ECM group cleaner – cleaning powder for the group head, 10 sachets of 20 g
The first shot afterwards smells different. Clearer, sweeter, as if someone had drawn aside a curtain that had been hanging there for a long time.
That's not a feeling, that's chemistry. Coffee contains oils, and these oils settle in the group head, on the shower screen and in the portafilter. Over time they turn rancid. The compounds this creates lay themselves over everything that runs through afterwards.
Why fat flattens the aroma
Much of what we experience as aroma arises retronasally: when you swallow, volatile compounds rise through the throat to the olfactory mucosa. Coffee brings more than 800 such compounds with it, more than wine. Old coffee fat brings its own – and they're louder than the delicate notes you're actually after.
That's why a cleaned group head feels like a better bean, even though nothing about the bean has changed. The powder dissolves the deposits, the water carries them away, and the aromatic picture becomes as broad again as it was meant to be.
The rhythm we recommend
Backflush daily, without detergent – that takes a minute and keeps the worst of it out. Then every 50 shots or so with detergent, which takes you about five minutes. ECM itself gives a group cleaning every 150 cups as a guideline; we go at it a little more often. Our opinion is one of many, and both approaches work.
The sachet contains 20 grams of powder, pre-portioned, so it's dosed without weighing. Besides the group head, it's also suitable for accessories such as the portafilter, which you can soak in it. There are ten sachets in a pack.
At a glance
| Form |
Cleaning powder in single-dose sachets |
| Contents |
10 sachets of 20 g each |
| Application |
Group heads of all espresso and coffee machines, plus accessories such as portafilters |
| Effect |
Removes coffee fat and deposits |
| ECM recommendation |
Group cleaning every 150 cups |
| Coffee Coaching Club recommendation |
Daily without detergent, with detergent every 50 shots or so, about 5 minutes |
| Made by |
ECM, Germany |
| ECM item number |
AC100098-00 |
Who it's for
For anyone with an espresso machine whose group head can be backflushed – whatever the brand. ECM explicitly describes the powder as being for all espresso and coffee machine group heads, not just its own.
No budget is just a beginning here. A clean group head makes as much difference on a small machine as on a large one – often even more, because nobody else keeps an eye on it there. You can buy the ECM group cleaner online in Switzerland.
What goes well with it
A puck screen keeps the shower screen cleaner from the outset, because less ground coffee rises upwards. Affordable and good is the one from Normcore; if you want more, look at Weber Workshops; you'll find both among the puck screens.
You'll find descalers, grinder cleaners and brushes under machine and grinder cleaning. And while you're tidying up anyway: among scales, Normcore is compact and affordable, and Acaia offers an app, flow-rate display and Bluetooth.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I backflush with detergent?
Our recommendation: daily without detergent, and with detergent every 50 shots or so – that takes about five minutes. ECM gives every 150 cups as a guideline. Both are reasonable; more often does no harm.
Do I need a blind basket for it?
For backflushing, yes. The machine also needs a three-way valve for it – not every espresso machine is built for this. If you're unsure, send us your machine's item number.
Can I also clean the portafilter with it?
Yes. ECM explicitly names accessories such as the filter holder as an area of use – portafilter and filter basket can be soaked in it.
How many uses are in a pack?
Ten single-dose sachets with 20 grams of powder each. So there's no need to weigh anything out.
Does it only work on ECM machines?
No. ECM describes the powder as being for all espresso and coffee machine group heads.
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
After a group cleaning, it's worth judging a bean afresh – it often shows more than you remembered. Cozy Chocolate and Nutty Delight stand for dense, sweet cups with caramel and chocolate. Very Nutty goes for maximum body without any acidity, Wild Peach for a fruity experience for the curious. That's our recommendation, one of many – beans from the supermarket benefit from a clean group head too.
