Keeping your Gaggia automatic coffee machine in top shape is essential for delicious coffee and long-term performance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through three essential cleaning routines: weekly brew group cleaning, monthly cleaning with coffee cleaning tablets, and descaling your machine. These tips apply to machines like the Gaggia Accademia, Gaggia Cadorna, and Gaggia Magenta.

1. Weekly Brew Group Cleaning (No Tools Required)

What you’ll do: Remove and rinse the brew group under running water.

Steps:

1. Turn off your coffee machine and unplug it.
2. Open the side door of your machine and carefully remove the brew group.
3. You may clean the coffee outlet duct at this point too.
4. Rinse the brew group thoroughly with lukewarm water. Carefully wash the upper filter. Do not use soap.
5. Let it air dry before reinserting it into the machine. Do not use a cloth to avoid a build-up of fibres.

Why it matters: This prevents coffee residue from building up and ensures the internal components stay lubricated and functional.

2. Monthly Cleaning with Coffee Cleaning Tablets

What you’ll do: Use a coffee cleaning tablet to clean the brew group more thoroughly.

Steps:

1. Press the CLEAN/SETTING button and select ‘CLEAN’ button shown on the display.
2. Select ‘BREW GROUP CLEANING’ and press the START/STOP button. Follow the instructions shown on the display.
3. Place a cleaning tablet into the brew group compartment (refer to our video if unsure).
4. The process will take about 5 minutes. You can press the START/STOP button to pause and resume.

Pro tip: Use a large container to collect the back-flush water or pause the process when you see the container getting full.

3. Descaling with Descaling Solution (Every 2–3 Months)

What you’ll do: Remove mineral buildup inside the internal components of your machine. Places with soft water (e.g. Melbourne and Sydney) will not need you to descale as often as places with hard water (e.g. Perth or Adelaide).

Steps:

1. Press the CLEAN/SETTING button and select ‘CLEAN’ button shown on the display.
2. Select the ‘DESCALING’ button and press the START/STOP button. Follow the instructions shown on the display.
3. Use a descaling solution mixed and pour into the water tank. Fill water to the CALC CLEAN notch.
4. Navigate to your machine’s menu and start the descaling cycle.
5. Fill the milk carafe halfway with water and insert it in the machine. Follow prompts on the display.
6. The whole process takes about 25 minutes.
7. Refill the water tank and carafe with clean water and run the rinse cycle to remove any leftover solution.

Why it’s important: Descaling keeps your heating system running efficiently and helps prevent clogging.

Final Thoughts

Regular maintenance doesn’t take long—and it saves you time, money, and frustration in the long run. Keep your Gaggia machine in top condition with these simple routines, and enjoy consistent, barista-level coffee at home.

Need cleaning tablets or descaling solution? Shop our maintenance essentials here.