Proper care of food and beverage preparation equipment such as coffee machines is essential to prevent the risk of potentially harmful bacteria build up that can result, particularly in relation to parts that come into contact with milk. At home or at office coffee machines suit our fast paced lifestyles, however, this can also result in their owners or operators struggling to find enough time to perform the required simple cleaning procedures. Many people simply make their coffee and leave the machine to clean up later, or for someone else to clean.

Potential for exposure to harmful bacteria is not the only consequence of not cleaning your coffee machine. The taste of your coffee will also be great affected.

To avoid bacteria build up and the deterioration in the taste from your coffee equipment, owners and operators should always take the necessary steps to keep their equipment and accessories clean and bacteria free.

Saeco Coffee Machine Cleaning Bundles are the easiest way to purchase cleaning and care products specifically required to maintain your Coffee Machine model. There is a large range of cleaning bundle packages available including:

Saeco Odea Cleaning Bundle – for all Saeco Odea Coffee Machines

Saeco Talea Cleaning Bundle – for Saeco Talea Coffee Machines

Saeco Royal Cleaning Bundle – for Saeco Royal Coffee Machines

Saeco Primea Cleaning Bundle – For Saeco Primea Coffee Machines, or

Cino Cleano Automatic Coffee Machine Car Pack - for all other Automatic Coffee Machines.

So don’t take chances; go ahead and start living a worry free and more pleasurable life by starting clean and healthy.

Cafetto Milk Frother Sanitizing Cleaner

You know how it is, everyone love the Office Coffee Machine and the way it automatically froths your fresh milk, but no-one loves cleaning the milk line – and it’s starting to get really really yucky!

On fresh milk automatic coffee machines the most most critical area of concern when it comes to maintaining good hygiene and prevent buildup of bacteria is the milk frothing system – the milk line and milk frother or steamer.

This is particularly important if the coffee machine is located in a warmer area or if the milk line is not refrigerated.In this case, we recommend that fresh water is flushed through the milk line and frother every time the machine is going to be idle.

To keep things really healthy, and your coffee tasting great, we would further suggest the use of a milk line and frother sanitiser and cleaner such as the Cafetto Milk Frother Sanitizer Cleaner

To use simply follow the manufacturers machine instructions or if none are available carry out the following:

• Run a rinse cycle through your milk line with fresh water (or manually flush your milk line and frother with fresh water)
• Make up a solution of 20ml Cafetto Milk Frother Sanitising Cleaner in 300ml of warm water
• Insert milk frother suction tube into solution and run for 2 cleaning / flush cycles (or until solution is depleted)
• Remove tube from solution and place in a container of fresh water and run for 2 flush cycles ( or until water is depleted)• If required, reconnect tube to milk prime line with milk if required.

Your coffee will always taste great AND you will be preventing excessive bacteria buildup in your milk frothing system.

About the Author:Paul and Cathy Ballardin are the founders of Coffee Shrine , Australia’s premier Coffee Machine, Office Coffee Machine and Coffee Vending Machine specialists.

General Mandatory Disclaimer:

The following is a General Guide only on descaling (sometimes called decalcifying) your Coffee Machine. Please always follow your manufacturer’s directions as failure to do so may void you warranty

Ok, so now that we have that out of the way.

1. Always, always use the right descaling products.

Coffee Shrine sell and recommend Cafetto Organic Descaling products. Descalers or coffee machine cleaners purchased at supermarkets may not be suitable for your machine and the use of vinegar is prohibited by almost all manufacturers and may void your warranty. Avoid commercial back flushing chemicals as home, office and vending espresso coffee machines should never be back flushed like commercial machines.

2. Consult your instruction manual.

3. Dissolve your Descaling or Decalcifying product in a container first and the pour into the water tank.

Never add descaling powder direct into your Coffee Machine the water tank as the undissolved crystals of chemical may enter the filter & pump and restrict flow of water. In fully automatic coffee machines, restricted flow of water will display red flashing warning lights or a digital display sign. A Ventilate message may appear and shut your machine down – you get the picture.

4. Remove the water tank prior to adding your dissolved descaling solution.

In many automatic machines, the coffee bean hopper is adjacent to the water tank. The descaling solution water can also be accidentally be poured into the bean hopper and damage to the grinder. Do not fill the water when the tank it is on the machine.

5. In twin boiler machines make sure you descale both sides.

Water passage in most double boiler machines is separate for the hot water dispensed from the steam pipe or auto frother and the hot water dispensed when extracting coffee. Make sure to flush the descaling solution through both sides, alternatively. In many fully automatic models, a pre-programmed descaling cycle may be incorporated into the machine. The electronic descaling completes only half the job by flushing the descaling solution through the steam pipe only. It is very important to also flush the descaling solution from the coffee extraction water system. Where available use the bypass doser. When a bypass doser is not available, do not hesitate to descale by making shots of coffee. In semi automatic models make shots of coffee without any ground coffee in the filter basket.

6. Turn machine on for 30 seconds to warm up just a bit. Flush one cup of descaling solution from steam pipe and the turn machine off. After a pause of 3 to 4 minutes turn machine on again and make one large (pretend) coffee. Repeat this process until all of the solution in the tank is used up.

This method is best both for semi-automatic & fully automatic espresso machines.

7. When the descaling solution is all used up, rinse the water tank and fill with fresh clean filtered water.

Flush the descaling solution out from the water system in the machine (both sides – the steam side and the coffee side). Repeat the rinsing process alternatively until at least one to 2 tanks of water is used up to flush the chemicals out.

Caution:

1. Do not leave the machine before completing the rinsing with clean water.

The solution left inside will corrode & tarnish metallic surfaces.

2. In an office environment place a do not use sign on the machine during descaling operations and do not remove until the chemicals have been completely flushed out with fresh water.

3. Do not leave any chrome plated objects submerged in descaling solution for more than 10 seconds as the chrome will dissolve and leave the item permanently corroded and black.

4. Do not leave descaling solution un-used in any container as it can be accidentally mistaken as water causing discomfort and serious irritation to the teeth and digestive tract.

About the Aurthor:

Cathy Ballardin is the founder of Coffee Shrine – Australia’s Premier Office Coffee Machine Specialists.