We just purchased a La San Marco 85-16M-3 from 2002 off Craiglist. The machine has not been used in about five years, as it was bought as a backup machine for a small coffee shop. It has been sitting in a garage, so the inside is quite dirty and some of the valves have calcium or lime deposits.

What is the best way to go about cleaning and/or descaling this machine? I bought JoeGlo detergent, but I want to make sure that the machine is thoroughly clean and safe before I serve any espresso. Would it be a good idea to hire someone to professionally service the machine?

Thank you for any input on this topic. We are new to the process of maintaining and cleaning espresso machines, so it would be nice to have some guidance on the best course of action.

PringleCreek wrote:It has been sitting in a garage, so the inside is quite dirty and some of the valves have calcium or lime deposits.

Was it drained and water lines blown out before being stored in an unheated space? If not, the pump, boiler, valves, etc. may have been damaged by freezing and a professional repair assessment is in order.

If this is the same machine I just check out last week before someone here in Eugene was going to buy it I can tell you that it will need more than that,
inside the boiler the situation is pretty bad,
sight glass leaks, groups are in bad shape, etc etc

Looks like you are going to become good friends with Devon the parts guy over at EspressoParts.com. I've been buying parts for my LM Linea from him and I highly recommend him for support service.