Backflushing an espresso machine involves forcing fresh water and cleaning detergent behind the shower screen and through the exhauset valve cleaning and removing built up coffee oil. Regular backflushing of your espresso machine will not only maintain the quality taste of your espresso machine it can prolong the life of your machine and avoid costly maintenance.

What you will need

• Group Head cleaning brush: special brush for cleaning around the group head seal and shower screen of your espresso machine
• Blind filter of backflushing membrane: blind filter is simply a filter basket without holes, a backflushing membrane is a rubber disc that sits in the bottom of your double filter basket.
• Espresso machine detergent: we recommend and use Puly Caff.

Here are the steps for backflushing your machine:

1. Clean as much loose coffee from around the group head gasket using a group head cleaning brush and rinse by operating the brew cycle withought the portafilter installed.
2. Install your blind filter basket or backflushing membrane into your portafilter and install the portafilter into the brewing group.
3. Operate the brewing cycle for about 10 seconds.
4. Disengage the brew cycle and you will notice water will vent into the drip tray from the three way solenoid.
5. Wait 10 seconds and repeat steps 2 & 4. Repeat cycle (10 seconds on, 10 seconds off ) 2 more times.
6. Remove the portafilter and give it a clean with hot water by operating the brew cycle for 10 seconds. Disengage the brew cycle.
7. Add 3-5 grams (1 teaspoon) of espresso machine powder detergent to the into the blind filter or on top of the backflushing membrane. Install the portafilter into the brewing group.
8. Operate the brewing cycle for about 10 seconds.
9. Disengage the brew cycle and you will notice water and foaming detergent will vent into the drip tray from the three way solenoid.
10. Wait 10 seconds and repeat steps 8 & 9. Repeat cycle (10 seconds on, 10 seconds off ) 4 more times.
11. Remove the portafilter and give it a clean to remove any remaining detergent with hot water by operating the brew cycle for 10 seconds. Disengage the brew cycle.
12. Install the portafilter into the brewing group.
13. Operate the brewing cycle for about 10 seconds.
14. Disengage the brew cycle. You may notice foaming detergent may still vent into the drip tray.
15. Wait 10 seconds and repeat steps 13 & 14. Repeat cycle (10 seconds on, 10 seconds off ) until no foam is released into the drip tray.
16. Replace the blind basket or backflushing membrane with a regular coffee filter basket, then make a shot of espresso and discard it to season the grouphead.
17. Empty your drip tray.
18. All done!

NOTE: Only espresso machines fitted with a 3-way solenoid are able to be backflushed. If you are unsure if your espresso machine has this feature please consult the user manual or get in touch with us.