Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Erin Bashford

Espresso machine expert says this is the number 1 mistake home baristas make — and you probably don't even realize you're doing it

The breville bambino plus / sage bambino plus in stainless steel silver photographed against a blue background shown with its accessories including milk jug, tamper, portafilter, and shown in use extracting espresso.

If you love the art of coffee as much as I do, you'll of course want to know how to take care of your espresso machine. While most of the best espresso machines — De'Longhi, Breville — are intended to last around five years, you can extend that lifespan to up to a decade with proper care.

But "proper care" isn't exactly helpful — what does that actually mean? Should I be descaling every week? Backflushing twice a day? What does it all do? Even as an ex-barista, there are still some things I'm not totally sure about.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.