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Rocket TCA maintenance: what the manual says

Rocket’s manual lists 13 maintenance jobs for the TCA. Each is below with how often and the sentence it comes from.

What to do, and how often

Job How often The manual’s sentence
Backflush (detergent) Every week

“Every week, after backflushing, add a small amount of espresso cleaning detergent to the blind basket.”
Backflush (water) Every day

“Backflush the unit head every day.”
Portafilter & basket soak If coffee oils have built up

“If the coffee oils have built up, soak the metal end of the portafilter and basket in the same detergent solution as the brass shower foil described above.”
Boiler water change Every month

“It is recommended to change the water in the boiler periodically, at least once a month or, in the case of frequent use, every fortnight.”
Drip tray empty & clean No frequency given

“Remove the grid and the tray and wash with warm soapy water.”
Group gasket replacement If visibly worn (water leaking from the portafilter)

“Check the head gaskets. If visibly worn, they will need to be replaced.”
Shower screen clean When extraction is too slow

“Check that the shower foil is not blocked: it may need to be back-flushed or be removed and cleaned”
Shower screen replacement If worn or damaged

“If the elements of the head are worn or damaged, replace them.”
Steam wand purge & wipe After every use

“Clean the steam wand after every use by wiping with a damp cloth.”
Steam wand deep clean If the steam jets become clogged

“If the steam jets become clogged with the powdered milk, unscrew the nozzle and unlock/clean with a paper clip (fig._8.1).”
Water filter / softener replacement Per the softener bag's rated litres

“The manufacturer recommends inserting a softener bag (2) in the water tank.”
Water tank clean Periodically

“Periodically remove and clean the water tank with warm soapy water.”

Left to a technician

Job How often The manual’s sentence
Descale Rocket does not recommend user descaling; an authorised centre does it

“ROCKET does not recommend removing limescale from the espresso machine.”

The settings

Boiler pressure adjustment

  • Low
  • Medium Factory setting
  • High
  • Very high

“The user-modifiable parameters are as follows: 1. Boiler pressure (red). 2. ECO MODE of the machine (green).”

Factory setting: Medium

“Medium (default) No. 2 flashes”

Step-by-step guides

What the manual does not say

2 jobs with nothing stated
  • Group head wipe / flush
  • Professional service
Notes from the research
  • No Rocket-hosted manual exists; the 2023 manual is Rocket's own, rehosted by Seattle Coffee Gear, so the basis is community by host.
  • Drip tray has a procedure but no frequency; group-head wipe and professional service interval are not stated. Softener-bag life is on its package, not in the manual.

Sources

Researched on .

Published: the sentence is on the maker’s own page or in the maker’s own document.

Community: the maker’s text, hosted somewhere else, usually by a retailer.