Although the EQ900 Plus carries out automatic rinsing and has its own automatic cleaning system, the brewing unit still needs to be removed and cleaned regularly. The automatic system looks after coffee residue inside the machine's pipework, but it does not replace physical cleaning of the removable brewing unit. The machine also includes a dedicated Brewing Unit Cleaning service programme which gives step-by-step instructions on the display.

Switch the machine off before opening the brewing chamber. Open the brewing chamber door on the side of the machine and remove the brewing-unit cover. Release the brewing unit and carefully pull it out of the machine. Check the brewing chamber at the same time for loose coffee grounds and damp coffee residue.

Clean the brewing unit as instructed and pay particular attention to the coffee shaft and areas where ground coffee can accumulate. A blocked coffee shaft is specifically listed as a reason why the EQ900 Plus may dispense water instead of coffee. The brewing unit itself is not dishwasher-safe, so don't put it through the dishwasher.

While the brewing unit is out, clean loose grounds from the brewing chamber. The removable red Drain Pan and Deflector Pomace components inside the brewing chamber are dishwasher-safe, provided the dishwasher programme does not exceed 60°C. This is useful because these areas can gradually collect wet coffee residue.

Once everything is clean, reinstall the brewing unit fully and lock it into position before replacing its cover and closing the brewing chamber. If it isn't correctly seated, the machine can fail to make coffee. The troubleshooting instructions specifically say to check that the brewing unit is correctly inserted and securely locked, push the red lever upwards to the left and then reinstall the brewing-unit cover.

Engineer Tip: If the machine suddenly starts dispensing water without coffee, don't immediately assume the grinder or pump has failed. Check the brewing unit and its coffee shaft first. The manual identifies a blocked coffee shaft and incorrectly installed brewing unit as two possible causes.

The EQ900 Plus automatically rinses parts of its milk circuit, but the removable milk system still needs proper cleaning. Milk residue can affect both hygiene and performance, particularly if the machine starts producing poor foam or stops drawing milk altogether.

Remove the milk container and disconnect the milk system from the beverage outlet. Separate the removable milk-system components so that milk deposits aren't left trapped inside assembled parts.

The milk system with adapter and milk container with lid are dishwasher-safe. Use a dishwasher programme that doesn't heat the components above 60°C. They can also be cleaned manually if preferred.

Pay particular attention to the milk tube and the small passages through the milk-system components. A machine that produces steam but doesn't draw milk may simply have contamination or incorrect assembly rather than a more serious fault.

Reassembly is important on the EQ900 Plus. The manual specifically identifies the wrong connection sequence as a cause of no milk intake. Connect the milk system to the beverage outlet first, and then connect the milk container. Make sure the milk tube reaches far enough into the milk to remain immersed.

The EQ900 Plus also monitors milk-system use. Depending on usage, the machine will request an intensive milk-system clean when required, and the touchscreen guides you through the programme.

Engineer Tip: If milk frothing suddenly deteriorates, clean and reassemble the milk system before changing drink settings. A restriction or incorrectly assembled milk path can easily look like a machine fault.

The EQ900 Plus supports the INTENZA TZ70003 water filter. Correct filter installation matters because the machine uses the selected water hardness and filter setup when calculating maintenance requirements.

Before fitting the filter, establish the hardness of the water being used. The supplied test strip can be briefly dipped into fresh tap water, allowed to drip and then read after one minute. The manual provides four hardness levels ranging from 1–7 °dH at level 1 through to 22–30 °dH at level 4.

The corresponding INTENZA filter settings are:

Level 1 — Filter setting A — 1–7 °dH

Level 2 — Filter setting A — 8–14 °dH

Level 3 — Filter setting B — 15–21 °dH

Level 4 — Filter setting C — 22–30 °dH.

Use the machine's INTENZA Filter service programme when inserting, replacing or removing a filter. This is important because you're not simply physically replacing a cartridge — the machine needs to know what has been changed so it can manage its maintenance information correctly.