A coffee machine or coffee maker is popular among coffee lovers. It allows you to quickly prepare delicious and aromatic coffee, so valued by lovers of this drink.
However, like any other equipment, it requires compliance with operating rules and timely maintenance.
Immediately after purchasing a coffee machine, you should carefully study the instructions, so that later you do not have to be surprised by the taste of the prepared coffee deteriorating over and over again, or even worse, spend money on expensive repairs.
Therefore, it is important to know how the process of preparing coffee in a coffee machine occurs and what must be observed to maintain its unique quality.
How often should I clean?
A distinctive characteristic of all modern Delonghi devices is that they are equipped with an automated system that allows you to monitor the level of salt deposits on the internal walls of the mechanisms. When the time comes, a message will appear on the screen indicating that cleaning is required.
Indirect signs indicating accumulation of sediments include:
Water leakage.- The appearance of flakes in the drink. They can float in a fine suspension on the surface of the coffee, or fall out into the glass in large particles.
- Increased noise during operation of the coffee machine.
- Weakening of water flow, intermittency of the stream.
- Deterioration in the taste of the finished drink.
A message about the need to descale appears on the display after a certain period of time, which was set by the manufacturer in the settings.
The time interval is determined by the degree of water hardness . By default this indicator is one. If the water is even harder, then the program needs to be reinstalled. In this case, the signal about the need for decalcification will appear more often.
The average frequency of cleaning a Delonghi coffee machine is once every 2-3 months.
What happens if you don't remove plaque?
If you ignore routine descaling procedures for your coffee machine, the machine will quickly fail. Salt deposits will begin to grow at twice the speed, since it is easier for them to “catch” on a rough surface than on a smooth surface.
Water flows through a clogged duct system worse. As a result, the taste of the finished drink will deteriorate. The device itself will not cool completely, as the parts are clogged with scale. With such an attitude towards the device, breakdowns cannot be avoided.
The most common reason is blockage of tubes and overheating . Therefore, it is better to spend 20-30 minutes cleaning the device than to pay for expensive repairs later.
Advantages and disadvantages
The model belongs to the “Lux” class, despite its quite affordable price. Distinctive feature from similar devices from other manufacturers:
- special filter holder;
- Possibility to make 2 cups of coffee at the same time.
Other advantages include:
- ease of maintenance;
- the ability to obtain water heated to a high temperature and use it to brew tea;
- heating cups;
- preparing two types of coffee - espresso and cappuccino.
The model has few disadvantages:
- manual cappuccino maker - not everyone manages to master the first time, or even the second time, how to froth milk until it becomes an airy foam;
- soiling - greasy stains and water stains remain on the black plastic; traces from hands touching them are visible on the metal elements.
The downside of the model is often called the manual holder. This means that you will have to form the coffee tablet yourself.
For those who want to quickly get a coffee drink, this is undoubtedly a minus because it takes time. In addition, the knowledge and skills of a barista will not be superfluous.
This is interesting! The taste of the drink depends on the quality of ground coffee tamping. If you don’t know how and don’t understand how to use a tempera, it will turn out mediocre.
For those who know barista techniques, a manual cone, on the contrary, is a huge plus - you don’t need to depend on the machine settings, you can independently adjust the strength of the drink.
Cleaning Rules
You can clean the coffee machine automatically by running the self-cleaning function. Another option is to remove the scale yourself. For the procedure to be effective and safe, you must strictly follow the instructions.
How to use the self-cleaning function?
To use the self-cleaning function, you need to follow these steps:
Connect the device to the network.- Go to the menu by pressing the R button.
- Switch the knob until the “Descaling” option appears.
- Confirm the selected action by clicking “ok”.
- Empty the water tank, add anti-scale agent, diluted to the required concentration. All actions are confirmed on the display.
- Place a container under the coffee supply unit with a capacity of at least 1.5 liters.
- Wait until the message “The appliance is descaling” appears.
- After half an hour, a new message “Fill the tank” will appear. To do this, you need to remove the container, drain the residue from it, rinse thoroughly, fill it with clean water and put it back in place.
- Also drain the vessel that was used to collect the anti-scale and return it to its place.
- After this, press the “ok” button to start the rinse cycle.
- When the water container is empty, the display will show “Rinse complete. Do you confirm?”, you must click on the “ok” button again.
After a complete decalcification cycle, the device will be ready for further use.
Alternative way
If the Delonghi coffee machine model is not equipped with an automatic cleaning function, this must be done manually.
Procedure:
- drain the water from the container;
- pour anti-scale into it, diluted to the required concentration;
- connect the device to the network;
- prepare the coffee until all the cleaning mixture comes out of the tank;
- pour clean water into the container;
- Repeat the process with cold water to flush the system of any remaining detergent.
After cleaning is completed, you can use the device as usual.
To complete the process of ridding the coffee machine of scale and salt deposits, it is recommended not to drink the first 2-3 cups of coffee, but to drain it.
Special cleaners for Delonghi devices
To remove scale from Delonghi coffee machines, it is recommended to use branded cleaners. They can be purchased online:
Delonghi “Eco Calc” descaler for automatic coffee machines. The product contains natural ingredients that allow you to carefully clean the device from scale. One bottle is enough for 5 cleanings. The cost of 500 ml of solution is 1270 rubles.- Delonghi DLSC500. This is a universal composition that can be used to clean not only coffee machines, but also coffee makers. The price of one bottle is 1430 rubles.
- Delonghi DLS200. The composition is designed specifically for cleaning coffee machines to remove scale. It is bottled in small plastic containers of 100 ml. One sachet is enough for 1 cleaning cycle. There are 2 containers in the package, the price is 750 rubles.
The manufacturer warns that the use of other descaling agents may negatively affect the functionality of the device.
The video will show you how to remove scale from a Delonghi coffee machine using a proprietary cleaner:
User manual…
Oeopd
- Image
- Text
- Content
Oeobd!
COFFEE MAKER
EU 9
User manual
- CLEANING AND CARE
- Cleaning the milk frother
- DESCALING
- MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
How to clean individual elements?
Features of cleaning individual elements of the coffee machine:
- Holder. After removal, you can find a dark coffee coating on it. To get rid of it, soak the part in hot water for 20 minutes and clean it with the hard side of a foam sponge.
- Cappuccino maker. Before cleaning the cappuccino maker, condensate is drained from it. To get rid of scale, soak the cappuccino maker for 20 minutes in hot water with a small amount of soda, rub with a sponge, rinse and wipe with a clean, dry cloth.
- Infuser . Once every 2 weeks, the brewing unit is removed, washed under running clean water and replaced. If the unit is not removable, then a tablet for cleaning coffee machines from scale is placed in the compartment for ground coffee, a large container is placed under the horn and the coffee preparation cycle is started. The procedure must be carried out until the tablet is completely dissolved, that is, 4-5 times. At the end of cleaning, the system is rinsed with water.
Delonghi EC 7
The Delonghi company, which during the First World War was engaged in the manufacture of weapons and equipment for the army, today is no less serious about the manufacture of coffee machines.
The device is quite compact and, at the same time, capable of preparing several cups of coffee at a time (two cups).
The design of the device is quite stylish - it will fit into literally any interior and will not “steal” all the attention.
Functions
Coffee maker functions:
- preparation based on ground coffee;
- coffee strength control;
- manual cappuccino maker;
- hot coffee pot;
- simultaneous preparation of two cups;
- removable tray for collecting drops;
- power-on indication.
One of the most important functions of the device is the preparation of cappuccino and other drinks with milk foam.
Peculiarities
The device is equipped with a safety valve. An exclusive safety valve is installed to prevent accidental opening.
The Vario system in the machine for selecting the coffee intensity from strong to light allows you to significantly individualize the process of preparing it.
The device is not designed to prepare coffee in the volume of a full-sized large mug (the marks are too frequent). However, this drawback can be easily overcome through regular habit.
The coffee maker needs to be filled with exactly as much water as the user plans to brew coffee at one time.
Advantages
The advantages of the coffee maker include:
- compact dimensions;
- system for adjusting the strength of the resulting drink;
- preparing different types of coffee (including drinks with milk foam);
- ergonomic control system;
- ease of use.
The coffee maker comes with a glass container with a plastic handle and lid. It is used for measuring water, as it has special lines and numbers from 1 to 4.
The presence of such a container is quite convenient - the user can determine the amount of water from which he gets the optimal drink for himself.
Flaws
The disadvantages of the coffee machine include:
- lack of pressure gauge;
- no auto shutdown;
- lack of an anti-drip system;
- lack of water level indication;
- plastic case;
- lack of energy saving mode;
- inability to supply hot water;
- lack of display;
- impossibility of automatic decalcification;
- no timer;
- impossibility of self-cleaning.
Some users note that the position of the cappuccino maker is too low and makes it impossible to whip up milk foam as a disadvantage. However, in order to avoid such difficulties, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the instructions of the device in detail.
The cappuccino maker tube should not be lowered to the bottom of the milk tank, according to the instructions - this will not allow the milk foam to rise.
Video review
Brief presentation of the device from the manufacturer:
Unpacking and equipment of the coffee maker in the video below:
Results
The Delonghi EC 7 coffee machine can be a good machine for home use by experienced coffee lovers. Such a device will be appreciated only by those buyers who know well how to handle such equipment.
The device is suitable for the office - it requires attention, but you can put up with it . An effective self-cleaning system could save the situation. However, it is not installed on the device.
Helpful information
To ensure that the process of descaling your coffee machine is successful, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
Before cleaning, carefully study the instructions included with the device. The procedure may differ for different models.- You should not use folk remedies to clean your Delonghi coffee machine. They can lead to malfunction of the device and its breakdown.
- After cleaning, be sure to rinse the device with water to remove any remaining detergent.
- During the process of washing away scale, water may splash in different directions, so you need to spread a towel next to the device.
