We've had a couple of machines in recently which if our customer had been more sensitive to the maintenance requirements of their machine, we wouldn't have seen, so I thought it would be a good idea to highlight a couple of things you can do to increase the longevity of your machine.
The following refers in particular to Briel coffee machines, however the principles can be applied to all domestic machines.
1. Maintenance of the group head
When you take out the group handle and inspect the area from which the water eminates, you will notice a large brass screw. Around the edge of the screw there are a series of notches at regular intervals. It is vital that these remain clear of any debris, otherwise the machines pumps will be put under severe pressure, and you will struggle to make a coffee.
The main causes of blockages are ground coffee, and limescale.
When the machine is cold, use a short handled screwdriver to remove this brass screw. It's important that you get the right sized screwdriver, otherwise you are in danger of damaging the screw.
If you experience problems removing the screw, it's sometomes a good idea to descale the coffee machine first. This can help to remove any scale that might be causing the screw to stick.
When you have released the screw you will find that there is a spring and rubber "bung" that comes out at the same time.
This bung helps seal the boiler so that no water escapes into the group head whilst the machine is heating up. The spring helps keep the bung in position. So suffice it to say, don't loose either of these parts.
There are now a couple of things you can do. If you haven't already, now is a good opportunity to descale the machine, following carefully the manufacturer's instructions.
Once you have done this clean the notches that surround the screw with either an old tooth brush or some other tough scarifying material. Wash thoroughly after you have finished.
Once everything appears clean, replace the screw, spring and rubber bung. Hand tight should be sufficient.
Switch on your machine and flush through with water to ensure that any remaining loose material is removed.
If you use your machine regularly then you should look to do this proceedure I would suggest once a month. In hard water areas probably weekly.
Remember, if you do have to switch on the machine at any point during the cleaning process ensure that you leave an appropriate amount of time for it to cool down before you continue working on it.
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