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Daily LI Cleaning
I thought I'd share my simple, quick and effective daily ritual of cleaning the group head on my LI. I've only removed the shower screen twice for cleaning in the 7-months of ownership and use; and most recently a couple days ago apart of cleaning and re-lubing the piston seals.
The shower screen was, on both occasions, 95% clean when I removed it for inspection/cleaning. I believe my daily cleaning procedure of the group head is mainly responsible for how clean the group head and screen remain.
#1) I use a Cafelat brush (here: http://www.amazon.com/Cafelat-Espresso-Machine-Cleaning-Brush/dp/B003KIDXBM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1381413929&sr=8-5&keywords=espresso+machine+cleaning+brush)
#2) After the last daily espresso pulled I insert the Cafelat brush into the grouphead as you would the portafilter. With the boiler at full temp & pressure I pull the LI lever down while rotating the brush left & right. I use a large latte cup to catch the dirty water.
#3) Before the pressure gauge goes to zero bar I carefully let the lever back up and wait for the LI to build pressure again.
#4) Using the portafilter and a clean basket inserted in the LI I once again pull the lever down and rotate the portafilter left/right to release/increase pressure at the group head. Once again before the pressure gauge gets to zero I carefully raise the lever. Clean the portafilter basket of any coffee grounds. NOTE: If you are coming from a pump machine you DO NOT USE A BLIND BASKET/RUBBER DISK apart of this cleaning process on the LI/lever machine!
#5) Repeat #4 one more time and the water runs 99% clear.
This process takes less than 5-minutes each day but has proven to keep the group head and shower screen clean and thereby reducing the frequency of needing to remove the shower screen for a clean and soak in cleaner.
Hope this helps you.
Dan
The shower screen was, on both occasions, 95% clean when I removed it for inspection/cleaning. I believe my daily cleaning procedure of the group head is mainly responsible for how clean the group head and screen remain.
#1) I use a Cafelat brush (here: http://www.amazon.com/Cafelat-Espresso-Machine-Cleaning-Brush/dp/B003KIDXBM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1381413929&sr=8-5&keywords=espresso+machine+cleaning+brush)
#2) After the last daily espresso pulled I insert the Cafelat brush into the grouphead as you would the portafilter. With the boiler at full temp & pressure I pull the LI lever down while rotating the brush left & right. I use a large latte cup to catch the dirty water.
#3) Before the pressure gauge goes to zero bar I carefully let the lever back up and wait for the LI to build pressure again.
#4) Using the portafilter and a clean basket inserted in the LI I once again pull the lever down and rotate the portafilter left/right to release/increase pressure at the group head. Once again before the pressure gauge gets to zero I carefully raise the lever. Clean the portafilter basket of any coffee grounds. NOTE: If you are coming from a pump machine you DO NOT USE A BLIND BASKET/RUBBER DISK apart of this cleaning process on the LI/lever machine!
#5) Repeat #4 one more time and the water runs 99% clear.
This process takes less than 5-minutes each day but has proven to keep the group head and shower screen clean and thereby reducing the frequency of needing to remove the shower screen for a clean and soak in cleaner.
Hope this helps you.
Dan
Comments
I have seen those brushes before and wondered if they really worked. Thanks you!
Stephen
It's well worth the investment if you haven't already got one!
It was a bit tough to get it in the group (had to bend the brush halves slightly) but it cleaned the group up very nicely and very quickly.
Definitely recommended.
very keen to hear from someone who has refined the process to a fine art as i certainly dont feel like I've optimised it yet
reiss.