Daily habits
Purge the group, empty the drip tray and wipe the steam wand immediately after milk use. These small habits prevent most dirty flavours.
Do not leave wet pucks and old milk residue around the machine.
Coffee oils
Espresso leaves oils in baskets, portafilters and group parts. Clean them regularly with a suitable espresso cleaner.
If coffee starts tasting rancid or dull, dirty parts may be part of the problem.
Scale and water
Scale depends on your water. In the Netherlands, hardness varies by location, so follow the machine manual and local water reality.
Do not descale blindly if the manufacturer recommends another routine.
Keep records
A simple reminder for cleaning and filters is enough. Maintenance should feel like brushing your machine’s teeth, not like a project.
When in doubt, use the manual for your exact model.