Daily Cleaning:

When finished brewing, remove the portafilter immediately. Rinse out the filter basket. Turn on the pump briefly to rinse out the shower head.

Clean the upper shower screen and gasket with a wet towel or soft group head cleaning brush.

Weekly Cleaning:

  Urnex Cafiza® Espresso Machine Cleaner Powder
  Urnex Cleancaf® Brand Cleaner and Descaler

 Find Spare Parts

Backflushing Espresso Machines

Typically, backflushing is performed on commercial machines on a daily base. Manufacturers of home machines such as Rancilio and Gaggia do not recommend backflushing.

How do I know if my machine has a 3-Way Valve

After brewing, if your machine releases water pressure into the drip tray after you turn off the pump, the machine features a 3-way valve.

Why should I backflush my espresso machine

If the daily cleaning and descaling procedures  are followed, there is really no need to backflush. If the 3-way valve fails, backflushing might help to clean out coffee residues from the valve. The following symptoms might indicate that the 3-way valve is not functioning:

• Water is leaking thru the 3-way valve into the drip tray while brewing
• Slow brewing (low pressure) suddenly even though you haven't changed any of the brewing parameters

How to Backflush an Espresso Machine

  Urnex Cafiza® Espresso Machine Cleaner Powder

You'll also need a blind filter basket or disk (see right).

Blind Filter Basket (disk)

• When the espresso machine is in ready mode (hot), insert the blind filter into the porta filter (remove the original filter basket first).
• Add about half a tea spoon of cleaner into the porta filter and put it into the group head.
• Turn on the pump for about 15 seconds or until the pump turns quiet (pressure built up) and turn off pump.
• The pressure will be release into the drip tray, flushing back the cleaning solution into the group head.
• Repeat this process about every 30 seconds until you see clean foam discharging into the drip tray.
• Clean out the portafilter and repeat just with water to clean out any residues.
• Remove the portafilter all together and flush water thru the group head to remove any residues.

To descale the machine, use only a descaler (also known as decalcifier) for espresso machines:

  descaling solution

These descaling solutions are intended to be mixed in the proper proportions with a full tank of water. Do not use vinegar!

Add the descaling solution to a full tank of water and place the tank in the machine. Turn on the power switch and then prime the machine. Allow the machine to heat to operating temperature and then run one quarter of the tank through the machine. Of the quarter tank you run through, allow solution to alternately flow through both the steam wand and the brew head .

Do not run descaling solution through the filter holder. Wait 10 to 15 minutes and then run another quarter tank through the machine in the same manner. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes again. Repeat process until the water tank is almost empty. Do not run the machine when water tank is completely empty.

To flush the machine, rinse the water tank thoroughly and fill it with fresh, cold water. Run the full tank of fresh water through the machine alternating between the steam wand and the brew head until the tank is almost empty.