A coffee machine is a key component of any café or restaurant. However, in order to keep your customers happy, you will need to make sure that the appliance is kept in good working order. Below is a guide to 3 things you can do to keep your coffee tasting great.

Wipe Down the Milk Wand

You should instruct your staff to wipe down the milk wand every time it has been used to steam milk for use in a cup of coffee. This can be done by running a damp cloth along the surface of the wand. They should then turn on the steam to remove any particles of liquid which are trapped inside the nozzles. Failure to do this can lead to old dry milk being mixed with the fresh coffee which will spoil its taste.

Clean the Chassis 

At the end of every shift, a staff member should wipe down the chassis of the coffee machine using a soft cloth and warm water. Doing so will remove any splashes of milk or spilt coffee grounds. If you fail to do this, not only will the machine look unappealing to customers, it could also become the breeding ground for bacteria which could pose a health risk to your staff and customers.

Descale the Machine

You will also need to periodically descale the inside of your coffee machine. How often this task needs to be performed will depend upon how hard or soft your water supply is. Hard water refers to water which contains additional minerals such as magnesium and calcium. When hard water is boiled, these minerals are left behind and can build up and form a scale on the surface of the valves, pipes and water tanks within your coffee machine. If you do not descale your coffee machine, the mineral deposits may cause the appliance to malfunction.

To descale your coffee machine, you simply need to purchase some descaling product from your local kitchen supply or appliance service store. This powder contains citric acid which will break down any mineral deposits. Once you have dissolved the powder in the water tank and run the coffee machine, you should flush the machine by rerunning it using a tank of clean water. You should not use white vinegar to descale your coffee machine as this can create a lingering and unpleasant taste in any coffee produced by the machine.

If you would like further advice, you should contact an appliance technician that works with coffee makers like the La Marzocco coffee machines.

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