Elevate your Espresso Craft: Why Backflushing is Crucial for Coffee Connoisseurs!
Has it been a while since you cleaned your espresso machine? Or have you never cleaned your espresso machine? Then, you are at the right place. Backflushing is a simple yet crucial step in maintaining your espresso machine so that it is able to make the perfect shot of coffee every single time.
Importance
The main reason to backflush the espresso machine is to remove any unwanted coffee ground or coffee oil accumulation in the group head of the coffee machine. This routine ensures the longevity and optimal performance of your machine, guaranteeing that each shot of espresso is a masterpiece.
Things you need
Blind basket, espresso machine cleaning powder.
How often should I backflush my machine?
Home espresso machine users should look to backflush their machines every week while cafes and commercial espresso machine users are encouraged to backflush their machine everyday as part of their end of day operations. This is because cafes serve a bigger volume of cups per day and there will be more build up of coffee grounds and oils in the machine.
How to backflush your espresso machine?
- Firstly, remove the portafilter from the espresso machine. Make sure that the portafilter is empty, dry and clean.
- Remove the existing basket from the portafilter and insert the blind basket into the portafilter. The blind basket is a basket with no holes and ensures that the water flowing to the portafilter is pushed back into the espresso machine and cleans the machine.
- The next step is to add the espresso machine cleaning powder into the blind basket. The cleaning powder can come in single use packets or a tub. Nevertheless, add the amount of cleaning powder based on the quantity recommended.
- Next, secure back the portafilter into the espresso machine until it is tightly locked.
- The backflushing starts by initiating the brewing process as you would with normal coffee. But, there will be no water flowing through the portafilter since the blind basket is attached. Hence, the water flows back into the group head and the machine and cleans the machine using the cleaning powder. Count till 10 after starting the brewing process.
- After 10 seconds, stop the brewing process. The coffee ground and oils can be seen flushing out from the drain of the coffee machine. Repeat the 10 seconds on/off process 5 times.
- Remove the portafilter from the machine. Make sure to rinse the portafilter clean after backflushing.
- Repeat the 10 seconds on/off process, but this time without the cleaning powder but just water. This process is done so that any leftover cleaning powder in the machine can be washed out. Repeat the procedure 5 times.
Below images show the before and after of the group head:
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Watch the video below to find out more!