As it’s the time of year for cleaning around the house, here’s a quick tip for anyone with an espresso machine that needs some love.
While my Sage (Breville) Bambino Plus prompts to do regular descaling cycles, and even a cleaning backflush for the group head and brew circuit, there’s one hidden part that gets easily dirty and blocked, and can drastically alter the taste of your coffee.
The ‘shower screen’ (sometimes called group head screen, or dispersion screen) sits directly between the machine and your portafilter, and can get seriously filthy – remove the portafilter and look up if you can’t see it.
Often held in with a simple screw, this will almost certainly contain a layer of coffee residue that’s not only rancid, but will also be preventing your machine from dispersing the water effectively. Cleaning is obvious – just give it a wipe over, and get brewing again.