Even the best beans won’t save a bad shot if your machine isn’t looked after properly. From home setups to busy cafés, pubs, and restaurants, these are the most common espresso machine mistakes — and how to fix them.
Mistake 1: Not Purging the Steam Wand
Leftover milk burns onto the wand, spoils flavour, and creates hygiene risks.
—Always wipe and purge before and after every use.
Mistake 2: Forgetting Daily Backflushing
Coffee oils build up quickly and cause bitterness.
—Flush with water daily, use detergent weekly.
Mistake 3: Using Hard Water Without Filtration
Scale is the number one cause of machine breakdowns.
—Invest in water filters or softeners — it saves thousands in repairs.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Gaskets and Seals
Leaking group heads ruin shots and waste time.
—Replace gaskets every few months (cheap, quick, essential).
Mistake 5: Skipping Grinder Care
Dirty grinders make every coffee taste stale.
— Brush daily, deep clean weekly.
—With the right training, these habits become second nature.
Platforms like Elevate make it easy to standardise machine care across your team.
