Espresso Machine Repair in Colorado

Most of us rely on a cup of joe in the morning to kick-start the day. Although we claim not to be addicts (we totally are), missing our daily dose of coffee is guaranteed to make the day grim. Every once and a while, our espresso machine has other ideas and decides to stop working. When it does, your best bet to have the unit fixed flawlessly would be to hand it over to an experienced coffee and espresso machine repair center.

That’s we here at VacuumsRus & Sewing Too can help you out. With two locations in Arvada and Boulder, we are available seven days a week to diagnose and repair your espresso machine. We’ve been repairing both domestic and industrial appliances such as sewing machines and espresso makers for nearly two decades. Therefore, we are confident that we can tackle any issue your espresso machine might have.

The single biggest issue we see in the tech department of VacuumsRus is scale buildup due to poor water quality. Whether your municipality has hard water or you’re using distilled water that’s been sitting in an open container for too long, impurities can wreak havoc on your espresso machine. We recommend using a filtration system to remove unwanted minerals and other contaminants from your water before brewing. Not only will this help to prolong the life of your machine, but it’ll also produce better-tasting coffee. So if you’re serious about making great espresso at home, invest in a good water filter. Your machine will thank you for it.

One major reason for deposits within these machines is the use of hard water. Many businesses spend little effort to soften the water fed into the unit. Thus, the minerals in these waters build up, clogging the device. Removing them would require deeper cleaning, which is best done by a professional. Thus, we recommend you service domestic espresso machines at least once every 12 months. Commercial units, which are used more frequently, should be serviced every 6 to 8 months.

Opting for regular maintenance sessions can be quite beneficial in the long run. It can save you from future expenses as a frequently serviced unit will not require many replacements. Further, it will help you identify any problems that can cause irreversible damage sooner. 

While in depth descaling can be quite the task to tackle, there are several things that you can do from home to keep your machine in working order for as long as possible.

Clean the Steam Wand

Espresso machines are finicky creatures. If you don’t take care of them, they won’t take care of you. One important step in taking care of your espresso machine is steam wand purging. Milk buildup can damage your machine and affect the flavor of your coffee, so it’s important to purge your steam wand before and after steaming milk. To do this, simply open the steam valve and let the steam run through the wand for a few seconds. This will clear any milk residue and help keep your machine in tip-top shape. So next time you’re making espresso, don’t forget to purge your steam wand!

Wash the Group Head

After you grind, tamp, and extract your espresso, it is important to immediately flush, or purge the group head. This helps to prevent the Espresso machine from becoming clogged and ensures that each shot is evenly extracted. You can do this by simply taking your portafilter out as soon as you can after pulling your shot and wiping it clean. Make sure to also wipe down the spouts of the Espresso machine to remove any coffee grounds that may have been splattered during the extraction process. By taking these simple steps, you will help to keep your Espresso machine in good working order and ensure that each cup of coffee is perfectly brewed.

Water Back Flushing

One of the best ways to ensure your machine lasts is to perform a quick water backflush on a daily basis. This simply involves loading the portafilter with a backflush blank and flushing the Espresso machine. Doing this will help to remove any build-up of coffee grinds and keep the Espresso machine’s dispersion screen clean. In addition, it only takes a few seconds to do, so there’s really no excuse not to perform a quick water backflush every day!

Common Espresso Machine Problems

You get up early in the morning looking forward to a productive day. But before you start completing your tasks, you need that boost of energy that only a good shot of espresso can provide. You refill the reservoir and pack the portafilter, but alas, the unit stops running. This may sound like a nightmare scenario, but don’t worry – there are some things you can try from home to get the machine working again. If the issue persists, we here at Vacuums R Us will be happy to help repair your espresso machine onsite in our Arvada or Boulder locations.

Draws in Little to No Water

Espresso machines sometimes draw in no water from the tank. This can happen due to a number of reasons, such as a clogged tube, trapped air or an improperly placed water tank. If you come across this issue, switch off the machine, empty the tank and remove the water filter completely. This should take care of any trapped air. Refill the tank with water and put it back. Make sure it’s firmly pushed into place. Next, switch the machine back on again and dispense a few cups of hot water. If the issue persists, the problem might be at a more technical level which requires an experienced pair of hands.

Water Leakage

Sometimes your espresso machine creates a pool of dirty water underneath it. The primary reason for this is a clogged drain hose. Different substances like coffee grinds and chocolate that are poured down the drip tray can cause the block. A simple way to prevent this from happening is to pour a degreasing solution into the drip tray along with any discharge.

If the water collected beneath the machine is clean, it might indicate a leak in any of the many tubes that run around the machine. At times like this, you might need professional help.

Inability to Froth Milk

There are many reasons that can prevent the machine from properly frothing milk. The simplest being a blocked steam nozzle. Therefore, if you run into this issue, start by thoroughly cleaning the steam wand.

Low steam pressure will also affect the frothing process. So, make sure that the boiler pressure is set to the desired value (usually 1 bar) and that the settings of the machine don’t hinder the steam flow. If the machine is not receiving proper pressure, it would be best to bring the espresso machine in for professional assessment and repair.

If everything seems to be in order, the issue might be the quality of the milk. Milk with a high content of free fatty acids, monoglycerides and diglycerides, refuses to froth well.

Bad Tasting Espresso Shots

A bad-tasting shot of espresso can ruin a person’s entire mood. Often the culprit is the low-quality beans that were used to produce the shot. Sometimes, however, it can also be a fault of the machine. Improperly cleaned machines can contain milk and coffee residue. These leftover substances can find their way into newly made espressos, harming their flavor significantly. Servicing your machine frequently can help avoid this problem.

Need Professional Espresso Machine Repair in Colorado?

Hopefully, the above information helps you tackle the issues caused by your espresso machine. Yet sometimes, these simple solutions might be only temporary fixes.

At times like that, you would need a team of professionals to get the job done. Here at Vacuums R Us & Sewing too, we have been battling faulty machines (both industrial and domestic) for over 19 years. Thanks to a team of highly qualified individuals, we can help solve almost any problem that you may have with your espresso machine. If you need an experienced espresso machine repair center, you can always visit our stores in Boulder or Arvada. Let us mend your espresso machine so that your next shot of coffee is delicious as your first.