Descale coffee maker – How to descale and clean coffee maker?
In many parts of the country, the water is hard and contains a high level of calcium. This leads to limescale buildup in your coffee maker, as well as in your electric kettle.
Did you know that limescale can negatively affect the taste? Descale and clean your coffee maker and kettle regularly to enjoy great-tasting coffee and tea!
A machine with limescale buildup consumes more energy since the scale makes it harder to heat the liquid. It can also shorten the lifespan of the coffee maker.
Last but not least, a coffee maker or kettle with heavy limescale buildup can pose a health risk, as mold and bacteria can more easily thrive on the rough limescale surface.
There are many ready-made descaling products on the market. These are convenient and easy to use, but it's just as effective to mix your own solution at home.
Let’s take a look at how to descale your coffee maker or kettle!
Descale a Coffee Maker with White Vinegar
The home remedy of descaling your coffee maker with vinegar is surprisingly effective. Vinegar is an acidic solution that dissolves calcium deposits.
You can use white vinegar (12%), pickling vinegar (6%), or standard table vinegar (3%). Regular table vinegar usually works fine. The concentration determines how much water you need to dilute it with. It’s not an exact science, but it’s best not to use too strong a solution, as the vinegar taste might linger in the machine.
A machine that hasn’t been descaled in a long time may need a stronger solution to dissolve the scale.
Note: Some manufacturers advise against using vinegar if the appliance contains aluminum parts. In that case, citric acid is a good alternative. Always read the instruction manual to avoid damage.
Instructions:
Mix 100 ml of white vinegar with 600 ml of water directly in the coffee maker. If using table vinegar, use 200 ml instead.
Turn on the coffee maker and let half of the solution run through.
Turn off the machine and wait for 10 minutes.
Turn it back on and let the rest of the liquid run through.
Empty and wash the carafe. “Brew” clean water three or four times before making coffee again.
The same mixture can be used for your kettle. Tip: reuse the liquid from the coffee maker to descale the kettle.
Descale a Coffee Maker with Citric Acid
You can use citric acid or ascorbic acid as an alternative to vinegar. The advantage is that these acids don’t leave behind the same taste as vinegar.
Just follow the same steps as above, but instead of vinegar, mix 2–3 teaspoons of citric or ascorbic acid in 600 ml of water.
Descale a Coffee Maker with Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
Our final tip for a home remedy is using baking soda and lemon juice. The benefit of this method is that the baking soda also helps clean the machine. However, it’s a bit more involved.
Instructions:
Fill the coffee pot with water and add four tablespoons of baking soda. Stir and pour the mixture into the water reservoir of the coffee maker.
Start the coffee maker and let the mixture run through. Repeat this process two or three times with a fresh batch each time.
Rinse the pot thoroughly.
Fill the pot with fresh water and add the juice of one lemon. Strain the juice to avoid getting pulp into the machine.
Pour the mixture into the reservoir and run the machine.
Rinse the pot and fill it with clean water. Brew two full pots of water to flush out all the lemon juice and baking soda.