John Myers
To ensure that your espresso from the portafilter machine still tastes good after a while, you should clean the device regularly. In addition to fat and oil deposits, calcification can also quickly occur.
How to clean portafilter and shower sieve
After a certain time, it is quite normal that the espresso from the portafilter machine tastes a bit sour and is only pressed lukewarm. If there is also a loud pumping noise, you can be sure that you have to clean and descale the machine. Before you clean the entire portafilter machine, you should first devote yourself to the removable parts such as the shower screen and the portafilter.
- Clean the detachable parts individually.
- To do this, dissolve some descaler in a bowl of warm water.
- Place the strainer and portafilter in the bowl and soak both items in the mixture for about half an hour.
- Then rinse both thoroughly with water and reassemble them on the machine.
Descale the portafilter machine step by step
For descaling, you need a descaler, which you should dose and use according to the package instructions. However, before you start descaling the portafilter machine, you should first heat up the machine to obtain the required operating pressure and then turn off the machine again.
- Empty the boiler by simultaneously activating the hot water extraction and the heat exchanger using the brew group control lever. Then close the coffee and hot water outlets.
- Mix the descaler with water according to the package instructions and pour it into the water tank of the portafilter machine. Switch the device on again so that the previously emptied tank can be automatically filled with the agent. Keep the brewing group control lever pressed until the liquid comes out of the brewing group and the heat exchanger is also filled with the agent.
- Descale the expansion valve by inserting the filter holder together with the blind filter in the brew group. Then press the brew group lever for about 20 seconds, then press it all the way down, and repeat the process three times. Leave the descaler in the machine for about half an hour to soak everything. Then press the brew group lever again to run the agent through the brew group.
- Also, unscrew the end piece of the hot water outlet to remove dirt from the aerator. Then empty the boiler again by switching off the machine and pressing the hot water tap. Fill the water tank with fresh water and switch the machine on again so that this enters the boiler. Then fill the water tank completely again.
- To clean the heat exchanger as well, you should hold down the brew group lever for about a minute again. You can then use your portafilter machine again as usual.
