How to Clean and Backflush E61 Group Head Machines

These instructions and this video will guide you through how to clean and maintain your E61 group head espresso machine, including backflushing and group gasket and shower screen cleaning.

You can keep your machine's group head clean by backflushing with water and backflushing with detergent. We recommend a 30 second water backflush at the end of any day the machine is used, but if you can manage twice a week that will be fine as well. Detergent backflushing we recommend about once every 6-12 weeks for E61 machines, depending on usage. We recommend replacing the group gasket and shower screen yearly. Backflushing more frequently will require more frequent maintenance to keep the group head components lubricated. We recommend using a food-safe lubricant like Molykote Dow-111 comound to lubricate the cam shaft after every third detergent backflush.

Backflushing with detergent:

1. Insert the blind filter and add up to 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) of Cafetto EVO Espresso Machine Cleaner. Lock your portafilter into the group head.
2. Activate the brew cycle for 10 seconds and allow the machine to release pressure. Repeat 5-8 times, depending on how dirty your group head is.
3. Remove portafilter. Activate the brew cycle and rinse the portafilter in the stream of water from the group head. Stop the cycle.
4. Insert the blind filter. Lock your portafilter into the group head again, this time with a clean blind filter without the cleaner. Repeat step 2 to rinse and ensure that no detergent residue remains.
5. Make and discard a shot of espresso (only for detergent backflush).
6. Soak filters and the metal portion of the portafilter (do not submerge the plastic handle) for 30 minutes in 1 teaspoon (6 g) of Biocaf powder per 32 oz. (1 L) of hot water.
7. Rinse with water and put filters back (only for detergent backflush).

Once you incorporate backflushing into a regular maintenance routine, the five extra minutes it takes to show your machine some love will save both your taste buds and your wallet. However, even a backflushing routine may not be able to clean out everything on the other side of your dispersion screen. Luckily, a little scrubbing or a new dispersion screen can make a world of difference to the taste of your finished product. The process of removing your dispersion screen and cleaning your machine is a simple one that we recommend doing once a week as part of maintaining your machine and ensuring a quality cup of espresso. Below, we will explore the removal, cleaning, and reinstallation of different kinds of screens.

Tools you will need:

• Pallo Brush
• Screwdriver
• Replacement Gasket - if necessary
• Towel
• Portafilter

Remove the shower screen

Gasket tension: E61s use the tension of the group gasket to lock the shower screen in place. To remove an E61 shower screen, you’ll need a flathead screwdriver to pry out the shower screen and gasket, using the edge of the group head as a pivot point to loosen it from where it is held.

Scrub the shower screen

Once you’ve removed your shower screen, you can scrub all the built-up grime out of the inside of your group head and shower screen. To get all the unwanted build-up out of your group, we recommend a warm, wet rag and a Pallo brush. The rag will help to loosen up any hardened coffee grounds and debris inside the group head and shower screen. After you’ve scrubbed the shower screen and group with a rag, give them a good scrubbing with a brush and use the rag again to clean out the leftovers.

We do not recommend using a brush with hard bristles on the shower screen, as it can cause inconsistencies in how the water disperses and result in channeling every time you pull shots with that screen in place. Dropping your portafilter and shower screen into a glass of water with 1 scoop of Biocaf for 15 minutes will clean them nicely and avoid harshness.

Some machines have an internal dispersion plate that is removable as well as an external dispersion screen, these plates are removable and also will need to be cleaned as they can have coffee grind build up over time. After somewhere between one and two years, we recommend replacing the screen entirely on your machine, as even with thorough cleaning, they wear out and need replacement.

Reinsert the shower screen. Once the inside of your group and shower screen are pristine, you can reinsert the screen the same way you removed it. For E61 groups, we recommend using a food-safe lubricant, such as Molykote 111, on the gasket to reseat the gasket and shower screen.

Use a screwdriver to push the gasket back into place gently. A great pro tip is to remove the basket from your portafilter and use that to ensure the gasket is fully seated back on the group head.

Now that you’ve cleaned your group head, rejoice at the clear, concise flavor you’ve helped your machine to produce! Cheers!

We carry replacement group gaskets and shower screens in our web store. For convenience, we offer everything you need to refresh your machine's group head in these handy kits:

Standard E61 Group Head Maintenance Kit

Premium E61 Group Head Maintenance Kit

Cafetto EVO Espresso Machine Cleaner