Descaling a coffee maker is annoying, and it’s hard to find the right product. Coffee makers are great, but they can be challenging to maintain. If you don’t descale your machine regularly, limescale will build up on the heating element and eventually ruin your machine.
This happens because all water contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, which pass through your coffee machine and accumulate as limescale on its heating element over time.
Many products claim to help you descale a coffee maker with varying degrees of success; we’ve tried them all (some more than once). In this article, we’ll explain how each product works, why some work better than others, and recommend our favorites based on actual testing results from real people just like you!
WHY DOES MY COFFEE MAKER NEED TO BE DESCALED?
Water contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, which pass through your coffee machine and eventually accumulate on the heating element of a coffee maker as limescale. Descaling a coffee maker is the process of removing that mineral build-up. If you don’t descale your coffee machine regularly, your machine will eventually stop working.
HOW DOES LIMESCALE EFFECT MY COFFEE MAKER?
As limescale builds up on the heating element, water can’t reach its optimal temperature for brewing. When this happens, your coffee machine won’t be able to extract all of your coffee beans’ flavor leading to your coffee to start tasting bad.
Over time, the limescale build-up will cause your machine to take longer to brew and eventually stop working altogether. You need an effective way of removing all that calcium build-up, so you don’t have any problems with your machine or cups of coffee in the future.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I DESCALE MY COFFEE MAKER?
As a general rule, you should descale your coffee maker every 200 to 300 cups of coffee. This guideline will also depend on the type of water which you are using in your machine. If you have hard water, meaning it has high mineral content, you will need to descale your coffee maker more often.
If your water is soft or filtered, then it may take longer for the build-up to occur. Descale the coffee maker at least once every other month if using hard water and twice a year if using filtered or soft water. Check with the owner’s manual of your coffee maker to find out the recommended descaling frequency.
Using a water filter in your coffee machine may take longer for the build-up to occur since you are not using tap water anymore. If this is the case, check the owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on how often you need to descale your coffee maker. You can also lookup your coffee maker model online for more specific information.
Another consideration is the temperature of the water you are using when brewing a cup of Joe in your machine. Higher temperatures (higher than 200 degrees F) can cause scaling and residue to build up much faster over time, so consider descaling at least every month if this applies to you.
BEST DRIP COFFEE MAKER DESCALERS
We have tested many different descaling products over the years and have found that some work better than others. We’ve determined their effectiveness by how quickly they could remove limescale build-up and keep our coffee machine in good working condition.
1. URNEX DEZCAL COFFEE AND ESPRESSO DESCALER AND CLEANER (OUR TOP PICK)
Our favorite product is the Urnex Dezcal Coffee and Espresso Descaler and Cleaner. It comes in a package of powder packets that are very easy to use. You just have to pour one packet right into the water tank of your machine. Then brew the full tank of the mixture through your coffee machine.
After brewing a full tank of the solution, you will need to rinse out the machine by re-filling the tank with fresh water and brewing the full tank again. Repeat the rinse process a few times to make sure you clear all of the descaling solution out of your machine. That’s all there is to it!
We especially like that Urnex Dezcal Coffee Descaler because it was the most effective product we tested at removing limescale. After one cycle of brewing the mixture through the water tank, our coffee machine was completely descaled.
The main ingredient is citric acid which is safe, non-toxic, and biodegradable. Also, as another bonus point, the descaling solution was completely odorless, unlike some other products on the market.
2. IMPRESA COFFEE MACHINE DESCALER
Made in the U.S.A., this descaler is safe for you and the environment and will help restore your machine’s performance. Impresa Coffee Descaler works well in all types of devices, including Keurig and Nespresso single-serve coffee makers!
It’s straightforward to use by simply pouring in 4 oz. (half the bottle) of the solution into your machine’s reservoir. Fill the rest with water and run a brew cycle without coffee grounds or k-cups. When we tested this brand, it worked very quickly, without leaving behind any taste or smell.
On the downside, this brand is a little more expensive than some others on our list. You will get the best value for your dollar if you buy the two-pack as it will allow you to descale your machine four times at the cost of about $3.50 peruse.
3. HALEFRESH DESCALING SOLUTION (BEST COFFEE MAKER CLEANER)
We liked this cleaner because it was one of the least expensive of all the products we tried. Halefresh Descaling Solution comes in a 16 oz bottle which is good for eight cleanings. That comes out to be a $1.75 peruse. Not bad!
After using this brand, we noticed it did a great job removing the coffee stains and oil residue from our machine. After running the solution through our coffee maker, we didn’t notice any bad taste or odor. Another bonus is that it’s made in the U.S.A. So there are no worries about it being manufactured in another country that uses unsafe ingredients.
On the downside, the dreaded “Descale” light came back on our Keurig machine within nine days after using this product. So, even though this product is inexpensive, it did not work as well as other products we tested. For those reasons, we rated this product as an “A” for cleaning but a “B” for descaling.
4. AFFRESH COFFEE MAKER CLEANER
Affresh Coffee Maker Cleaner is an easy-to-use coffee maker cleaner and descaler. It comes in 3 dissolvable tablets per package. You simply drop one tablet in the water reservoir and turn on your coffee maker. No mixing or measuring is required!
It dissolves quickly in cold water and removes limescale, rust stains, calcium deposits, odors, and other residues left behind by hard tap water. The product works with traditional percolators and modern drip filter brewers, including French or coffee presses. It is safe for use on aluminum and stainless steel but should not be used on plastic parts.
You can find a three tablet package on Amazon for about $3.60 per package. So, this makes Afresh one of the least inexpensive descalers on the market today. After we tried using Afresh to descale and clean our coffee maker, it left a fresh and clean taste in our coffee. Also, It did an excellent job at removing all the mineral deposits in our machine.
DESCALING A KEURIG COFFEE MAKER
Descaling a Keurig Coffee Maker is necessary to keep it running at peak performance. It’s important not only for the quality of your coffee but also for the life expectancy of your machine. The descale solution that you use will depend on which model of coffee maker you have and how often it needs to be descaled.
There are a couple of different ways to descale the Keurig Coffee Maker. It’s important for you to use the correct method depending on which model you have. The directions from Keurig will vary from one model to another, so please check them out before beginning the descaling process. If you do not follow the directions correctly, you may damage your device.
5. KEURIG DESCALING SOLUTION (BEST DESCALING SOLUTION FOR KEURIG)
One of the most popular descaling solutions for Keurig coffee makers is the “Keurig Descaling Solution Brewer Cleaner.” You can find it at many retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Amazon. The price varies depending on where you buy it, but you should expect to pay around $29 for two bottles that will last you about six descales.
Brewer Cleaner is a top choice for many Keurig owners. Still, some users have noticed that it leaves an after-taste in their coffee due to its chemical composition. You can avoid this by ensuring your machine’s water reservoir has been filled with filtered or bottled water before adding the descaling solution.
Another disadvantage is that this product is more expensive than other off-brand descaler products.
Since the main ingredient is citric acid, it’s perfectly acceptable to use another citric acid brand to save yourself some money, such as Impresa or Halefresh. They will work the same as the Keurig Brand.
6. OXO BREW (BEST PHOSPHATE FREE DESCALING SOLUTION)
If you are looking for a phosphate-free descaling solution, look no further. OXO Brew Descaling Solution is a descaler that works with both traditional and high-tech coffee makers.
This 100% biodegradable product can be used to remove limescale build-up from any type of brewer. This includes your Keurig or Nespresso Machine! Baristas designed the OXO Brew Descaling formula with a focus on simplicity. This descaling solution is suitable for decalcifying and cleaning your machine, making it easy to keep your coffee maker clean with just one product!
7. URNEX CAFZIA (BEST ESPRESSO MACHINE DESCALER)
The best cleaning solution for an Espresso Machine is Cafiza. While this product is not technically a descaling solution, it does a fantastic job removing coffee oils and residue from espresso machines. Ask any barista, and they will attest to using Cafiza to clean their espresso machines.
Cafiza is a powder that you mix with water to form a paste, which then gets spread over all of the components inside your espresso machine. After letting it sit for about 15 minutes, you then rinse everything out.
If you are looking for the best descaler for your Breville espresso machine, we highly recommend using Urnex Dezcal.
COFFEE MAKER DESCALER VS. VINEGAR
There are a variety of methods that you can use to clean your coffee maker. One popular way is using vinegar instead of buying a descaling solution from the store. However, there are a few things you need to consider before trying this method.
First of all, you want to be careful with how much vinegar you use. If you do not use the proper amount, it can cause watery coffee or damage your machine. Additionally, too much may leave behind an unpleasant taste that will require further descaling.
Secondly, you want to make sure that the coffee maker can handle vinegar. Many cheaper models are made with stainless steel or plastic components inside, and using vinegar will corrode these materials. If this is the case for your machine, it would be best to use a descaling solution instead of vinegar.
So which works better at removing limescale? Well, we’ve tested white vinegar against store-bought descaling solutions. The results were surprising.
The store-bought descaling solutions were much more effective at removing limescale and mineral deposits than white vinegar. We needed to run through 3 full tanks of water and vinegar before the “descale” indicator light on our Keruig turned off. The store-bought solutions usually took only one tank to do the same job.
The other negative with using vinegar is it leaves behind a vinegar taste. So, for descaling, we recommend using a descaling solution from the store in your coffee maker and leave vinegar to its intended purpose: cooking.
HOW TO DESCALE YOUR COFFEE MAKER USING WHITE VINEGAR?
While we do recommend buying a descaling solution over white vinegar, we understand that many people prefer to use natural methods where possible. If you choose to go this route, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Fill your machine’s reservoir with one part white vinegar and two parts water.
Step 2: Run your machine’s brew cycle without any coffee in the filter. This will allow the vinegar and water solution to run through the entire coffee machine to remove all the limescale. Discard the water and vinegar solution after it’s brewed. Run the brew cycle multiple times until all of the water is gone from the water reservoir.
Step 3: Repeat this process (Step 1 and 2) one more time.
Step 4: The final step is to rinse out the vinegar from your coffee machine. Fill your machine’s water reservoir with fresh water. Repeat the brew cycle as many times as possible to remove all of the vinegar from your coffee maker.
Step 5: Done! Your Coffee Maker should be ready for more delicious cups of Joe. 🙂
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN COMMERCIAL DESCALING PRODUCTS?
The most popular active ingredients in descaling solutions are citric acid, sulfamic acid, and lactic acid. These acids help remove the scale and mineral build-up that is found in your coffee maker. They also keep your machine from corroding and rusting.
Are these acids toxic or harmful? Lactic acid, one of the acids used in descaling products, is a weak organic acid. It is naturally found in sour milk and other dairy products. These types of acids are not toxic or harmful to humans when ingested at low levels.
However, lactic acid can irritate your skin if it comes into contact with high concentrations. If this happens, your skin may become red and swollen.
Citric acid is another popular ingredient in descaling solutions because of its effectiveness at breaking down scale from coffee makers. Citric acid is not toxic or harmful when ingested by humans. However, citric acid can be very irritating to the skin.
Sulfamic acid has many uses because of its anti-corrosive properties and descaling abilities. Be aware that sulfamic acid may irritate your eyes, nose, throat, lungs, etc., if inhaled or ingested. Some sulfamic acid products are corrosive and can be harmful to the skin if they contact it.
Conclusion
The best way to keep your machine in good working condition is by descaling it regularly. We’ve compiled a list of some of the top coffee maker descalers on the market for you so that you can make an informed decision about which one suits your needs and budget. We tested them ourselves and narrowed down our favorites in terms of ease-of-use, effectiveness, convenience, value (price), and eco-friendliness (no harsh chemicals).
We’ve also given some steps on how to descale your machine using white vinegar. However, remember that vinegar will leave behind a vinegar after-taste and smell if you don’t thoroughly rinse it out. We recommend using a descaling solution over vinegar, especially if you have hard water in your area. We hope this article has been helpful and answered any questions you may have had about coffee maker descaling. By correctly maintaining your coffee maker, you will enjoy delicious cups of Joe for years to come. For more useful tips on how to make your coffee taste better, check out this post: 10 Clever Tips to Make Your Coffee Taste Better
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