Cleaning the inside of a portafilter?
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- Posts: 177
- Joined: 10 years ago
The double spouted PF that came with my used Mini Vivaldi is super dirty inside the portafilter under the basket. If I rub it with my finger, it has sort of sticky feeling as though it's caked on coffee oils...but Joe-Glo doesn't do a thing. I tried soapy water to no avail as well. I'm not sure what Portafilters are generally made of (SS? Chrome?), but does anyone have ideas of how to clean it?
I don't have a camera handy to take a picture of it, but it's like weird mix of brown/grey/orange. The outside is nice and shiny! I assume they're the PF's that shipped with the machine, although I bought it used so can't confirm.
I have convinced myself it is effecting taste, and won't use anything other than a naked, but I'd love to be able to split my flow.
I don't have a camera handy to take a picture of it, but it's like weird mix of brown/grey/orange. The outside is nice and shiny! I assume they're the PF's that shipped with the machine, although I bought it used so can't confirm.
I have convinced myself it is effecting taste, and won't use anything other than a naked, but I'd love to be able to split my flow.
- sweaner
- Posts: 3013
- Joined: 16 years ago
Did you soak it in the cleaner for a while, using boiling water? That should work. Soak it overnight.
Scott
LMWDP #248
LMWDP #248
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- Posts: 177
- Joined: 10 years ago
The water wasn't boiling, but it was steaming from the faucet, and I soaked it about 6 hours while I was at work. I'll try boiling overight tonight and see how that pans out.
- drgary
- Team HB
- Posts: 14372
- Joined: 14 years ago
Also I wonder if the JoGlo was sufficiently concentrated. There's no magic with this, it should work.
Gary
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
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- Posts: 3837
- Joined: 10 years ago
Sometimes the inside of the PF is not chrome plated and you can see parts of the copper layer, base metal, chrome etc...without a picture it is hard to say anything more than that phosphate based cleaner works for my portafilter and bottom of the filter basket .
My PF looks (and feels) like crap on the inside, but who cares...
My PF looks (and feels) like crap on the inside, but who cares...
LMWDP #483
- dominico
- Team HB
- Posts: 2007
- Joined: 9 years ago
Soak it overnight in pulycaff.
https://bit.ly/3N1bhPR
Il caffè è un piacere, se non è buono che piacere è?
Il caffè è un piacere, se non è buono che piacere è?
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- Posts: 177
- Joined: 10 years ago
Well, a simple wipe with a paper towel didn't do anything after the overnight soak...so I gave it a go with some elbow grease and the rough side of my kitchen sponge. Definitely helped...but not perfect. There don't seem to be any more stains or spots...just a general discoloration. Is the inside supposed to be bright and shiny like the outside?
- stefano65
- Sponsor
- Posts: 1405
- Joined: 17 years ago
Apart from the different espresso detergents that us and other vendors sells,
when I have to clean a very very dirty one sent in with a machine for repairs
hand cleaner abrasive paste does a very good job to get the bulk out,
then traditional detergents in hot boiling water soak
when I have to clean a very very dirty one sent in with a machine for repairs
hand cleaner abrasive paste does a very good job to get the bulk out,
then traditional detergents in hot boiling water soak
Stefano Cremonesi
Stefano's Espresso Care
Repairs & sales from Oregon.
Stefano's Espresso Care
Repairs & sales from Oregon.
- keno
- Posts: 1409
- Joined: 18 years ago
Most portafilters are chrome plated brass and eventually the chrome plating wears off leaving the brass exposed which holds coffee oils much better making it very hard to clean and keep clean since stuff adheres to the brass.
Some portafilters (eg, La Marzocco) are solid stainless steel and are much easier to clean.
Some portafilters (eg, La Marzocco) are solid stainless steel and are much easier to clean.
- redbone
- Posts: 3564
- Joined: 12 years ago
The same issue I'm having with my Riviera PF. The inside is now exposed brass. Further to making it harder to clean I also find that the brass imparts a taste in the coffee. Ideally I'd like it either food safe non PTFE coated or bottomless aka naked PF avoiding coffee contact with bottom of PF.
Between order and chaos there is espresso.
Semper discens.
Rob
LMWDP #549
Semper discens.
Rob
LMWDP #549