cleaning

Post by **coffeeowl** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:01 pm

A few questions regarding cleaning

This is what I do:
I uscrew the three screens, put them into a glass bowl and pour hot water there, then I scrub them with the brush provided by La Spaziale. I scrub the grouphead and portafilter and the baskets as well (under hot water, no caffiza nor anything else). I don't do the backflushing yet due to the lack of backflush disk (soon to get).
After each shot I rinse the group letting water through it and I rinse the portafilter (with basket in) under hot water.
The source for all the hot water is Vivaldi of course.

1. I don't brew lots of coffee, so is cleaning the group every evening enough?
2. Is it better to have the group and portafilters and basket warm if left not completely cleaned (only rinsed) or I may turn the machine off and then on with no harm?
3. Best method of removing the baskets from the portafilter - I use a kitchen knife. First I put the portafilter upside down with the basket rim on a soft cloth, then I lever the basket up a bit from one side, and then I bump it out with a little bit more force applied on the other side of the rim - without the use of a knife I think I would have broken my nails.

Responses strongly appreciated!

Thanks! :)

Post by **woodchuck** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:41 pm

Coffeeowl, my cleaning regime:

After each session: backflush the group with a bf disc
rinse and clean pf then back onto the group

Weekly: Soak pf and basket in Cafizia then rinse
Soak screens and disc in Cafizia
Backflush group with Cafizia
Rinse group, rinse disc and screens, rinse pf and basket
Back in business

Popping out baskets is easy because I use a bottomless pf. Just a quick push and its out. Makes it easy to weigh coffee before pulling too.

Cheers

Ian

Post by **Niko** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:12 pm

I pop out the baskets using another basket if it's too hard, just flip one over and use it ridge to ridge...
in other words, flip the PF upside down on the counter and use another basket right side up - wedge them together and pull apart. It's a bit tricky but easier than breaking fingers or damaging other things. I usually just rip them off bare handed (yes it hurts, yes I'm an idiot) but the easiest (and best) thing to do is what some of the others have done and get a La Marzocco basket spring for a mere 1 Euro on your side of the pond (I'm guessing). I also have one of these springs and I was foolish not to get more

My cleaning habits are very close to Ian's.
Cafiza Night every week where everything takes a bath in it and I backflush (just water) every 16-20 shots and do a hearty Cafiza backflush every 100 shots. I've pulled well over 2,500 shots on my VII so far, I lost count on the other S1 long ago.
Just remember that beans with more oil will gunk up faster.

Post by **coffeeowl** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:10 pm

Does scrubbing the baskets do any harm to them really, or not?

Post by **Niko** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:41 pm

No harm I suppose...
but with a Cafiza (or other detergent) bath, there's no need for scrubbing since it removes all the oils. Just a good hot water rinse will take care of the rest.