So, here’s a question. How frequently does everyone clean their machines? I don’t mean just the outside, I mean really clean it. I’m talking water reservoir and dropping the shower screen as a minimum. The reason for asking is I thought I was doing well at cleaning, put my water tank in the dishwasher weekly and back-flushed daily. Then I decided to do the shower screen and by the power of all that is holy I had no idea it could get so gunky back there. There was a layer of brown… er… matter about 1mm thick behind the shower screen and the gasket/lower brass parts of the shower block were completely gross! I think I last cleaned it six months ago, which is a hard lesson for me to learn. I’ll be taking down the shower screen and lower brass at least monthly from now on. Anyone else brave enough to share their tales of grime? @"DavecUK"#1 you can’t have been a saint with cleaning all your life, was there ‘an event’ like my shower screen debacle above? How about you @"Cuprajake"#144, have any machines in your history been more difficult to clean than others? Any tips or tricks?

I used to do it monthly but it was pretty clean. I now do it three monthly or thereabouts and I still don't find any nasty artefacts.

Welllllll The e61 require more cleaning than the lever because they vent back through the group and take all the crud with them My e61 routine is : Make my two coffees. Flush the group into my pot, back flush with water, this is religious after every coffee session. The screen comes down once a week, my water is practically inert so bacteria can't really grow in it, the tub gets a monthly clean. The levers : Finish making coffees, flush the group into my pot. After every shot. Tub once a month [URL=https://i.imgur.com/UdjRwPA.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/UdjRwPA.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Shower screen on the Evo after 5-6 weeks I really don't like using chemicals on the machine.

I probably don't clean mine as much as I should but seeing as I usually make my coffee first thing in the morning, I'm generally not in a mood to be making extra work for myself!

Weekly I’ll empty and wipe out the water tank with a damp kitchen towel while it’s connected, remove/clean screen and dispersion screw, backflush with water and drain 500ml from steam boiler. Monthly I’ll remove water tank and wash in the sink with washing up liquid and backflush with pulycaff. I’ve mentioned this before but on previous machines I had to wash the tank weekly properly as the ambient warmth made it smell like a fishbowl after a week. The Linea Mini tank is under the machine and can remain connected via hose so doesn’t get warm or grimy.

@"Ernie1"#p47489 how do you clean it still connected - I assume its a bit different to the micras. I have to pop out the top tube so I can slide out the whole tray and then remove the lid

@"JammyDodger"#p47485 - https://www.coffeeforums.co.uk/threads/coffee-cleanliness-is-next-to-godliness.26511 https://youtu.be/WN9SbM9r1Fg

@"MattH"#p47490 I think it must be different, mine pulls all the way out with the tube connected, actually quite a long way out. The tube connects to the lower left rear.

When It gets dirty It is time to upgrade?

@"Ernie1"#p47507 Aha - yes mine goes into the top near the front - there is a small lid to pour into. You can pull the sealed tray out a bit - but to remove completely you pull out the tube. Interesting how they changed up the internal workings to shrink it down.

@"Cuprajake"#p47487 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.

How often do you deep clean your machine?

simonc

The clay cleaner I mentioned above takes my brushed stainless bbq that is never covered back to show room and removes tiny rust and other stains that have sat in the sun and rain for weeks and months.
If it’s really that bad, I’d try that, maybe a test panel first.
However if it’s lacquered or coated , rather than brushed, then it will remove that. Although then you have a shiny surface that you can keep clean, just a different finish from before.
Sounds like you can’t make it worse though

JHCCoffee

simonc The clay cleaner I mentioned above takes my brushed stainless bbq that is never covered back to show room and removes tiny rust and other stains that have sat in the sun and rain for weeks and months.

Love to try this on my neglected BBQ. Can you post a link to this stuff.

DavecUK

Cuprajake do they clear powder coat the shell?

As far as I am aware it’s just your standard brushed stainless finish

simonc

JHCCoffee clay cleaner
There are similar on Amazon too but I’mweaning myself off there. It’s a natural clay for France.
I’ve used it on my minima.
It really does repel water as the video shows but effect doesn’t last all that long.

PortafilterProcrastinator

simonc I kind of love websites like that.

If it can clean as quickly and as easily as that they can take my money gladly.

I’ll also be sure to use the same pot for both my alloy wheels, bathroom taps and coffee machine! 🤣

Seriously though, I reckon its worth a punt. Spent more on less in my life.

dutchy101

PortafilterProcrastinator

I’ve got about 4 tubs of this stuff in a cupboard that I’ve never used. You’re welcone to one if you want.

simonc

PortafilterProcrastinator I felt the same and am now on my 8th tub and yes used around the house.

PortafilterProcrastinator

dutchy101 that’s a very generous offer, thank you, but I am wondering if you having never used them is a warning I should heed!

simonc

dutchy101 does the presence of quartz as ingredient mean it’s abrasive?

Gagaryn

simonc does the presence of quartz as ingredient mean it’s abrasive?

Yup!

DavecUK

simonc Yup 2

simonc

DavecUK probably best left to ovens and not on sensitive polished stainless steel surfaces then 😀

dutchy101

Oops didn’t think about that - sorry mate. Want one for your oven, lol?

Dusk

Seeing that clay cleaner has made me wonder whether a clay bar (for car detailing) would work. A clay bar isn’t abrasive but does work incredibly well at removing all contamination from car paintwork.

Gagaryn

Dusk A clay bar isn’t abrasive

Clay bar’s are abrasive.

Dusk

Gagaryn

Are they? They must barely be if they’re used for car paintwork

Gagaryn

Dusk Are they? They must barely be if they’re used for car paintwork

Yup, but used carefully on car paintwork by people who understand what they are doing - and always with plenty lubricant and followed by a finer polish. :)

skylark

Gagaryn

…. and lots iof Sunday diy’ers. Nit much to using them.mind so I’m guessing they’re safe if used with lube.

skylark

Just a quick update, not been around recently. BellaBarista are posting me a replacement front panel under warranty, took a while for them to get back and if i read between the lines properly it’s a strip off an existing machine. I’ll take it, got to be better than mine currently looks …. good to have a fallback. Seems LEs are hard to source atm. Something to do with Breville takeover?? BB are no longer stocking Lelit machines once all current stock has expired. Got agood supplier of spare parts anyone or considering building up a stock?

skylark

skylark Got he front plate this morning. Good service all round from BB as usual. This plate isn’t new but looks a way better than my current front so I’m happy that I have an option come trade up time. Looking at a Bianca …

delta76

skylark go for it. beauty is at the eye of the holder but to me, Bianca is a different league compared to Elizabeth. way more pretty to look at :)

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