Whether you’re a largely established business or just starting up, you need to know the ins and outs of your espresso machine. The key aspect of owning an espresso machine is keeping it clean and maintained, a part of which being backflushing. Flushing out all the leftover oils and grinds will keep your coffee tasting amazing and customers happy.
What is Backflushing?
Backflushing is a term used for cleaning professional and domestic espresso machines. The process involves forcing water through the machine’s system whilst the pressure valve removes any sort of build up that could cause a problem with the taste of your coffee. Backflushing tends to be a process that should be done until the water comes clear out of the machine, to ensure its in pristine condition.
How Often Should You Backflush?
For best results and coffee that consistently tastes fresh every day! Backflushing should be carried out as part of the evening cleaning regimen, to ensure that nothing within the machine is allowed to build-up. For professional Espresso Machines, there are special chemicals, designed specifically to clean your machine. Cleaning should be done using espresso machine cleaning tablets or powders ideally after every 200 shots of coffee or thoroughly at the end of the day.
How to Backflush an Espresso Machine
- Remove the filter basket from the portafilter and insert a backflush disc. This disc can be a simple filter basket with no holes or a rubber disc that covers the holes of your machine’s filter basket.
- Add half a tablespoon of backflush cleaner into the backflush disc. Put the portafilter back on and turn the machine’s pump on.
- After 20 minutes, the pump will go silent due to pressure formation. Once the pump is quiet, turn the pump off.
- Once turned off, the cleaner will go through a three-way valve and start to empty via the drip tray. Having a container to collect any solvent coming out reduces any extra mess that could occur.
- On it’s first run the liquid will likely look murky. Repeating the process several times will be required until the liquid runs clear.
- After using the solvent, backflush the machine again using just water to make sure there’s no backflush cleaner in the valves.
- The last step would be to remove the handle and turn the machine’s pump on and off a few times to completely rinse out the solvent.
Learning everything about your espresso machine is important for anyone who is regularly dealing with one. Consistently backflushing your machine will help maintain your espresso machine to not only last longer but to product high quality tasting coffee every time. Find out more about espresso machines.