How to Clean and Maintain Your Coffee Machine for Better-Tasting Coffee

If you love starting your day with a smooth, flavourful brew, keeping your coffee machine clean is one of the best ways to ensure every cup tastes as good as it should. Whether you enjoy a bold espresso or a creamy flat white, regular maintenance plays a huge role in both flavour quality and machine longevity. Unfortunately, many home coffee machines in Australia are running far below their potential simply because they aren’t being cleaned properly or often enough.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to clean and maintain your coffee machine at home, when to schedule professional coffee machine servicing, and the signs that you may need a coffee machine repair sooner rather than later.

Why Cleaning Your Coffee Machine Matters

Over time, coffee machines naturally build up oils, coffee grounds, mineral deposits and milk residue. If left untreated, these can lead to:

• Bitter or burnt-tasting coffee

• Slow water flow or reduced pressure

• Breville, De’Longhi or ECM machine faults

• Bacteria build-up (especially in milk systems)

• Expensive breakdowns requiring coffee machine repairs

Regular cleaning not only keeps your coffee tasting great but also saves you money in the long run by preventing damage.

Daily Coffee Machine Cleaning Tips

A little daily maintenance goes a long way. Here are simple steps you can follow:

1. Flush Your Group Head

If you own a manual or semi-automatic espresso machine, run hot water through the group head after every use. This removes coffee residue and prevents oil build-up.

2. Wipe the Steam Wand

Milk residue hardens quickly and can cause blockages. After every milk preparation:

• Wipe the wand with a damp cloth

• Purge steam for a few seconds to clear the nozzle

This prevents the sour smell and bacterial growth commonly found in neglected steam wands.

3. Empty the Drip Tray and Used Coffee Grounds

Drip trays often harbour mould and unpleasant odours. Emptying them daily keeps your machine fresh and functioning properly.

Weekly Cleaning Routine for Better Performance

Your machine will perform noticeably better with deeper weekly cleaning.

1. Backflush the Machine

For machines with a three-way valve, backflushing with a cleaning powder helps remove internal coffee oils. Simply:

• Insert a blind filter

• Add espresso machine cleaner

• Run a backflush cycle

This keeps the internal system clear and improves espresso quality.

2. Clean the Filter Basket and Portafilter

Soak them in hot water with a coffee machine cleaner to remove stubborn oils. This step ensures your espresso flavour remains consistent and clean.

3. Wash the Water Tank

Rinse the tank thoroughly to remove algae or mineral build-up. Always use fresh, filtered water to avoid unnecessary scale deposits.

Descaling Your Coffee Machine (Monthly or Bi-Monthly)

Australia has areas with hard water, which leads to scale build-up inside your machine. Scale restricts water flow, affects temperature stability and causes internal damage that often leads to costly coffee machine repair jobs.

To descale:

1. Use a high-quality descaling solution recommended for your machine

2. Mix according to instructions

3. Run the solution through the internal system

4. Flush with clean water until all residue is gone

Descaling is essential for automatic machines, where internal pipes and boilers are more susceptible to limescale.

Cleaning Milk Systems in Automatic Machines

Automatic coffee machines with built-in milk systems require extra care. Milk residue can clog tubes, cause odours and create hygiene issues. Use:

• Milk system cleaner

• Auto-clean cycles

• Rinse systems daily

These steps maintain milk texture quality and preserve machine performance.

When to Call a Professional for Coffee Machine Servicing

Even with good home maintenance, your machine will need periodic professional attention. A professional coffee machine service ensures all internal components, seals, pipes and valves are thoroughly inspected and cleaned.

Consider booking a coffee machine service Melbourne technician if:

• Your machine is losing pressure

• Shots are pulling too fast or too slow

• Steam output is weak

• The temperature is inconsistent

• The machine is leaking

• The grinder is struggling or clogged

Most experts recommend professional coffee machine servicing every 6–12 months, depending on how often the machine is used.

Signs You Need Coffee Machine Repairs

If your machine is showing any of the following symptoms, it may need immediate coffee machine repair:

• The machine won’t heat properly

• The pump is unusually loud

• The grinder is jammed

• Water is not flowing

• The machine displays error messages

• The steam wand is blocked even after cleaning

Prompt repairs prevent minor issues from escalating into major faults.

Why Choose Professional Coffee Machine Service in Melbourne?

Melbourne is known as Australia’s coffee capital, and many households take their home brews seriously. A professional coffee machine service Melbourne provider understands the needs of local coffee lovers and can handle all brands, including:

• Breville

• De’Longhi

• La Marzocco

• Rancilio

• Saeco

• ECM

A professional service not only restores machine performance but also extends its lifespan and protects your investment.

Final Thoughts

A clean and well-maintained coffee machine is the secret to consistently great-tasting coffee. By following daily, weekly and monthly cleaning routines—and scheduling regular coffee machine servicing—you can keep your machine running smoothly for years. And if anything goes wrong, don’t hesitate to seek professional coffee machine repairs before the issue becomes more serious.

At Coffee Addict 4U, we’re passionate about helping Aussies brew better coffee at home. With the right care and the right tools, every cup can taste as good as your favourite Melbourne café.