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Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

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  • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

    Originally posted by chris002200 link=1171544498/105#119 date=1174029820
    With regards to cleaning regimes etc I am a firm believer that all equipment should be left in a clean as possible state.  After attending a coffee appreciation course run by sunbeam and also doing an advanced espresso course, 1 thing to come out of the sessions were that cleaning is a big part in the taste of coffee and performance of the machine.

    There is no harm in "over cleaning" but is in under cleaning.

    Descale:    every 6 months.
    Showerscreen:   weekly
    Portafilters & baskets:   End of every session
    Backflushing chemical:   End of every day
    Guys

    I just attended the sunbeam appreciation course yesterday and the instructors recommend doing backflushing with water at the end of each coffee making session. Unfortunately this was demonstrated at the end when everyone is in a hurry to go, and I did not get to practice this so I cant quite remember what was done. So please bear with me.

    All I remembered was the instructor placing the rubber disk with a hole into the PF, then they were using the manual button, and if memory serves me right, their routine was to do it 5-6 times but I cant remember if it was for 10 seconds or 1 minute each time. Is this correct? I dont want to damage the machine by doing the wrong thing.

    When I used the sunbeam rubber disk, the pressure gauges seems to stay on the lower half of the yellow portion. I changed over to a rubber blind disk (without a hole) and this time the pressure gauge goes into the red. How long should I leave in the "red" zone for, 10 seconds or 1 minute each time? By the time I got to the fifth and sixth time, the pressure is right at the extreme red, this is not causing the machine harm I hope?

    With the showerscreen, I take it I should be removing it for a thorough clean? Someone mention something about the group seal coming off if not removed properly. Is there any tips for removing it.

    Is it also worth investing in a metal blind filters?

    I will need to do the chemical backflush sooner or later. From reading through 10 pages of this thread, I guess the best value cleaning agent is the 1Kg Cafetto cleaning agent. I rather get all the stuff I need from one go, can someone suggest any other items that I should also buy while I am at it? I noticed coffee parts also have descalers and milk froth cleaners. Should I bother with this? If so, which ones? Any discount for forum members?

    I dont know how much postage will be. If it is not economical, then I will have to buy locally in Perth. Any suggestions from local perth forum members?

    Appreciate all your help

    Stephen

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    • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

      i find it is hard to clean the steam tip~~~

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      • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

        I do a back flush after every session... I usually just wait til the gauge hits past half way and stop.. youll hear the flushing doing into the drip tray. All you want to do is flush fresh water through... having it "choke" for 10 secs does nothing but choke.. unless you are using a cleaner or tablet... but in this case, you use the cleaning cycle.

        Comment


        • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

          I do a back flush after every session... I usually just wait til the gauge hits past half way and stop.. youll hear the flushing doing into the drip tray
          ?

          Used the rubber disk to clean mine today....just with water. but there was no water going in the drip tray ... it just flowed through the GH, guage was about 1/2 way or less. First time Ive done this, maybe I did it wrong.
          Anyone else use polident tabs as someone suggested?

          Also took the black plastic thingy out ... woo hoo. I dont need to worry whats under there now! Thanks for that tip.

          Comment


          • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

            It should have water flush out from the spout of the drip tray. This indicate the 3 way valves is working~~~Maybe u should ask sunbeam about it~~~Im not sure~~~Yesterday, when i did back flushing, the guage was about 1/2 way as well. But this is becos Ive got water leak out from the spout. Thats y it cant build up the pressure. I had a tried this morning, and is working. But there are steam coming out from the spout. I dont know whats wrong but Im happy with it~~~

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            • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

              I also took out the black Thingy Thing from the PF today. Thanks for the tip. No coffee build up for me thanks, Im on a diet.

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              • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

                There is a small hole in the Sunbeam provided rubber blind filter disk. When you use it and the pressure gauge moves dead centre, the Sunbeam is spot on.

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                • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

                  Originally posted by Sparky link=1171544498/0#10 date=1171934146
                  I missed the sodium percarbonate. This is an oxygen bleach, good at removing coffee oils and residue. Its the active ingredient in most back flushing chemicals as well as napisan.
                  It seems that sodium percarbonate breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate in water solution.

                  Would it be cheaper just to "peroxide" your machine. The only problem is that hydrogen peroxide solution breaks down spontaneously so it cannot be store for prolonged periods of time (year 12 chemistry).

                  Comment


                  • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

                    Originally posted by D-Caffa-nite link=1171544498/150#157 date=1205539975
                    Originally posted by Sparky link=1171544498/0#10 date=1171934146
                    I missed the sodium percarbonate. This is an oxygen bleach, good at removing coffee oils and residue. Its the active ingredient in most back flushing chemicals as well as napisan.
                    It seems that sodium percarbonate breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate in water solution.

                    Would it be cheaper just to "peroxide" your machine.  The only problem is that hydrogen peroxide solution breaks down spontaneously so it cannot be store for prolonged periods of time (year 12 chemistry).
                    :-? 500g of Cafetto or similar is about $20. Id rather get stuff which has been tested and works at the correct concentration??

                    Likewise with descaler. Use only citric acid and you can move scale in big plaques- which then block something else. These need to be dissolved. Thats why the companies have chemists to work on their products.

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                    • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

                      I knew there was something else I had to do with my machine other than drink its devine nectar.

                      I was really hoping to forget about it for a bit longer though.  :

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                      • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

                        how often should you descale the machine?

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                        • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

                          Depends where you live and if you filter your water. Twice a year in Sydney with filtered water seems about right.

                          Comment


                          • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

                            Originally posted by Ibbs link=1171544498/160#160 date=1228266199
                            how often should you descale the machine?
                            There is a number of post on this.. and you need to do the reading and provide more info.

                            There are some interesting comments here http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1225341932/25#25

                            However you will find that others have also found the WA has the worse water, followed by SA and then the others etc.

                            Thus location and use will have an impact... As FIX implies... the lack of cleaning is a big issue.

                            Comment


                            • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

                              Ive posted my issue regarding poor steaming in another and thought Id post here as well because its such a hot topic and may get a quicker reply.

                              My steam has been insipid and poor lately. It takes forever to heat milk! After reading through here though I pretty much assume its to do with scale build up. Had my machine for a couple of years now and never descaled until now...I know!!! Not the best thing for my machine given that its been used with Adelaide water. I think my lesson has been learned now.

                              I descaled using a Sunbeam Steam Iron descaler and assume that its the same, if not very similar to what theyd suggest for their Coffee machines. Anyone had any experience with the Steam Iron Descaler? My EM6910 Instruction book said use 1cap of descaler to 1.5L of water and then follow the descaling process. I used 3 capfuls thinking my machine would be super calcified.

                              Now heres another thing. Whats the problem with running descaler through the steam wand? Will I forever turn my milk green with residue because you cant flush the wand properly? The other thread i posted in re my steam issue is here:

                              http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1227619272

                              Toad has managed to get his steam up and running again by putting descaler through the steam wand. Obviously it worked for him. I reckon Ill give it a go and see how it goes. Any tips before I do though?

                              Cheers

                              Saambo

                              Comment


                              • Re: Cleaning a Sunbeam EM6910

                                Saambo,

                                Firstly, I wouldnt use the iron descaler, it may be stronger than the coffee descaler and might use harmful chemicals. The coffee ones tend not to kill you so quickly if you ingest them.

                                The reason they say not to put descaler through the steam wand is that it can get blocked with flakes of scale.

                                Personally, I would be taking it to sunbeam for a service. You could do more harm than good. and unless this is your way of justifying an upgrade right before Christmas, you might want to err on the side of caution.

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