A Detailed Look At Commercial Coffee Machine Cleaning – Frequency And Method
Cleaning coffee machines is a lot like flossing. You may do it a lot less than you may care to admit, and fool yourself into thinking that everything is okay! In truth, a dirty coffee machine not only harbours germs but also ruins your brew’s taste. So, cleaning the commercial coffee machine every four to six weeks is necessary.
Moreover, without regular cleaning and maintenance, commercial coffee machines can break down. Repairs and replacements can be quite expensive. So, you should try to avoid them as much as possible. That is why it is such an important step in a cafe or restaurant cleaning checklist. If you want a professional team to handle it, see our restaurant and commercial kitchen cleaning in Sydney.
Why Is Commercial Coffee Machine Cleaning So Crucial?
Before discussing the frequency of cleaning, we need to touch on why it is crucial to clean commercial coffee machines regularly.
For starters, the combination of hard water and heavy usage causes mineral and scale buildup in the machine. Also, coffee is naturally oily. Every time you make coffee, it leaves a residue. If you don’t clean the coffee machine regularly, the oily residue starts to build up. You can find this deposit, especially in the head and filters.
In the long run, a high buildup of residue can damage your machine. The short-term effects are more immediately noticeable. You, and more importantly, your customers will notice that:
- The coffee tastes bitter
- The coffee machine smells
- Blockages caused by the residue build-up make the machine slow or inoperable
Dirty coffee machines are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and yeast. So, there are health repercussions too.
How Often Should You Clean A Commercial Coffee Machine?
Commercial coffee machines need daily cleaning due to their heavy usage. You also need to perform deep cleaning on a weekly and monthly basis.
Frequent cleaning is necessary when the coffee machine uses fresh milk. The milk lines and container need to be flushed daily. Or else, your coffee won’t taste good. And it can even make people sick.
Cleaning needs and methods also vary from one coffee machine to another. For example, bean-to-cup machines need to be cleaned differently than espresso makers. Commercial coffee machine cleaning services can handle all types of commercial coffee machines.
Some commercial coffee machines also come with a cleaning indicator. It lights up when it is time to descale the machine. Make sure to check if your commercial coffee machine has one of these indicators.
How To Descale A Commercial Coffee Machine?
Regular cleaning is essential. However, it does not remove mineral deposits in the coffee machine. For that, you need to descale the machine once every 3 to 6 months. The frequency will depend on the level of usage and the water quality in your area.
Without the right cleaning solution, you cannot descale the machine. There are several descalers available in the market. However, if you don’t want to use the chemical-based ones, you can make one with easily available ingredients.
The following organic cleaning products are perfect if you are planning to be more environmentally conscious:
White Vinegar
White vinegar is an excellent base for various cleaning solutions. It is highly acidic. So, it can efficiently descale the machine. However, remember to rinse the machine a few times after descaling. Otherwise, the remaining traces of vinegar will completely ruin your next brew!
Lemon Juice
It is highly acidic just like vinegar, but has a nice fragrance. You can also easily rinse it off afterward. You can use either freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice as long as it is organic.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is similar to lemon juice in that it does not have the pungent smell of white vinegar. However, it is slightly less acidic than the other two. So, you won’t need to rinse excessively to remove flavors or scents.
Steps To Follow To Descale A Commercial Coffee Machine
Once you have chosen the descaling solution, it is time to begin the process:
| Steps | Actions |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Mix 1/3 of the acidic agent (lemon juice, vinegar, citric acid) with 2/3 distilled water. Pour the solution into the coffee pot. It should fill the pot entirely. |
| Step 2 | Pour the solution into the water reservoir as well. |
| Step 3 | Turn on the brewing cycle. The machine will operate just like it does when brewing coffee. However, this time, it will remove hard water and mineral deposits. |
| Step 4 | Once the brewing cycle is over, discard the solution. |
| Step 5 | Turn the coffee machine off, unplug the power cord, and detach the spray head. |
| Step 6 | Use warm water and a soft-bristle brush to thoroughly clean the spray head. Remove all oily residues and clogs. Make sure to scrub or wipe down the opening of the head as well. |
| Step 7 | Plug the coffee machine back in. Then, pour warm water into the machine and start a brew cycle. It will remove all unwanted flavours and scents left over by the cleaning solution. Repeat these steps a few times until the acidic scent and flavor are completely gone. |
| Step 8 | Turn the coffee machine off after thoroughly rinsing it. Unplug the power cord and reattach the clean spray head. |
How To Clean The Filter And Funnel?
The filter funnel of the commercial coffee machine also accumulates residues over time. You must clean the filter funnel once a week, especially after descaling. You can use a non-abrasive pad or soft-bristle brush to scrub it clean.
Use dish soap and warm water to properly clean. Does the funnel have signs of scale deposits? Use a small amount of the acidic agent and warm water to remove it. Make sure to descale the funnel before cleaning it with soap and water.
How To Clean The Exterior Of The Commercial Coffee Machine?
The exterior of the machine will also get dirty from time to time. Make sure to wipe down the machine at least once every day. If you spill coffee on it, wipe it off immediately! Then, once a week, you can follow this cleaning routine:
| Steps | Actions |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Fill a spray bottle with the desclaing solution. |
| Step 2 | Turn off the machine and unplug it from the power outlet. |
| Step 3 | Spray the descaling/cleaning agent on the exterior of the machine. Let it sit for a few minutes. |
| Step 4 | See any stubborn grease or grime? Apply some baking soda to it and scrub it with a soft brush. |
| Step 5 | Wipe off the cleaning solution and the baking soda using a damp cloth. |
| Step 6 | Use a microfiber cloth to remove excess moisture from the exterior. |
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