How To Thoroughly Clean & Descale Your EspressoWorks Espresso and Coffee Maker

Clean Coffee Flavor Requires a Clean Coffee Maker

You’ve made the decision to treat yourself to an amazing new coffee maker, and you couldn’t be happier! You’ve enjoyed week after week of fabulously delicious coffee, but then something starts to seem a little off. Why is your coffee starting to taste worse than it did when your coffee maker was new? Well, the answer could simply be that you no longer have a clean coffee maker and need to spend some time descaling and maintaining your machine. That’s right, spending a little extra time to clean your coffee maker could be the difference between having an unsatisfying coffee experience and an amazing one!

Luckily, we’ve got all the steps for you to descale and clean your coffee maker in just a few simple steps!

The Right Tools for the Job

Before you’re going to be able to get a clean coffee maker, you’ll need the right tools to handle the job. You should start by ensuring you have the cleaning essentials that come in a coffee machine cleaning kit. This should include:

1. Cafiza – espresso machine cleaning powder
2. Rinza – milk system cleaning tablets
3. Grindz – grinder cleaner
4. Scoopz – cleaning brush

You’ll also need a high-quality descaling liquid to make sure that you end up with a clean coffee maker. One very important point of note is that the descaling liquid should be vinegar-free. If you purchase a vinegar-based descaling solution, you might end up with a very odd-tasting cup of coffee!

Cleaning your Espresso and Cappuccino Maker (AEW-3000)

To clean your espresso and cappuccino maker, follow the simple steps below regularly:

1. Unplug your machine before you begin manual cleaning (it will need to be plugged in and assembled when you use the self-cleaning program, later)
2. Disassemble your machine so you can reach all the nooks and crannies with a brush for a deep clean
3. Clean the brew head, milk reservoir, and filters after each use
4. Backflush and clean all the tubes and lines with espresso machine cleaning powder
5. Run the self-cleaning program to clean the milk reservoir system and the brew head on the portafilter (this should be done regularly and when your machine is plugged in and fully assembled)
6. Brush down the housing and use a damp cloth, if required
7. Thoroughly dry your machine before reassembly
8. Use your grinder cleaner and milk cleaner to make sure your accessories match your clean coffee maker and are squeaky clean
9. Check the mains for any damage

Descaling your Espresso and Cappuccino Maker (AEW-3000)

If you notice that your clean coffee maker is producing large amounts of steam and that it takes longer to brew coffee, you likely need to descale your machine. Your machine will also indicate that it needs descaling when the yellow control lamp is lit. Upon noticing this, make sure to use a high-quality, non-vinegar descaling liquid to get rid of limescale deposits.

You can descale your machine by running a deep clean on your machine when you notice the yellow light flashing, as mentioned earlier. Follow the below steps for thorough descaling:

1. Fill the water tank with descaling liquid and water as per instructions on your descaling liquid bottle
2. Fill the milk reservoir with water
3. Remove the milk nozzle using the lever
4. Press and hold the “Clean” button for 4-5 seconds until blue lights start flashing
5. Wait for the cleaning procedure to complete (around 15 minutes)
6. The “Clean” button will be illuminated until the process is complete.
7. Press the “Clean” button again for 1 second after the first cleaning cycle
8. A second cleaning procedure will run (5 minutes)
9. Once done, the yellow control lamp indicator will turn off

Cleaning Your All-In-One Espresso Machine Set (AEW-1000)

To clean your All-In-One Espresso Machine Set, follow the simple steps below regularly:

1. Unplug your machine before you begin manual cleaning
2. Disassemble your machine so you can reach all the nooks and crannies with a brush for a deep clean (detach the steam wand by turning it clockwise)
3. Clean the brew head, milk reservoir, and filters after each use
4. Backflush and clean all the tubes and lines with espresso machine cleaning powder
5. Thoroughly dry your machine before reassembly
6. Use your grinder cleaner and milk cleaner to make sure your accessories match your clean coffee maker and are squeaky clean
7. Check the mains for any damage

Descaling your All-In-One Espresso Machine Set (AEW-1000)

Once again, if you notice that you have a clean coffee maker, but there is an excess of steam and the brewing process is slow, it might be time to descale your machine by following the steps below:

1. Fill the water tank with descaling liquid and water as per instructions on your descaling liquid bottle
2. Place the milk frothing cup under the built-in steamer and turn the dial on the machine to “o” 
3. Press the “ON/OFF” button and wait for the machine to power up
4. The heating process begins when the POWER indicator illuminates with a red light and is done when it turns green
5. Next, run the machine as if you were to make 2 cups of espresso by turning the dial to “ESPRESSO”. Next, turn the dial to “o” and wait for 5 seconds
6. When the READY indicator flashes green, turn the dial to “STEAM” before waiting for a few minutes and then turning the dial back to “o” to stop the steaming process
7. Press and hold the “ON/OFF” and all lights will turn off. Wait for 15 minutes as the descaling process occurs. 
8. Restart your espresso machine and repeat the process 2-7 at least 3 times
9. When done, turn the dial to “o” and turn the knob to “ESPRESSO” to flush out any remaining descaling liquid
10. Fill the tank up with just water and repeat steps 2-7 thrice

Maintenance is Key!

To ensure you maintain a clean coffee maker, you should follow the above steps regularly. A coffee machine is one of the best ways to get a delicious cup of coffee, but it can’t do its job if it’s clogged with dirt and poorly maintained. However, now that you know how to upkeep a clean coffee maker, you should be able to brew professional, barista levels of coffee for years to come!