How to Clean Starbucks Espresso Machines

While some people may wake up in the morning feeling like Cinderella praising the birds on a sunny day, others operate more along the lines of Sleeping Beauty and cherish their morning cup of espresso. If you're lucky enough not to have to trek to your local Starbucks because you own a Starbucks-brand machine, Starbucks Barista espresso machine cleaning is vital for the longevity of this product. Who needs a glass slipper when you can have a kitchen drawer full of Starbucks barista espresso pods and a clean espresso maker.

Before you start the Starbucks Barista espresso machine cleaning process, you must turn off the machine and unplug it. Also, the machine must be thoroughly cooled down before you start cleaning. According to the Starbucks Barista manual, you should never use harsh cleaning products containing alcohol, solvents or any other abrasive type of materials when it comes to Starbucks Barista espresso machine cleaning. When cleaning the external surfaces, you can just use a damp cloth.

Before you clean the Starbucks Barista portafilter, remove the filter basket from the portafilter. You can wash the filter basket with a brush to get rid of any coffee grounds from the basket holes. When you clean the portafilter handle, make sure that you don't dislodge the center pin on the floor of the filter. If you unscrew anything in the portafilter, you'll damage the machine and need to purchase a new one.

According to the Starbucks Barista manual, you should clean the brew head at least once a month using the brew head cleaning tool that comes with the machine. The cleaning tool is specially crafted to remove any large coffee particles from the brew head basket. If you need to remove small particles, you can use a damp kitchen towel to clean the brew head.

You also need to thoroughly clean the brew head screen so the screen doesn't become super soiled or clogged. Remove the center brew head screw and pull the screen away from the brew head. Wash the brew head with a brush to remove any coffee grounds. When you put the brew head back in its original place, make sure it's correctly in place or the machine will become damaged when you brew your next espresso.

To clean the drip trays, remove them from the machine and wash them in warm, soapy water. Make sure they're thoroughly dry before you put them back. The Starbucks Barista manual recommends that you frequently wash the water tank with warm soapy water and clean the steam wand with a damp cloth after each use to avoid residue buildup. If your machine does build up residue on the steam wand tip, submerge it in a container of hot water and let it soak overnight.

According to the Starbucks manual, alongside regular Starbucks Barista espresso machine cleaning, you should descale your machine every three to six months. If you're out of descaling solution, you can use no-pulp lemon juice to descale your machine.