Cuprajake ah that’s really interesting, thanks Jake. I’ve never used a lever or an E61-based machine, so it’s good to know about their different cleaning requirements. I think I’m lucky with the DE1 as it has a separate water path for clean and dirty water. They’ve also just changed the upper and lower brass parts of the group head from brass to PPS, which aside from being less of a heat sink and thereby making temperature profiling more accurate, is also easier to keep clean.

Decent DE1 • Mazzer Philos

    @MattH

    This is how it is on the Mini (Not my photo). Pulls all the way out.

      Thanks everyone for the replies, my next question is can anyone recommend a good group head cleaning brush? I have the typical Pallo group brush with nylon bristles, but they’re so stiff I feel like I’m in danger of breaking something if I press hard enough to get them to flex, and if I don’t it feels like I’m just running a bit of plastic against the group. Any tips or suggestions?

      Decent DE1 • Mazzer Philos

      I use this which assuming you’ve got a 58mm grouphead works really well. I mainly like it for the built in screwdriver though.

      I used to just use some folded up damp kitchen towel, cleaning cloth, toothbrush, whatever, doesn’t need to be fancy.

      Every time I make a coffee on the Sage Dual Boiler, once I have knocked out the puck I immediately wash wipe and rinse the portafilter and basket in hot water. I then wipe the shower screen rinsing the cloth until no coffe residue is on the cloth this usually takes about three rinses and wipes and then flush some hot water through the grouphead. Dave is right the worst build up of coffee residue from the puck - on the Sage anyway - sits tucked away in the space where the lugs from the portafilter sit so every now and then I also use a stiff brush to dislodge them.

      I will admit I only take the shower screen out about once a month so looking at Dave’s video I think I’ll change that to once a week. As for the water tank I empty and clean that once a week - never have it full - and backflush with Puley once a month too.

      Sage shower screen after two weeks…



      No excuses less than ten minutes to do.

        Pompeyexile Have you tried using a puck screen, I don’t think they make any difference to taste but they dramatically improve cleanliness of the group?

          They do help, but bear in mind they take headspace and it’s likely you’ll have to lower your dose or face the puck screen hitting the shower screen. They do get quite dirty too, so a soak in Puly every week or so, depending on usage is very important.

          I’ve tried, but my favourite is an aeropress paper on top of the puck. Works wonders for cleanliness.

          Interesting. I have an Elizabeth that I use for 2 shots a day every day. I use Cafiza and the automatic back flush regimen that comes with the machine religiously every 2 weeks. Good tap water and the Lelit filter. I just pulled my screen, as I last pulled it at least 6 months ago if not longer. Looked very clean. One nice thing about a solenoid machine is that cleaning is so easy.

          So this is about a week’s use with my back flush routine

          Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

          It does lol

          Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

          I must have put it back the wrong way last time I cleaned it 🫣

          Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

          Easily done, I think I only noticed once as the seal didn’t seem right. I guess it’s because the inner edge of the group head is chamfered.

          I have used a puck screen before and couldn’t get on with it which I guess was down to not thinking about the chuffin obvious of reducing the amount of grinds…Doh! But, I do also like the idea of trying an Aeropress paper disc too, so I’ll give that a go.

          2 months later

          Can i quickly ask how people here with stainless cased machines keep it looking good? My Elizabeth gets a wipedown of the case after each shot session but is still looking like its come off the ocean bed when it dries. Is it rust? I use the Weiman (?) stainless steel wipes which worked brilliantly on my old Sage BE yet seem to do diddly squat on the LE’s case. Does the stainless finish need ‘conditioned’ at all as its looking real manky now …. what’s the workflow involved here, i assumed it would be a wipedown and pat off with a microfibre but thats not working for me. A rub with some oil maybe?

            skylark Photos would help, but on my Minima I use a damp stainless steel e-cloth and dry microfibre cloth. If it needs a more thorough clean I use Method stainless steel cleaner.