Experts: Do you warm up your Espresso Machines?

[iroit]

Experts: How do you warm up your Espresso Machines?

Hi All,

I recently developed a habit of running the machine on "Blank", i.e brewing a shot of water before I fill the portafilter with coffee. I do it because I believe it warms up the pipes and the brew head and gets rid of the water that's been sitting in the boiler.
The question is: Could this be potentially harmful to the pump?! working against no pressure? And my machine doesn't have a three-way valve.

Thanks
I'd love to know what do you think?

 

[Indesio]

It's hard to explain... Let's do it.

A water pump works agains a pressure as you say, but what is a danger is working whitout water. The water lubricates and refrigerate the inner pump.

Any pump has a curve with an optimal working point (preassure-caudal). When is no pressure, the caudal increases up to the maximum. Is it bad? If you're working for hours or days, yes, bearings, brakets and all moving pieces will work up to desing. Are you doing it just before a non using time and just for a seconds? I don't think it can be a problem. My superautomatic machine, does somenthing similar when i push "clear".


Salu2.
Indesio.

 

[iroit]

Thank you Indesio!
Cheers