ristrettolungo Senior Member Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 221 Location: MI Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia (non-PID) Grinder: Mazzer Mini Timer
Posted Tue Jun 30, 2009, 9:06pm Subject: Is Cafiza a very aggressive cleaner?
It seems to "attack" the metal and tarnishes everything it touches. It ruined one of my aluminum tampers after soaking and gave the metal a permanent dull and oxidized appearance. Any idea?
Ciclisto Senior Member Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Connecticut Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia Grinder: Innova i2
Posted Wed Jul 1, 2009, 7:28am Subject: Re: Is Cafiza a very aggressive cleaner?
Cafiza is an aggressive cleaner, containing trisodium phosphate and other compounds. It does not attack all metals -- it is fine for stainless steel, chrome and brass, which are its intended uses. It does react with aluminum and zinc (coating on galvanized steel), and should not be used on those metals. You maybe able to restore the shine on your aluminum tamper by using a metal polish formulated for oxidized aluminum. Try a hardware store or auto-parts store.
ristrettolungo Senior Member Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 221 Location: MI Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia (non-PID) Grinder: Mazzer Mini Timer
Posted Wed Jul 1, 2009, 12:10pm Subject: Re: Is Cafiza a very aggressive cleaner?
How come Cafiza leaves permanent whitish oxidation on Silvia's drip tray and oxidation spot on the blank backflush filter when I backflush with it? I thought both were made of stainless steel.
Posted Fri Jul 3, 2009, 1:15pm Subject: Re: Is Cafiza a very aggressive cleaner?
Ive never had a problem with cafiza, except with aluminum. Cafiza and aluminum do not mix well.
I use Cafiza for a lot of things. Backflushing, basket and PF cleaning, steam arm/tip soaking, shower screen, steaming pitchers, andv some of my brewing things that are metal.
As for a tamper.. I kind of like the slick bottom that the tamper gains from use. I cant imagine a tamper having oil-buildup, but if it does, I would suggest simple green. I woudnt use dish detergent or dishwasher detergent. I dont let either of those things near anything that my coffee touches.
You can make cafiza as strong or weak as you like, by varying the ratio of powder to water. About once a month ill soak my french presses with some cafiza solution. Generally I use a tablespoon, maybe two, to a quart of water, for the 32oz press. Soak it for 20 mins, rinse it out.
FWIW.. Dont use dish-soap or dishwasher detergent on anything your coffee touches, and CERTAINLY not to backflush. The job of these cleaners is to remove oils and keep them away. Cafiza removes them, but doesnt stop them from building up. Hence why you DONT want to use either of these cleaners for backflushing a group. ALSO.. for your coffee cups. Dont use dish soap or put them in the dishwasher. The soap leaves a very thin coating of itself on the cup, and it will taint your coffee. Skeptical? Put a cappa cup or coffee mug in the dishwasher. Wash normally. Take the "clean" cup out of the dishwasher, add hot water to it. Let the water cool to room temp, and taste it. YUCK. You want that in your coffee? From all the soaps/cleaners ive tried on my cups, simple green works the best, leaves no bad aftertaste, its biodegradeable, it smells good.. and if you buy the big gallon jug of concentrate it will last a long, long, LONG time. But, if you have your hot water set hot enough, you can give it a good, hot water rinse and it'll be clean. I would say the water should be anything above 140F. Most coffeecups are glazed porcelain anyway, so they're not a very pourous material to begin with.
...Follow Your Bliss... ....And grind finer, tamp lighter....
In the last 6 years of selling Mazzers, we have only experienced one defective grinder.-Jim Piccinich 1st-line Equipment, a Home-Barista Forum Post
Breeze Senior Member Joined: 3 Dec 2006 Posts: 548 Location: St. Croix, V.I. Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: Pasquini Livia S Grinder: Mazzer Mini/Rocky Drip: TechniVorm/Krups MB Roaster: Toper 1 kilo
Posted Sat Jul 4, 2009, 5:43am Subject: Re: Is Cafiza a very aggressive cleaner?
JmanEspresso Said:
ALSO.. for your coffee cups. Dont use dish soap or put them in the dishwasher. The soap leaves a very thin coating of itself on the cup, and it will taint your coffee. Skeptical? Put a cappa cup or coffee mug in the dishwasher. Wash normally. Take the "clean" cup out of the dishwasher, add hot water to it. Let the water cool to room temp, and taste it. YUCK. You want that in your coffee?
I just removed a clean cup from my dishwasher, added hot water from my machine tap, allowed to cool a bit and took a sip. I got a very strong representative flavor of Hot Water! I don't know about other dishwashers but this one has a sanitary rinse with machine heating elements that is so hot you don't dare open the machine at this point or it will scald your face. Four hours after the cycle is complete, the contents are still very warm to the touch. I kind of doubt, in my case anyway, that residue remains after being subjected to scalding, steam and very very hot water rinse.
Don't be gett'in between me and my Mieli, them's fighting words : > )))
FWIW.. Dont use dish-soap or dishwasher detergent on anything your coffee touches, and CERTAINLY not to backflush. The job of these cleaners is to remove oils and keep them away. Cafiza removes them, but doesnt stop them from building up. . . . The soap leaves a very thin coating of itself on the cup
I can't imagine what this means. Dish soaps are made to rinse off thoroughly, and if used properly leave no residue. If what you say were true, everything we eat would be "tainted."
I don't think your test proves anything. A cup of hot water that's been allowed to cool tastes different from cold tap water because the heating and sitting a long time at high temperature changes the water in subtle ways, allowing volatile compounds and especially dissolved oxygen to escape.
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