You’ve finally decided to make the purchase you’ve been longing for, and now the coffee machine of your dreams is in your home. The question that arises though is:
how do you clean a lever machine?
First of all, don’t worry too much.
When you buy a new product, it is normal that you are not familiar with its functionality. Similarly, it is not so obvious to understand how to perform a thorough cleaning of the device.
If you have had other coffee machines in the past, you will know that they have a completely different construction. A lever machine does not clean in the same way as an automatic machine, for example.
This does not mean that the process is more complicated, it is simply different.
You will realise that cleaning your coffee machine will become a quick routine and will ensure that you drink great coffee every day.
Let’s take a look at the basic steps to clean the machine thoroughly.
3 basic steps to clean your lever coffee machine
Do you want to avoid drinking tasteless coffee? Well, then your espresso machine should always be clean. To make sure you don’t make a mistake, just write down 3 basic steps on a sheet of paper and always carry them out in a schematic manner.
You may have some difficulty at first, but if you follow our advice, you will get through the process very quickly.
1 – Remove the filter holder
First of all, leave the machine switched on. The first thing you need to do to ensure that your lever coffee machine is well cleaned is to remove the filter holder, turning it slowly. You have to be very careful when performing this step.
Then you should immediately wash the filter holder (using cold water only). Only after drying it very well can you place it on the tray.
2 – Clean the inside of the machine
This step is the most complicated and must be carried out perfectly.
- Take a container that fits the base of the brewing unit and fill it with 2/3 of tap water;
- Place the container right under the unit and lift it up so that the base of the spout is completely submerged;
- Raise the handle 2/3 (the water will come out of the shower head);
- Lower the container and the handle;
- Repeat this process;
- Place the container a short distance away from the brewing unit, lift the handle all the way up and let out about 25 ml of water;
- Switch off the power, unplug the coffee machine and drain the water;
- Dry the shower head with a paper towel, using a cotton ball to make sure you dry the seal at the base of the group well.
3 – Wash the components and clean the base
An essential step is to wash all the parts of the machine in clean water and dry them thoroughly.
Remember: no component should remain wet. Then you will need to clean the base of the coffee machine with a damp cloth.
When all parts are perfectly clean, wait for your machine to cool down and fill the boiler with distilled water. Now it will be as good as new!
Weekly cleaning and possible problems
In addition to the cleaning process described above, once a week you will need to roll up your sleeves and clean your machine from top to bottom. This step should not be underestimated as it will allow you to completely remove any impurities.
How do you do this?
Simple:
Rinse the filter holder with vinegar before washing it;
When the machine has cooled down, clean it entirely with a damp cloth, not just the base;
Remove the cap from the boiler and look inside (the water should be crystal clear).
What could go wrong? During cleaning you may experience one of these problems:
If the water has a brown colour, it indicates that the sealing rings on the piston are leaking;
If you notice white or green deposits, corrosion of the boiler is occurring. From time to time, we recommend that you descale the boiler.
Have you come across other problems that you do not know how to solve? If so, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Useful tips for your machine
As you will have noticed, cleaning your lever machine does not take long.
We recommend that you clean it in the evening, after your last coffee, so that the machine is ready the next morning.
Remember that it is important to keep the machine clean every day. The quality of your coffee also depends on this.
If you need more information about our lever machines, please contact us or read other articles in our blog.