How to clean an automatic coffee machine
Author: AMT Serwis
Do you own an automatic coffee machine and want it to keep running reliably? Find out which maintenance tasks you need to remember so that your machine brews delicious, aromatic coffee every day.
The automatic coffee machine is an increasingly popular choice for people who value convenience and speed. Thanks to advanced technology, an appliance like this prepares coffee to the user's preferences on its own, saving time and letting you enjoy your favourite drink without operating the machine by hand. But for an automatic machine to run well and deliver good coffee, it has to be cleaned regularly. Otherwise it gets dirty, the quality of the coffee drops, and the appliance may eventually break down. That is why cleaning your coffee machine regularly — inside and out — matters so much.
What to clean an automatic coffee machine with
The first step is choosing the right accessories and cleaning products. We recommend picking products made specifically for this type of appliance. You can buy them easily in shops and online, as well as from workshops that specialise in coffee machine repair and maintenance, AMT Serwis included. These are proven, effective cleaning, degreasing and descaling preparations that are safe for your machine.
Definitely avoid ordinary household detergents: they can not only spoil the taste of your coffee but also damage the appliance.
Cleaning a coffee machine with home remedies
Home remedies can be effective, but you need to be careful and make sure the products you use are safe for your particular appliance. Bear in mind, too, that home methods may be less effective than specialist cleaning agents made for coffee machines.
One home remedy is vinegar, diluted with water at a ratio of 1:2. Another option is baking soda: dissolve a teaspoon in the water you will use to flush the appliance. In both cases, once you have finished, rinse the machine thoroughly with clean water to remove any residue of whatever you used.
Before you start cleaning with home methods, read your appliance's manual and make sure the products you plan to use are safe for it.
What to remember when cleaning your machine
One of the more important rules of looking after an automatic coffee machine is consistency. To keep the appliance working for years and maintain the quality of your coffee, cleaning has to be done regularly.
Below we have gathered the most important tasks every owner of an automatic coffee machine should remember.
Cleaning the milk circuit and steam nozzles
The milk circuit is an important part of the machine, used to froth milk and create the foam for milk-based coffees. It is especially appreciated by fans of cappuccino, latte and flat white. Neglecting to clean the milk circuit regularly lets milk residue turn sour inside it and can block the frothing nozzle.
To avoid this, run the rinse function after every milk-based coffee, or after a run of them. If your machine does not have that function, do it yourself by rinsing under running water.
Cleaning the milk system
How often the milk system needs cleaning depends on how heavily you use the machine for milk-based coffees. From our experience, if the machine is in constant use — coffee practically every day — cleaning the milk system once a week is a good habit. Important: clean it immediately if you notice the milk is frothing poorly or the foam has an irregular texture, as these can be the first signs of a blocked milk circuit.
We recommend using a dedicated milk circuit cleaning fluid with degreasing and antibacterial properties.
Washing the brew unit
The brew unit in an automatic coffee machine should be washed at least once a week. It is an important task: it removes the deposits and coffee residue that build up inside and restrict the flow of water through the unit. Washing it is easy, quick and usually needs no help from a workshop. To do it properly, switch the machine off and wait until it has completely stopped. Then take the brew unit out — following the manual — and rinse it under lukewarm running water. Set the cleaned unit aside to dry completely. The last step is to refit it in the machine.
Emptying the grounds container
Empty the grounds container daily — and if the machine is heavily used, in an office for example, several times a day. While you are at it, pour away the water that collects in the drip tray. Rinse both parts under lukewarm running water. You can also wash the grounds container and the drip tray with washing-up liquid.
Why does this matter so much? The grounds container has to be washed regularly to keep it clean and hygienic. Failing to clean these parts can lead to mould growth.
Descaling your coffee machine
Descaling an automatic coffee machine is an important process that has to be carried out regularly. Without proper care, the water inside the appliance starts to leave scale behind, which lowers the quality of your coffee and can damage the machine. Scale forms from minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron present in the water. The harder the water, the more of these minerals it contains. When water is heated inside an automatic machine, those minerals settle on the internal surfaces and form limescale.
Depending on how often you use the machine, the quality of the water you run it on, and whether you use water filters, you should descale it every three to six months, using cleaning products made for coffee machines.
Professional cleaning and maintenance
The tasks described above are simple maintenance steps most owners will manage without difficulty. If, however, you cannot manage one of them, are not confident you are doing it correctly, or simply do not have the time, we encourage you to use our workshop and order a professional cleaning and maintenance service for automatic coffee machines. Our specialists will carry out a technical inspection, thoroughly clean, descale and degrease the appliance, and replace worn consumable parts such as filters and seals.