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Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

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Discussions > Espresso > Espresso Mods > Help descaling...

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PoorRichard
Senior Member

Joined: 6 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Location: MI USA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancillo Epoca E1
Grinder: Rancillo Rocky

Posted Tue Nov 6, 2007, 7:03pm Subject: Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

I just purchased a used Rancillo Epoca E1 machine. When I received the machine it would produce steam and hot water, but nothing would pass through the group head. After removing the group head and the flow meter and closley inspecting them, I determined that both the inlets were blocked by mineral deposits. After a thorough cleaning of both parts, I reassembled & reinstalled them along with a new group head solenoid. Everything seems to be working just fine, but I'm sure that the boiler will require descaling. I noticed on a previous posting that the use of lemon juice was suggested. Is it safe and effective to descale the boiler with lemon juice without dismantling the entire boiler unit? If so, how long can I safely leave the lemon juice mixture soaking inside of the boiler? Also, should the boiler remain on or should I turn it off? If it's recommeded that the boiler be totally dismantled for the descaling, I would assume that certain O rings and sealers would also have to be replaced. Where would I purchase these items? Thanks in advance for any advise that you can provide.

ssaadd
Senior Member

Joined: 30 Sep 2007
Posts: 23
Location: SA

Posted Wed Nov 7, 2007, 7:21am Subject: Re: Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

I have no useful experience with descaling machines but I do recall downloading this machines' manual (sorry, lost the link) and they mentioned draining the boiler thru a fitting at the bottom of the boiler. You simply lift the machine up and you'll see the fitting, insert a hose and drain the water away. This should make things a lot easier & cleaner in case you're not taking the boiler apart. Hopefully more experienced people will answer your questions. Good luck :)

espressosmith
Senior Member

Joined: 16 Jul 2007
Posts: 13
Location: Indiana
Expertise: Pro Roaster

Espresso: PID'd Linea
Grinder: Compak K6
Drip: Technivorm Moccamaster
Roaster: Ambex 2K, Diedrich IR-12

Posted Thu Nov 8, 2007, 10:27am Subject: Re: Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

Good work on the group. It is really satisfying to solve issues like that one. The recommended max time for lemon juice concentrate is four hours in their boilers. Yes, you can use the machine's pump to draw the lemon juice into the boiler. However, this will require a really thorough rinsing...actually several really thorough rinses. The previous post was correct that there should be an easy boiler drain mechanism, though it has changed a bit over the years, and I'm not sure which you have. I would recommend unplugging the machine, draining the boiler, disconnecting the plumbing, placing the braided steel line down into a jug of lemon juice concentrate, plugging the machine back in, and allowing the autofill to draw it up. I believe that the Epoca has two power switches--one for the electronics, one for the heating element. I would dissuade you from engaging the heating element switch, though I am not 100% sure on that. My gut just tells my not to heat it. Make sure you not only fill the boiler, but run the group also in order to draw the lemon juice into the heat exchanger, brew pipes, etc. as the autofill only fills the boiler. Letting it soak will help; running a fresh "batch" of LJ concentrate will help also. When you're finished with a given batch, drain the boiler the same way you did before, and make sure to let plenty of water run through the group once you hook it back up to the plumbing. It might also be a good idea to fill and drain the boiler with water several times after the descale is done. Good luck. Keep us apprised of the progress! Patrick

CaffeineFree
Senior Member

Joined: 26 Feb 2008
Posts: 16
Location: London
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancilio Epoca E1
Grinder: La Spaziale MX

Posted Tue Mar 4, 2008, 3:09pm Subject: Re: Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

Richard, how did you get along? I've just picked up an Epoca E1 myself, which is in dire need of a good clean up, as evidenced by the picture of the shower head...! If anyone can point me in the direction of someone in London that I can get gaskets etc from, then I would be very appreciative. I'm going to strip the old girl right back so that I can feel happy about what I'm drinking once it's all back together :-) (Click for larger image)

GabrielB
Senior Member

Joined: 27 Mar 2007
Posts: 174
Location: Chicago
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Maver Junior (HX), Silvia...
Grinder: Rocky
Vac Pot: Bialetti Moka & Brikka Pot

Posted Tue Mar 4, 2008, 3:38pm Subject: Re: Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

What's wrong with the shower screen? Looks fine to me. :)

CaffeineFree
Senior Member

Joined: 26 Feb 2008
Posts: 16
Location: London
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancilio Epoca E1
Grinder: La Spaziale MX

Posted Wed Mar 5, 2008, 10:23am
Subject: Re: Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

GabrielB Said:

What's wrong with the shower screen? Looks fine to me. :)

Posted March 4, 2008 link

Not sure really, someone suggested that it may be why the coffee tastes a bit naf...

pilgrim5
Senior Member

Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 162
Location: Saint Paul Park Minnesota
Expertise: I live coffee

Grinder: Bunn & supremo
Vac Pot: Bodum Santos/aeropress
Drip: Bunn VPR series
Roaster: BBQ bred mach heat gun and...

Posted Wed Mar 5, 2008, 8:35pm Subject: Re: Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

You can do the same thing with citric acid! citric acid is very inexpensive and is damn near the same potency as concentrated lemon juice and far cheaper, non toxic and used in most of the brands of deliming agents that are for sale at 10x the price. 2 table spoons dissolved in a quart of warm water works fine. Its also known as sour salt and is used a lot in the food industry as a souring ingredient that also is the tattle tail for any left in the machine if you flush with water and if the water has a sour taste to it you need to flush it some more. The trick is use warm to hot water to dissolve the powder in it is a little stubborn to get into solution. It is normal in brass and copper boilers to get some green hue to the water after deliming them, its harmless and will rinse a way #5 pounds will last you 20 years of cleaning and a side effect is that its good for stainless steel where any cleaners with chlorine is very bad for stainless it eats it and is very corrosive to it

CaffeineFree
Senior Member

Joined: 26 Feb 2008
Posts: 16
Location: London
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancilio Epoca E1
Grinder: La Spaziale MX

Posted Thu Mar 6, 2008, 3:35pm Subject: Re: Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

I stripped my E1 back last night and was pleasantly surprised to find that aside from the disgustingly filthy shower screen (pictured earlier) and grouphead, she's generally pretty clean. No lime scale to speak of, which is quite surprising for where I live as the water is pretty hard...I guess they used a good softener. Now does anyone know if the Epoca grouphead seals and shower sceen etc are the same as the S2x? It really is hard to find much info on these babies.

darrensandford
Senior Member

Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 18
Location: Coventry, UK
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Rancilio Epoca ST1, rotary
Grinder: Mazzer Major

Posted Wed Apr 23, 2008, 5:20am Subject: Re: Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

For Rancilio parts in the UK, I recommend you contact "The Coffee Machine Company" http://www.coffeemachinecompany.co.uk/ They are the official Rancilio importers for the UK. I bought a used ebay Epoca tank version which came with no tank, tank cover, drip tray, cup plate, softener or tank level pressure cylinder-thing. I downloaded the schematics from the Rancilio website and passed the descriptions and part numbers from that onto TCMC and they got me the parts nice and quickly. Another one to try is http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/ - I ordered my group gasket from these guys (as I realised that the old one had turned to stone after my initial parts order, and I needed some other things anyway). This is the part you need: Click Here (www.happydonkey.co.uk) Good luck, and enjoy your machine! Mine has it's quirks, but I love it really! EDIT: This should be the parts diagram you need. Click Here (www.rancilio.com) Check out "Drawing Epoca 1gr eng-esp" near the bottom of the page. It's a .PDF

CaffeineFree
Senior Member

Joined: 26 Feb 2008
Posts: 16
Location: London
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancilio Epoca E1
Grinder: La Spaziale MX

Posted Mon Jun 30, 2008, 3:34pm
Subject: Re: Help descaling Rancillo Epoca E1

darrensandford Said:

For Rancilio parts in the UK, I recommend you contact "The Coffee Machine Company" http://www.coffeemachinecompany.co.uk/

They are the official Rancilio importers for the UK. I bought a used ebay Epoca tank version which came with no tank, tank cover, drip tray, cup plate, softener or tank level pressure cylinder-thing. I downloaded the schematics from the Rancilio website and passed the descriptions and part numbers from that onto TCMC and they got me the parts nice and quickly.

Another one to try is http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/ - I ordered my group gasket from these guys (as I realised that the old one had turned to stone after my initial parts order, and I needed some other things anyway). This is the part you need:

Click Here (www.happydonkey.co.uk)

Good luck, and enjoy your machine! Mine has it's quirks, but I love it really!

EDIT: This should be the parts diagram you need.

Click Here (www.rancilio.com)

Check out "Drawing Epoca 1gr eng-esp" near the bottom of the page. It's a .PDF

Posted April 23, 2008 link

Thanks for that Darren and sorry for the tardy response!

I did exchange an email or two with "The Coffee Machine Company" a few months back but never got around to ordering anything from them. I'm sure they are fine but, rightly or wrongly, felt that they were more commercial oriented.

I have bought a few bits and pieces from Happy Donkey and am currently enjoying their coffee beans :-)

However, most of the parts that I've needed I have sourced from http://www.espresso-parts.co.uk/rancilio.asp They have a proper online shop and some parts diagrams on the site, which makes the ordering process a breeze.

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