How To Maximise The Life Of Your Office Coffee Machine

Every now and again your coffee machine will require a little TLC to keep it running smoothly.

We have teams on hand of highly skilled engineers to help fix any potential issues that may arise with your coffee machine and are always just a phone call away. We have compiled a list of tips on how to keep your coffee machine in good working order including how to service and clean it as often as you can.

We will always ensure that your coffee machine is kept in optimal condition so you can continue to provide quality coffee in the office to your employees.

Why Cleaning and Maintenance is so Important

Keeping your coffee machine in the best condition possible means you can continue to provide great tasting coffee all day long to your staff, clients and employees. It is also important because of these several factors:

• You will be meeting strict health and safety standards
• You will be creating great quality drinks consistently
• You will prolong the life of your coffee machine
• You will save money and reduce downtime.

Servicing

We recommend you service your coffee machine at least once every twelve months, to help maximise their working lives. This will also help you continue to provide great tasting coffee, by preserving the taste and consistency of every drink you pour. It also helps to reduce the chance of a machine breakdown or wear and tear in the future.

Our coffee machine service procedures are carried out on your premises, making it as easy and straightforward for you as possible and can take no longer than a couple of hours for the problem to be resolved. Giving your machine a regular MOT and service will keep it running smoothly and avoid any irreparable problems to the machine.

A coffee machine service usually includes the following:

• The replacement of all necessary washers, shower plates, seals, group heads and gaskets.
• A strip and clean of the group head or heads.
• A strip, check and thorough clean of the steam and water arms and valves.
• A check of all the general machine settings.
• Advice and review of the overall condition of the machine and any additional repairs or services that may be required in the future.

To book your annual service with us or have any queries about your machine call us on 0808 271 1636 or contact us via our online form.

Calcium Treatment Unit Replacement

Calcium Treatment Units (CTUs) ensure that your coffee machine is not damaged through the continued accumulation of limescale.

Water hardness and the varying water quality will have an effect on the longevity of your coffee machine. A calcium treatment unit will reduce the chlorine, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate and heavy metals in the water. This process lowers the chances of limescale build-up and improves the taste of the water used to make your hot beverages. Water build-up left untreated causes up to 70% of all coffee machine equipment faults. This can be prevented by changing your water filters on a regular basis, at least once or twice a year.

We can supply, fit and replace calcium treatment units for all our coffee machines with or without having a service.

Maintenance

To avoid any build-up of limescale or other harmful bacteria, it is vital that you regular clean your coffee machine, especially when being used daily. For a bean to cup machine, you will be required to clean the internal piping, coffee spout and brewing unit, as well as emptying out and washing the drip tray and grounds drawer. This is to prevent the accumulation of stale water and used coffee grounds.

Cleaning an espresso, or traditional machine however, will require you to backwash the machine, sanitise the steam wand and portafilter and go through a descaling cycle. Make sure you check your coffee machine manual to see what cleaning process is required.

Here are some quick tips for avoiding limescale build-up and ensuring your coffee machine is in optimal condition:

• Always use filter water where possible. The minerals in tap water are left behind and end up building up over time which jams the pressure valve on your machine.
• The reservoir should be regularly cleaned, drained and refilled. Ensure that any left over water is cleaned up after every cup when in use.
• Ensure that other external components such as the portafilter and steam pipe, depending on the type of machine you have, are thoroughly cleaned as bacteria can easily build-up when coming into contact with coffee and milk.
• Most modern day coffee machines come with a self-cleaning cycle, outlined in your machines manual to clean the internal parts of the machine.

For more information on cleaning a traditional or bean-to-cup machine check out our Ultimate Machine Cleaning Guide.