Method for cleaning the steam nozzle of a machine for preparing beverages

Method for cleaning a steam nozzle of a beverage preparation machine, the machine having:

• a steam nozzle (7) having a free end (7a ) capable of being immersed in a beverage;
• a rinsing container (12) having a top opening (22) and a draining device (23) for evacuating the liquid contained therein to a collection system (9);
• a feed device for feeding the nozzle with rinsing liquid;
• a moving device (13) for moving the nozzle (7) vertically, at least when the nozzle is inside a cleaning area (25), so that the free end of said nozzle enters through the top opening of the rinsing container (12);
• and
• an electronic control unit for controlling at least the feed device and the moving device,
• wherein said method includes at least one rinsing sequence comprising the following steps, in the order recited:
• lowering the nozzle (7) into a rinsing position inside the rinsing container (12);
• filling the rinsing container (12) with rinsing liquid from the nozzle (7);
• then
• draining the rinsing container by actuating the draining device (23) by the control unit for controlling at least the devices for moving and feeding the nozzle (7).