How to Clean an Espresso Machine

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 16, 2021 Tested

Every time you pull a delicious shot of espresso or froth foamy milk, your espresso machine accrues a layer of espresso debris, oils, milk-proteins, and mineral-deposits. While it is important to clean your machine after every use, chemically cleaning your machine once a week to dissolve built-up espresso debris is highly recommended. To rid your machine of built-up oils, milk-protein, and mineral deposits, descale your machine every three to four months.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Maintaining Your Machine After Daily Use

1
Scrub the portafilter and basket. Remove the basket from the portafilter. Use a nylon brush or a scrubby pad to dislodge grounds from the portafilter and basket. Rinse the basket and portafilter with hot water and dry the items with a clean towel.
- The portafilter is the handled, portable filter that is inserted into the group (the gasket that releases hot water to make the espresso).
- The basket, or portafilter basket, is a metal filter screen that is placed within the portafilter.
2
Clean the gasket. Insert a nylon brush into the group to clean the gasket. Move the brush around the edges to dislodge material from the gasket. Run water through the group to rinse away any remaining material.
- The gasket, or group gasket, is a rubber-O ring with grooves. The gasket provides the seal between the group and the portafilter.
Advertisement
3
Wash the screen and underside of the group. Look at the underside of the group and locate a screw. Loosen the screw with a short screwdriver to remove the screen from the group. Use a nylon brush or scrubby pad to remove debris from each side of the screen. Debris can build up in the area behind the screen. While the screen is out, scrub the interior of the group. Screw the screen back in place.
- The screen, or group screen, covers the filter chamber. It prevents grounds and oils from clogging the head.
4
Backwash the machine. Insert a blind disk, a basket without holes, into the portafilter. Lock the portafilter into the group. Turn on the group and allow it to run for approximately twelve seconds. Remove the portafilter, empty the water, and repeat the process one more time.
- Before you backwash your machine, read the user’s manual to determine if this cleaning process is recommended by the manufacturer.
5
Sanitize the steam arm. When left uncleaned, milk-proteins will build up on your steam arm. Overtime, the residue will affect the taste of your drinks and clog your machines. To prevent this from occurring, purge your steam wand before and after use.
- Place a clean, damp rag over the steam wand’s nozzle.
- Turn on the steam wand for one to two seconds to flush out water and milk proteins.
- Once you’ve steamed your milk, wipe down the steam arm with a clean, damp rag.
- Place the rag over the nozzle and turn the wand on for one to two seconds.
6
Wipe down the machine. Making espresso can be a messy process. After you’re done pulling shots and frothing milk, run a clean, damp rag over the entire machine.
- If you use a cleaner, make sure it is safe to use on your machine.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Deep-Cleaning Your Machine Once a Week

1
Make the cleaning solution. Once a week, you should chemically clean your espresso machine with a specially formulated cleaner. Dissolve espresso machine cleaner into a container of fresh water.
- When you prepare the solution, always follow the instructions listed on the cleaning product.
2
Disassemble the machine for cleaning. You can use the cleaning solution to chemically sanitize your machine’s portafilter, basket, steam wand, and screen.
- Remove portafilter from the machine.
- Take the basket out off the portafilter.
- Detach the steam wand from the machine.
- Remove the screen from the group with a small screwdriver.
3
Soak the items in the solution. In the evening, insert the items into the cleaning solution. Allow the pieces to soak overnight.
- Do not be alarmed if your cleaning solution changes color. This indicates that the chemicals have dissolved espresso residue
4
Scrub and rinse the items. Remove the items from the solution. If the cleaning solution did not dissolve all of the espresso residue, scrub the portafilter, basket, steam wand, and/or screen with a scrubbing pad. Rinse the espresso machine parts under warm water.
- Double-check the steam wand to make sure all of the milk-protein is removed.
- Consult the product’s instructions to determine how to dispose of the cleaning solution.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Descaling Your Machine

1
Prepare the descaling solution. Over time, mineral deposits from your water build up in your machine. To remove these deposits, clean, or descale, your espresso machine every three to four months with a commercial descaling solution. To prepare the solution:
- Fill your machine’s reservoir with fresh water.
- Add the descaling solution to the water and let it dissolve.
- Always read and follow the instructions listed on the descaling cleaner.
2
Run the solution through the steam wand. Place a container under the steam wand to catch the solution. Turn on the steam wand. Allow approximately one cup of solution to run through the steam wand. Turn off the steam wand.
- The descaling solution contains citric acid. If not collected, the citric acid will tarnish the espresso machine’s metal exterior.
3
Turn off your espresso machine. Let the machine rest for twenty minutes. During this time, the descaling solution will start to work.
- In order for the descaling solution to work effectively, you must let it sit in the machine for twenty minutes.
4
Run the solution through the steam wand and group. Turn on your machine. Place a container under the steam wand. Flush approximately ¼ cup solution through the steam wand. Turn off the steam wand and set the container directly under the portafilter. Turn on the group and run approximately ¼ cup solution through the portafilter.
- If you have a super-automatic espresso machine, run ½ cup of solution through the steam wand. Do not run any solution through the group.
5
Turn off the machine. Allow the machine to sit for another twenty minutes. As it sits, the solution will continue to break down the mineral deposits.
6
Run the rest of the solution through the machine. After twenty minutes, turn on the machine. Place the container under the steam wand. Flush half of the remaining solution through the steam wand. Move the container under the portafilter. Turn on the group and drain the rest of the solution from the machine.
- If you have a super-automatic machine, run all of the solution through the steam wand.
7
Flush the machine with fresh water. Fill the reservoir with fresh, clean water. Run the clean water through the steam wand and portafilter. Run a second reservoir of fresh water through the machine if desired.
- Place a container under the steam wand and portafilter to collect the water.
- If your espresso machine is super-automatic, flush all of the fresh water through the steam wand.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I know if a product is safe to use on my machine.

Community Answer

Before you use any cleaning product on your machine, consult the manual. If the manual does not list suggested cleaning products, contact the manufacturer directly.