When your coffee machine does not run as smoothly, consider getting a coffee machine lubricant. This is usually based on the fact that the stiffness in your coffee maker might be a result of excess frictional force between the moving parts of the coffee maker.
A lubricant is usually an organic substance that is applied to reduce the frictional force between two bodies in contact.
This feature of reducing the frictional force between two surfaces is known as lubricity. A coffee machine lubricant is a substance used to reduce the frictional force between the moving parts of a coffee maker.
Properties of A Good Coffee Machine Lubricant
- A low melting point and a high boiling point.
- It should be thermally stable.
- A very high viscosity index.
- Prevents corrosion.
- Does not easily undergo oxidation.
- Hydraulic stability.
Functions of a Coffee Machine Lubricant
Keep moving parts apart
Basically, lubricants are used to separate mobile parts in a system. When direct contact between two surfaces has been removed, it reduces friction between the parts, reduces wear and surface fatigue thereby increasing longevity and promotes the efficiency of the coffee machine.
Reduce friction
Normally, the surface-to-surface friction is much more pronounced than lubricant-to-surface friction. Hence, the best coffee machine’s lubricant decreases the overall system friction.
Reduced friction has the advantage of minimizing heat generation while coffee is being brewed. This prevents excessive loss of energy from the system.
Polar additives, also known as friction modifiers, are sometimes contained in a lubricant. What these additives do is to chemically jam metal surfaces together so that friction can be reduced even when the bulk lubricant is not enough for hydrodynamic lubrication.
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Heat Transfer
Every lubricant has the ability to transfer heat, this feature is mostly obtainable in liquid lubricants because they have high specific heat capacity.
These lubricants are in constant circulation moving from the cooler part of the system to the warmer part and then back to the cooler part. They are therefore used to regulate the temperature throughout the coffee machine to ensure that no part gets overheated.
Although pastes and greases are not as effective as flowing lubricants when it comes to heat transfer, they do contribute to temperature regulation by decreasing heat generation in the first place.
Carry Away Contaminants And Debris
Over time, coffee machines get clogged up with mineral deposits and dirt and would require cleaning. Lubricating a system has a way of loosening and scales making it easier for you to clean.
Protect Against Wear And Tear
When a coffee machine is lubricated, the moving surfaces are kept apart thereby preventing undue wear and tear. Some lubricants also contain extreme pressure additives and anti-wear to maximize the machine’s performance.
Prevent corrosion
Most lubricants are produced with special additives that create chemical bonds with the surface to keep it from corroding and rusting. In addition, spaces created between metallic surfaces by lubricants further prevents immersed corrosion.
Types of Coffee Machine Lubricant
Food Grade Silicone Grease Lubricant for Coffee Machines
It was manufactured by a UK company initially intended to be used on espressos but today it is widely used on general food machinery because of its food-grade status and also because it is suitable for a wide-ranging temperature environment.
It is used in lubricating O-rings and gaskets enabling the parts to re-fit as intended. Where surfaces are compressed, it minimizes frictional force thereby prolonging the life of such components and avoiding cracks in the seals.
OKS Multi Silicone Grease
Highly recommended for coffee makers especially the DeLonghi coffee machine. It gets rid of that unpleasant struggling sound your coffee maker produces when it is very stiff.
It prevents bleeding and the transfer of any unpleasant smell and taste to the coffee. Although it is expensive, it practically works wonders.
Make sure you clean the machine properly and remove every trace of the old grease before applying a new one. Rub the geese gently on the double rubber rings of the filter and also rub on the filter cavity.
MicroLubrol Lubrezzo Espresso Machine Pure Silicone Lubricant
It is ideal for espressos, used to lubricate Gaskets, Seals, and O- Rings. It is also suitable for lubricating assembly lines and other mobile parts of a coffee maker.
The Lubrezzo should be applied according to brewing frequency or whenever you start hearing disturbing noises from your machine’s brewing unit.
It is considerably cheaper than many others but the downside of this lubricant is that it can’t be pressed out of the tube directly to the lubricating surface, one would need an additional applicator like a brush, a cotton swab or even the hand.
Always consult your user manual for detailed instructions on how to lubricate your particular model of espresso.
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Saeco Lubricating Grease
Manufactured by Saeco and suitable for all Saeco products. It is a tube of 2 inches weighing about 5 grams. It should be applied to the internal components of the brew unit, those parts that move and touch each other when coffee is being brewed.
After applying the Saeco Brew lubricant do not wipe off nor rinse with hot water. Hot water dissolves the lubricant and washes it off.
Therefore rinse with only cold water if you must rinse.
Make sure you use only a little amount of the lubricant on moving parts and that should be only if a loud squealing noise is heard from the machine when it is brewing coffee. If Saeco Brew lubricant is not available, you can use Miele Brew lubricant in place of it for your Saeco products. It is not toxic and does not cause harm even if it comes in contact with food items.
NSF Approved Lubricant
In addition to being a coffee machine lubricant, this product can also be used to lubricate dishwashers, grinder cams, blenders, and granita machines. It is not advisable to be used on ethylene(EPDM), NITRILE(NBR), or fluoroelastomer-based rubbers because it is petroleum-based. It should only be used to lubricate gaskets and silicone seals.
Note that it’s melting point (195°F) is relatively lower than the average operating temperature of other parts of an espresso machine.
Petrogel Lubricant (4 OZ.)
Petrogel is a food-grade lubricant, white in color, with no odor and no taste. Petrogel consists of USP mineral oil and traces of other USP ingredients. It is ideal for the group-gaskets of espresso machines because of its very high melting point.
It is totally safe and does not contaminate food products. It is water-resistant, another reason why this lubricant is just perfect for espresso. Other than the gaskets, petrogel can also be used for pistons, sanitary pumps, valves, slide mechanisms, and every other part of an espresso machine with wide variations in temperature.
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How To Lubricate The Brew Group of A Philips Coffee Machine
To ensure that the mechanical components of a Philips espresso machine effectively, it has to be lubricated from time to time. Below are some instructions on how this should be done and how often it should be done.
To Lubricate The Brew Group
- Turn off the coffee machine
- Detach the Brew group from the machine. Rinse it properly with warm water and allow it to dry under the air.
- Cover the Piston of the Brew group with a thin layer of grease.
- Run a slim layer of grease around the shaft placed on the base of the Brew group.
- Rub a slim layer of grease on both sides of the rails.
Lubrication Frequency
- Lubricate your espresso machine every 4 months if you brew 1-5 coffees in a day.
- Lubricate your espresso machine every 2 months if you brew 6-9 coffees in a day.
- Lubricate your espresso machine every month if you brew, more than 10 coffees in a day.
How to Grease a Miele Coffee Machine
- Detach the Brew unit from the machine
- Place the hexagonal key supplied to the connection point in the Brew unit, turn in an anticlockwise direction while holding the filter strongly.
- Using the screw, take out the filter.
- Wipe the filter thoroughly with hot water and air-dry.
- Rub a little of the silicone lubricant on the joints, in the axle, and on the runners.
- Fix back the filter in the Brew unit and make sure it is tightly secured by turning the hexagonal key clockwise as you gently press down on the filter to make sure that it is correctly and firmly fixed.
NOTE– The Brew unit should be properly set up while this process is being carried out. The funnel must be placed a little bit higher and the socket should be made to stand vertically.
Conclusion
Lubricating a coffee machine should be an essential part of the general maintenance plan. Failure to lubricate your coffee machine can cause cracking, loud irritating noise from the brew unit, and a general breakdown of the machine.
To avoid all of these inconveniences, it is important to always have a coffee machine lubricant handy at all times.
These lubricants reduce friction in the moveable parts of the machine and ensure smooth and free movement while the coffee brews.
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