Cleaning
Cleaning
I've enjoyed my S1 for about 6 weeks now, and have been following the recommended (by the group) backflush routine, with maybe one cleaning of the screens. Well, I took the screens out today and it was obvious that backflushing is not doing the job! I could not believe the amount of grounds and grunge between the 2nd screen and the dispersion disk. A 30-min soak in Cafiza brought everything back to new condition. It is clear to me that the La Spaziale recommended routine of removing the screens is better than relying on backflushing. Anyone else have the same experience?
How often do you clean?liftoff wrote:My cleaning method is to take the screens off and either clean them with detergent or replace with clean ones. I put it back together and then go through the detergent/backflush routine. Backflushing's biggest benefit is cleaning the three way valve that does accumulate coffee "stuff" over time.
My usage patterns vary greatly. Some days I might run a pound or more through it and other times it's turned off for a couple days. It's difficult to say because of that, but I find that I clean the screens after around 15 shots and I backflush every couple days.
Hard to say what's optimum and what's overkill...but keep it clean! Those oils and coffee crud on dirty equipment impart a horrible taste.
Hard to say what's optimum and what's overkill...but keep it clean! Those oils and coffee crud on dirty equipment impart a horrible taste.
I remove the screens and diffuser once a day. It just isn't that hard to do so. While they are off, I pull two blank shots to flush the head out. I backflush with no detergent (screens and diffuser removed), once a week. I backflush with detergent (screens and diffuser removed), about every 45 days. My machine is roughly two years old and with the exception of a few minor glitches, still operates like new.
Barry
Barry
Cleaning brass dispersion disk
I finally found the perfect 'tool' to clean the holes in the dispersion disk. I finally got around to cleaning out the kid's bathroom drawers (it was about time since 2 have graduated from college :) ) and found a package of tiny brushes they used MANY years ago for cleaning under their braces. Oral-B Interdental cylindrical refills are the PERFECT size for getting the oily gunk out of the holes in the disk. When done, i just throw the brush in the cafiza bath along with the screens and voila, clean brush. I know many people put their disk in the cafiza bath, but i've never gotten up the nerve to try that.
Clean bathroom drawers and clean dispersion disk - life is good.
Clean bathroom drawers and clean dispersion disk - life is good.
I throw my dispersion disk into Cafiza every 7 days exactly along with both screens and PF's, etc..
The oils never had or have a chance to even think about building up anywhere on my precious equipment. They go in oily and come squeaky clean everytime. It also helps to have an extra dispersion disk so there's no down time.
The oils never had or have a chance to even think about building up anywhere on my precious equipment. They go in oily and come squeaky clean everytime. It also helps to have an extra dispersion disk so there's no down time.
Cleaning
The S1 is six weeks old. Everyday I run a couple of blank shots after I am finished and every two weeks take the screen and diffuser block out and scrub lightly with the supplied BBQ brush. Everything looks new after and I start all over again. No chemicals, no detergents and it only takes a few minutes.
I run a shot using the now "aging" free coffee that came with my machine. Never acquired a taste for the stuff so it seems like a good way to use it up.Niko wrote:Neither do I!Weska wrote:I don't even throw out the first shot through after a detergent soak.
What a waste of good coffee....of course I flush about 10 more times with plain water.
They should make a coffee-flavored detergent