How to Clean and Maintain Your Chefman Barista Pro Espresso Machine

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your Chefman Barista Pro are essential for its longevity, for producing consistently great-tasting espresso, and for preventing scale from clogging the boiler and valves. This guide provides comprehensive cleaning tips to keep your machine in top condition.

Tools & Supplies

• Soft sponge or microfiber cloth (avoid abrasives)
• Small nylon brush for the brew head gasket
• Food-safe espresso cleaning tablets or powder
• White vinegar or a commercial descaling solution
• Grinder cleaning pellets (for models with a built-in grinder)

Daily / After-Use Cleaning Routine

Perform these simple tasks after each use to prevent the buildup of coffee oils and milk residue.

• Portafilter and Basket: Immediately after brewing, discard the used coffee grounds. Wash the portafilter and basket with warm, soapy water and rinse them well. Dry them thoroughly before reattaching.
• Brew Head: Wipe the underside of the brew head and around the filter basket rim with a damp cloth to clear away stray coffee grounds and ensure a proper seal. For a quick rinse, run a single shot of water through the group head without any coffee in the portafilter.
• Milk Reservoir and Frother: Discard any milk left in the reservoir. Run the built-in "CLEAN" cycle with fresh water in the reservoir to purge the frothing tube.
• Steam Wand (if applicable): If you've frothed milk, wipe the steam wand immediately with a clean, damp cloth. Purge the wand by directing it towards the drip tray and briefly activating the steam function to clear any milk residue from inside.
• Drip Tray: Empty the drip tray as needed to prevent overflow. Wash it with warm, soapy water, rinse, and dry before replacing.
• Water Reservoir: Between uses, empty any remaining water. Wash the reservoir with soapy water, rinse well, and wipe it dry before refilling. Do not place it in the dishwasher.

Weekly Deep Clean

A more thorough cleaning once a week will ensure your machine continues to function optimally.

• Milk Reservoir System: Disassemble the milk reservoir lid and wash all its parts in warm, soapy water, then rinse. To deep clean the frothing tube, fill the milk reservoir with fresh water, set the froth strength to "Extra," position the froth tube over a mug, and press the "CLEAN" button. Wait until the cycle ends and the machine beeps three times.
• Backflushing the Group Head: Backflushing removes coffee oils from the group head and shower screen.
  1. Insert the blind backflush disc (if included) into the portafilter basket.
  2. Lock the portafilter into the group head.
  3. Run the brew cycle for about 10 seconds, then stop the cycle. You will hear water being released into the drip tray.
  4. Repeat this process 3-4 times.

Cleaning the Grinder (for models with a built-in grinder)

Clean the grinder every two weeks or as needed to prevent stale coffee oils from affecting the flavor of your coffee.

• Empty the Hopper: Remove any remaining coffee beans.
• Grind Out Residuals: Run the grinder until it no longer dispenses any grounds.
• Deep Clean: Use grinder cleaning pellets according to the product's instructions to absorb and remove oils. Alternatively, use a small vacuum to remove coffee dust and a soft, dry brush to clean the burrs and grinder chute.

Monthly Descaling

Descaling removes mineral buildup (scale) from inside your machine, which can affect performance, water flow, and coffee temperature. Some models have a "CLEAN/DESCALE" light that will illuminate when it's time to descale. As a general rule, descale every month for hard water or every 2-3 months for soft water.

Method 1: Descaling with a Descaling Solution (for models with an LCD screen)

1. Remove the water filter from the water tank. Fill the tank to the indicated descale line.
2. Add the descaling solution to the water tank and stir to dissolve. Reinsert the tank.
3. Empty the drip tray and place a large container (at least 2 liters) under the brew head and steam wand.
4. Turn the machine on, press the menu button, and navigate to the "descale" option using the grind amount dial.
5. Press the "1 cup" button to start the descaling cycle. The machine will dispense water intermittently.
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to descale the group head, hot water dispenser, and steam wand, rotating the dial as indicated.
7. Once the descaling cycle is complete, the LCD will show "R" for the rinse cycle. Empty and rinse the container, drip tray, and water tank.
8. Refill the water tank with fresh water and press the "1 cup" button to start the rinse cycle.
9. After the rinse cycle, the machine will return to ready mode. Empty the container and drip tray, and reinsert the water filter.

Method 2: Descaling with Vinegar (for models like the RJ54-V2)

1. Ensure the unit is off and cool. Empty the water reservoir and fill it halfway with undiluted white vinegar. Separately, clean the milk reservoir and fill it to the MAX line with fresh water.
2. Seat both reservoirs in the machine. Insert the portafilter with an empty basket.
3. Place a large, empty cup under the brew head.
4. Turn the machine on and press the "CLEAN" button to run the descaling cycle.
5. After the cycle is complete, discard the vinegar-water from the cup and reservoirs. Clean the milk reservoir with soap and water.
6. To rinse, fill both the milk and water reservoirs to the MAX line with fresh, clean water.
7. Press the "CLEAN" button again to run a rinse cycle. It is recommended to run at least four of these rinse cycles to thoroughly remove any vinegar taste or smell.
8. For a final flush, you can run several "double latte" cycles with fresh water in both reservoirs until the water is used up.

Cleaning Schedule at a Glance

Troubleshooting & Special Procedures

Resetting the “CLEAN” Light

If the cleaning indicator light stays on after a full descaling cycle, you may need to reset it manually. Unplug the machine, wait 10 seconds, then hold the CLEAN button for 15 seconds while plugging it back in and powering it on. This should clear the reminder once the machine completes its self-test.

Common Cleaning-Related Issues

• Watery or Weak Espresso: This could be due to a clogged group head or a dirty grinder. A thorough cleaning of both should resolve the issue.
• Steam Wand Blockage: If the steam wand is not producing steam or is sputtering, the tip may be blocked by milk residue. Use a cleaning pin (if provided) or a small paperclip to clear the holes. Soaking the tip in hot water can also help loosen any blockage.
• Machine Not Brewing: A significant lack of water flow could be due to mineral buildup. Performing a full descaling cycle should be your first step in troubleshooting this problem.

Works Cited

1. Chefman. (n.d.). Barista Pro User Manual.
2. Chefman. (n.d.). Espresso Machine Cleaning Guides. Retrieved from chefman.com/blogs/cleaning-guides/tagged/espresso-machine
3. Chefman. (n.d.). RJ54-G-SS cleaning guide (grinder & housing).
4. Chefman Cleaning Guides video hub (Everyday Cleaning).
5. Amazon Live: Chefman Espresso Machine cleaning demo.
6. Epicurious. Why cleaning coffee gear matters.
7. JustAnswer appliance forum: resetting stuck cleaning mode.
8. manuals.plus: RJ54 Everyday Cleaning steps.
9. ManualsLib. (n.d.). User manual Chefman Barista Pro Plus RJ54. Retrieved from www.manualslib.com/manual/2117505/Chefman-Barista-Pro-Plus-Rj54.html
10. YouTube. (2021, October 24). HOW TO DESCALE CHEFMAN BARISTA PRO ESPRESSO MACHINE RJ54-V2 With Vinegar.
11. YouTube. Descaling the Barista Pro.
12. TikTok. Discover pages for "how to clean the chefman barista pro" and "how to descale the chefman espresso maker."