Why does a fully automatic machine require a lot of maintenance?
The importance of maintenance
Maintenance keeps the appliance in good condition. If you don't maintain the coffee machine well, it'll break sooner. It's possible the machine starts leaking, that the coffee doesn't get hot, or that the milk frothing function gets blocked. Old milk residue turn moldy if you don't remove it in time.
Which maintenance do you do?
Daily maintenance
- Rinse the milk system
- Empty and clean the drip tray
Milk residue can result in bacteria in your coffee machine. The residue can give off an odor and you'll have mold before you know it. That's why you should rinse the milk system every time you make some coffee. Water, coffee, and coffee grounds can end up in the drip tray. That's why you should empty it daily. If you wait too long, the drip tray will overflow, and the coffee grounds container can mold.
Weekly maintenance
- Clean brew group
- Thoroughly clean the milk system
You clean the brew group of your coffee machine weekly. You do this by removing the brew group from the device and thoroughly clean it under the faucet with lukewarm water. You can then grease it with silicone grease, so it works smoothly. You can clean the milk system weekly with a special cleaner. You can clean the separate parts of the milk system, like a milk tube, or a milk reservoir with a lid, with some soapy water.
Other periodic maintenance
- Replace water filter (every 2 months)
- Descale the coffee machine (every 4 months)
Limescale is the real enemy of your coffee machine. The tubes can get blocked, there's a higher risk of errors, and your coffee can taste worse. That's why it's important to place a water filter in the water tank, so you can largely prevent limescale. You also have to descale the device in time.
The ease of maintenance differs per model
It depends on the model how much you have to maintain your fully automatic coffee machine. The one coffee machine has an automatic automated cleaning feature, and other machines require less actions. Coffee machines with an extensive display will guide you through the maintenance step by step. We've clearly listed the ease of maintenance for all the fully automatic coffee machines. This way, you know for sure what kind of coffee machine you're getting.