Your steam wand will accumulate some milk buildup that your daily wand cleaning won’t clear. Choose a specialized steam wand cleaning solution such as Rinza. Soaking your steam wand in Rinza for 15 – 20 minutes will keep your steam wand clean. Annual Maintenance Replacing the Group Gasket and Screen If you are using the Pannarello, remove it from the steam wand. Also remove the Intenza water filter. Turn the machine on again. Repeat step 6 every three minutes until the water tank is empty. Be sure to turn the machine off and let it sit for three minutes in between each round. After several weeks of daily use, you’ll need to do a deeper cleaning of your espresso machine to clear the buildup of espresso oils, coffee grounds, and limescale. Perform these tasks at least every 2-3 months, or monthly if you use your machine more frequently. Descaling or Decalcifying

Regular declacification extends the lifetime of your machine and enhances the taste of your coffee. I n our article on the complete maintenance of the Gaggia Classic you will see a video that describes how to do a proper descaling.Turn on the machine and dispense 2 cups of water through the steam wand (approximately 150 ml each). Pour the Gaggia concentrated descaling solution into the coffee machine water tank, then fill the tank with fresh water. After you wait, dispense two cups of water again through the steam wand. Wait three minutes and repeat this process. Do this until the water reservoir is completely empty. Rinse the Gaggia coffee machine circuits by dispensing about 2 litres of water through the suitable steam/hot water wand. Dispense 2 litres of water from the dispensing spout (only where applicable). If it is not possible then produce 3 cups of coffee and pour this coffee.

The descaling instructions are also in the user manual that you can see linked below at the bottom of this article.WITHOUT adding ground coffee to the unit, press the pre-ground coffee button below the power button one or more times. In the display, the two bean icons in the bottom row should disappear and a portafilter icon should display. If you have a worn or broken gasket, you will need to replace it to get your machine up and running. It’s not necessary to replace your worn group gasket and screen unless your group head is leaking. Typically this won’t happen until at least a year of use. To descale with the Gaggia solution, pour half of a 250-milliliter bottle into your water tank and fill the rest with water. Turn on your machine and dispense two cups of water through the steam wand into a container by pressing the espresso and steam button at the same time. Turn off your coffee maker and wait 20 minutes to allow the solution to take effect.

Milk residue can easily build up on your Gaggia Pannarello Wand, so daily steam wand purging and cleaning are important. Immediately after using your steam wand, remove it from the milk, run more steam through it, and wipe it with a wet cloth. This will prevent your steam wand from clogging. Every 2 Months We’ve summed up Gaggia’s instructions on how to descale three of the most popular models. Gaggia Brera Descaling Part 1: Descaling It is important to understand that when you do descale it is possible for chunks of scale to break loose and clog the "Three Way Solenoid Valve" If this happen then the three way solenoid valve will have to be removed for cleaning. You’ve made the investment and finally gotten yourself a home espresso machine, and you’re enjoying espresso every morning. But over time, you start to notice your espresso is tasting burnt and bitter, and you’re not getting that nice layer of crema you got when the machine was new. Remove the shower screen screw with the Phillips head screwdriver, and remove the shower screen plate with the Allen key. If the plate doesn’t fall out on its own, use your flathead screwdriver to remove it. Clear out any buildup with a descaler and a stiff brush.The decalcifying process will clear your machine of limescale buildup that can wreak havoc on espresso machine internals and affect the flow of water. For this process, you’ll need a decalcifying solution. For your Gaggia Classic, the manufacturer recommends their Gaggia brand solution. I wouldn’t recommend using a homemade descaling solution such as vinegar or lemon juice because this can leave a lasting flavor in your machine.