tcharp Senior Member Joined: 6 Dec 2002 Posts: 33 Location: Lubbock, TX Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Compak K10
Posted Sat May 12, 2012, 2:00pm Subject: Care and cleaning for Alex Duetto II
I'm curious if anyone can point me to some info on the care and cleaning of my new Duetto II. It has been making great coffee now for several months and I'm betting that it could use some TLC.
My old Silvia had a simple screw that held the shower head and screen in place but this E61 looks like quite a different animal and has no obvious way to disassemble that I can find.
Posted Sat May 12, 2012, 2:12pm Subject: Re: Care and cleaning for Alex Duetto II
To pull off the screen, you just lever a spoon end or paint can opener in the ridge on its side. It is only held up by the friction of the gasket like any other E61 machine. Just make sure you put it back with the gasket in the same orientation and under the upper lip of the screen. It is no fun having to screw out a gasket you accidentally put above the screen.
You should get familiar with the process of lubricating the lever cams. It is worth doing after a chemical backflush, and I wish I'd started doing it earlier. Also, make sure you are not using hard water, and drain out the stream boiler now and then to prevent mineral build-up in the water.
The Coffeetime Wiki has some excellent articles about machine maintenance, but you will have to follow the instructions and sign up for Bella Barista's newsletter to get access.
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 1:26pm Subject: Re: Care and cleaning for Alex Duetto II
You can either remove a fitting from the top and siphon it out (this is the most effective descaling method), or open the hot water tap and turn off the machine. Turn off the steam boiler as well, then turn on the machine and let the steam boiler refill before turning it back on.
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