I was inquiring to see if anyone had some suggestions on cleaning the grouphead. It is a pasquini livia 90 that has been cleaned regularly since I have received it but it looks like the prior owner may have neglected this area. Recent descale has just been done. I was going to replace the gasket and clean up under the grouphead as well but the grime has been difficult to remove. I have been dipping a cloth in a strong cafiza solution to help with removal and perhaps this is as good as it will get?
Thoughts?

That looks pretty good (after saving the image and enhancing).

You can use a brass-bristle brush or scotchbrite and go at the rest if you like. If you stay away from the outer, chrome surfaces to avoid scratches it will be fine. You can even turn the machine upside down and fill the groups face with hot Cafiza (sounds like a good name for a jazz ensemble). Concentrate on the area in and around where the gasket sits.

Thanks Randy! All in all a much simpler process than I had imagined and having a screw sure does make it easier. I would also like to thank Chriscoffee for helping me over the phone confirming gasket orientation etc.

Problem solved. A Very Good Thing.

Apropos of next time: If it didn't work so well, it would (a) be near the top of the list of "stupid and expensive espresso accessories," and (b) I'd feel even more like an idiot talking about it. But... You might want to consider the Concept Art Art steam group brush. I use mine daily with the nylon brush, and my group is soooooooo damn clean. It comes with a brass brush too for those occasional times you have the gasket out.

My feeling is that any time you have the gasket out -- you might as well replace it.

BDL

Wow BDL, you know my weak spot! It is amazing the "cleaning" products I have been tempted with that eat up my bottomless portafilter budget. I really like this gem and it is moving to my wishlist!

for reference:
Concept Art (aka Rexroth) Steam Group Brush

I have been using the Pallo scald-free grouphead brush and steamy wandato clean the steam wand tube and group for a couple years now. But to your question about the group, that looks darn clean to me.

Thanks Dave! I have been using the Pallo tool now after each pull and it is getting to the point where I think I need to order new tips