Life Hack: How to deep clean three popular coffee machine brands

When did you last deep-clean your coffee machine?

How often do you use a coffee machine at home to make your favourite cup of joe?

Now think back... when was the last time you deep-cleaned your coffee machine?

There are many reasons to keep your machine clean. For one, the cleaner your machine is, the better your coffee will taste. More importantly, a thorough clean will remove harmful bacteria growth and prevent limescale or coffee ground clogs. 

This week, I’m looking at three machine brands that are popular in Ireland and sharing some advice on deep cleaning each type.

Sage

Many coffee lovers will invest in a Sage Barista Express, an all-in-one home espresso machine that is seen as a good entry-level machine from the brand.

Typically, cleaning processes for Sage machines are similar across the range, so this will be a useful guide for other models too.

A ‘clean me’ light may flash on your machine — this appears after every 200th shot is brewed. This indicator is a sign that a cleaning tablet or powder should be used to flush the machine.

However, it is wise to clean your machine more often, especially if you are not a heavy coffee drinker: those who make coffee occasionally may see more stagnant residue within their machines, creating more bacteria. A clean every three months is recommended to flush out residue like this.

To activate the cleaning cycle, insert the 1 cup filter basket into the portafilter, followed by the supplied cleaning disc and one cleaning tablet. Lock the portafilter into the group head and place a large container beneath the portafilter spouts. Fill the water tank with cold water and empty the drip tray.

Press the power button to switch the machine off, then press the 1-cup and 2-cup buttons simultaneously, as well as the power button, pressing all three for 10 seconds to start the cleaning cycle.

Once complete, remove the cleaning disc, reinsert the portafilter and press the 2 cup button to rinse the brew head. Wipe away splashes with a soft dry cloth. The drip and storage trays should also be removed, emptied and washed with warm soapy water and a soft cloth regularly.

Nespresso

Nespresso advises that things like coffee oils, milk, and heated water can leave a residue, so regular cleaning is advised.

In the majority of Original Nespresso coffee machines, elements such as the water tank, capsule tray and drip tray can be removed for a deeper clean with hot soapy water.

Machines with steam wands should be wiped clean and purged each time they are used to avoid a build-up of heated milk residue. Nespresso also advises cleaning this regularly with a cloth and hot water.

If your coffee machine includes a milk container, keep this in the fridge at all times outside cleaning cycles.

All components can be placed in the upper level of a dishwasher to be cleaned, or they can be hand-washed.

Dolce Gusto

Dolce Gusto recommends flushing your coffee machine with water after every use and descaling it every three to four months to get rid of the limescale build-up. This will help your machine perform at its best. 

You can easily remove and clean the drip tray, using a soft brush to clean it gently before drying it with a clean cloth. Rinse the capsule holder from both sides and dry it. Clean the water tank with a soft, clean, food-safe brush — don’t use a scrubbing device or you may scratch the surface. Rinse the tank and dry it with a cloth.

Clean the piercing needle around the head of the machine with a soft, damp cloth. Open the locking handle and place the empty capsule holder into the machine. Close it and place an empty cup under the coffee outlet.

Rinse the inside of the machine by turning on the coffee machine and waiting for it to warm up. Move the lever to ‘hot’ or press the hot brewing button and turn the dial up to the maximum level to start rinsing. After 30–60 seconds, move the lever to the neutral position — or if your model has a button, wait for the dial to run its course. Empty the container that the water was in.

For cleaning the outside of the coffee machine, wipe it regularly with a microfibre cloth. Removable items such as the drip tray and pod holder should also be taken out regularly and cleaned with washing-up liquid.