ECM barista cloth – microfibre cloth for housing, steam wand and portafilter
One wipe over the housing, and the stainless steel reflects the morning light just as it did on the first day.
A cloth sounds like the least important part of a coffee corner, yet in practice it's the most used. The steam wand wants wiping straight after frothing, while the milk residue is still warm and soft. The portafilter wants to be dry before the next grounds go in. And the housing shows every fingerprint a morning leaves behind.
Microfibre, 400 x 400 mm
The cloth is made of high-quality, hard-wearing microfibre and produced in Germany. It works slightly damp or dry and needs no chemical additives – the fibre absorbs grease and water without leaving lint or streaks. At 400 x 400 mm it's big enough for you to do the wand with one corner, the portafilter with another and the housing with the rest.
This is the single cloth. Alongside it we carry the ECM barista cloth set of 2: two cloths in light grey and dark blue, with sewn-in magnets for hanging on the machine's chassis. Put both options side by side and you'll quickly see which suits your own routine better.
Caring for the machine also means backflushing: daily without detergent, about every fifty shots with detergent, which takes around five minutes. Together, the two keep a machine in shape for years. Our opinion is one of many, but this one has proven itself in two showrooms.
At a glance
| Material |
High-quality microfibre |
| Size |
400 x 400 mm |
| How to use |
Slightly damp or dry, without chemical additives |
| Use |
Stainless steel housing, steam wand, portafilter |
| In the box |
One cloth |
| Made in |
Germany |
| Item number |
AC100029-00 |
Who it's for
For anyone with a stainless steel espresso machine, and that's most people. The grinder next to it is glad of the same cloth, too – coffee dust clings just as stubbornly as milk splashes.
No budget is just a beginning here. A machine that's wiped down every day still looks years later as it did at the start, regardless of what it cost.
What goes well with it
Next to the cloth comes the chemistry: you'll find group head cleaner, descaler and grinder cleaner under machine and grinder cleaning. And because frothing comes before wiping: for anyone who wants a milk pitcher that's affordable and good, Normcore is the obvious choice, with Rhino and Weber Workshops the step above.
In the portafilter, a puck screen keeps the shower screen clean, which noticeably cuts down on wiping: affordable and good from Normcore, and if you want to invest more, from Weber Workshops. The matching machines are in our ECM collection.
Frequently asked questions
How does the single cloth differ from the set of 2?
Here you get one cloth measuring 400 x 400 mm. The ECM barista cloth set of 2 is a separate item and contains two cloths in light grey and dark blue with sewn-in magnets for hanging on the machine.
Do I need a cleaning agent with it?
Not for the housing. The microfibre works slightly damp or dry and manages without chemical additives. For the group head, however, a cleaning agent makes sense when backflushing.
When do I wipe the steam wand?
Straight after frothing, while the milk residue is still warm. Then purge it briefly so nothing stays in the tip.
Can I also wipe the grinder with it?
Yes. ECM specifies the cloth for the stainless steel housing of both espresso machine and grinder.
Can I see the product before buying?
Our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b) show a wide selection, but not our entire range – the display changes. Drop us a quick line at [email protected] before your visit, and we will check whether the product you have in mind is currently there. If you order online, delivery takes 2 to 4 working days throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein.
From the roastery
A clean portafilter is the best start to a new bag of beans. Nutty Delight and Cozy Chocolate are our dense, full-bodied recommendations for every day, Very Nutty goes for maximum body without acidity and Wild Peach for fruit, for the curious. Any other bean works just as well – that's our recommendation, one of many.
