Fans of a simple black coffee, cappuccino with foam enthusiasts, and soy latte connoisseurs. We all know very well that good water and excellent beans do not guarantee success. Equally important is the method of brewing coffee. Nowadays, automatic coffee machines are becoming increasingly popular, allowing you to select your favorite type of coffee with one press of a button and enjoy its aroma moments later. Delicious coffee, tasting like it came from the best café, will accompany you every day, but you must take care of your coffee machine's cleanliness.
Why is descaling the coffee machine so important?
Irregular cleaning of the coffee machine can lead to fat from coffee and milk settling on the walls, and scale deposits significantly altering the taste of the coffee. If it suddenly turns out that your favorite coffee no longer tastes as it should, it's time to clean your coffee machine. Hard water used in the machine can gradually build up both on the walls of the machine and on its heater, as well as on the water supply pipes. This weakens the heater's power, and in the worst case, can lead to it burning out. Not to mention the deterioration of the coffee's taste.
To ensure the proper functioning of a pressure coffee machine, it should be descaled regularly. The latest models of automatic coffee machines have a function for detecting impurities, so you don't have to worry about remembering to descale, the appropriate message will appear on the machine's display. For machines without this useful feature, pay attention if, for example, the machine starts working louder or less efficiently than usual.
Ways to descale a coffee machine
If you want to descale your coffee machine, you have several options to choose from, each almost equally effective. Depending on the manufacturer's recommendations in the user manual, you can use ready-made cleaning agents for pressure coffee machines – in liquid, powder, or tablet form, or you can opt for homemade methods based on products you probably have at home. If you want to use homemade descaling methods, go for citric acid or lemon juice.
Descaling a coffee machine is relatively simple, in automatic machines, it is often a special maintenance program tailored to specific models. All you need to do is pour water and add cleaning powder, then turn on the machine and it's done. The machine automatically activates a special washing program, rinsing away coffee residues and removing lime deposits. This is a good time to remind you to replace the water filter cartridge, as soft water allows for less frequent descaling of the machine.
If you want to descale a drip or portafilter coffee machine, cleaning involves adding a teaspoon of powdered citric acid to the water container, after which you just need to start the machine. If you don't have citric acid, you can opt for vinegar, which should be mixed with water in a 1:2 ratio, and left for at least fifteen minutes. After this time, you must thoroughly rinse the interior of the coffee machine.
How often should you clean a pressure coffee machine?
If you always want to enjoy the full taste and aroma of your favorite coffee, you cannot neglect regular cleaning of the equipment. This applies to both descaling and cleaning the milk system. To do this, all detachable parts of the device should be washed under running water with a mild detergent, depending on the type of coffee machine. The remaining cleaning stages go as we discussed above.
How often you need to thoroughly clean the coffee machine mainly depends on how much coffee you drink daily. The more you drink, the more often you need to clean; otherwise, a dirty machine consumes more electricity, reducing its efficiency. Don't forget about the milk frothing system, as a milk-clogged nozzle ceases to function properly, and the remnants of old milk can significantly spoil the taste and aroma of coffee brewed from even the finest beans.