Accessories for cleaning the lever coffee machine

Barista brush

The basis of good coffee prepared on a lever coffee machine is a clean portafilter basket. The residues ofcoffee from previous preparations canreliably spoil the freshly ground coffee. A good quality barista brush will help you clean the lever.

Whether flat or round, I recommend a brush with stiff natural bristles. Compared to synthetic fiber, it will reward you with a very long life.

Barista cloth

A good barista wipe should be made of antibacterial material and be food contact certified.

Today's standard is wipes made of quick-drying microfiber. Microfiber is also convenient because it won't scratch the shiny surfaces of your coffee maker like a regular cloth.

Four wipes are the absolute standard . One for cleaning the basket, one for the steam nozzle, one for the coffee maker and one for the work surface. Ideally you should get a set of barista wipes.

A brush for cleaning the head of the coffee machine

If it's a coffee shop or restaurant, cleaning the strainer and seals should be done throughout theshift. It depends on the barista and the overall approach of the particular establishment. However, some cafes also clean the strainer and gasket once an hour.

For this, it is worth getting a suitable and durable brush. Some, such as the Urnex Scoopz, even have a handy measuring cup at the other end for cleaning chemicals.

Steam cleaning brush

The brush attached to the steam nozzle has revolutionised the cleaning of coffee machines. With its help, you can perfectly clean the shower and the seals of the coffee machine (or the entire head) and thus remove dirt you had no idea about.

See how to use the JoeFrex Cleaning Steam Brush .

Steam Nozzle Cleaning Brushes

Often overlooked is the steam nozzle. From the outside, it needs to be cleaned with a clothafter each use. But it should also be regularly maintained with suitable tools on the inside.

For this, there are special brushes of different sizes, which can also be bought in aset.

Once you have the steam nozzle disassembled, check the seals from time to time. If it is cracked or swollen, replace it. If the nozzle tip itself doesn't seem to be working, replace that as well.

These are inexpensive items andreplacing them early will save you a lot of trouble later.

Chemistry

Chemicals for cleaning a lever coffee maker are plentiful on the market. However, you can get by with one product that will cleanalmosteverything on your coffee maker. From the shower, to the baskets and lever soaked in the solutionovernight, to the inside of the head when back rinsing.

If you use a milkway cleaner on your coffee maker, you will need two.

Most cleaners have very similar formulations, but you definitely can't go wrong with the Cafetto brand or the Urnex Cafiza. The coffee route cleaner is sold either asa powder, as tablets, inindividual sachets etc.

If you care about our planet as much as we do, reach for a set of eco-friendly cleaners.

Cleaning and replacing showerheads and seals

In a professional operation, at the end of each day, a backflush ("backflush") should be performed. To do this, you will need a blind basket and a coffee path cleaner.

In addition, you need to remove the shower strainerwith the gasket (see below for instructions),wash and clean both thoroughly with a brush, put them back in place, and flush.

Apply all of the above advice to your home lever coffee maker. However, cleaning does not need to be done as often as in a coffee shop.

How to replace the shower strainer and gasket

The shower strainer of a lever coffee machine should be replaced approximately once a year. Some manufacturers recommend doing it even more often. Of course, depends on the workload of the particular coffee maker.

Remove the lever from the head and look at the shower from underneath.
If the shower screen is attached with a screw, get a suitable screwdriver and loosen the screw.
If the shower strainer is just set in, a flat-blade screwdriver will be sufficient to gentlypry it out. It should go on easily. If the strainer is crossing, use a screwdriver to work around its circumference.
Use a cloth or the aforementioned steam brush to clean the inside of the head.
Put the new gasket on the new strainer. If there is any marking on the gasket, place it upwards into the head of the coffee machine. Fit both into place, screw in if necessary, and tighten with feeling.
Check that the gasket fits the head all the way around. If it does not, press it down with your finger. Do not use metal tools to avoid damaging the new gasket.
Prepare one test espresso to pour out.