How to Clean Your Espresso Machine. Step-by-Step Guide

Oct 3, 2024

Regular cleaning of your espresso machine is essential to maintain its performance and ensure every cup of coffee tastes right. Over time, coffee oil residue and dirt build-up can affect the coffee extraction and flavor, so a clean machine ensures consistent, delicious brews. Ideally, for home use, depending on your usage, a weekly to fortnightly or monthly clean should do the trick!

Willy Goh, Founder and Senior Roaster of Mighty Wonders Coffee Roasters

Here’s what you will need:

Cafetto Cleaning Powder (grab some here!)
Milk jug
Cloth
Blind portafilter

Note: These steps have been adjusted based on our experience and needs, and may differ from Cafetto’s guidelines. Be sure to check your machine’s manual for any additional cleaning instructions.

Watch the instructional video.

Steps to Clean Your Espresso Machine

Step 1: Clean the Group Head

a. Flush water through the group head over the portafilter to clear any immediate residue.
b. Swap your portafilter basket with a blind basket (a filter with no holes, designed for backflushing).
c. Add 1 teaspoon of Cafetto cleaning powder to the blind basket.
d. Insert the portafilter into the group head and start the water cycle to initiate the backflush.
e. Start the backflush over the blind filter for 10 seconds and stop. This will backflush the chemical into the group head. Repeat the backflush process for 5 times. This will thoroughly cleanse coffee oil residues from the machine.
f. Remember to empty your drip tray before starting to avoid overflow as the backflush water will collect there.

Step 2: Clean the Portafilter

a. Remove the basket from the portafilter to access any remaining dirt and oil.
b. In a bowl of hot water, dissolve ½ teaspoon of Cafetto powder.
c. Soak the basket and portafilter for 3-5 minutes in the solution.
d. After soaking, scrub the parts with soap and rinse thoroughly.
e. Dry and reassemble the portafilter.

Step 3: Clean the Drip Tray and Machine Exterior

a. Remove and clean the drip tray with soap and water.
b. Wipe down the external parts of the espresso machine to remove dust and splashes.

Step 4: Clean the Milk Wand

a. In a milk jug, add water and dissolve ½ teaspoon of Cafetto powder.
b. Insert the milk wand into the jug and froth the water as if you were steaming milk.
c. Move the wand up and down to ensure all parts get a good clean.
d. Discard the solution, refill the jug with clean water, and repeat the frothing to rinse the wand.
e. Wipe the wand with a clean cloth, making sure to get into the grooves to remove any milk residue buildup over the steam wand.
f. After cleaning, release steam from the wand to clear any remaining chemical in the wand.

Step 5: Final Step

After cleaning your machine, make sure you discard the first espresso to ensures any remaining cleaning chemicals are flushed out.

Now that your espresso machine is squeaky clean, it’s ready for you to brew awesome coffee! Keep up with regular cleanings to enjoy consistently great-tasting coffee and extend the life of your machine.