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I guess, like all things requiring maintenance, there is going to be scope for a wide variability of application dependent on how the machine is used, how often, the design of the machine, other maintenance measures being used.... And lots more.
Best thing to do really, is adopt an over-maintenance strategy early on; check the efficacy by inspecting all components potentially impacted by contamination. If inspection reveals no problems, stretch the maintenance interval period out by some nominal amount and keep repeating, until you notice signs of coffee oil(s)/detritus retention that werent there before. Go back to the previous maintenance interval period and if inspections are clear, then this is the interval period for you and your machine. If a substantial change in the usage pattern occurs, then you may need to update the maintenance interval period accordingly.
For me, this works out to be weekly, hence my recommendation for a single group machine being used 1-2 sessions daily, and switched off between sessions.
Wow, it looks like there is a very diverse range of opinions on optimal intervals between backflushing.
I guess I will continue doing what I am doing, as it seems to me to give me my best taste. I may try reducing the amount of cafetto used though and see if there is a difference.
I must admit that I looked at this a long time ago and was sure that someone with considerable experience told me that too much backflushing was worse than too little (ie particularly if the cleaning process is sufficient to keep the 3 way working properly and with regular mechanical cleaning behind the shower screen and of the dispersal block - it wasnt the cost of the detergent because its cheap, but rather the corrossive effects I was concerned about). The consensus now seems clearly to be the more the merrier, so I will go to once per week. Interestingly with my regime when I pull off the screens I see a pretty clean set up - I also never taste rancid coffee or bitterness. I always clean the screen with the still Palo brush after each shot whilst running a cup of water through, and then do a water backflush.
My understanding is that the lever has a small amount of food grade lubricant in there. When the coffee residue joins in, the lever gets progressivley looser. I went too long before a backflush when I first got my machine and found that it got so loose that the lever would jump out of the top position during a shot.
When I backflush mine, I get the same tightening up of the lever, but I figure it is all OK unless it actually feels like metal on metal, and then its time to take it apart and apply some grease (or appropriate product).
I found on e61 that it makes the lever very "sticky" for about the first 5 shots afterwards. Not sure if that is doing damage, but it doesnt feel quite right. On my rancilio I would not be concerned flushing however often I like.
Originally posted by Mal link=1227410944/20#36 date=1227690736
Absolutely JB.... Fully support what Luca has written above too and experienced a similar outcome with one of my machines.
Considering how cheap Espresso Clean is and how little time it takes, coupled with the guarantee that your coffee wont be tainted with rancid oils and tar, why on earth wouldnt you do it at least once a week? Doesnt matter how many shots you pull per day, its all part of the maintenance of your much loved hardware and its ability to keep pulling excellent coffee.
Its all about the quality of whats in your cup, nothing else really matters and for mine, I dont want anything interfering with that.....
Mal.
I agree, however I had read elsewhere that overuse of chemical cleaner could damage your machine, and I wouldnt want to do that. Maybe that information is incorrect though.....
Absolutely JB.... Fully support what Luca has written above too and experienced a similar outcome with one of my machines.
Considering how cheap Espresso Clean is and how little time it takes, coupled with the guarantee that your coffee wont be tainted with rancid oils and tar, why on earth wouldnt you do it at least once a week? Doesnt matter how many shots you pull per day, its all part of the maintenance of your much loved hardware and its ability to keep pulling excellent coffee.
Its all about the quality of whats in your cup, nothing else really matters and for mine, I dont want anything interfering with that.....
Coffee "oils" dont have any lubrication qualities...... other than for the coffee consumers tongue! ;D
In the coffee machine they rapidly oxidise and form a tar like substance.... which gums things up..... and will eventually cause the 3 way to stick.... All it really needs is water to lubricate the seals.
I dont believe over chemical flushing will do any harm (other than very minor damage to your bank balance).... but infrequent chemical backflushing will taint your coffee and eventually gum up your machine...
And because degradation in the taste is gradual.... you might not notice it as much as someone who hasnt had their taste buds slowly skewed by rancid coffee oils (like a visitor)... By the time you taste the off flavour..... it is probably too late! A better test would be to compare the taste before and after backflushing..... and if it tastes better after - you have waited too long :P
Far better to err on the side of overuse than under use.....
There are a lot of variables as to how often you should do a cleaning regime. The design of the machine, how you use it, and how often you use it also contribute to the possible answer.
I try not to use detergent too often with the E-61 machine because it is hard on the internal moving parts of the brewhead. On the Silvia I used detergent more often because the 3-way passages are quite small and can become clogged more easily (or at least thats the way it seemed to me). .
If you tend to updose and often get coffee all over the shower screen you probably need to clean more frequently. If you make two or three doubles a day, then cleaning with detergent once every two weeks is probably sufficient.
backflushing with detergent is more effective for cleaning the parts you cannot access easily. It is not a replacement for removing the shower screen to clean the screen and brewhead areas. Just because you washed your hair in the shower does not mean that your underarms got cleaned.
For those in need, I have instructions on removing the E-61 screen posted on my website in the How-To area. They include a simple animation and details that make it easy as well as getting it done without destroying the screen.
To work out the frequency of detergent back flushing use your senses. If you can taste it and / or see it stripping the crema then you should flush more frequently.
Flushing (or backflushing) with plain water will help too - if done immediately after finishing a round of shots. It leaves a little less residue to bake on.
Also the detergent back flush doesnt remove all the residue - just the easier to remove residue which would find its way into the brew.
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