF COFFEE IS TOO SLOW
1. Coffee is ground too finely – Adjust the grinding of the coffee
2. The injector is clogged – Replace the injector
3. The delivery group is clogged – Check and clean the delivery group
4. The filter holder is dirty – Clean and if necessary replace the filters

COFFEE GROUNDS ARE WET
1. The group solenoid valve discharge is clogged – Clean the group drain
2. The delivery group is too cold – Wait for group to heat up completely
3. Coffee ground not being tamped firmly enough – Tamp the ground coffee in group handle with more pressure
4. Coffee is ground too finely – Adjust the grinding of the coffee

THE GAUGE SHOWS AN UNACCEPTABLE PRESSURE
1. The gauge is defective – Replace the gauge
2. Incorrect pressure switch calibration – Adjust the calibration of the pressure switch
3. Incorrect motor pump calibration – Adjust the calibration of the motor pump

GROUNDS IN CUP
1. The handle filter holder is dirty – Clean the filter holder
2. The filter holes are worn – Replace the filter
3. The coffee is not ground evenly – Grinder burrs may need cleaning or replacing
4. The under cup seal is worn – Replace seal

THE PUMP WORKS ONLY WITH MANUAL KEY
1. The pump fuse of the electronic control unit is burned out – Replace pump fuse of the electronic control unit (1A)

SHUTDOWN OF THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM
1. The control unit fuse is burned out 1. Replace the main fuse
2. The volumetric dosing device has a contact of the positive pole to the earth 2. Check for proper connection of the volumetric dosing device

THE PUMP LEAKS WATER
1. Poor mechanical seal of the shaft or of the O-ring – Check the status of the pump and take any corrective action which may be required
2. The inlet and outlet connections are loose – Tighten the connections – The hex nut on the pressure relief valve or on the filter are loose 3. Tighten the hex connection on the modulating valve and on the filter
4. The gasket or O-ring on pressure relief valve or on the water filter defective – Replace the gasket and the O-ring. Take care not to change the calibration of the valve

THE MOTOR STOPS SUDDENLY OR THE THERMAL
1. Lime-scale and mineral build-up in the pump have caused it to jam – Check the status of the pump and if necessary replace it

PROTECTION CUTS IN DUE TO AN OVERLOAD
1. The pump and engine are not aligned – Install the pump-motor joint
2. The motor is defective – Replace the motor

THE PUMP FUNCTIONS BELOW THE NORMAL CAPACITY
1. The inlet is clogged, perhaps only partially – Clean the filter holder
2. The pump rotates in the wrong direction – Check the motor
3. The pressure relief valve is not properly calibrated – Calibrate the pressure relief valve
4. The motor runs at low RPM – Check the voltage or replace the motor
5. The inside of the pump is damaged due to the infiltration of foreign bodies – Replace the pump

THE PUMP IS NOISY
1. The pump and the engine are not aligned – Install the pump motor-joint
2. The gasket or the O-ring on the pressure relief valve or on the filter are defective – Replace the gasket ring and the O-ring. Take care not to change the calibration of the valve
3. The joint, the coupling screw or the V-shaped clamp are loose – Align and tighten the components which are loose
4. The inlet is clogged, perhaps only partially – Clean the filter holder
5. The hex nut on the pressure valve or on the filter is loose – Tighten the hex connection on the pressure relief valve and of the filter

THE CUP IS DIRTIED BY SPLASHES OF COFFEE
1. Steam pockets in the delivery system – Reduce water temperature
2. Air pockets in the hydraulic circuit – Check the cause and eliminate the problem
3. Coffee is ground too finely – Adjust the coffee grind to more coarse setting
4. The flow reducer of the group is not suitable – Replace the flow reducer