Throughout the last year I have made hundreds of service calls. And do you know that a very high percentage of these calls could have been avoided with better understanding and care of the machine?
With this in mind, I have come up with a list of preventable service calls. Hopefully, they will save you valuable time and money.
A machine is not back-flushed with Puro Caff® (or similar) cleaner.
The water coming out of the group (without a porta-filter in it) should come out in a vertical stream. It should not spray outward or horizontally. A machine that is back-flushed properly with Puro Caff® will not have this problem.
The steam wand plugs up due to lack of cleaning.
You need to remember that the wand will get to over 200 degrees and this causes the milk to bake on immediately. The first thing you should do after you steam the milk is to wipe off the steam wand with a damp towel. You should do this before you finish making your drink. Soaking the wand in a solution of Puro Caff® overnight will also help. Most tips are removable and clean up very easily.
The grind and dosage are way off.
You need to remember that "The finer the grind, the longer the brew time." A double shot of espresso should take 18-22 seconds. A single shot of espresso contains seven grams of coffee: a double contains 14 grams. You also need to remember that, for various seasons, the grind can change from day-to-day. Also, change grinder burrs (teeth) at least every 750 to 1,000 pounds of beans. Your bean supplier is the one to listen to when it comes to your particular beans. They know what is best.
Overpouring shots.
I have actually seen as much as six ounces of espresso being served as a double!!! A single shot of espresso contains one ounce: a double contains two ounces, etc.
Filters and softeners are not recharged or changed on a regular basis.
Make sure you recharge your softener according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Change filters a minimum of every six months. Dirty water can cause all kinds of problems with your machine.
Well, I hope you will use this information to your advantage. If you have any questions or concerns about the maintenance of your espresso machine, give your service technician or a reputable service and maintenance company a call.
Craig Kiggins is the president of Espresso Gears, Inc. a full service maintenance and repair company for espresso and other coffee equipment.
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