How to descale a coffee machine at home

There are many lovers of strong, aromatic coffee, but not all of them know that the devices that prepare this drink get dirty very quickly. Therefore, today we will talk about how to clean the coffee machine from scale with decalcifiers and folk remedies.

 

 

Means for cleaning the device

Before you descale the coffee machine yourself, you should carefully read the instructions. The fact is that many models have the function of "automatic cleaning", which means that there is no need to do something yourself. In this case, you only need to follow the rules prescribed in the operating manual.

If the above function is not provided in the device, then it will be possible to clean it with improvised or special means. On sale you can buy decalciners - these are substances for cleaning coffee machines, often they are sold together with the device itself.

In addition, the coffee machine or coffee maker needs to be cleaned of coffee oils. Cleaning the equipment and removing scale will help special coffee machine cleaning tablets, they can also be bought. Such a tablet must be put into the device along with the coffee; during brewing, it dissolves and protects all internal surfaces from the destructive properties of oils.

Basic rules for caring for a coffee machine

After choosing the right decalcifier, the problem of “how to clean the coffee machine” is no longer so difficult.

If you want to clean the device without any problems, then adhere to the following sequence:

• Carefully check that there are no coffee residues in the coffee machine, discard the used capsules and cake from the waste container.
• Pour about a liter of warm (not hot!) Water into the tank.
• Add the required amount of decalcifier to the water. The instructions for the substance always indicate how much it needs to be taken in order to descale it.
• Then you can turn on the car.
• Next, we put a deep container where the bowl is usually located, open the tap, and drain about half a glass of the resulting solution.
• Disconnect the coffee machine from the mains, leave it for a short period of time and then turn it on again, the tap does not need to be closed yet.

You will have to do this procedure (turn it on and off) several times, according to this scheme, you can clean the hydraulic system.

If you want to clean the part of the appliance in which the drink is prepared, then you need to prepare 2-3 cups based on a solution with a decalcifier, like regular coffee.

If you are the owner of a carob coffee machine, or an appliance in which you can brew ground coffee, then you do not need to add the ground beans. In all other cases, this must be done. After the end of the cleaning process, rinse the appliance again with clean running water and turn on the cappuccino maker to clean it too. After the final rinsing, the machine is ready for use again!

 

Advice:

Read also: How to descale a kettle

Functionality of coffee machines

All models of coffee makers have their own characteristics. And in order not to make mistakes and not to click "where not to", carefully read the instructions!

Let's consider the most important points:

• Many popular models are equipped with sensors that tell you when it's time to descale and remove dirt. You can understand that it's time to clean the device by the flashing red signal. The sensors turn on, usually, after making 200-300 cups of a drink. It is also worth noting that the buttons light up red and when the coffee preparation process is completed, or more water needs to be added. Blinking is often accompanied by a sound signal.
• If the machine has a removable unit, it can be cleaned daily. For this, the brewing unit is removed, washed under running water and dried.
• Some models have filters installed, they will also need to be changed periodically.
• After cleaning the espresso machine, pay attention to the horn and the sieve. They can be cleaned with citric acid or a hard sponge and baking soda. Do not use chemical detergents, as freshly brewed coffee will give off an unpleasant odor.

Sometimes, in order to save money, special products are replaced with citric acid and vinegar, but it is not recommended to abuse them. Citric acid and vinegar can damage interior surfaces, especially on expensive cars. If you want to delight yourself with the excellent taste of freshly made coffee for a long time, do not skimp on high-quality descaling products.

Advice:

Read also: How to descale your iron

How to clean with citric acid

The descaling process in the coffee machine consists of three cycles and lasts about 30 minutes:

• Descaling;
• Two rinses;

Descaling the coffee machine with citric acid

1. Turn on the coffee maker.
2. Take out and rinse the water tank, then pour water into it and add 3-4 tablespoons of citric acid.
3. Wait for the citric acid to dissolve in the water.
4. Place the container back in the coffee machine.

Further actions will depend on the model. If the coffee machine is equipped with automatic self-cleaning, set the program and wait until it finishes. If there is no such program, we proceed as follows:

1. We are waiting for 15 minutes for citric acid to start working
2. We turn on the coffee preparation mode, and do it for now, we do not use up all the water from the container.
3. Turn off the coffee machine, take out the water container and rinse it.

First rinse cycle

1. Fill a container with clean water up to the “Max” mark and put it back into the machine.
2. We start the coffee preparation cycle - it lasts about 3-5 minutes.

Second rinse cycle

1. Rinse the reservoir again, fill with clean water and put it back into the machine.
2. We start the coffee preparation mode again, do it until the tank is empty.

The descaling process is now complete.

Now you know how to descale a coffee machine with citric acid, tablets and decalcifiers.