Hybrid Cleaning method for Lelit Elizabeth

MBdoc

Hi Dave

I have been using your method for a few months and find it works very well with a small variation of rinsing out the blind cup before starting the automatic process to flush with clean water.

However, I watched Lilet’s video on cleaning yesterday and I note that they advise running the automatic process twice (second run with no powder) and then running it again with a coffee basket. Seems rather a lot of unnecessary flushing.

Also I have looked at the shower screen and brass block a few times after Backflushing to see if it really needs editions cleaning but as it looked pretty good I haven’t done anything extra to clean this apart from a hybrid clean once a week.

Do you advise cleaning the shower screen and back lock and the portafilter in boiling water separately as Lilet advise? I used to do this with my old Ascaso Machines but since I bought the Elizabeth I don’t as it doesn’t seem necessary. I do wash the portafilter and basket each time I make coffee.

Thanks for your very helpful series of videos about the Elizabeth.

Happy NewYear

Mike

PS I do a short flush and clean the group head with a “ring brush” and wipe with a cloth after making the coffee and the cloth is quite clean after the wipe.

DavecUK

MBdoc I think Lelits deep clean by removing things could be done if it’s getting dirty. Best way is to continue your current routine, with the coffees you like and after 4 weeks, remove the pieces lilit suggest, and clean them separately. If you find they’re dirtier than you thought, then you could do it more frequently, if you find it cleaner than you thought, then you can do it less often.

The white cup test is also a handy test, if you find after a period of idle time waiting to do a shot, you pull some water into a cup, is it slightly brown or is it clear.

MBdoc

Well Dave thank you that was interesting.

I ran two Starbucks glasses of water, one from the hot water outlets and
one from the portafilter. Side by side there was a definite slight tint in the one from the coffee side and a few flecks of grounds. I stripped the brewhead and cleaned the brass disc and shower screen as well as the basket and portafilter in Puly and repeated after a good rinse and brush of the brewhead with Puly and both glasses were now gin clear.

Looks as if I still need to clean the coffee side with Puly as well as Backflushing.

Mike