Bean to Cup Coffee Machine Cleaning

Regularly cleaning your bean to cup coffee machine is the easiest way to avoid potentially costly call out fees.

Simply following the instructions given by the supplier and manufacturer of your machine could save you a lot of money in the long run and ensure that your unit continues operating at a profit.

All commercial bean to cup machines will have their own unique cleaning cycles which will need to be followed to ensure that your machine does not encounter issues during usage.

Typically, machines that use fresh ingredients will require a daily clean not matter where you use fresh coffee beans or a pre-ground option.

It’s important to do this in order to ensure that the milk pipes are clear and sterile at the end of each working day. Doing so not only helps to prevent blockages but will also allow you to meet necessary health and safety guidelines.

As well as this daily cycle, most coffee machines will prompt you to undertake a further weekly cleaning routine, doing so helps keep the brewing group and internal components in good condition.

There are also other important preventative steps that you can undertake to help improve the longevity of machines, such as descaling procedures and the installation of a water filter.

Cleaning your Bean to Cup Coffee Machine is important because…

You’ll meet strict hygiene and health and safety standards.
You’ll create great quality drinks consistently.
You’ll prolong the working life of your investment.
You’ll save money.
You’ll reduce downtime and remove unnecessary expenditure.

Cleaning Routines

Cleaning routines will vary depending on the make and model of your bean to cup machine, but generally speaking many of the cleaning cycles perform the same function.

If your coffee machine uses fresh milk, you’ll be required to clean it daily, typically at the end of each working day.

This milk flush programme takes a couple of minutes and you’ll need some recommended and machine friendly cappuccino cleaner, and some fresh water.

A series of additional flushes may well be required to fully clear the system after the cleaning process to ensure no deposits of cleaning product are left behind.

Here is an example:

Place an empty container (minimum 2 litres) under the drinks dispenser.
Add 50ml of cappuccino cleaner into a separate jug and add 1 litre of fresh, cold water.
Select the relevant cleaning cycle – For example: Milk system clean
Repeat the first three steps, but without adding the cappuccino cleaner

It’s a similar procedure for machines which solely use powdered ingredients; simply follow the instructions as prompted, use the relevant products and away you go.

Alongside a regular daily cleaning schedule, your machine is also likely to need a more thorough and regular weekly cleaning cycle, to ensure machine health.

For many bean to cup machines, such those made by Jura, Franke or Nuova Simonelli, you may need to use some specialist coffee cleaning tablets, such as our own-brand tablets, or those by Jura.

Some machines will also recommend that you remove and clean certain components such as frothing units and valves. It is important to follow manufacturer guidelines when removing and cleaning components to prevent component damage.

As well as cleaning the internal piping, coffee spout and brewing unit/group head, don’t forget to empty out and wash the drip tray and grounds drawer on a regular basis to prevent the accumulation of stale water and used coffee grounds.

Always follow manufacturer’s instructions.
Use recommended coffee machine cleaning products.
Perform cleaning routines regularly.

For detailed instructions regarding your machine we advise that you consult the manual, if you still encounter issues then contact our service team on 01977 687 580 and we will do our best to help.

Steam wand cleaning

If your bean to cup machine features a steam wand (such as the Franke Flair, Nuova Simonelli Microbar II and the Jura X9) then you should remember to clean it immediately after it has been used.

Whenever you’ve used the steam arm to froth milk, simply wipe it down with a damp cloth and then purge it (turn on the steam) to remove any milk residue.

Failing to do this could result in milk deposits that dry and seal the steam pipe, causing issues and possible damage to your machine.

The Pallo Caffeine Wrench is a great tool to have if you need to make any adjustments or remove any stubborn milk deposits.

Scale prevention

A major problem for those working in hard water areas, limescale, if left unchecked, can cause serious damage to the boiler and plumbing system of your coffee machine.

What is limescale? Limescale is a chalky deposit that forms when water evaporates.

If simple, preventative measures aren’t taken, then limescale can build up inside the pipes and boilers of your coffee machine. This impairs machine’s operation and can damage a machines internal components.

Luckily, it is easily treated and should not be a problem if recommended routines are followed.

Descaling routines

It is best practice to run a descale cycle according to your specific coffee machine manufacturer and engineer guidelines.

How often this process should take places varies on how hard the water is in your area, but for standard water areas expect to descale your coffee machine once a month.

To descale your coffee machine you’ll need use some descaling liquid, and to follow the steps in your cleaning manual. Our descaling liquid is sold in pre-portioned 700ml bottles and can be used on a wide range of bean to cup machines, including those made by Jura, HLF and Nuova Simonelli.

Descale your coffee machine on a regular basis to help prevent against damage.

Water filters

To help further protect your machine from the build-up of limescale, we recommend using a professional water filter.

For tank fill models a number of different filters are available which can be simply placed into your water tank and replaced when is needed. But for larger models which require a mains connection, external water filters such as the CTU15 are recommended.

As well as helping to protect your coffee machine against limescale, water filters can also sift out undesirable compounds, improving water quality and enabling you to make a higher standard of drinks.

Improve water quality and guard against limescale by installing a water filter

Annual service

We recommended that an annual service is carried out on your machine. Carried out by our professional engineers, these can be conducted on your premises and arranged at a time to suit you in order to minimise downtime.

To book or your service, or to find out more information call 01977 687 580

What happens if you don’t clean your bean to cup coffee machine?

Unfortunately, negligence is one of the main reasons for phone calls to our service department.

If a coffee machine isn’t cleaned on a frequent basis then the drink quality will invariably suffer, you’ll run the risk of breaching health and safety regulations, and your machine will begin to lose performance before it potentially breaks down altogether.

As noted, when cleaning routines aren’t followed, then pipes and tubes can become blocked as milk and other liquids begin to solidify. This can lead to irregular serving sizes, the complete absence of frothed milk when creating lattes and cappuccinos, and cold drinks.

If milk isn’t dispensing or frothing properly, check and clean all parts thoroughly.
Follow milk cleaning guides daily

Poor coffee extraction is a tell-tale sign that a coffee machine brew group hasn’t been adequately cleaned. Not only does this provide you with a poor tasting espresso that’s short on quantity, prolonged build-up of deposits within the brew group can potentially damage the entire unit and render your coffee machine useless.

Clean your brew group as per manufacturer guidelines to ensure a healthy extraction

If limescale forms on boilers and heating elements then your coffee machine will lose efficiency. As the machine struggles to pump water through ever-narrowing gaps, an added strain will be placed on your unit causing more and more damage. In smaller bean to cup coffee machines, heat exchanges can become blocked and stop working completely.

Reduce the possibility of scale damage by fitting your machine with a water filter (bigger machines) or by regularly running descale cycles (small machines)

In short

You should:

Perform milk cleaning routines daily.
Undertake regular cleaning and descaling processes.
Follow manufacturer/supplier instructions.

Doing so will:

Keep your machine in perfect working order.
Reduce downtime, which will impact your profitability.
Enable you to continue serving a great range of drinks.
Save you money!

We sell a wide range of specialist bean to cup cleaning products, including cappuccino cleaner, descaling solution and brewing group cleaning tablets.

For any further advice, or to speak to a member of our team regarding a query, please call our office on 01977 687 580.