How to Clean a JoeTap Brew System
JoeTap coffee dispensing units offer cafe and coffee shop customers a quick and fresh cup of cold brew. To provide the best beverage around, your JoeTap system must be cleaned on a weekly basis to ensure it remains safe and continues to perform at peak condition. Learn how to properly clean a JoeTap Brew System with the instructions below.
This cleaning guide covers both the Standalone, Single and Double Door dispensing systems.
Safety Precautions
Before you begin cleaning your JoeTap dispenser, make sure you take proper safety precautions like:
- Wear protective gloves and eyewear
- Take caution when opening JoeTap cleaning solution product
- Have an appropriate receptacle or sink that’s not used for food products to discard cleaning solution once done
Standalone Dispense System
Cleaning procedure should be conducted on a weekly basis. Make sure to take good care of these components and keep them clean to avoid any future issues.
Cleaning the Tank
- Step 1—Rinse out the 2.5 gallon beverage tank thoroughly, then fill it with clean, warm water (around 60°-100° F). Once the tank is filled, reattach the lid to the beverage tank and secure it.
- NOTE—Water temperature must not exceed 100° F.
- Step 2—Place the beverage tank in the JoeTap dispenser and connect the gas and product lines.
- Step 3—Turn the infuser gas valve to the OFF position.
- Step 4—Replace the dispenser top to the JoeTap, then open up the tap and run until water starts pouring.
- Step 5—Remove the dispenser top, disconnect the beverage tank and remove it from the unit.
Cleaning the Basket
- Step 6—Disconnect the primary gas feed quick connect, located in the center of the JoeTap basket that’s mounted on top of the fan dome at the bottom of the unit.
- Step 7—Remove the basket by pulling it upward, then turn the basket upside down to access the filter/strainer assembly.
- Step 8—Remove the plastic air deflector, wipe down and then wipe the entire inside of the unit.
Cleaning the Strainer
- Step 9—Disconnect the filter/strainer by releasing the quick connect fittings located on either side, then remove the filter/strainer. Then, release the internal pressure in the filter bowl by pushing in on the male tip on the quick connect fitting.
- NOTE—Pressure must be released, as it will prevent the bowl from being disassembled.
- Step 10—Turn the clear plastic housing counter-clockwise to unscrew it from the housing. Remove the filter/strainer and inspect for any damage. Have replaced if necessary.
- Step 11—Rinse the filter of any debris by running it under warm water, both inside and out. Then rinse the filter bowl and filter housing to remove any coffee-related debris.
- Step 12—After the filter’s been rinsed, place it back within the housing, then screw the clear plastic filter basket back onto the housing tightly by hand.
- Step 13—Reinstall the filter/strainer assembly back into the JoeTap basket assembly, and reattach the quick connect fittings on the filter/strainer to the dispenser. When you hear a click, you’ll know it’s connected properly.
Reassemble the Basket
- Step 14—Wipe the inside of the unit clean, and clean and replace the plastic air deflector. Turn the basket right-side up and reassemble.
- Step 15—Connect the primary gas feed quick connect to the center of the basket mounted on top of the fan dome that’s located at the bottom of the unit.
Cleaning the Beverage Tank
- Step 16—Pull the safety ring on top of the beverage tank to release pressure. Then lift the handle to remove the lid.
- Step 17—Fill the tank with warm water (around 60°-100° F) approximately ¾ of the way up and pour one package of JoeTap cleaning solution into the tank.
- Step 18—Close the beverage tank lid and check that it’s secure by holding the tank upside down over the disposal basin. If it leaks, remove the lid and repeat the same procedure until there are no leaks and the lid is secure. If it doesn’t leak, shake the beverage tank to mix the cleaning mixture inside.
- Step 19—Place the beverage tank inside the JoeTap dispenser, then connect the gas and product lines.
- Step 20—Put the dispenser top back on and then open the tap to allow the cleaning mixture to flow from the faucet. As this happens, water will initially flow from the faucet, but eventually the cleaning mixture will start to flow out (will be a greenish color). Once the color turns darker, close the tap and let the solution soak within the system for at least 15 minutes. After soaking, open the tap and let the cleaning mixture flow out once again until it turns green, then close the tap. Soak in the system for another 3 minutes, then open the tap and allow the mixture to flow out until it turns purple and close the tap again.
- Step 21—Take the dispenser top off, disconnect the beverage tank and remove it from the unit.
- Step 22—Repeat Step 16, then discard any remaining cleaning mixture away from food products. Thoroughly rinse away any residual chemical down the drain as the mixture is caustic.
- Step 23—Fill the beverage tank with cold water and vigorously shake it to rinse, then pour out.
- NOTE—If cleaning solution gets on skin, rinse immediately.
- Step 24—Fill the beverage tank completely with cold water and place the tank inside the dispenser. Connect the gas and product lines like before.
- Step 25—Open the tap and let the water flow through until it turns clear from each faucet.
- Step 26—Take a PH level test strip and hold it under the running water from the faucet after a gallon has passed through the system. This checks to make sure the system has been thoroughly purged of the cleaning mixture. If the strip doesn’t change color, the system is completely flushed.
- Step 27—Take the dispenser top off, disconnect the beverage tank and remove it from the unit once again.
- Step 28—Repeat Step 16 and dump any remaining water from the tank. Re-rinse the beverage tank completely afterwards.
- NOTE—Do not leave the cleaning mixture in the system, as it has a greater chance of leeching into coffee and could be ingested unintentionally.
Setting Up the Brew System
- Step 29—Fill the tank with cold brew coffee and place the lid back on and secure.
- Step 30—Place the beverage tank back in the unit and vent for 3 seconds, then replace the dispenser top.
- Step 31—Open the tap until cold brew starts to flow from the faucet, then stop and remove the dispenser top. Turn on the infuser gas valve.
- NOTE—The infuser gas valve must be switched to the On position after cleaning to prevent the infuser from flooding. If the infuser floods, you’ll need to follow the drying out procedures and can take hours to do so. If the infuser gas valve stays in the Off position while there’s coffee left in the system, you’ll need to have your JoeTap unit serviced by an authorized technician.
- Step 32—Place the dispenser top back on and open the tap until coffee flows from the faucet.
Cleaning a Single and Double Door Dispense System
This process should also be completed on a weekly basis to keep lines clean and the dispense system clean. Here are the steps you'll need to take to properly clean out the system.
Disassemble the Tank
- Step 1—Rinse out the 5 gallon beverage tank thoroughly, then fill it 1/4 of the way up with clean, warm water (around 60°-100° F). Once the tank is filled, reattach the lid to the beverage tank and secure it.
- NOTE—Water temperature must not exceed 100° F.
- Step 2—Place the beverage tank in the JoeTap dispenser and connect the gas and product lines.
- Step 3—Turn the infuser gas valve to the OFF position.
- Step 4—Close the doors and open up both taps until clear water flows from all faucets.
- Step 5—Open the doors, disconnect the beverage tank and remove it from the unit.
- Step 6—Disconnect the filter assembly by releasing the quick connect fittings located on either side, then remove the filter/strainer. Then, release the internal pressure in the filter bowl by pushing in on the male tip on the quick connect fitting while holding it over a sink.
- NOTE—Pressure must be released, as it will prevent the bowl from being disassembled.
- Step 7—Turn the clear plastic housing counter-clockwise to unscrew it from the housing. Remove the filter/strainer and inspect for any damage. Have replaced if necessary.
Cleaning the Filter
- Step 8—Rinse the filter of any debris by running it under warm water, both inside and out. Then rinse the filter bowl and filter housing to remove any coffee-related debris.
- Step 9—After the filter’s been rinsed, place it back within the housing, then screw the clear plastic filter basket back onto the housing tightly by hand.
- Step 10—Reinstall the filter/strainer assembly back into the JoeTap basket assembly, and reattach the quick connect fittings on the filter/strainer to the dispenser. When you hear a click, you’ll know it’s connected properly.
Cleaning the Beverage Tank
- Step 11—Remove the tip of the nitro faucet by unscrewing it, then rinse and clean inside of the tip. Once clean, reassemble by screwing back on the nitro faucet.
- Step 12—Pull the safety ring on top of the beverage tank to release pressure. Then lift the handle to remove the lid.
- Step 13—Fill the tank with warm water (around 60°-100° F) approximately 1/4 of the way up and pour one package of JoeTap cleaning solution into the tank.
- Step 14—Close the beverage tank lid and check that it’s secure by holding the tank upside down over the disposal basin. If it leaks, remove the lid and repeat the same procedure until there are no leaks and the lid is secure. If it doesn’t leak, shake the beverage tank to mix the cleaning mixture inside.
- Step 15—Replace the filled beverage tank back inside the refrigeration compartment and reconnect the gas and product lines.
- Step 16—Put the dispenser top back on and then open the tap to allow the cleaning mixture to flow from the faucet. As this happens, water will initially flow from the faucet, but eventually the cleaning mixture will start to flow out (will be a greenish color). Once the color turns darker, close the tap and let the solution soak within the system for at least 15 minutes. After soaking, open the tap and let the cleaning mixture flow out once again until it turns green, then close the tap. Soak in the system for another 3 minutes, then open the tap and allow the mixture to flow out until it turns purple and close the tap again.
- Step 17—Open the compartment door and disconnect the beverage tank, then remove it from the unit.
- Step 18—Repeat Step 12, then discard any remaining cleaning mixture away from food products. Thoroughly rinse away any residual chemical down the drain as the mixture is caustic.
- Step 19—Fill the beverage tank completely with cold water and vigorously shake it to rinse, then pour out.
- NOTE—If cleaning solution gets on skin, rinse immediately.
Flushing the System
- Step 20—Fill the beverage tank completely with cold water and place the tank inside the dispenser. Connect the gas and product lines like before.
- Step 21—Open the tap and let the water flow through until it turns clear from each faucet.
- Step 22—Take a PH level test strip and hold it under the running water from the faucet after a gallon has passed through the system. This checks to make sure the system has been thoroughly purged of the cleaning mixture. If the strip doesn’t change color, the system is completely flushed.
- Step 23—Open the compartment door and disconnect the beverage tank, then remove it from the unit.
- Step 24—Repeat Step 12 and dump any remaining water from the tank. Re-rinse the beverage tank completely afterwards.
- NOTE—Do not leave the cleaning mixture in the system, as it has a greater chance of leeching into coffee and could be ingested unintentionally.
- Step 25—Place the beverage tank back in the unit and vent for 3 seconds, then replace the dispenser top.
Setting Up the Dispense System
- Step 26—Fill a clean tank with cold brew coffee
- Step 27—Open the tap until cold brew starts to flow from the faucet, then stop and remove the dispenser top. Turn on the infuser gas valve.
- NOTE—The infuser gas valve must be switched to the On position after cleaning to prevent the infuser from flooding. If the infuser floods, you’ll need to follow the drying out procedures and can take hours to do so. If the infuser gas valve stays in the Off position while there’s coffee left in the system, you’ll need to have your JoeTap unit serviced by an authorized technician.
- Step 28—Close the door, and open the tap until cold brew coffee begins to flow.