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Descaling & Cleaning your Nescafé® Dolce Gusto® Capsule Coffee Machine doesn’t need to be a big task. In fact it can be a rewarding experience. After you give your machine that spring clean, you will be rewarded with a hot, fresh cup of coffee. That is ultimately what you really want to get out of your coffee machine, right?
So, let’s discuss why and how you should be cleaning your Nescafé® Dolce Gusto® Capsule Machine.
Whether you use your machine daily or only every now and then, here is a fact for you: Every time you brew a coffee, the water that is running through your machine leaves mineral and limescale residue on the heating element and piping of your coffee machine. This limescale build-up also leads to weak machine performance, and it can result in cold, bad-tasting coffee or lead to leaks and blockage which might cause damage to your machine. It can also clog the water/brewing needle which can affect the flow of your coffee and make it slow. A tip to slow down the build-up of limescale is to use filtered water in your machine’s reservoir. However even with using filtered water, there will be a time where limescale needs to be attended to.
Apart from the limescale on the inside of your Capsule Coffee machine, there is also other areas that can get dirty. Don’t forget to clean the capsule holder and your drip tray. These can all build up coffee residue that needs to be cleaned. The residue can cause bacteria and foul smells that are definitely not wanted inside your next cup of coffee.
Thankfully there is fairly easy ways to clean your machine without the need for elbow grease and industrial-grade detergents.
There is two steps to keeping your machine maintained well so it can give you the best coffee and last a long time.
The first step is descaling. A descaler is key to remove limescale and mineral build-up from a coffee machine’s heating element and piping. Plus descaling also removes the residue build-up from your coffee machine’s brewing needle. Below is a quick breakdown on how to descale.
First check your machine manufacturer’s instruction manual for descaling and rinsing procedures.
The second step is cleaning. Usually it is recommended to use a Cleaning Capsule for this step, but in the case of the Dolce Gusto®, the actual capsule you use serves as the brew chamber. So you only need to clean the rest of your machine which is the capsule holder and drip tray. Remove the capsule holder and drip tray and soak it in hot water with dish soap. Then give it a clean with a toothbrush and/or cloth, and rinse. Lastly, use a brush with medium-hard bristles to gently clean where the capsule holder fits in to remove the residue.
It is safe to say that you have just spring cleaned your Dolce Gusto® coffee machine. Here’s to great coffee!
Cleaning your coffee machine is vital for its lifespan, and the quality of coffee you drink. Here are the mistakes to avoid when cleaning these specific types of coffee machines.
Avoid using vinegar when descaling a coffee capsule/pod machine, such as a Nespresso® coffee machine. Vinegar leaves a smell behind, and it doesn’t effectively remove limescale build-up. Learn about proper descaling, and how you can achieve it.
Additionally, you need to flush out your machine to clean the parts where the coffee pours out. However, a common mistake made when doing this, is only running hot water through the machine.
Flushing the machine with water doesn’t effectively remove old coffee oils and residue build-up, not to mention the bacteria. See how a Caffenu® cleaning capsule thoroughly cleans a coffee capsule machine.
Don’t forget about cleaning your machine’s capsule basket and drip tray, which also requires frequent soaking. Simply use the solution after using a cleaning capsule to soak your drip tray and capsule basket, scrub gently and rinse.
A common mistake with cleaning espresso machines is not cleaning their parts often enough. You should flush the group head each time you brew an espresso shot, and wipe the portafilter down as soon as you can.
Avoid using steel wool or a metal sponge on steel surfaces like the steam wand and group heads. Doing this will make scratches without actually cleaning the parts. Use a gentle wipe such as microfiber.
Use a fast-acting cleaning powder to remove old coffee oils & build-up from your espresso machine’s group heads & valves, great for backflush routine. Soak removable parts: portafilters, filter baskets & shower screens.
Clean your espresso machine’s steam wand, or any steam wand for that matter, with a milk system cleaner. The milk system cleaner removes all milk solid build-up, and clears blockages.
Lastly, you also need to descale your espresso machine, to remove limescale from the machines heating source. Espresso machines which have a removable watertank can use a simple liquid descaling solution.
One mistake made here is only cleaning the coffee pot/carafe. All removable parts of a filter coffee machine need to be cleaned. Clean the pot and funnel using a Caffenu® cleaning tablet.
A filter coffee machine can also be descaled, as it builds up limescale. You can use a simple liquid descaling solution that you run through your filter coffee machine every 3 months for best results.
Use the right tools to clean your coffee machine. And ensure to clean all parts of it, not just the ones you can physically see. Send us a question if we can help in any way on what the best way is to clean your coffee machine!
Learn how to clean your Keurig® K-Cup® coffee maker. As a proud owner of a K-Cup® brewer, you want to ensure that you always get the best cup of coffee from your machine. After all, there is nothing like that first cup of your favorite coffee, at the press of a button.
Maintaining the best cup of coffee requires just a bit of care and cleaning of your brewer, though. Continue reading to learn how to best clean your Keurig® K-Cup® coffee maker.
Each coffee pod you brew causes coffee oil and residue to build up in the brewing chamber and nozzle of your brewer. This build-up leads to poor flow when you brew a pod, and poor coffee taste. What’s worse is that bacteria can also develop in and around your brewer.
Additionally, the heating system inside the machine also builds up limescale due to calcium and mineral deposits present in the water that is brewed. This limescale build-up causes poor machine performance, which leads to brewing cold coffee.
It should now be clear that your coffee maker does require care from time to time.
Cleaning your K-Cup® brewer doesn’t take much time or work, and can be done with one complete Caffenu® K-Cup® Maintenance Kit. The kit consists of cleaning pods and a liquid descaler.
To effectively rid your machine’s brewing chamber and nozzle of old coffee oils and bitter tannins, you must use the Caffenu® K-Cup® compatible cleaning pods.
To rid your heating element of limescale build-up, you will need the Caffenu® Eco liquid descaler. Find out how using the Caffenu® liquid descaler beats using the common household vinegar to descale.
RECOMMENDED USAGE: Use one cleaning pod after every 30 cups, or after making flavored beverages/tea. Use at least once a month.
Fill water reservoir, place large mug under brew spout.
TIP: From time to time, it is recommended to clean the water entry and exit needles using straightened paperclip or similar object. Most effective after use of cleaning pod and before rinsing.
Power on brewer; place large mug under brew spout.
*Some Mini Coffee Makers may require you to lift and lower handle first to fill water compartment.
Important: Descale at least every 3-6 months. Do not wait for descaler light to come on.
Before descaling: • Ensure brewers are empty (no pods/cups/carafe to be inserted during procedure) • Ensure water reservoirs are empty • Remove filters (if fitted) and set aside • Disable auto off (if available).
After descaling: Clean the appliance. Wipe surrounding surfaces with a damp cloth.
Important: Descale at least every 3-6 months.
Before descaling: Ensure brewers are empty (no pods/cups/carafe to be inserted during procedure.
*For B/K130 brewers: Do steps 2 and 3 in reverse order, to be able to open water reservoir lid.
After descaling: Clean the appliance. Wipe surrounding surfaces with a damp cloth.
Coffee is an integral part of life! To enjoy coffee, we also need the essential coffee machine. In order to keep your coffee fresh, it is important to keep your coffee maker clean. Whether you have a semi-automatic commercial espresso machine in your coffee shop, or a capsule coffee machine at home. Here is how you can tell exactly what cleaning your coffee machine needs.
All coffee machines, household and commercial, need maintenance to ensure optimal performance, and the perfect cup of coffee. It can, however, be tiresome figuring out how to best maintain and clean your machine, especially with there being so many different machines on the market.
Let us cover some of the coffee machines, their components, and how you can clean them. The easiest is to look at the individual components that your coffee machine has, and clean those accordingly.
Let’s start off with the capsule coffee machine. If your machine uses coffee capsules/pods, you will need to clean the brewing chamber, spout, and washer plate of the machine. This can be done by using a cleaning capsule. Using the cleaning capsule is simple yet effective.
You will require a descaler to remove lime scale and calcium deposits from the internal heating components, such as the thermo block and element. The build-up of deposits occurs over time and due to the water used and can hinder the performance of your machine.
Dairy equipment and components on coffee machines require a milk system cleaner to prevent and remove milk build-up and blockages. These blockages can eventually lead to machine failure if not attended to. Read more on why you need a milk system cleaner, and how it works.
You will require a cleaning tablet to remove the dirty coffee oils, residues, odours, and bitter tannins that build up in brewing units, pots, and filters. Through the tablets’ cleaning and degreasing capabilities, you can effectively clean your machine, and prolong its life span.
Espresso machines and their group heads need a concentrated cleaning powder to effectively remove old, unwanted coffee oils, odours and tannins from the group heads, lines, and valves. The powder can be used for a routine group head backflush cleaning, and to clean filters, trays, and other additional equipment.
Read ‘A guide on the most popular coffee machines and how to clean them correctly’ for a more extensive guide on how and when to clean your coffee machine. It all leads to the perfect coffee (because it’s only ever made in a clean machine).
Nespresso® machines are nifty appliances, always there to provide a quick and easy coffee. It is a give and take relationship, though. It provides the quality coffee we require, but we also need to take care of it to retain that quality. This is where descaling your machine comes in.
Care comes in the form of descaling and cleaning. Descaling is crucial in removing the build-up of calcium and magnesium deposits that form limescale on the heating element and thermoblock in your machine.
Calcium and magnesium deposits come from the minerals in your tap water. The “harder” the water, the more minerals present. Each brew with your Nespresso® machine causes the deposits to accumulate and develop limescale.
Accumulation of limescale on your machine’s heating components prevents them from heating the water to its optimal temperature, resulting in cold, poor-tasting coffee.
Certain machines such as the Nespresso® Lattissima, and VertuoPlus inform you when to descale. On the Lattissima an orange light on the button will alert you, and the VertuoPlus will shine half green, half orange.
It’s okay If your machine does not alert you. Most manufacturers recommend that you descale your machine every 3-6 months to keep the heating components in tip-top condition. The recommended usage also depends on the water hardness in your area.
You can find out if your water is hard with a simple and easy DIY test. You will need a clean and clear empty bottle with a cap, and some pure liquid soap.
Fill the bottle one-third full of tap water, add a few drops of liquid soap and shake well for a few seconds. If there is a lack of foamy bubbles and the water appears cloudy and/or milky, your water is likely hard.
First check your machine manufacturer’s instruction manual for descaling and rinsing procedures.
Nespresso® machines can cost a small fortune and with that comes the expectation that the machine will provide several years of great coffee. While the machine can give you a long run, how you maintain your coffee machine will determine its lifespan.
Through poor care and maintenance, a Nespresso® machine could see a lifespan of approximately only two years. By “poor care” we mean that the machine receives no cleaning and descaling at all.
Brewing a cup of coffee builds up oils and dirty residue every single time. Especially in the Nespresso® coffee machine’s brewing chamber, washer plate and spout. It therefore requires the occasional cleaning to remove hardened oils, bacteria, residue, odours and tannins.
Additionally, the heating element and thermoblock also builds up calcium and limescale deposits through regular use of your machine. Learn how the build-up of these deposits prevents the heating element from boiling your water, in turn, giving you colder coffee.
The great news is that, through proper care and maintenance, your Nespresso® machine could see a lifespan of 5-10 years. Does that not sound incredible? A prolonged lifespan of your coffee machine should be an incentive to keep it cleaned and maintained. Also, the cost of maintaining your machine costs less than replacing it.
Thankfully, taking good care of your coffee machine is not the colossal task you think it is. By running a cleaning capsule through your machine at least once a month, you can give your brewing chamber and nozzle a thorough cleaning.
Furthermore, descaling your coffee machine every 3-6 months will effectively remove the build-up of limescale and calcium, ensuring your element and thermoblock heats up as it should. By just cleaning and descaling your machine, you can ensure that it lasts.
Take good care of your machine, and it will give you many years of great coffee!
The 7th of April celebrates World Health Day. In saying that, I think we can agree that our state of health has never been more important. So, today is a good reminder to be aware of the potential impacts a dirty coffee machine could have on your health. We want to educate you around ways to avoid those. Having a coffee machine certainly has its benefits but did you know that it can have negative effects on your health when not cleaned properly?
There’s extensive research around bacteria and germs that live inside coffee machines when they we don’t clean them regularly. A study done on nine Nespresso® machines and Krups® revealed that bacteria can thrive in the coffee machines’ drip tray and spread to the rest of the machine as they multiply due the moisture. Research revealed that up to 67 variants of bacteria can be present in a machine. Among them, are a few with pathogenic properties which are of concern for the human health.
One of the common bacteria found in the coffee machines was Pseudomonas, a variant which tends to live in damp areas and can be harmful, causing infection in those with weakened immune systems. The other variant frequently found in the machines was a bacterium known as Enterococcus. It can cause urinary tract infections, certain digestive issues, and other infections in those with compromised immune systems.
Mould and yeast are also known to develop and thrive on the inside of coffee machines. Here are the results of a swab test which was done on the inside of a Nespresso® machine. The results were quite astonishing but also came as no surprise. A wet and warm environment such as the inside of a coffee machine is prone to be affected by possibly harmful germs as bacteria thrive in dark, moist places. But here is the good news, there is ways to ensure you are only drinking coffee with your next cup. Simply keep your coffee machine clean.
The simple answer to fresh coffee is regular cleaning. Frequently cleaning components such as the drip tray, and if present capsule or bean/filter basket is essential. Additionally, the machine’s internal components such as the brewing chamber, washer plate, and spout should also receive a thorough cleaning.
If you own a capsule coffee machine such as Nespresso®, cleaning the latter can be done with the use of a Caffenu cleaning capsule which cleans the internals of the machine and flushes out old coffee and bacteria with its unique foaming action. The drip tray and capsule basket can also be cleaned in the cleaning capsules’ solution, like this. These are vital steps to keeping your machine and its components clean.
If you have a bean to cup or commercial group machine, you can use a cleaning tablet to get into the inside of your machine.
Check out our guide below on how to clean your specific coffee machine.
Here is a guide on the most popular coffee machines and how to clean them correctly…
Take care of your health by taking care of your machine. You will definitely get satisfaction by knowing you are getting a fresh cup of coffee minus all the germs. True coffee appreciation and good health all starts with making coffee in a clean coffee machine.
Is your Nespresso® Machine clogged, giving you poor and very slow flow? Or in general pouring coffee slower or thinner than usual? It might be that coffee is not flowing properly or even flowing at all, just slowly dripping out the machine? Or perhaps you are not happy with the amount of coffee you are getting in your cup lately?
There’s likely a reason you are not getting the same cup of coffee anymore, and it might be time to unclog your Nespresso® coffee machine. Learn how to unclog and fix poor or slow flow in Your Nespresso® coffee machine
The issue with the flow of your coffee is likely caused by a build-up of coffee oils and coffee residue. This build-ups occur in the brewing chamber, spout, nozzle and washer plate of your Nespresso® coffee machine. These components are in the front-end of your machine, gradually building up oils and residue with each cup you brew.
The build-up of sludge can severely influence the pour of your coffee, as well as the taste and smell. Further, it can easily clog the holes in your washer plate, leading to poor flow, and coffee. Therefore only dripping coffee out slowly, as less water and therefore coffee can push through the spout. Every Nespresso® machine needs a clean at least once a month due to this build-up and clogging.
To show you what goes on underneath the nice looking nozzle of your coffee machine, refer to pictures below. Really not the sort of thing you want to have in your next cup of coffee.
So, how do you unclog and clean your slowly flowing or slowly dripping coffee machine? The best way to unclog it is by using a coffee machine cleaning capsule. Using a Caffenu® Cleaning Capsule after 30 cups of coffee made or at least once a month will give your Nespresso® machine the clean it needs to function properly. And using it is as easy as making a cup of coffee.
The Caffenu® Cleaning Capsule was specifically designed to fit in your Original Line Nespresso® Machine, and give the front-end a thorough and hygienic cleaning. The capsule releases a unique and powerful cleaning agent with a foaming action. This foaming action penetrates inaccessible areas and effectively works its way through the brewing chamber, spout, and washer plate. Something that no hot water or descaling solution could do, as those lack the foaming power.
Caffenu® Cleaning Capsules unclog the washer plate, flush out all foul and hardened oils. Cleaning capsules also remove old coffee residue and bacteria from your coffee machine. Therefore, significantly improving both the flow in the pour of your coffee, as well as the taste. This also ensures that you only get the best and freshest tasting coffee with your next cup.
You simply insert the Cleaning Capsule the same way you would a coffee capsule and run your machine (watch how the old coffee pours out in video below). Once the machine has stopped, allow the remaining cleaning agent to filter through the essential components for at least a minute, then run your machine again to flush out the rest. Eject the capsule, close your lever, and run your machine with just water at least twice to flush out any remaining cleaning residue. Carry this process out after every 30 cups of coffee, or at least once a month. Please note that using a cleaning capsule is an entirely different process to descaling your machine, and we explain the difference between cleaning and descaling further below.
So, the front part of your machine builds up oils and tannins, that need removing with a cleaning capsule due to the foaming power. But every Nespresso® Machine also has a back-end, where the water tank sits with a thermo block, a heating element and other internal components such as pipes. These components are tasked with brewing and heating up your coffee. And these components can build up lime scale and mineral residue which can only be removed by a descaling solution.
Should you find that your coffee is no longer as hot as it used to be, it is likely due to a calcium and lime scale build-up on your machine’s thermo block and element. This requires decalcifying/descaling which removes the calcium and lime scale. Removing this build-up can easily be achieved with the Caffenu® Eco Descaler. The perfect Combo product to use alongside the Cleaning Capsule. However, you only need to descale every 3-6 months depending on the hardness of the water that you use.
Additionally, if you have a Nespresso® Lattissima Touch or any other milk frothing container or equipment, you may also experience trouble with the milk frother or milk container not doing its job or clogged milk pipes on your machine. This is because milk frothing circuits build up milk blockages when not cleaned regularly. These circuits also require occasional cleaning to ensure effective useability. Read more about the Caffenu® Universal Coffee Machine Milk System Cleaner to find out how you can care for your milk system.
The answer to fresh tasting coffee, perfectly running and working Nespresso machines is to clean and care. Because if you take good care of your coffee machine, it will take good care of you in return! Here is to fresh coffee and a happy and clean coffee machine!
Cleaning a coffee machine can be quite daunting, as there are many different parts to these mechanical works of art. We frequently overlook the milk system of all automatic, semi-automatic, commercial espresso and household espresso machines.
The easy answer to the question is: If your machine has a part that comes into contact with milk you should be cleaning that part of the machine thoroughly to avoid bigger problems in future. Main machine categories that needs to be cleaned with a milk system cleaner are:
Milk is a wonderful and well-loved addition to coffee and can turn an ordinary espresso into a smooth, creamy Cappuccino, latte, flat white or a whole array of delicious coffee based beverages. Unfortunately, milk also has a tendency to build up milk stones, fats and also go rancid (we all know what sour milk smells like) with harmful bacteria. Because of this, you would need to clean the parts of the machine that come into contact with the milk. The main function of a milk system cleaner is to clean the parts of your coffee machine that you cannot reach (where milk will go through a pipe system or a milk circuit).
Cleaning the milk system is a vital part of ensuring the machine operates properly. Blockage in the steam nozzle or pipe can lead to many problems. The worse of which is if the anti-suction valve on the steam wand blocks and allows milk into the boiler. Fixing this error will result in costing you thousands to have your machine fixed and working properly again.
How often the system needs to be cleaned depends on how often a machine gets used. For instance, a commercial machine will need to be cleaned more often than a home-used machine. For the general part we recommend cleaning milk systems of a machine at least once a week.
General instructions for use on Automatic One Touch Milk Circuits:
General instructions for use on Steam Wands and other Dairy Equipment:
Having a coffee capsule machine is great; all the assortments of coffee you can enjoy at just the press of a button, but the coffee residue build-up left behind after each brew can certainly hinder the performance, and especially the taste of your coffee.
You think your coffee machine is clean inside? We made a video to show you what can come out of your coffee machine with a proper clean using a Caffenu® Cleaning Capsule. Watch it here:
As you can see, the Caffenu® Cleaning Capsule was specifically created to cleanse your coffee capsule machine from the inside out. Murky water loaded with old coffee residue is not something we want you to end up with in your next coffee. But that is exactly what clings to the inside of your coffee capsule machine, along with bacteria and aged coffee oils. The cleaning capsule is very easy to use and hygienically flushes out all the unwanted build-up from your machine, leaving you with that crystal-clear water, ensuring your next cup of coffee is perfectly fresh, as it should always be!
So, that begs the question, when last did you give your Nespresso® capsule machine a good clean? There has never been a better time than now.
And if you have another brand or type of coffee machine, worry not, we have you covered with various cleaning capsules suitable for various capsule machines, as well as an easy guide to cleaning other popular coffee machines such as bean to cup and espresso machines. Happy cleaning, happy coffee!
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