My sister-in-law insisted I clean my espresso machine with vinegar for 8 months straight

She gave me this advice when I complained about bitter shots back in January. I followed her instructions every single weekend, scrubbing the group head with a vinegar solution. My espresso kept tasting worse and worse, and I couldn't figure out why. Last Tuesday I finally looked it up online and learned vinegar can damage the internal seals and leave a nasty aftertaste. I spent $75 on proper descaler and now my shots taste clean again. Has anyone else been given bad coffee advice by a well-meaning relative?

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler5161mo ago

Dang, that's rough. My buddy wrecked his Gaggia with vinegar too.

simon_wood721mo ago

She insisted I clean my espresso machine with vinegar for 8 months straight" - honestly, you got off easy. That vinegar trick works great for cleaning countertops, but in espresso machines it basically turns the seals into hard plastic over time. Bet your sister-in-law learned it from some Facebook mom group that also thinks you can descale a boiler with lemon juice and prayers.

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