How Often Should You Service Your Commercial Espresso Machine?

Is servicing your espresso machine really just about calling in a tech?

That’s what many folks think including me, at first. But after chatting with a few of my coffee shop owner friends, I realized there’s way more to it.

They told me that most of the real “servicing” happens daily. For instance, simple tasks like backflushing, checking for leaks, or swapping out gaskets before they go bad.

One friend even joked that regular cleaning saved him more money than any technician ever could.

In this guide, you’ll learn how often to clean, maintain, and professionally service your commercial espresso machine. I’ll go over what tasks you can handle in-house, what to leave to the pros, and how to catch early warning signs before they turn into expensive repairs.

Key Takeaways

1. Clean Daily, Service Regularly: Basic daily tasks like backflushing, wiping steam wands, and checking for leaks prevent most major issues. You should schedule professional servicing every 6–12 months depending on your café’s volume.
2. Watch for Warning Signs: Slow water flow, strange noises, or burnt-tasting espresso are early signs your machine needs attention—don’t wait until it breaks down.
3. DIY What You Can, Hire for the Rest: You can handle routine maintenance yourself. However, leave deeper repairs and calibrations to certified technicians, especially if your machine is under warranty.

Why Regular Servicing Matters?

I once watched a café grind to a halt on a Saturday because the group head started leaking and the pressure tank wouldn’t heat up. Then I asked the coffee owner (who I know), and he said, “it hadn’t been serviced in over a year.”

As a result, customers were waiting, staff were panicking, and the owner just looked like he’d aged five years in five minutes.

1 – Prevents Equipment Failure

Regular servicing helps you avoid that kind of chaos. It keeps your machine running reliably, especially during peak hours when every second counts.

2 – Improves Espresso Quality & Consistency

And it’s not just about avoiding breakdowns. But servicing keeps your espresso tasting great too.

The reason is old gaskets, scale buildup, or inconsistent water pressure can mess with your extraction big time. One week the shots are smooth and chocolatey, the next they taste burnt and watery and you’re left scratching your head wondering what changed.

3 – Hygiene Factor

Espresso machines deal with heat, moisture, milk, and coffee oils all day long. So if you’re not cleaning and maintaining them, you’re basically inviting mold and bacteria to hang out. That can lead to health code violations or, worse, sick customers.

4 – Extends Lifespan

Regular tune-ups and part replacements can add years to its lifespan. Plus you can save a ton of money long term.

Daily Maintenance Tasks (Every Day)

I recommend you keep these daily habits and don’t skip them. They’ll help you keep your machine running smoothly and have your coffee taste great.

Backflushing with Water and Cleaning Solution

Well, using water alone isn’t enough. After a few days, your shots may start tasting off, and the group head gets this weird smell.

For this reason, every night before closing, you should pop in a blind filter, add a scoop of Catiza, and run a full backflush cycle on each group head. Afterward, rinse with water until everything runs clean. Probably it only takes about five minutes.

Wiping Down Steam Wands and Group Heads

If I had a dollar for every crusty steam wand I’ve seen, I’d own my own café by now.

You should wipe it down after every use. But also give it a good scrub at the end of the day. For this, use a dedicated milk cleaner soak once or twice a week.

However, daily wipe-downs with a damp cloth keep things clean and safe. For the group heads, remove any built-up coffee grounds or oils as those can mess with your shots and even clog the screen.

Emptying and Cleaning Drip Trays and Knock Boxes

You shouldn’t leave them unclean overnight, or by morning, you’ll be hit with one of the worst smells imaginable.

Always dump the knock box, rinse it, and dry it out. Same goes for the drip tray. You want to flush out any gunk or standing water—otherwise, mold and bacteria will show up fast.

Checking for Leaks or Blockages

This one’s easy to forget but important. I recommend taking a few seconds to look around the machine. Do you see any puddles under the group head? Is the steam wand leaking after use?

If something seems off, don’t ignore it. You may catch issues early by spotting a tiny drip before it turns into a costly repair. A quick daily check saves time (and cash) down the line.

Weekly & Monthly Maintenance Tasks

These cleaning and maintenance habits go beyond the daily wipe-downs. For instance, consider:

Deep Clean Group Heads with Detergent (Weekly)

At least once a week, you should run a deeper clean through the group heads using a proper espresso machine cleaner. I suggest Cafiza for this.

It helps flush out the coffee oils and residue that water alone won’t touch. I suggest backflushing with the detergent first, then following it up with a few rinse cycles until the water runs clear.

Soak Portafilters and Baskets (Weekly)

You’d be shocked how much buildup hides in those tiny holes and around the handle. For this, soak the portafilter heads and baskets in hot water with a scoop of detergent for about 15–20 minutes.

After that, scrub any stubborn oils with a brush especially around the crevices where gunk loves to live.

Inspect Gaskets and Shower Screens (Weekly)

Once a week, you give the group head gaskets and shower screens a once-over. If you notice water leaking around the portafilter or extra resistance when locking it in, your gasket might be worn out.

The fact is screens can also clog with fine coffee particles. So you should pop them off and clean them with a soft brush or soak them if needed.

Clean Water Reservoir and Check Water Filter (If Applicable – Monthly)

Once a month, you drain and scrub the water reservoir to prevent any slime or scale from forming.

If your machine uses a built-in water filter, make sure to check its condition and replace it based on usage or manufacturer guidance.

The problem is skipping this can lead to mineral buildup inside the boiler, which gets expensive really fast.

Test Brew Temperature and Pressure (Monthly)

You check the brew temp and pressure monthly to make sure everything’s still dialed in. An espresso shot that suddenly starts tasting bitter or sour could mean the temp is off, or the pressure dropped.

If you’ve got a machine with PID control or a pressure gauge, take a few minutes to make sure it’s still within your ideal range (usually around 9 bars for pressure and 195–205°F for temp).

When to Schedule Professional Servicing?

Even if you’re staying on top of daily and weekly cleaning, commercial espresso machines still need a proper tune-up from time to time. So, here’s what you should do:

Every 6 Months to 1 Year for Standard Use

If you’re running a smaller shop or your machine isn’t being used constantly throughout the day, getting it professionally serviced once or twice a year is usually enough. This helps keep things calibrated, clean, and running the way they should.

More Frequently for High-Volume Cafes (Every 3–6 Months)

For busy cafés pumping out drinks non-stop, more frequent servicing is a must. One of my friends runs a café that does over 400 drinks a day. Usually, they get their machine looked at every 3 months. The wear and tear adds up faster, especially on gaskets, group heads, and boilers.

Includes Full Inspection, Gasket Replacement, Boiler Descaling, Calibration

When you book a service, you’re not just getting a quick wipe-down. A full service commonly includes checking and replacing worn gaskets and seals, descaling the boiler and internal lines, and recalibrating pressure and temperature settings.

Hire Certified Technicians Familiar with Your Brand (e.g., La Marzocco, Nuova Simonelli, etc.)

This is important. You don’t just hire anyone. Instead, get a tech who knows your specific machine brand inside and out.

I’ve seen machines get worse after a bad service because the tech wasn’t familiar with the brand’s parts or software.

For instance, brands like La Marzocco or Nuova Simonelli have certified service partners, and it’s worth sticking with them. They’ll have the right tools, replacement parts, and up-to-date training to keep your machine running like new.

Signs Your Espresso Machine Needs Servicing Sooner

Sometimes your espresso machine starts sending little signals before a full breakdown hits. You shouldn’t ignore these warning signs before it gets worse.

Slow Water Flow or Low Pressure

If your shots are suddenly trickling out way slower than usual, or your pressure gauge isn’t reaching the right bars, something’s off. It could be a clogged group screen, a failing pump, or mineral buildup in the lines.

Leaking from Group Head or Steam Wand

A little drip here and there might not seem like a big deal. But constant leaking usually means a worn-out gasket or loose fitting.

Furthermore, steam wand leaks can also mess with milk texture and waste steam power.

Burnt or Inconsistent Taste

If your coffee suddenly tastes bitter, sour, or just off even with fresh beans and proper technique, it might be a temp or pressure issue.

This is one of the first signs that your machine’s internal settings or cleanliness needs attention.

Noisy Pump or Strange Machine Behavior

Weird buzzing, rattling, or grinding noises? You should pause and investigate. Often pumps that get louder or start acting up mean something’s working harder than it should. This can either be from scale buildup or a failing part.

Temperature Fluctuations During Extraction

If your machine can’t hold a consistent brew temp, you’ll notice it in the coffee. In other words, shots won’t taste the same, and extraction gets unpredictable. This could be a sign of a bad thermostat, failing PID controller, or even a heating element starting to go.

Last Thoughts

Do you have questions about servicing? Or maybe a tip or routine that’s worked wonders in your shop? Drop it in the comments. I’d love to hear what’s worked for you.