You want to ensure that your coffee service functions smoothly day in and day out. Yet, most people forget a basic. If your coffee machine is one those highly sophisticated contraptions with sensitive electronic functions, then you should negotiate an annual maintenance contract with either the manufacturer or the local distributor from whom you are buying it. Coffee machine repair is very expensive and might even require replacement of parts. Most major companies make replacement carafes and other parts like heating elements which are usually readily available and cost far less than an entire new coffeemaker. Double-check that the company you have chosen actually can repair the type of machine you have, as some companies will only repair specific makes or work within only a specified raduis.
Sometimes functional hiccups are caused by simple things like calcium build up - common enough in places where the water is hard. A simple method of do-it-yourself build up removal is running a vinegar-water solution through the machine. It is safe, unlike the chlorine based cleaning agents which can be quite poisonous. Remember to check the warranty terms of your machine. In many cases the company will refuse to replace certain parts unless company authorized personnel have inspected it and advised replacement. Cleaning the machine regularly is desirable to maintain hygiene and taste quality. Many coffee machines come with an auto clean option. However, some kinds of vending machine cleaning require experienced people to handle.
Simple things like a daily wipe down of the glass front as well inside it can be done by your workers or even you can do it. The delivery tray should also be cleaned each day as there will be crumbs from various products at the bottom. Don't neglect the sides of the machine either. If you use a paper towel to wipe the slide down while refilling, it will eliminate 95 percent of all problems with a glass front pop machine. The cooling unit of all kinds of vending machines should be cleaned monthly. Lint builds up on the coils restricting the flow of air which causes the cooling unit to work harder. This as well as cleaning the trays and coils of chips dispensers should be done by trained people.
