Cleaning agents

[t30sxh]

Right cut a long story short...I have recommended a friend of mine (and owner of my old Krups) to buy some Cafetto to clean his machine.

Hes spoken to someone who services coffee appliances and he was told that cafetto is a rip off and all it is is a mild citric acid, which he can get from a supermarket, and hes now feeling sore because he now feels cheated paying $20 for some Cafetto... The service guy also recommended he soak his pressurised basket in a 1/6 solution of diluted White King bleach.

It all sounds a bit suss to me, for one I wouldnt feel comfortable with having bleach in my filter basket...even after a good rinsing.
Secondly, Cafetto must be more than just citric acid yeah? Can anyone help provide some answers on why he should be using/buying cafetto rather than citric acid?

[TC]

Re: Cleaning agents

Right cut a long story short...I have recommended a friend of mine (and owner of my old Krups) to buy some Cafetto to clean his machine.

Hes spoken to someone who services coffee appliances and he was told that cafetto is a rip off and all it is is a mild citric acid, which he can get from a supermarket, and hes now feeling sore because he now feels cheated paying $20 for some Cafetto...  The service guy also recommended he soak his pressurised basket in a 1/6 solution of diluted White King bleach.

It all sounds a bit suss to me, for one I wouldnt feel comfortable with having bleach in my filter basket...even after a good rinsing.  
Secondly, Cafetto must be more than just citric acid yeah?  Can anyone help provide some answers on why he should be using/buying cafetto rather than citric acid?

erm...because its designed for the purpose and its not just citric acid... :-?

He spent hundreds or thousands on a machine and yet is looking to save what, $10??

As for the service tech, Id be suggesting he stick to washing shirts and making jam :

2mcm

[flynnaus]

Re: Cleaning agents

he was told that cafetto is a rip off and all it is is a mild citric acid,

Utter garbage, to put it mildly. Perhaps the Descaling tablets have some citric acid but, from what I understand, Cafetto Espresso machine cleaner is made of of baking soda + detergent. If you add it to water, it will froth like you expect from a detergent; citric acid doesnt. I also use a small amount of Cafetto for cleaning pots/pans where the food has become cooked on.

I dont know about soaking in bleach. As you say, sounds suss.

[t30sxh]

Re: Cleaning agents

yes, but what about it makes it designed for its purpose?

I use it on my Silvia and wouldnt consider putting anything in a cleaning agent that wasnt expressly made or proven to work with espresso makers.

I wouldnt trust the tech either...he had never heard of a krups unpressurised basket before.

[flynnaus]

Re: Cleaning agents

wouldnt consider putting anything in a cleaning agent that wasnt expressly made or proven to work with espresso makers.

From the Caefetto website:
Cafetto Espresso Clean has been tested by NSF and complies with its protocol to guarantee it is safe to your customers and your machine.

Ill vouch for its effectiveness. Can almost be a little too harsh as it can strip the lubricant from the E-61 group head mechanisms if you use the recommended amounts.

[jkarlis]

Re: Cleaning agents

Its 20 years since I did year 12 chemistry but I believe bleach is a strong oxidising agent therefore its not a good idea to use on metal. A 1 in 6 dilution is still quite strong.

I think Cafetto is reasonably priced, especially if you buy it in the larger size containers.

Whats the cost of a replacement basket, or more importantly, a new machine?

[Thundergod]

Re: Cleaning agents

I think Cafetto is reasonably priced, especially if you buy it in the larger size containers.

Agreed.
I still havent gotten to the bottom of the 500g tub I bought almost 3 years ago.

@SteveH - just tell him Coffee Snobs said so.

[Dimal]

Re: Cleaning agents

Cafetto must be more than just citric acid yeah? Can anyone help provide some answers on why he should be using/buying cafetto rather than citric acid?

Well, it depends... Cafetto manufacture a range of specialist coffee cleaning products for very specific jobs. I dont pretend to know exactly what constituents are in each product but if one or two do contain Citric Acid, they would be specifically for De-Scaling the internals of the Boiler, etc and not just cleaning.

he was told that cafetto is a rip off and all it is is a mild citric acid, which he can get from a supermarket

Talking about regular Cafetto, I have only just now cracked open a new tub. The previous 500g tub was purchased about 5-6 years ago so if thats not great value, I dont know what is?

The service guy also recommended he soak his pressurised basket in a 1/6 solution of diluted White King bleach.

This so-called espresso Tech guy, sounds like a real hazard. I wouldnt be allowing him/her to touch any of my equipment and as far as the advice is concerned, well - you know where that belongs.... [smiley=thumbdown.gif]

Mal.

[coffee_snob]

Re: Cleaning agents

How much would 500g of Citric Acid cost? i have never bought it.

i use cafetto since i got my silvia and find it great

[maheel]

Re: Cleaning agents

Hes spoken to someone who services coffee appliances and he was told that cafetto is a rip off and all it is is a mild citric acid, which he can get from a supermarket, and hes now feeling sore because he now feels cheated paying $20 for some Cafetto...  The service guy also recommended he soak his pressurised basket in a 1/6 solution of diluted White King bleach.

maybe he has been servicing this machine ?
this was actually blocked its the fill level glass tube lower boiler and i had to "screw" through it with a metal scewer a fair bit 7mm odd deep this scale is

thats an 9mm hole you looking at (pipe)


i think it could have done with some descaler...... its going to get some very soon

[maheel]

Re: Cleaning agents

How much would 500g of Citric Acid cost? i have never bought it.

about $10 - 12 at woolies

[vasanna]

Re: Cleaning agents

aybe he has been servicing this machine ?
this was actually blocked its the fill level glass tube lower boiler and i had to "screw" through it with a metal scewer a fair bit 7mm odd deep this scale is

thats an 9mm hole you looking at (pipe)

Mahee.l i feel very sick now.... did someone report this owner/abuser of the machine to the RSPCCA...
ROYAL
SOCIETY
PREVETION
CRUELTY
COFFEE
APPLIANCES

THEY SHOULD HAVE...LOL.. > ;D


HAPPY SIPPIN v

[A_M]

Re: Cleaning agents

SteveH wrote on Today at 12:53:
The service guy also recommended he soak his pressurised basket in a 1/6 solution of diluted White King bleach.

This so-called espresso Tech guy, sounds like a real hazard. I wouldnt be allowing him/her to touch any of my equipment and as far as the advice is concerned, well - you know where that belongs....

Problem is that there are lots of these Experienced and Trusted tecs out there....

I do not even bother trying to explain it any more... Some are willing to listen .. Great. Those that have blinkers on... Well I step side ways and try my best to get out of their way.

[Dimal]

Re: Cleaning agents

Know the feeling AM.... :-/

Mal.

[coffee_snob]

Re: Cleaning agents

I was one with those blinkers but now i care about my machine instead of wanting to kill it like my old one.
i know where Mal and AM are coming from.

and thanks Maheel for that post, thats 3 bucks more i payed for cafetto 1kg so it works out cheaper!