The maintenance of your espresso machine is essential, and that’s why we want to offer you a list of hacks and hacks to keep your espresso machine in perfect condition.
All the espresso machine hacks we have collected here are perfectly tested and proven over a long period by users and experts from all over the world. They are recommendations and hacks for general use and first coffee machines, but that due to laziness or ignorance, most users do not carry them out.
Not applying these hacks to coffee machines ranges from risking a breakdown to causing much faster wear and tear on parts. It is the most severe thing: little by little, the taste of your coffee will worsen without you noticing it because of the accumulation of remains and impurities. So, you know, read the following list of hacks for espresso machines (some are also good for coffee pod machines) and get to work.
Hacks for espresso machines
- Never overload the filter basket (it is a widespread mistake), especially in inexperienced users. The coffee filter should not be overfilled. Leaving it at about three-quarters of its capacity will be enough to make it work well or not have problems in the future.
- Press the coffee properly—another quite common mistake in inexperienced users. Pressing the coffee once placed in the filter is a crucial process to obtain a good result afterwards. It would help if you first listened to your coffee machine’s recommendations because each machine may have different needs. But as a rule, if you don’t press the coffee, it will be very watery because the water will circulate through it very quickly. On the other hand, if you exceed the pressure, you will create a kind of wall that is almost impossible to break through, and the coffee will come out too thick.
- Make sure the thermostat works properly. The thermostat on your espresso machine should always work correctly. It’s like the engine of your coffee machine. Before filtering the coffee, the ideal water temperature should be between 85°C and 95°C. If it exceeds this temperature or does not reach it, the thermostat of your coffee machine will not work correctly. This is a serious problem: we advise you to take it to the technical service or your trusted store as soon as possible.
- Check the pump pressure. The pressure pump must always operate at the level specified by the brewer. Ensure that the pressure is correct: if your coffee machine has 15 bars of pressure and the coffee does not come out at that intensity, you must adjust it or call the repair service.
- Avoid leaving water in the tank. If you do not use the coffee machine very often or go on holiday for an extended period, it is essential not to leave water in the tank. If the water is not renewed frequently, it will leave sediments and impurities that will affect the taste of the coffee and, consequently, that of your coffee. Replace the water in the tank frequently and wash it thoroughly in the dishwasher every few months.
- Check that the grinder is working correctly. If your coffee machine has a grinder, you should try to keep it in perfect condition because if it breaks down, your coffee will not come outright. The best way to check this is by grinding some coffee and observing the result: the grinding must be totally regular (more or less fine, but always regular). If you see that the grinding leaves some chunks thicker than others and can be distinguished, at first sight, it is time to change the leaves of the grinder. Coffee machines with steel grinders break more often than ceramic grinders, which are much more durable. It is because the steel gets hot when it rubs against it and can even rust.
- Measure the extraction time of the coffee. A crucial detail that is unknown to most people: if your espresso machine is working correctly, the coffee should come out in approximately 20 or 25 seconds. No more and no less than that time. The consequences are obvious: A) If the coffee takes less time to be extracted, it has been made too fast, and it will come out watery with no intensity in colour. B) If, on the other hand, the coffee takes longer than 25 seconds to come out, it will be over-brewed, and Its colour will be practically black.
- Clean the components often. The coffee machine doesn’t have to look beautiful and shiny just on the outside. Frequently rinse or clean the coffee group, the water tank and, above all, the filters and the filter holder of your espresso machine (this is the part that is always in contact with the coffee). The life of your coffee machine will be longer, and above all, your coffees will taste much better.
- Descale your coffee machine often. Decalcification is a crucial cleaning process to keep your espresso or coffee pod machine in perfect condition. If you are not sure how to descale a coffee machine, check our coffee machine decalcification guides to find out how to carry out the process on each model. And don’t let it go because you could unwittingly be shortening the life of your coffee machine. The frequency with which you should descale your coffee machine depends on several factors, including the number of coffees you prepare per day and the hardness of the water you use.
And do you know any other tricks for espresso machines or coffee pod machines that are worth mentioning here? Do you follow all these hacks recommendations for coffee machines to the letter, or do you make mistakes like most of the mortals?