Backflushing your LELIT PL41TEM espresso machine is a necessary cleaning procedure to remove old coffee oil from inside the machine. Coffee oil buildup tends to create a nasty taste in your coffee and can lead to more serious failures over time. Regularly backflushing your LELIT espresso machine will not only improve the life of your machine, but also keep your coffee tasting great.
Why backflush your espresso machine
Backflushing your espresso machine not only helps to keep your coffee tasting great, but helps to reduce damage caused buy a buildup of coffee oil. The taste in coffee comes from the delicious oil contained in the coffee bean. Unfortunately on coffee machines with a three-way brewing solenoid like the LELIT PL41TEM after we stop brewing the coffee all the excess brewing pressure is released up inside the machine and out the exhaust port of the three-way solenoid. Over time, oil redisdue builds up inside the machine... particularly on the upperside of the shower screen (slowing the flow of brewing water) and in the tiny pinhole outlet of the three-way solenoid (jamming the solenoid). Regular backflushing helps to remove this oil buildup. If you notice slow water flow or dirty/burnt tasting coffee, or simply you havent backflushed in a while... Now could be a great time to backflush your machine...
What do you need?
- Espresso Machine Backflush powder (we recommend PulyCaf or Caffiza)
- Rubber Backflush Disc
Backflushing with plain water
Backflushing with plain water should be done at least once per week, however you can backflush as often as you like, it will keep the shower screen extra clean.
To backlush the machine, make sure it is switched on and heated up to operational temperature (the same as if you were going to make a coffee). Ensure the double coffee filter basket is loaded into the filter holder and insert the backflush disc. Attach the filter holder to the machine.
Turn on the pump and wait for the pressure to rise. After a few seconds the pressure should begin to rise untill it reaches maximum (the pump will make a straining sounds like when brewing espresso). Wait for 2 seconds, then turn off the pump.... The pressure should release and a jet of water should flow into the drip tray. Repeat three to five times.
Remove the backflush disc and use the machine as normal.
Backflushing with espresso machine cleaner
Backflushing with espresso machine cleaner should be done at least once per fortnight or every 35-50 espressos (i.e. if you use it alot you will have to clean it more regularly).
Backflushing with espresso machine cleaner is similar to backflushing with plain water except there are a few extra steps.
To backflush the machine, make sure it is switched on and heated up to operational temperature (the same as if you were going to make a coffee). Ensure the double coffee filter basket is loaded into the filter holder and insert the backflush disc. Add about a teaspoon of cleaning powder on top of the backflush disc and attach the filter holder to the machine.
Turn on the pump and wait for the pressure to rise. After a few seconds the pressure should begin to rise untill it reaches maximum (the pump will make a straining sounds like when brewing espresso). Wait for 2 seconds, then turn off the pump.... The pressure should release and a jet of foam/water should flow into the drip tray(it is useful to remove the drip tray grill). Repeat this process until a jet of white cleaning foam flows into the drip tray. Now leave the machine switched on and leave it for 15 minutes for the foam to dissolve the coffee oil.
After 15 minutes, we are ready to flush out the cleaning foam. Repeat the process above, operating the pump to release a jet of foam/water into the drip tray. Repeat this 3-5 times... the foam may be brown/black which is good, this means the cleaner has done its job.
Remove the filterholder and rinse clean. Keep the backflush disc in the filterholder and re-attach it to the machine. Continue the backflush procedure with plain water until only a jet of clean water is released into the drip tray (i.e. no foam).
Remove the backflush disc and make an espresso. Discard this espresso as it may contain traces of cleaning foam. Now use the machine as normal.
Cleaning tip #1
Cleaning your filterholder and basket regularly is a great idea to remove old coffee oils and keep your coffee tasting great. Get into the habit of cleaning your filterholder and baskets when you backflush with cleaning powder. To clean the filter holder and baskets, dissolve a teaspoon of cleaning powder in 1 litre of water... soak the filterholder and baskets overnight. Rinse clean the next day.
Cleaning tip #2
You can reduce the buildup of coffee oil by rinsing the filterholder after use and leaving it empty. Get in the habit of NOT leaving used coffee in the filterholder.... knock out the coffee cake, then reattach the filterholder to the machine. Operate the pump for a few seconds to flush some water through filterholder.