Proper care for a Franke coffee machine

A coffee machine breaking down is far from welcome news, especially if your business is built on selling coffee drinks. To keep that from happening and to have the machine run as long as possible, it needs proper care. There is nothing complicated about it: regularly setting aside time to clean the machine is enough. How to do that correctly and how often is what this article covers.

Caring for a Franke coffee machine: the basic requirements

Although all the machine's systems are safely enclosed in the housing, they also need cleaning. It is important to understand that the machine gets dirty not only on the outside but inside as well. Every element has to be cleaned of scale, coffee oils, protein deposits and more in good time. Otherwise the coffee will take on an unpleasant taste and aroma, the machine will start making more noise in use, overheat, and eventually stop working altogether.

That is exactly why care has to be regular. Here is when and what cleaning is recommended:

1. Daily. Clean the water and milk containers, and do not forget the drip tray and the waste container. Wipe the steam wand dry after every use. Keep the display clean.
2. Weekly. Clean the machine's removable components and its external and internal surfaces.
3. Every two weeks. Carry out a full cleaning of the system, removing scale and other internal deposits (some models start this process automatically).

A responsible approach to operating the machine makes it possible to avoid faults and to make good coffee cup after cup. And a well-kept machine is, after all, the face of your company — especially in self-service locations, where it is entirely at the visitors' disposal.

What else matters about the stages of care

Thanks to their smart systems and advanced solutions, Franke coffee machines mean you do not have to spend long looking after them — but some processes still have to be taken on yourself. Manual cleaning is needed for:

• the internal surfaces of the cooling compartment;
• the inside of the door and its seal;
• the milk container and its lid;
• the suction hose and the inlet manifold;
• the powder container;
• the water tank;
• the liquid drip tray;
• the grid and the waste container.

To remove deposits it is enough to soak the parts briefly in water with a mild detergent. After that they need washing thoroughly and rinsing under running water to remove any detergent left behind. Dry the parts and put them back into the machine.

There is no need to worry about missing an important step while servicing the machine. It tells you what to do and in what order, showing prompts on the screen.

Every other task of cleaning the internal assemblies is carried out by the Franke machine itself. Depending on the model, several smart cleaning systems may be found:

1. CleanMaster — a fully automated system with an integrated cleaning cartridge.
2. EasyClean — also an automated system, which requires the cleaning fluid to be added by hand.

Each of the technologies above keeps hygiene on a Franke coffee machine at the highest level.

Every stage of cleaning is described in more detail in the operating manual. The recommendations may differ slightly for individual models and configurations, but on the whole they are the same.

Correct and regular care of your coffee equipment will not only ensure trouble-free operation over a long period but also reward your venue's guests with good coffee drinks.

Models covered here

A400 FM

Versatile machine for a café with medium volume.

up to 200 cups/day

Specifications ›

A600 FM

The New A Line for venues with growing footfall.

up to 200 cups/day

Specifications ›

A1000

Top volume and the full range of add-on units.

up to 300 cups/day

Specifications ›