The Towels & Brushes Range
Rhino Coffee Gear Barista Cloth Set
A set of purpose-made microfibre cloths for espresso bar use — the most-reviewed product in this collection and a staple behind coffee bars and home espresso stations alike. The cloths are designed for the specific tasks of barista work: wiping the steam wand clean after steaming, drying portafilters, cleaning the group head area, and general counter and surface wipes. Microfibre construction lifts and holds coffee oils and milk residue rather than spreading them, and the material is soft enough not to scratch stainless steel finishes. Comes as a set so you can dedicate separate cloths to separate tasks — the professional standard approach that prevents cross-contamination between milk and coffee residue. Machine washable.
Rhino Coffee Group Head Brush
A purpose-built brush for cleaning the group head of an espresso machine — specifically the shower screen, dispersion block and group head gasket where spent coffee grounds accumulate between shots. Sweeping the group head before locking in the portafilter removes old grounds that would otherwise end up in the fresh shot, contributing to bitter, over-extracted flavour. The stiff bristles are firm enough to dislodge compacted grounds without scratching the shower screen or rubber gasket. A quick two-second brush before each shot is one of the simplest habits to build and one of the most impactful for shot-to-shot cleanliness.
Rhino Coffee Gear Group Head Brush Spare Brushes — 3 Pack
Three replacement brush heads for the Rhino Group Head Brush handle — for when the original bristles become splayed or worn with regular use. More economical than replacing the full brush unit. Compatible with the Rhino Group Head Brush handle sold in this collection.
Rhino Grinder and Bench Tidy Brush (£16.99)
A wider, softer-bristled brush designed for sweeping fine coffee grounds from grinder dosing areas, portafilter edges, drip trays and counter surfaces. Ground coffee dust is finer and more pervasive than most people expect — it settles on every nearby surface and, if left, goes stale and contributes off-flavours when it finds its way into the dose. The bench tidy brush has a broader sweep than a group head brush and is better suited to clearing larger surface areas quickly. A practical tool for keeping the area around the grinder and machine clean between and during sessions.
Rhino Coffee Gear Grinder & Bench Brush Spare Bristles
Replacement bristle head for the Rhino Grinder and Bench Tidy Brush. The bristle head is the component that wears first with regular use — replacing it restores the brush to full effectiveness without the cost of a new handle unit.
Rhino Coffee Gear Steam Wand & Milk Frother Brush Set
A two-piece brush set for cleaning the steam wand tip and internal channel. Includes a narrow tube brush for threading through the steam tip holes to clear dried milk deposits from the inside of the tip, and a wider brush for scrubbing the outer surface of the wand body. Dried milk inside steam tip holes restricts steam flow, produces uneven aeration and harbours bacteria — this brush set makes clearing them straightforward without needing to soak the tip or use chemical cleaners for routine maintenance. Recommended for weekly use alongside the daily post-steaming wipe-and-purge routine.
Grinder Burr Brass Brush
A small brass-bristled brush for cleaning between burr teeth during a deep-clean disassembly of a burr grinder. Brass bristles are firm enough to dislodge compacted grounds and fine grind residue from the burr surface without scratching or damaging hardened steel burrs. Used during periodic burr removal and inspection. Currently sold out — check back for restock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need separate cloths for the steam wand and the rest of the machine?
Using dedicated cloths for separate tasks is standard practice in professional coffee environments for a straightforward hygiene reason: the steam wand comes into contact with milk, which is a dairy product that harbours bacteria if residue is left to dry and spread. Using the same cloth to wipe the steam wand and then the portafilter or counter risks transferring milk proteins and bacteria onto surfaces that contact coffee. Keeping a dedicated steam wand cloth — used only for the post-steam wipe and used damp with clean water — prevents cross-contamination and keeps the wand cleaner between deeper cleaning sessions. The Rhino Barista Cloth Set includes enough cloths to assign separately to each task.
How often should I brush the group head?
Ideally before every shot — it takes two seconds and prevents old grounds from contaminating the fresh dose. A quick sweep of the shower screen and group head gasket before locking in the portafilter is one of the simplest habits to build in your espresso routine. At minimum, brush the group head at the start and end of every brewing session, and after any shot where grounds have visibly spread above the basket rim. In a café environment, brushing between every shot is the professional standard. Combined with a weekly backflush using Cafetto EVO, regular group head brushing keeps the most important part of the machine clean with minimal effort.
Do I need a separate brush for my grinder?
Yes — the grinder and group head brush serve different purposes and are not interchangeable. The group head brush has stiffer bristles suited to dislodging compacted spent grounds from a hard metal surface. The grinder and bench brush has softer, wider bristles suited to sweeping fine loose coffee dust from larger, more delicate surfaces like the dosing chute, burr carrier edge and counter. Using a stiff group head brush in a grinder dosing area risks scratching plastic components and is less effective at clearing fine dust than a wider, softer brush. The brass burr brush is a third distinct tool — used only during burr disassembly for deep cleaning, not for everyday surface clearing.
How do I clean the steam wand tip properly?
The daily routine is simple: immediately after steaming, purge the wand with a brief burst of steam to clear milk from inside the tip, then wipe the outer surface with a damp barista cloth. This takes about five seconds and prevents milk from drying onto and inside the tip. For a more thorough clean — recommended weekly — remove the steam tip if it's detachable on your machine, soak it in hot water or a Cafetto MFC Green solution for 10–15 minutes, then use the narrow tube brush from the Rhino Steam Wand Brush Set to clear any remaining dried deposits from inside the tip holes. If the tip is not removable, thread the tube brush directly through the tip holes while the tip is still on the wand after soaking in a damp cloth wrap. Clear, unobstructed tip holes restore full steam pressure and even aeration.
How long do barista cloths last and how should I wash them?
With regular use and proper care, quality microfibre barista cloths last many months before needing replacement. Machine wash at 40°C with a mild detergent — avoid fabric softener, which coats the microfibre and reduces absorbency. Do not tumble dry on high heat as this can damage the microfibre structure; air drying or a low-heat tumble is preferable. Replace cloths when they no longer absorb effectively, show persistent staining that doesn't wash out, or develop an odour that persists after washing — a sign that bacterial buildup in the cloth fibres has reached the point where washing alone isn't sufficient. In a café environment, cloths should be laundered daily; for home use, every two to three days is a reasonable cadence.
