Bought a used espresso machine off Facebook and the guy threw in a trick I still use

I picked up a beat up Gaggia from a guy in Portland last Saturday for 60 bucks. He was clearing out his garage and said the thing had been sitting for two years. While I was handing him the cash, he told me to always run a vinegar cycle through any used machine before I even think about pulling a shot. I figured he was just being dramatic, but I did it anyway and the water that came out was gross. Brownish and speckled with old coffee grit. Now I wonder how many people buy second hand espresso gear and just plug it in without cleaning. Has anyone else found a random tip from a stranger that actually saved your gear?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavin_hill2729d ago

Vinegar works but you're getting half the story. Hit that machine with straight descaling powder first time every time. Vinegar leaves that sour smell that hangs around in the boiler for weeks. I picked up a Silvia once, ran vinegar through it, and my first five shots tasted like salad dressing. Had to run ten full tanks of fresh water through to kill the aftertaste. Citric acid powder is like ten bucks on Amazon and does the job without making your kitchen smell like a fish and chip shop. Also pull the shower screen and soak that separately. People forget the gunk hides behind there and you'll never get it clean with just a backflush.

the_tara29d ago

Isn't it funny how the best life advice usually comes from strangers in a garage or parking lot? That guy probably saved you from drinking month old sludge, just like the old timer who told me to always let a lawnmower sit for ten minutes before checking the oil. We ignore simple wisdom because it sounds too easy, then we learn the hard way. The vinegar vs. descaling debate aside, the real lesson is that people who've already broken something are the ones who know how to keep it running. It's like how the guy who crashed his truck into a ditch is the same guy who can tell you exactly which back road turns to ice first.

maryt6219d ago

Wait, you're telling me you ran vinegar through a used machine and the first five shots tasted like salad dressing? That's wild @the_tara probably has a point about learning from other people's mistakes though.