How to Backflush your Espresso Machine

[joeldamianicigan]

Very nice instructional video! 

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@joeldamianicigan Thanks!

[WhoIsIshYambot]

hello! just wondering. i just bought a delonghi ec702, and i want to know how to clean it. does backflushing work with it?

im not quite sure becuase the manual is too vague with the whole cleaning process. im not quite sure how to clean it daily since it doesnt have a 3 way valve

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@WhoIsIshYambot We don't have this specific machine, but DeLonghis in general do not have a solenoid valve and, therefore, do not require backflushing. - Kat

[robocomp]

Thanks for a pretty nice video )

do you have any idea where can I find some info about how to clean bosch tca 5201 espresso machine. It's not professional. it's for home use and it stopped producing coffee )

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@robocomp Sorry, no :( We have never carried this model so aren't familiar with its cleaning / maintenance needs. - Kat

[krssnoop]

@SeattleCoffeeGear oh I see, love the vids thanks for sharing your knowledge :D

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@krssnoop Great to hear - thank you :) - Kat

[krssnoop]

holly sh!t that dirty mine is never like that, but I backflush without powder after every coffee and backflush with powder once a week.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@krssnoop Yeah, we also pull about 40 shots a day on ours on average and didn't backflush for a few days on purpose so that this would be a good demonstration. - Kat

[robotmotor]

thanks kat for the help but please tell me how i can clean my brivelle espresso machine she dont have Backflush

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@robotmotor All you'll need to do is clean around the brew group, the portafilter and baskets -- check to see if you can remove the filter screen in the brew head and clean up behind that (not sure on these machines if that's possible). Other than that, descaling. That's pretty much it - Kat

[robotmotor]

@SeattleCoffeeGear yes i clean around the brew every day i see little old cofee in the Kleenex every day after one mounth of use my breville i open the screw and remove the screen i found old coffee !! and clen it but its not easy same backflush :/

thanks kat

[williamsalaska]

Cool thank you really helped me out.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@williamsalaska Awesome! Glad we could help. - Kat

[92benjy]

If I do this on a silvia v3 where will the water come out.? Or you could maybe show us with another video but on the silvia - there fab(the videos), thanks kat

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@92benjy We will do one - have had a few requests for a Silvia-specific video. You can't see the release valve on the Silvia, but if you remove the drip tray grate, you'll see the water come out behind the back panel and release into the drip dray. - Kat

[GirlPaint]

I have Europiccola. Do they need to be backflushed?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@GirlPaint Nope; they do not have a three-way brew pressure release/solenoid valve, so you don't need to do this maintenance on them. - Kat

[GirlPaint]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Thanks, Kat!

[idlehands28]

Can you backflush non-professional machines like Saeco Via Veneto?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@idlehands28 You only backflush machines that have a 3-way solenoid/brew pressure release valve. Non-professional machines have these as well, but the Via Veneto does not. Let me know if you have any other questions - Kat

[sherryB89]

I've owned a Silvia v.3 since late December 2009 and I haven't backflushed it. I was aware of the process but the manufactures advise against it.

After seeing this vid. I'm pretty eager to backflush the machine. However, because I haven't done so regularly, it could hurt the machine!

What do you suggest I do??

Thanks

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@sherryB89 Rancilio has since changed their tune on this and now recommend backflushing to care for the three-way valve system. You can follow this process, it will just take you a bit longer to get to the white/non-coffee suds. You may have to run backflush detergent through it twice, just watch how it's clearing out. Three months is not too long and you won't damage the machine if you do it correctly. - Kat

[lovelydove9]

I have an automatic Astra Mega III. We have it installed, in my home, on my back porch. Can you tell me what a 3 way solenoid valve looks like and does my machine have a 3 way valve? Am I supposed to backflush this machine?  I am clueless.....!!

Thanks!

Tara

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

Hi there - sorry, but I am not familiar with this machine. I would contact whomever you purchased it from or try to find a manual online. If you have the 3 way solenoid/release valve then you will need to backflush, but definitely confirm that you do before doing so, otherwise you will damage it. - Kat

[ethicomm]

I have a Starbucks Barista espresso machine. The steam wand no longer steams but rather, a stream of hot water is comes out. Anybody have any idea why that might be?

[sfubaby]

Tighten the end of the steam wand. It's probably too loose.

[sfubaby]

If that doesn't work, try unclogging the wand tip, if it doesn't get purged of milk after steaming, if could be clogged with milk protein. Hope that helps.

[ethicomm]

Hi, thanks for that info. I'll check it out.

[sjhoenen]

it doesnt heat up enough to turn the water over 100 degrees celsius needed to create steam instead of water.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

Have you descaled the machine regularly? If there is scale build up, the boiler can't get to the right temperature. Feel free to send me your make/model info via a message here and I can perhaps help you figure out what's up - Kat

[cipollinox]

Greetings from northern Italy, very nice work!

But, what is this 'Cafiza'? It contains tartaric acid, like other descaling products, or something other?

Thank you in advance, ciao!

:-)

[luongdung]

what if you do this on a machine without 3 way valve?

[vasiasm]

Rancilio is capable for this?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

Yes - any machine that has a 3-way release valve...sometimes called a brew pressure release or a solenoid valve. The Silvia does need to be backflushed regularly for optimal performance.

[captncaveman81]

nice machine, what kind is it? .... i want one for my house

[OhahaO]

it;s a rocket giotto or cellini

[sfubaby]

yep, we had a Giotto at my last workplace. This is the ECM Giotto.

[luongdung]

what is 3 way valve?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

We also call this a brew pressure release valve, which releases the steam pressure off the top of the coffee puck after you're done brewing. The water then drains down into the drip tray and leaves you with a dry puck.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

You don't need to do this on a machine without a valve; nothing would happen because this technique is specific to cleaning out that valve.

If you want to clean up behind the brew head screen, we recommend removing it and cleaning it that way.