Why Should I Service My Coffee Machine?

Ernie, Service Engineer at Stokes Tea & Coffee

Well, in short, the same reason that we service and MOT our cars. Coffee machines are relatively complex pieces of equipment often put under heavy load year-round, and as such can develop a whole host of minor niggles.

Just like your car, your coffee machine needs regular TLC to keep it running at its best. A machine that’s not operating at 100% can easily lead to a below par product, or worse, no product at all!

Servicing your machine simply helps find and fix these niggles before they turn into expensive headaches further down the road.

So what are we looking out for?

Limescale: The coffee machine boogey man

We’re based in the heart of Lincolnshire which is right up there as one of the most consistently hard water areas in the UK, creating one of the biggest challenges both we and our customers face, Limescale! The coffee machine killer. (queue horror sounds)

Limescale is one of the most common problems we see with coffee machines, and it’s often the silent culprit behind many issues. This chalky, not particularly appetising off-white crust builds up inside the internal boiler and on surfaces thanks to the hard water.

But what exactly is hard water? It’s simply water that contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. When the water evaporates, those minerals stay behind, forming limescale deposits. The harder the water, the more limescale deposits, lovely!

Why is it a ‘silent culprit’? Because limescale is only forming where water has evaporated, that means it collects almost exclusively on the internals of the machine, so while you may have a lovely shiny machine on the outside, that may not be a reflection of what’s going on under the hood.

Over time, that limescale can clog up pipes and damage your machine’s internal components. If left untreated, this build-up can lead to costly repairs and a shortened machine life span.

So what to look out for? – the first external sign you’re likely to see is a small scale build up on the hot water tap of your machine, while not necessarily a big deal, this would be a good time to give your machine and water supply a check.

Fighting off limescale

The biggest and easiest step to prevent limescale from causing long-term damage is to install a high quality water filter, which helps to remove all of those crusty forming minerals from the water before they ever reach your machine. Not only will this help your machine run smoothly, but it's designed specifically with the taste of your coffee in mind, allowing for a better extraction process, ensuring a higher-quality drink. An all-round win win!

While a water filter is a great first step, it’s important to remember that regular cleaning and servicing go hand-in-hand with water treatment. Consistent maintenance and filter checks/replacement helps ensure your machine remains in top condition and that you’ll get the most out of your investment.

If you’re a Stokes customer you can read all about what filter options might best suit  you ‘here’.

How Often Should I Service My Machine?

To keep rehashing the ‘just like your car’ analogy, even with the best cleaning habits, coffee machines still experience wear and tear over time. Key components can break down or fail, and water filters have a limited lifespan. To keep your machine working at its best, we recommend getting your coffee machine serviced once a year just like you would for your MOT.

Annual servicing will help keep minor issues in check before they become major problems. Giving us engineers a chance to fully inspect the inside of the boiler and machine internals, replacing worn seals, hunting for scale and ensuring your machine is making the best product it can while looking to spot any potential issues before they ever get to become one.

How Do I Know My Coffee Machine Needs a Service?

So, how do you know when it’s time to give your machine a spa day? Well the simple answer is whenever it starts or stops doing something it wasn’t doing before, or every 12 months, whichever comes first. But here are a few common signs that indicate it might be time for a delve inside:

• Incorrect coffee levels in your cup
• Difficulty locking the group handle into the group head
• Coffee dispenses too quickly or too slowly
• Water not hot enough or slow to heat up
• Unable to froth milk properly/low steam pressure
• Pump pressure drops below 9 bar
• Leaks from the grouphead, filter basket, or generally water coming from where it shouldn’t
• Any noticeable signs of scale (Check that hot water tap!)
• Consistent error messages (Bean to cup machines)

These can often be minor issues at first but it’s best to get booked in once these issues start to creep in.

Final Thoughts

Your coffee machine is obviously a vital part of your business, and like any piece of equipment, it needs regular servicing to stay in peak condition. Whether it’s preventing limescale build-up, improving water quality, or ensuring everything runs smoothly, a little maintenance goes a long way, giving you peace of mind that you’ve potentially added years to your machine all while producing a better product.