Descaling your Nespresso machine isn’t just about keeping it clean—it’s crucial for great-tasting coffee, a healthier machine, and your own health. Here’s a full guide on why you should descale regularly, what happens if you don’t, and the steps to do it effectively. Plus, I’ll share some of my favorite products to make your Nespresso experience the best it can be!
Health Benefits of Descaling
- Better Water Quality: Descaling removes mineral buildup that can trap coffee oils and residual water, which can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Regular descaling helps ensure that each cup is brewed with fresh, clean water.
- Improved Coffee Taste: Over time, minerals like calcium and magnesium build up inside your Nespresso machine, affecting the flavor of your coffee. This buildup can leave behind a stale or metallic taste, which descaling helps eliminate, allowing your coffee’s true flavor to shine through.
- Reduced Risk of Mold & Bacteria: The moist interior of a coffee machine is an ideal environment for bacteria and mold to grow. Routine descaling helps prevent these contaminants from developing, ensuring your coffee stays safe to drink.
Risks of Not Descaling
- Mold & Bacteria Growth: Without regular descaling, oils and water trapped in the machine’s buildup can create a perfect environment for mold and bacteria. This not only compromises the safety of your coffee but can also have health implications over time.
- Machine Damage: Over time, mineral buildup can clog internal lines and strain the machine’s components, leading to reduced performance and potentially costly repairs.
- Poor Coffee Quality: When mineral deposits block water flow or disrupt the brewing temperature, your coffee’s flavor and strength suffer, often resulting in a weak, poorly brewed cup.
Essential Products for Better Brewing
For great-tasting, safe coffee every time, here are some products that I swear by for my Nespresso setup:
- Clearly Filtered Water Filtration: Clean, filtered water is essential for keeping your Nespresso machine in optimal shape and enhancing the flavor of your coffee. Use code: KEETOWELLNESS for 10% off!
- Reusable Stainless Steel Pod: This stainless steel pod is not only eco-friendly, but also eliminates the risk of aluminum leaching into your coffee.
- Purity Mold-Free Coffee: Did you know that up to 45% of coffee can contain mold? This mold-free option ensures every cup is as safe as it is delicious. Use code: KEETOWELLNESS for 20% off!
- Branch Basics Non-Toxic Cleaning Solution: I use this all-purpose cleaner to descale my machine naturally. It’s effective and free from harmful chemicals. Use code: KEETOWELLNESS for 15% off!
How to Descale Your Nespresso: Step-by-Step Guide
- Prepare Your Machine: Empty the capsule container, and clean the water tank, tray, and spout. A water bottle straw cleaner works perfectly for cleaning the spout.
- Mix Your Solution: Combine 17 oz of filtered water with 3 oz of descaling solution. I like to use Branch Basics or vinegar for a natural approach. There are also descaling liquids on Amazon.
- Position a Container: Place a container that holds at least 20 oz under the coffee outlet to catch the descaling solution.
- Enter Descaling Mode for Vertuo and Vertuo Plus:
- Vertuo Plus: Close the machine, press and hold the top button for 7 seconds until it blinks.
- Vertuo: Turn the machine off, then press and hold both the coffee and espresso buttons for 7 seconds until they blink.
- Start the Descaling Cycle:
- Vertuo Plus: Press the button once.
- Vertuo: Press the espresso button.
- Rinse: Once the cycle is finished, rinse the tank, refill with clean water, and run a rinse cycle.
- Exit Descaling Mode: Press and hold the button for 7 seconds to exit descaling mode on both models.
Descaling doesn’t just improve your coffee’s flavor—it’s a crucial part of maintaining your Nespresso machine and ensuring each cup is as safe as it is delicious.
