T1ghruadh Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2012 Posts: 1 Location: scotland, uk Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: ascaso dream Grinder: krupps burr
Posted Tue Apr 17, 2012, 4:19am Subject: back flushing
hi, i am new to all this and have bought a second-hand ascaso dream. i have just had it serviced but the shop kept it for months and months and i'm reluctant to ask him to do two things he must have forgotten about. first off, the boiler is still loose: how can i get at the nuts to tighten this? secondly, i would like to maintain the machine myself and have read that i need to backflush regularly. how often, is this easy, what do i do, do i need any additional equipment? what is a solenoid (3 part? does the ascaso dream have one? i know the new ascaso dream up has some kind of solenoid modification, but really, it's all a mystery to me. help thanks
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,661 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Tue Apr 17, 2012, 7:19am Subject: Re: back flushing
All you need is a blind filter and backflush detergent (powder or liquid).
I do an empty backflush (with only water) at the end of each day. Once a week (or after brewing around 35 cups) I do a regular backflush using detergent.
Posted Tue Apr 17, 2012, 7:50am Subject: Re: back flushing
The OP did ask if the Ascaso Dream even has a 3-way solenoid valve. I don't own one so I'm not sure. I know some Ascaso machines did not and I'm pretty sure it was the Dream that didn't have one.
EDIT:looks like they released an upgraded version of the dream that does have a 3-way. So it depends which you have.
If you have a 3-way solenoid valve, then when you stop your shot there will be a flushing of the backpressure into your driptray. You should have some sort of return pipe that bleeds the coffee pressure out of the portafilter so you can unlock the portafilter immediately after stopping the shot.
If you don't have a 3-way valve ... then you don't want to backflush with a blind filter because there would be no way to release the pressure and unlocking the portafilter would be very difficult and hot water sneezing everywhere. Instead you simply use a brush (I use a toothbrush) to clean off the shower screen with some flushes of water through the screen. And every so often (once a week or every other - some do this every day) you remove the screen (and dispersion plate if it comes off on your machine) so you can soak them in detergent and clean well underneath those parts.
Depends on how new it is. Since it is a used machine it could be either. Seems its come with a 3way for the last couple years but earlier models did not.
@T1, after you pull a shot, does water drain to the drip tray? If not you don't have a 3way, don't backflushes. Not sure about the boiler. Haven't had mine in a while. When you open up the case, are you not able to see any of the mounting hardware?
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