Forget those old-fashioned home remedies! That could sum up this blog post. Descaling your coffee maker is definitely not something to take lightly. Here’s why.
The same goes for cleaning, by the way. If you don’t clean it regularly, mold and bacteria can grow on various parts of the machine and end up in your coffee. Don’t forget to do all of this—and do it very often: empty the drip tray (a real breeding ground for bacteria), rinse the milk system after each use, and clean the brewing group (the brewing unit, or the part where water passes through the ground coffee) at regular intervals, depending on how often you use the machine.
When should you have your teeth scaled?
Depending on where you live, tap water can be more or less “hard.” The harder the water, the more calcium it contains. When heated, a chemical reaction occurs and calcium deposits (scale) build up inside the machine. This applies to all types of coffee makers: traditional filter coffee makers, pod machines, bean-to-cup machines, and so on.
There are several signs that a machine needs to be descaled: the coffee flows more and more slowly, the machine takes longer to reach the proper temperature (which increases energy consumption), unusual noises
(such as gurgling) occur during the brewing cycle, limescale deposits are visible to the naked eye, and the coffee is less hot and/or tastes worse (because insufficient heat impairs the extraction of flavors).
"Signs" to watch for if your machine doesn't indicate (via a display or indicator light) that it's time to descale it. How often you need to descale it depends on the type of appliance, the water hardness, and, of course, how often you use it.
"No rush..."
Although scaling is far from tedious or time-consuming, it is often put off or even neglected. Tomorrow. Mañana. “No rush…” This is a serious mistake, as the consequences can be dire. In extreme cases, limescale deposits can completely block certain parts of the machine and render it unusable—sometimes permanently.
Regular descaling helps prevent operational issues and saves money by reducing the likelihood of needing repairs or having to replace the machine. Note:
Some manufacturers refuse to honor the manufacturer’s warranty if descaling has not been performed on time. This can be seen with the naked eye, and some machines record this information in their history.
Vinegar? No way!
It’s tempting to use vinegar to descale an appliance. It’s readily available, sold in stores, and costs next to nothing. And to top it off, vinegar is a powerful descaler. Yes, but…
While vinegar is effective at removing limescale, it has several drawbacks. It can leave a lingering odor in the pipes that may affect the taste of the coffee. And if used regularly for descaling, it can damage the seals and other parts.
Similarly, avoid baking soda (which isn’t effective against limescale) and citric acid (which is natural, effective, and less pungent than vinegar, but can leave an unpleasant taste if not rinsed thoroughly). Other household products are sometimes used, but they aren’t necessarily designed for food contact and may be toxic.
Get away from all that!
The solution: liquid, powdered, or tablet-form descaling agents
Limescale isn’t “ordinary” dirt. To remove it, you need to use specific acids that dissolve it effectively, in a controlled manner, without being too harsh (unlike vinegar). Descaling agents are available in liquid, powder, and tablet forms. They are easy to use and suitable for every model, whether for home use or larger office machines.
These specialized descaling agents (such as the ANTI CALC solutions offered by Cafés Van Hove) are gentle on materials: aluminum, steel, plastic parts, and gaskets. They do not damage internal components. They prevent corrosion. And they rinse off easily, eliminating the risk of a residual taste in the cup.
This extends the life of your machine, significantly reduces the risk of breakdowns, keeps pressure and temperature at optimal levels, and ensures the coffee retains a "clean" taste. In contrast, alternatives—
, and old-fashioned home remedies—are ineffective in some cases, can be harsh, and are often risky.
Two simple tips to wrap things up: never mix descaling agents, and rinse thoroughly after descaling.
Article written byPierre Danvoyefor Cafés Van Hove
