The Ultimate Guide to Coffee Machine Maintenance

Clean Equipment Equals Better Coffee – Why Maintenance Matters 

Whether your coffee machine is manual or automatic, regular cleaning and maintenance are essential to keep it running well and brewing great-tasting coffee. 

Lack of maintenance is one of the biggest coffee machine killers. It is inevitable that with every shot of coffee and every jug of milk steamed, a build-up of oils and milk residue can occur.  

Without the proper care, coffee machines can quickly become a haven for creepy crawlies like cockroaches.  

Discover the essential daily, weekly and monthly tasks to keep both manual espresso machines and JURA automatic coffee machines in top shape. So you can enjoy great coffee all day, every day.  

Manual Espresso Machines 

Keeping your manual espresso machine in top shape requires regular care, but the payoff is consistently great coffee and a longer-lasting machine.  

Back flushing 

One of the most effective things you can do daily is a water backflush, which uses the machine's pump to force hot water back through the system, pushing out any accumulated debris. 

Just insert your blind basket into the portafilter, lock it into the group head, and run the brew cycle for 10–15 seconds. Stop, let the pressure release, and repeat the process five times. 

Depending on the usage a weekly, fortnightly or monthly backflush with espresso cleaner is also essential. If you are only making a couple of coffees a day, a monthly backflush with cleaner is sufficient. You want to ensure you are not over using the cleaner as the machine does need some coffee oils to help it function properly and prevent damage. Use about a quarter of a teaspoon of espresso cleaning powedr, and run the cycle in 10-second bursts on and off, five times. After that, purge thoroughly until the water runs clean. 

Portafilter & Basket 

On a daily basis, you will need to clean your portafilter (inside and out) using warm water, some detergent and a cloth or soft scourer.  

If it’s particularly dirty, soak the portafilter head (not the handle) in a solution of water and espresso cleaner for an hour or overnight (think of it like cleaning a frying pan that’s had something stuck on for too long). 

Once soaked, rinse and wipe it down with a damp cloth. 

The inside and outside of your filter basket should also be rinsed daily to avoid coffee stains and build-up, which can negatively affect the taste of your coffees over time. 

Drip Tray 

Always empty your drip tray after you’re done with the machine. If you find there are stains or coffee build up, give it a proper clean with warm soapy water and a cloth once a week.  

Group Head 

The shower screen from the group head can be removed and cleaned with warm, soapy water. While it’s off, wipe down the inside of the group head to remove any hidden grime.  

It’s also a good idea to replace the group head gasket every year or so, as it can wear down and affect the seal. 

Steam Wand 

After every use, immediately clean the steam wand with a damp cloth and give it a quick purge. 

For deeper cleaning, remove the steam wand tip and soak it in warm water and detergent or milk cleaning solution for 5-20 minutes. Then give it a gentle scrub, rinse and dry.  

If the steam wand holes are blocked from milk residue, a needle or a dedicated cleaning tool can be used to clear them. 

We recommend doing this monthly as milk residue can quickly build up over time.  

Descaling 

Descaling is critical for your machine’s longevity. We strongly recommend to always leave descaling to professionals as doing it yourself can cause serious damage by loosening scale and blocking internal pipes.  

If you’re not sure if your machine needs to be descaled, there are several symptoms of lime scale build-up which include but are not limited to: 

• Inconsistent brew temperatures 

• Reduced water flow 

• Loss of steam power, or  

• Frequent breakdowns 

A simple test you can try to check for scale build up: 

With some scales and a carafe, run your machine for 30 seconds without the portafilter in and weigh the water output. Over time, if that amount decreases, its likely scale is building up. Check this every few months to catch issues early. 

Getting your machine serviced every 12-18 months is one of the best things you can do to keep your machine running smoothly and increase its lifespan. 

JURA Automatic Coffee Machines 

For JURA coffee machines, the right maintenance guarantees the optimum coffee result and measurably extends the lifetime of your automatic machine. 

The cleanliness and hygienic handling of milk, coffee and water all correlate to that perfect coffee result. The best part is that each cleaning element can be done at the touch of a button.  

JURA has specially developed a range of maintenance products to make your cleaning experience as streamline and straightforward as possible. 

When you own a JURA for the first time there are three items you’ll need: a water filter, cleaning tablets and milk system cleaner. That’s it. 

CLARIS Water Filter 

The CLARIS filter cartridge plays a crucial role in regulating water quality, which directly impacts the aroma and flavour of your specialty coffees.  

To ensure optimal performance, it should be replaced after around 50 litres of water usage or every two months, whichever comes first. 

Luckily, JURA machines make this process easy. Thanks to their smart interface, you’ll receive an on-screen notification when it’s time to replace the filter.  

To change the CLARIS Smart or Smart+ filter, simply access the filter replacement menu on your machine, remove the old filter, install the new one, and allow the machine to run a rinse cycle to activate it. 

Cleaning Tablets 

JURA offers 3-phase-cleaning tablets which help clean, care and protect your JURA coffee machine.  

We recommend using these at least once a month for optimal performance of your machine and to prevent coffee residue build up.  

While the machine may prompt a cleaning cycle after a certain number of cups (typically 180-200), it's best to manually clean it monthly, especially in a household where less than 200 cups a month are made. 

If your machine needs a clean, all it takes is a single cleaning tablet. Combined with high temperatures, the tablet breaks down coffee oils, residue, and fats in the brewing unit while eliminating germs.  

The result? A cleaner machine and better-tasting coffee in every cup. 

Milk System Cleaner 

Used in combination with the automatic cleaning program, JURA’s milk system cleaner effectively removes milk fats and proteins, keeping internal pipes clean and hygienic. This ensures consistent, high-quality milk foam every time. 

Just like with the CLARIS filter, your machine will notify you when it’s time to clean the milk system. When prompted, simply access the milk system cleaning program and follow the on-screen instructions. It’s quick, easy, and essential for maintaining optimal performance. 

Descaling 

It’s important to note that if your machine uses a CLARIS Smart water filter, you do not need to descale your machine as regularly as a machine without the filter. 

Otherwise, JURA provides their customers with descaling tablets. We recommend descaling your JURA automatic coffee machine at least twice a year.  

You will receive a machine notification when descaling is needed. If you use your machine frequently, you may need to descale more often. 

Servicing 

We recommend servicing your Jura coffee machine every 2000 to 2500 cups of coffee. 

General Rinsing & Daily Cleaning 

While many JURA models feature automatic rinsing cycles after each use, a quick manual rinse with warm water can help remove any lingering coffee residue from the system and keep things extra fresh.  

After each use, it’s also a good habit to wipe down the drip tray and any milk or water splashes on the machine using a clean, damp cloth. 

For the best tasting coffee, rinse and replace the water tank with fresh water daily.  

Grounds Container & Drip Tray 

To keep your machine hygienic and running smoothly, make sure to empty the coffee grounds container regularly. Allowing used grounds to sit too long can lead to mould and unpleasant odours.  

Likewise, the drip tray should be emptied after every use to avoid overflow and keep your setup clean and tidy.