Cleaning Miss Silvia

[csutak40]

Well, I finally got around to ordering from Coffee Parts. :P I have got a daily cleaning routine, but havent backflushed yet, nor have I taken anything apart.

So, while Im waiting for its arrival, decided to do some advance reading.

As a rehearsal, decided to try to remove the shower screen. Had a good look: I have a hexagonal screw head – goodie. How to remove it? I have lots of tools, but very little idea how to use them. : The tools are basically here for those occasions when a visitor says, I could fix that for you, if I had my drill, etc. with me. So, I can say, I have one of those! ;D Anyway, I have this screwdriver set, that has a whole set of sockets of different sizes (well, I now know they are sockets, never knew what they were before :-[). Even found one that fitted over the screw head, but how to turn it? I tried with a rubber mat (that I use to unscrew tight things) no go. Tried with a wrench over the rubber mat, nope! So, down to the hardware shop I went. There is such a thing as a “socket ratchet handle”!

Took me a while to figure it out (you have to change the setting on its back from tightening to loosening) but, success! Gosh, it is dirty in there!

I then (having read here that it is removable) decided to use my new gadget (with a different size socket) and remove the end of the frother wand. Turned out, what I thought was a pristine wand, wasnt!

When I went to the hardware shop, I took the portafilter with me, because, according to what Ive read, one is supposed to remove the handle and the spout, before soaking it. I couldnt budge either. Neither could the guy in the hardware shop! He did offer to try with some machine but warned that he wont be responsible if it breaks, which it probably would. He thought the spout was welded on. Having read that lots of people swap it for a single spout, Im sure it wouldnt be, but how would you remove it?

Another qestion. How often should one take Rocky apart? Thats another scary prospect! :Pe

[mbg963]

Re: Cleaning Miss Sivia

Does the portafiller need to be pulled apart ? I wouldnt have thought youd need to do that provided a good clean was carried out after use - same for the steam wand tip. I have a great ability for pulling apart machinery and not much success in putting it back in the same working order so Id be hesitant to mess with them

[TC]

Re: Claning Miss Sivia

Judy- simply remove the basket form the portafilter and soak vertically (keep the handle out if possible) in backwash solution- it will do the job. No need to remove the spout.....We will cover full cleaning routine when I catch you at the academy...

Chris

[robusto]

Re: Claning Miss Sivia

Second all that. I dont know whos been suggesting the portafilter spout and handle need removing -- totally unnecessary, and you will not be able to align the spout to the original position without a washer.

If you dont have coffee cleaner, a good scrub of the inside of the portafilter with those sponges which have a scourer will do the job.

When replacing the shower screen bolt -- dont overtighten. Finger tight will do the job. Even a little force will make it next to impossible to remove next time.

Robusto

[robusto]

Re: Claning Miss Sivia

Just a tip on the steam tip ..... After steaming milk (and having wiped the wand immediately in the two seconds it takes for milk to bake on it), clean out the jug with water, leave some in there and bring it back under the wand. Blow out any milk clinging to its interior.

Similarly, flush through the shower screen to remove dregs while they are still pliable.


Theres nothing like a powerful blast of super-heated steam to do the cleaning for you.

Robusto

[csutak40]

Re: Claning Miss Sivia

Second all that. I dont know whos been suggesting the portafilter spout and handle need removing -- totally unnecessary, and you will not be able to align the spout  to the original position without a washer.

http://home.surewest.net/frcn/Coffee...Backflush.html

If you dont have coffee cleaner, a good scrub of the inside of the portafilter with those sponges which have a scourer will do the job.

I have been doing that - coffee cleaner is now in the post  

When replacing the shower screen bolt -- dont overtighten. Finger tight will do the job. Even a little force will make it next to impossible to remove next time.

It was on pretty tight, and I didnt tighten it much this time.

[csutak40]

Re: Claning Miss Sivia

Just a tip on the steam tip ..... After steaming milk (and having wiped the wand immediately in the two seconds it takes for milk to bake on it), clean out the jug with water, leave some in there and bring it back under the wand. Blow out any milk clinging to its interior.

Similarly,  flush through the shower screen to remove dregs while they are still pliable.


Theres nothing like a powerful blast of super-heated  steam to do the cleaning for you.

Robusto

I have been doing all of the above, which is why I was surprised to find baked on milk under the screwed on part of the wand.  Also lots of black stuff on the inside of the shower screen

[TC]

Re: Claning Miss Sivia

Just a tip on the steam tip ..... After steaming milk (and having wiped the wand immediately in the two seconds it takes for milk to bake on it), clean out the jug with water, leave some in there and bring it back under the wand. Blow out any milk clinging to its interior.

Similarly,  flush through the shower screen to remove dregs while they are still pliable.


Theres nothing like a powerful blast of super-heated  steam to do the cleaning for you.

Robusto

I have been doing all of the above, which is why I was surprised to find baked on milk under the screwed on part of the wand.  Also lots of black stuff on the inside of the shower screen

Not surprising at all Judy- coffee contains oils and no amount of flushing of the group head with water or low pressure steam will remove them- which is why you need to backflush with cleaning solution (as we all do in retail). We do it every day but Id suggest once a week for domestic. Keep the pulses a little briefer with a vibe pump...

Chris

[csutak40]

Re: Cleaning Miss Sivia

Keep the pulses a little briefer with a vibe pump...

:-? Translation, please :-? ;D Still waiting for my parcel from Coffe Parts, so I havent backflushed yet.

[robusto]

Re: Claning Miss Sivia

That link to the surewest page, Judy..... dont take everything you see on the internet as gospel.

When backflushing, keeping the pulses brief means press the brew switch for a fraction of a second, release, repeat, release, repeat etc.

Do not allow the pump to be on for more than that fraction each time otherwise tremendous pressure is exerted on the internals.

If you first remove the drip tray cover, you will see the backflushed squirts. Once you see it switch on momentarily again and keep repeating, using the squirts as a visual cue.

Robusto