Espresso: Accessories

From TMC Wiki

Contents 1 ESPRESSO: ACCESSORIES 1.1 Cleaning Brushes 1.2 Cleaners and Descalers 1.2.1 External Cleaning 1.2.2 For cleaning steam wands 1.2.3 Internal Cleaning 1.2.4 Descalers 1.2.4.1 Boiler Type: Aluminium 1.2.4.2 Boiler Type: Brass 1.3 Knock Boxes 1.3.1 Type: Counter-top 1.3.2 Type: Free-Standing 1.3.3 Type: Built-in Drawer 1.4 Tamper Stands and Mats 1.5 Timers 1.6 Thermometers 1.7 Shot Glasses 1.8 Weighing Scales

[edit] ESPRESSO: ACCESSORIES

This TMC Wiki page is about accessories used in the process of preparing espresso, e.g. tamper stands, mats and so on. It is currently a stub that requires the addition of further content.

[edit] Cleaning Brushes

Special brushes of many types are devised and sold for various uses. Such brushes are designed for many tasks such as:

• Group brush: of which there are types consisting of a half circle to clean the inside of the group ring; Angled to perform a similar function.
• Grinder brush; which is designed to allow cleaning of the accessible parts of an espresso grinder.
• Counter brush; which may vary from re-purposed paint brushes to specialized shapes for the odd application.

[edit] Cleaners and Descalers

• A Cleaner is a product formulated as a detergent which is used to remove the oily deposits from an espresso machines working surfaces.
• A Descaler is an acid preparation formulated to remove scale deposit ( Mineral coatings such as Calcium carbonate and entrapped metal salts)

[edit] External Cleaning

For keeping the exterior clean: One would use a detergent with no residue. For Stainless steel a common cleaning spray with a wipe after will usually suffice. For stubborn stains, a mild acid solution such as white vinegar or citric acid in solution may be needed as a separate application and wipe after.

[edit] For cleaning steam wands

For cleaning steam wands; Normally a pipe smoker's flock "pipe cleaner" brush and an espresso machine detergent. Often, a removal of the wand and tip is required. For a bad case, even the removal of the entire action of the wand is necessary.A dirty steam wand will cause a metallic/ mildew type of smell when steam is vented. ( A steam wand will siphon milk products into itself when cooling. Therefore, it is wise to use only a warm cloth wipe to clean the exterior and to blast steam from the wand before considering the job complete after use.)

[edit] Internal Cleaning

For back-flushing group heads; A espresso machine specific detergent is recommended. Such preparations often contain Phosphates. One common phosphate is "Tri-Sodium-Phosphate" "TSP." Stores now carry a registered trade mark "TSP®" which surprisingly contains no tri sodium phosphate whatsoever!

[edit] Descalers

[edit] Boiler Type: Aluminium

[edit] Boiler Type: Brass

A saturated citric acid solution is often recommended for brass and stainless steel boilers.

[edit] Knock Boxes

For removing spent coffee pucks from portafilters

[edit] Type: Counter-top

[edit] Type: Free-Standing

[edit] Type: Built-in Drawer

[edit] Tamper Stands and Mats

For storing and protecting tampers and work surfaces

[edit] Timers

[edit] Thermometers

[edit] Shot Glasses

[edit] Weighing Scales