If you want good coffee, you need not only good beans – but also clean equipment. Old coffee grease, limescale, and stale water can kill even the best aroma. Whether you're using a portafilter, brewing your V60, or simply firing up your filter machine every morning – a little care is good for your coffee. Here are our 10 tips for clean machines, fresh taste, and a long life for your coffee equipment:

1. Clean up the boat daily

Espresso machine? Rinse the portafilter, wipe the steam wand, empty the drip tray.
Filter coffee machine? Wash out the filter holder, rinse the carafe, change the water.
French press? Clean immediately after brewing, otherwise everything will stick.
Small adjustments, big impact. The difference in taste? Immediately noticeable.

2. Fresh water = fresh coffee

Water is the basis of coffee—over 90% of your cup is made of it. If you leave old water in the reservoir, it will taste... well, old. So: Add fresh water daily. Preferably filtered.

3. Remove coffee grease – regularly

Oils from the coffee settle everywhere: in the portafilter, the glass carafe, and the brewing group. The result: a musty, rancid taste. What helps? Clean once a week with a coffee oil remover or a mild household cleaner (e.g., baking soda).

4. Backflushing on the portafilter machine – please don’t forget

Backflush once a day with clean water, twice a week with ground coffee – that's it. This way, the brewing group stays clean and your espresso doesn't suddenly taste the same as it did the day before yesterday.

5. Milk system? Clean immediately

Milk foam nozzle, steam wand, or milk hose – everything that comes into contact with milk should be cleaned immediately after use. Otherwise, it'll get disgusting. And you don't want that. Trust us.

6. Descaling – depending on water hardness

Water leaves traces – especially limescale. This builds up on heating elements and pipes, affecting temperature and taste. The harder the water, the more frequently you need to descale (every 4–8 weeks is a good starting point). Ideally, use a gentle descaler or citric acid solution (for machines that can tolerate it).

7. The good old filter coffee machine – also has its needs

• Clean the jug and filter insert regularly
• Don’t forget the spray head (greases settle there too!)
• Descaling is especially important here because there is no internal water filter

By the way: It is also worth using filtered water here.

8. Mill & grinder – clean more often

Brushing it out once a week is often enough. If you grind a lot, you can also run special cleaning tablets through it. Old coffee grounds and oils in the grinder act like old socks in your cup. Nope.

9. Stay away from harsh cleaners

Lemon spray with artificial fragrance? Nope. Dish soap with apple flavor? Please, no. Use neutral cleaners or special coffee cleaners. Your coffee should taste like beans, not springtime freshness.

10. Separate cloths – seriously

Steam wand, brewing group, and housing – these are different areas. Use different cloths and wash them regularly. This will keep everything hygienic and flavor neutral.

Conclusion: Clean = delicious

Coffee enjoyment begins with clean equipment. This isn't a hygiene obsession, but simply a matter of respect for your beans – and your palate. Invest a few minutes in caring for your machine, and it will thank you with pure flavor.