How to Clean and Descale an Espresso Machine

A clean machine makes sweeter coffee. Old coffee oils turn bitter and stale, and mineral scale quietly slows your machine and cools your brew. The good news is that a little regular care takes only minutes, and there's something satisfying about a gleaming machine on a Sunday morning.

Cleaning vs descaling

Your daily habits (two minutes)

1. Purge and wipe the steam wand straight after steaming, while milk is easy to remove.
2. Knock out the puck and rinse the portafilter and basket.
3. Run a little water through the group head to rinse off loose grounds.
4. Empty the drip tray and wipe the counter. Done.

Running a cleaning cycle

Follow your machine's manual, because steps differ between models. On many Breville machines, such as the Barista Express, a "Clean Me" light tells you a cycle is due, and you place a cleaning disc and a tablet in the basket before starting it. Breville's own cleaning tablets are made for its machines.

Descaling, gently

1. Check your manual for your machine's descale program and any recommended descaler.
2. Mix the descaler with water as the bottle directs. Urnex Liquid Dezcal is made for coffee makers, espresso machines and kettles.
3. Run the descale program (or the steps in your manual).
4. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water, as your manual directs, so no descaler is left behind.

Water makes a difference

Hard water leaves scale faster. Filtered or softened water means less descaling and often better-tasting coffee. Many machines, including the Barista Express, use a water filter; replace it as your manual recommends.

Don't forget the grinder and brewers

Brush out grinder burrs every few weeks, and descale drip brewers like the Moccamaster and kettles too. They all appreciate a little care.

Make it a ritual: choose one regular morning, like the first Sunday of the month, for a cleaning cycle. Put on some music, and enjoy the fresh first shot afterwards.