From cloths to cleaning tablets: how to make your coffee machine last longer

The Guardian

5 hours ago

If you want your coffee machine and grinder to perform their best, morning, noon and (very ill-advisedly) night, you need to give them the care they deserve. Get into a routine of basic cleaning and low-cost maintenance, and they will run better and last longer, meaning fewer emails to the manufacturer's help desk or trips to a repair cafe – or worse, buying a new machine altogether.
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I've consulted two experts: Radu Bria at espressorepairshop.co.uk, a man who's repaired more coffee machines than I've had flat whites. And Ben Young, a manager at Craft House Coffee.
Here are their hard-earned tips, tricks and general advice for keeping your brewing equipment in tip-top condition so it lasts for years to come.
Before we get into the nitty gritty, though, there are some general rules of thumb.
Always read the manual
There are a huge number of coffee machines and makers out there, and what works for one won't necessarily work for another. Before you start scrubbing, soaking or descaling any of your equipment, check the manufacturer's recommendations – and warnings – first.
Unplug your machine
If you're embarking on deep cleaning, then always remove that plug. Water and electricity do not make a pleasant brew.
Use dedicated cleaning supplies
Never, ever use your usual cleaning kitchen cloths and brushes. You don't want to contaminate your coffee with harmful or abrasive cleaning products.
This sounds ridiculously simple, and it is: keeping your machine clean cuts down on a huge number of issues. Coffee splatters, sticky milk residue and wet coffee grounds can make your machine a grime magnet. They don't just look messy: they can block spouts and prevent your machine from working to its full potential.
Both Bria and Young recommend regular, light cleaning over the occasional desperate deep clean. What you do depends on the type of machine (or maker) you have. The intricate internal design of an espresso or bean-to-cup machine will require a more fastidious approach than a simple filter coffee maker.
A quick wipe-down goes a long way. Clean spouts, drip trays and milk frothers daily if used. Wipe the exterior of your machines regularly to prevent staining. If you have a fancy machine with a touchscreen or LCD display, then don't put harsh chemicals anywhere near it – use a general-purpose, nonabrasive cleaner.
Steam wands are particularly prone to getting blocked with milk deposits, so ensure you wipe them with a dedicated damp cloth after every use. Do it before purging the wand with steam, though, or you'll bake the milk residue on to the wand. For automatic machines, ensure that every nook and cranny of the milk carafe is cleaned, scrubbed and soaked after every use to remove buildup and prevent tainting.
If milk or coffee residue does end up getting caked on, then don't waste effort scrubbing, as it's incredibly sticky. Instead, use a dedicated coffee machine cleaner such as Urnex Cafiza or a milk system cleaner such as Urnex Rinza. These are available in liquid, tablet and powder forms, so pick the one that works best for your machine. For instance, many automatic bean-to-cup machines recommend cleaning tablets rather than powder, so check your manual before buying the wrong type.
If your machine uses a manual steam wand, and the power seems a bit limp, then Bria's advice is simple: remove the steam tip, soak it and clear any blockages with a needle, paperclip or – technical term incoming – the little poky tool that came with your machine. If it's really baked on, then soak the tip in a milk cleaner solution. Either Urnex Rinza or Puly Caff will do a good job.
It's worth noting that Urnex's Rinza comes in both alkaline and acidic formulas. Both can be used as part of a regular cleaning regime, but they're complementary rather than strictly interchangeable. The alkaline formula is best at removing all types of milk residues, including non-dairy alternatives, whereas the acidic formula is most effective at dissolving scale buildup – something which is particularly useful if you live in a hard water area.
Urnex Rinza milk system cleaner, 1.1l
£14.49 at Amazon
Puly Caff milk frother cleaner, 1l
£10.90 at Clumsy Goat
According to Young, manual espresso machines require more regular care. Make sure to clean your portafilter with a dot of dish soap and a non-abrasive cloth after every use. If your machine has an auto-cleaning cycle, don't be afraid to use it regularly.
More upmarket espresso machines equipped with solenoid valves (often found in machines costing upwards of £300 – if in doubt, ask your manufacturer) can be back flushed with espresso machine cleaner to remove internal coffee residue buildup. If you're doing regular cleaning, Young recommends Clean Express's group cleaning powder as a slightly cheaper option than Cafiza.
Clean Express group cleaning powder, 900g
£6 at Copper Coffee Roasters
Urnex Cafiza cleaning powder, 566g
£10.66 at Nisbets
£11.99 at Amazon
If you live in a hard water area, the mineral deposits can quickly cause limescale buildup and, over time, put your machine out of action.
A simple jug filter will help (and potentially improve the taste of your brews). And some machines allow you to fit dedicated internal water filters: buying these in bulk can make it reasonably economical, and more convenient than having to keep a filter jug topped up.
Brita Marella XL jug, 3.5l capacity
£24 at Argos
£18.99 at Amazon
Peak water filtration starter pack
£40 at Camden Coffee Roastery
Some fancier machines provide a water pH testing strip: based on the results, they'll remind you to descale after a set period. Most machines, however, rely on you to remember.
The easiest option is to put a reminder in your calendar. Consult your machine's manual for specific recommendations, and consider that your water hardness and usage levels will affect the required frequency.
Using the right descaling method for your machine is essential – the manufacturer will usually recommend a specific type – as some products may damage the metal parts inside. We'd recommend using coffee-machine-specific descalers, such as Urnex Dezcal and Puly Cleaner powder descaler.
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Alternatively, Young's top money-saving tip is food-grade citric acid. It's more affordable than pricey specialist products. It's safe to consume, and any residue is easy to detect. It works on more than coffee machines, too – it'll tackle limescale anywhere in the home.
Whatever you do, don't attempt to make up for lost time by using more descaler than advised, as this may damage the machine. You want just enough to dissolve limescale; any more and it may start attacking metal parts, too. Always follow the instructions. Also, avoid using vinegar. Unless, that is, you're happy to risk tainting your machine permanently and potentially eating away the rubber parts and internal components.
Rinse the machine through thoroughly after descaling. Run several cycles of clean water through before brewing another batch – you don't want it in your coffee.
Urnex Dezcal, 900g
£13.99 at Zoro
£14.74 at Nisbets
Puly Cleaner powder descaler
£7.79 at Clumsy Goat
£11.95 at Amazon
Food-grade citric acid, 1kg
£6.49 at Amazon
A more hardcore option for real connoisseurs is a reverse osmosis (RO) filter, which you can plumb in under the kitchen sink. This has far faster filtration – water jugs are slow; tediously slow if you're uncaffeinated – and the dramatically larger and more effective filters in reverse osmosis filters may only need to be replaced every six months to a year. The downside is expense, and potentially the need to plumb in a dedicated tap.
Another consideration raised by Young is that RO systems don't just remove the stuff you don't want – they also remove beneficial minerals, too, which can negatively affect the taste of your brews. You may need to consider adding a remineralisation cartridge to optimise coffee taste and keep your machines working well. Needless to say, unless your water quality is objectively terrible – or you're a certified coffee obsessive – this approach is akin to using a sledgehammer to crack a coffee bean.
Waterdrop G2P600 water filtration system
£269.99 at Waterdrop
Whether it's a stand-alone grinder or a bean-to-cup machine, Bria urges owners not to forget about its maintenance. Oils from beans build up over time, and these can impede grinding quality and cause off flavours. If you're particularly partial to dark roast, oily beans, then your grinder will need more regular cleaning.
Use a combination of stiff and soft brushes to clean the burrs, chutes and internal parts, and you'll help ensure that nothing gets clogged.
Rhino grinder and bench tidy brush
£16.99 at Coffee Hit
Rhino steam wand and milk frother brush set
£9.99 at Coffee Hit
Every once in a while, a deeper clean is a good idea – but you don't have to dismantle the grinder. One easy option is to use cleaning pellets. Run through the grinder to remove stuck on coffee residue. Once done, flush by grinding some old coffee beans and discarding the grounds.
If you have an automatic bean-to-cup machine, don't use cleaning pellets without consulting the manual or manufacturer first. As these kinds of machines automatically grind then brew, you don't want to end up brewing the cleaning powder (which expands upon contact with water) and clogging your machine.
Crucially, keep an eye out for worn burrs. If the grind becomes uneven, and the coffee quality fades – for instance, if you find your brews suddenly becoming sour or bitter – then it might be time for new burrs. Some are easy to replace at home, but consult your user manual or manufacturer for advice. If in doubt, give your local coffee machine repair shop a call.
Urnex Grindz cleaning tablets, 430g
£26.38 at Nisbets
£21.99 at Amazon
Puly grinder cleaning crystals, 405g
£21.99 at Bella Barista
Good, fresh coffee can taste like all manner of wonderful fruits and flowers, nuts and chocolate, but if it's literally sprayed with flavouring, then that sticky stuff can ruin a good grinder. Please, don't do it. Or if you must, get the supplier to grind it for you.
If you want coffee delivered to your door, check out our expert guide to the best coffee subscription services
Sasha Muller is a tech and consumer journalist, avid coffee drinker and craft beer enthusiast with more than two decades of experience in testing products and avoiding deadlines. If he's not exploring the local woods with his kids, boring people talking about mountain bike tyres or spending ill-advised amounts on classic drum'n'bass vinyl, he's probably to be found somewhere swearing at an inanimate object