Along with a daily cleaning schedule, every espresso machine needs a regular maintenance routine to help prevent common machine problems. Well maintained equipment will give reliable service and produce superb coffee. The volume of coffee you use will determine how often you should have your equipment serviced. This could be 3 monthly, 6 monthly or yearly.
Poor maintenance is the number one cause of commercial espresso machine breakdowns, thus leading to loss of revenue and costly repairs. And don’t forget about water filters and grinders! Poor water quality due to unchanged water filters not only leads to mineral build up within the machine, but also makes your coffee taste bad.
The burrs within the grinder also need to be replaced regularly; how regularly depends on the type of grinder you have and the volume of coffee being put through them. Dull or blunt burrs will have a very negative effect on the flavour and consistency of your espresso. The image above shows new blades (left) vs blunt blades (right). What looks like a small difference can have a big impact on the quality and consistency of your coffee. If you can’t remember the last time your machine was serviced or when the blades were changed on your grinder, then there is a good chance it needs to be done! We recommend you get in touch with us today to book it in to ensure your equipment is kept in optimum coffee-making condition.
– Summah Grant
Barista Trainer
