Cleaning and backflushing an E61 group head on an espresso machine is an important part of maintaining the machine and ensuring that the coffee it produces tastes its best. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Start by turning off the power to the machine and allowing it to cool down.
2. Remove the portafilter from the group head and disassemble it, cleaning any coffee grounds or debris from the basket and the spouts.
3. Next, you’ll want to remove the shower screen from the group head. This is the metal plate that sits on top of the group head and directs water onto the coffee. Use a brush or a toothpick to remove any buildup of coffee oils and debris.
4. With the shower screen removed, you can now backflush the group head. To do this, you’ll need a backflush detergent (such as Urnex Cafiza) and a blind basket (a special basket that is used during the backflushing process and has no holes).
5. Place the blind basket into the portafilter and add a small amount of the backflush detergent.
6. Reinstall the portafilter into the group head, making sure it is securely in place.
7. Turn the machine on and run water through the group head for a few seconds to wet the detergent and the blind basket.
8. Now, activate the machine’s backflush cycle. This will send a high-pressure stream of water and detergent through the group head and into the blind basket, cleaning the internal components.
9. Repeat the backflush cycle two to three times, or as recommended by the machine’s manual.

Finally, turn off the machine and remove the portafilter, discarding the blind basket and any remaining detergent. Clean the portafilter, reassemble it and reattach it to the machine, and you’re done!

We recommend placing the coffee filter paper over your powder bowl during brewing, it won’t be a tedious step for you, but it will keep your brew head clean and reduce the number of times you have to clean it.

It is recommended to backflush the E61 group head machine at least once a day and always after heavy use. This will help to remove buildup of coffee oils and other debris, and ensure that your machine is producing the best-tasting coffee possible.