Coffee brewing produces an oily residue. Think about a glass coffee pot. You can start to see a buildup on the pot after just a few uses, even if you rinse it out every time. Your espresso machine is the same except the build up isn't always visible. The places the oil build up are sometimes no bigger than the head of a pin. The little holes in the screen above where the espresso is brewed and the valve can clog up to the point that very little or no water will come out.

Cleaning your machine is simple but it needs to be done every day. If you are in a very busy location, you might need to clean twice a day. There are basically four types of commercial espresso machines.

1. Manual - this is the machine with the big lever that you pull down. You get a workout just brewing a single shot.

2. Semi-Automatic - these machines have a button or switch that you press to start the brew then press again to stop the brew.

3. Automatic - these machines have preset buttons (usually 5) or a switch that can be turned to produce the amount of water that is forced through the espresso.

4. Super Automatic - these machines do it all. Super Automatic machines grind the beans, brew and froth milk by the push of one button. Some even have an optional steam wand.

Cleaning each of the four types of espresso machines is different with the exception of the steam wand. Steam wands are made of a chrome covered metal and need to be wiped down after every drink with a wet towel. It takes just seconds but if you don't do this each time, the milk will begin to build up. The most common mistake we see as technicians is that the barista will use a green scrubber pad on the steam wand. It won't take long for the chrome to begin to come off exposing the metal underneath. Most health departments will make you replace a steam wand that doesn't have the chrome intact so use a wet towel and avoid a costly repair.

The manual, semi-automatic and automatic machines all have porta-filters. A porta-filter is the item with the handle and a basket that you put the coffee into to brew. Porta-filters need to be treated with care. Don't knock the coffee out on anything other than a rubber covered knock box bar. Denting the basket can lead to leaks while brewing. Don't hit the handle on anything, rather hit the basket only on a knock box bar. If the coffee doesn't freely fall out after a few hits, use a plastic spoon to gently coax it out. Never use a metal knife as you will damage the basket.

Everytime you brew an espresso, knock the coffee grounds out of the porta-filter immediately, rinse the porta-filter with hot water from the group head and replace it loosely on the machine, empty. Do not leave coffee grounds in the porta-filter. This bakes in the oils and causes needless service calls. The porta-filter needs to maintain the same temperature as the machine in order to brew a good espresso. Never put the porta-filter on top of the machine. The top of the machine usually has vent holes and if the porta-filter has any residual coffee or water on it, it will go through the vent holes and possible do damage to the electronics.

Once a week remove the porta-filters from the machine, remove the baskets and put the baskets and the porta-filters in a pan with the handles sticking straight up. Fill the pan with hot water, below the level of the handles and add two - three teaspoons of Clean Express cleaner. Don't let the plastic handle get in the cleaning solution or you will be buying a new handle soon. Let this soak overnight. Rinse very well, replace baskets in porta filters and put back on the machine.

Cleaning a manual machine is much different than a semi automatic or automatic. The manual machine works off of pressure built up when the lever is pulled. To clean this machine daily you take the porta filter off then you pull the lever down and let the water flow out of the group head to clean any grounds out. Wipe down the machine and replace the porta filters.

To clean a semi-automatic or automatic espresso machine follow these easy steps every night:

DO NOT LEAVE THE MACHINE UNATTENDED DURING THE CLEANING PROCESS!

Step 1: Take brew basket out of your porta filter and insert the blank cleaning basket (the one without any holes).

Step 2: Place one teaspoon of Clean Express in blank basket.

Step 3: Put porta filter on machine. Press on or continuous button and let run for 5 - 6 seconds then turn off. At this point, nothing should be coming out of the machine. Suds will be coming out of the pressure release tube.

Step 4: Let soak for no longer than 1-1/2 minutes. Get a timer or use a watch and don't let it soak longer or the soap will dry in the groups.

Step 5: Press on or continuous button and let run for 5-6 seconds then turn off.

Step 6: Let soak for no longer than 1-1/2 minutes.

Step 7: Press on or continuous button on for 3 seconds and off for 10 seconds. Continue turning off and on until water out of pressure relief valve is clear of soap residue.

Step 8: Take off porta filter and check for soap. It should be gone. If not, repeat step 7 until soap is gone.

Step 9: Dump out porta filter and put back on machine loosely. With machine running, gently rock porta filter left and right (not so far that it falls off) to clean gasket surface. Water will flow all over the outside of the porta filter. Continue until the water flows clear. Take off the porta filter while machine is still running and let run for 5 - 10 seconds to make sure that all of the soap is rinsed out of the machine.

Step 10: Repeat on all groups.

Follow these cleaning instructions on a regular basis you will have fewer service calls and better tasting coffee.

Please visit Alfaroo Trading Company to purchase espresso machines, cleaners and supplies.