We are sure of two things: in the pantries of Italians there is never a shortage of pasta or coffee. Today we are talking about the latter, however, and how the moka , despite being still an object of common use and that almost everyone has at least in duplicate at home, is slowly being supplanted by the coffee machine . It is liked from North to South, and everyone is able to appreciate its ability to make excellent quality coffee by simply inserting a pod in a special compartment.
The coffee machine is comfortable, fast, practical and takes away that whim without forcing yourself to the mocha ritual, however pleasant it is. However, like any kitchen utensil, the machine needs ordinary and extraordinary cleaning. In this guide, therefore, we deal with how the home coffee machine should be cleaned periodically, so as to keep the quality of the coffee high and, at the same time, the hygiene and cleaning standards. Good maintenance extends the life of this expensive tool!
The home coffee machine lets you savor the taste of a coffee not unlike that of the bar, creamy and perfect, with an always impeccable aroma. Whether it works with ground coffee or pods , this appliance needs two essential jobs, to be performed periodically:
- cleaning , the most frequent;
- descaling , important and to be carried out also taking into account the hardness of the water in the house.
Like any tool, the coffee maker deteriorates over time, but you can slow the inevitable decay by cleaning thoroughly and maintaining high standards of hygiene, so that the electronic mechanisms inside it do not jam. Furthermore, a healthy cleaning prevents the proliferation of bacteria, especially in those machines where the wet ground is deposited (which tends to mold at surprising speed). Removing limescale from the coffee machine
Let’s say you bought your new coffee machine 2-3 months agoand feel the need to give it a good clean from the inside. Before you start taking it apart, you should take a look at the manufacturer’s instructions. There is no single and univocal way to clean coffee machines: each one has its own, and therefore always keep the instruction booklet. Sometimes you will be told that the machine has some separately purchased devices that can descale and clean. Other times, you will be offered interesting strategies to clean it without resorting to polluting chemicals. Descale the coffee makerand a very important operation, especially if we use particularly hard tap water. Of those that when you pour it into a glass it appears a little white, or calcareous. The first advice we can give you to better clean the coffee machine, therefore, is prevention . Whenever possible, use still bottled water, or tap water only when it’s really good. The risk is to clog the mechanism too quickly! To descale the machine , put a solution like this in the water tank:
- 2/3 water;
- 1/3 white vinegar.
At this point turn it on and let it start without pod, letting the water run for a while. This internal cleaning decongests the passageways of hot water, reopening them completely to bring the machine back to the state of the art. Don’t be scared if the water that comes out is whitish: it simply means that it is working! When the water becomes transparent – even after 3-4 “coffees” – it will be clean. After carrying out this operation, wash the tray well and let it go empty with only water , so as to remove the vinegar residues that could contaminate the next coffees. Vinegar, especially white vinegar, is a powerful disinfectant and has an action that dissolves limescale when mixed with hot water. How often the machine must be descaled
It depends on the water in the house. However, experts tend to recommend performing this operation at least once a month. How to clean the rest of the coffee machine
Each coffee machine is unique, but the basic principle is similar for all of them. It is important to remember to regularly clean all parts of the machine, such as the water tank, the filter, the cup holder base and, if possible, the milk tank. All the parts that can be disassembled can also be washed with water and detergent. Always avoid the dishwasher , except when the instructions tell you it is safe to use it for small components not connected to electricity.
