Q. Why should I clean my machine?
A. Every time you brew coffee a natural oil is extracted that build up on any surface it comes in contact with. Like any oil that is exposed to air, it rapidly oxidizes creating a rancid flavor.  If not removed these spoiled oils will contaminate the next cup you brew.  The coffee may test bitter or stale, but it is not your fresh coffee you are tasting, but last weeks coffee oils.  These residues can also build up and damage machine parts, clogging screens and valves. Cleaning your machine will not only guarenttee better tasting coffee, but will help maintain your coffee machine and keep it running smoothly.
Q. Why should I brew a cup of coffee after cleaning my coffee or espresso machine? 
A. This is a way to "season" your machine. While cleaning you will break down, dissolve and rinse away all deposited (and rancid) coffee oils and minerals, leaving behind, in essence, only a bare metal machine. By brewing a fresh cup of coffee and discarding it, you will be laying down a new fresh layer of coffee oils in the lines, valves and all surfaces that come in contact with the coffee. The next cup you brew will never touch either bare metal or stale coffee oils, two things you should always avoid.  
Q. Which should I use, an espresso machine cleaning powder or a tablet? 
A. If you have a traditional espresso machine (one with a handle where you place the ground espresso) you will want to use a powder.  The tablet was created for use in super automatic espresso machines (machines that store, grind, tamp and extract the espresso all with the push of a button).  In these kinds of machines, there is a long thin chute where the cleaning agent is dropped in and the machine runs a preprogramed cleaning cycle.  If you were to use a powder it would stick to the walls the whole way down the chute and never reach the area that needs to be cleaned. Hence, the tablet form.
Q. Can I use an espresso machine cleaning tablet in a traditional machine?
A.  It is possible to use a tablet in the automatic machine, but we do not recommend it. Since the tablet is just compressed powder it will take longer to break down, dissolve and finally clean.  If you were looking for portion control in a tablet, consider the 1/4 oz. espresso machine cleaning packets. Just tear one open pour it in and start the "back flush" process.
Q.  How often do I need to back flush the espresso machine?
A. How often you need to back flush depends on how often you use your machine and the volume of coffee you are brewing.  If you are brewing 30 or more coffees a day, then its a good idea to clean once a day if you can. If you brew less than you should clean about twice a week.  You won't hurt anything by cleaning more and at roughly 5-10 cents a cleaning you won't break the bank either.
Q. Can I get away with rinsing equipment with water on a daily basis, then thoroughly cleaning once a week?
A. This really depends on a few things. How much coffee you are brewing and how often. A good rule of thumb is to clean daily if you are brewing heavy volumes or at least twice a week with small volumes. Rinsing with water if you can't clean is a good idea, but any time you brew coffee there is a thin film of natural oil left behind.  Like any oil that is exposed to air, it rapidly oxidizes and causes that rancid flavor.  So unless you remove that film by cleaning with a detergent, you run the risk of spoiling the next cup of coffee.