5 Mistakes You Might Be Making With Your Coffee Machine

1. Using tap water without thinking twice

Hard water can seriously mess with your machine over time. Limescale builds up fast, especially in the UK. If your espresso is tasting flat or your machine is making weird noises — it might be time to switch to filtered water. It’ll help with taste and extend the life of your gear.

2. Ignoring the cleaning schedule

Yeah, cleaning is boring — but skipping it ruins your coffee. Old oils, residue and milk build-up change the flavour, and not in a good way. Quick tip: wipe the steam wand right after every use, and run a cleaning cycle at least once a week.

3. Leaving beans in the hopper too long

Those beans sitting in your grinder hopper for two weeks? They’re stale. Oxygen is the enemy of flavour. Keep your beans in an airtight container and only grind what you need. You’ll notice the difference immediately.

4. Not adjusting the grind

Grinding once and never touching the dial again? That’s a rookie move. Different beans need different grind sizes. If your espresso’s pouring too fast or too slow — tweak the grind. It’s a small change that makes a big impact.

5. Forgetting to warm up the machine

Pressing brew as soon as the light goes green? Give it a minute. Let the group head, portafilter, and cup warm up too. A cold machine means a lukewarm, under-extracted shot. Patience = flavour.

Been there? We all have. The good news is, once you fix these habits, your coffee game levels up fast.