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Have you ever noticed that your coffee maker or kettle isn’t performing as efficiently as it once did? Maybe it’s taking longer to brew coffee or heat water. If this sounds familiar, you might need a descaling solution.
Descaling is the process of removing mineral deposits, primarily calcium and magnesium, that can accumulate inside appliances like coffee makers, kettles, and even dishwashers. There are two common descaling products on the market: descaling liquid and descaling tablets.
In this blog, we’ll explore the key differences between these two options to help you make an informed decision on which one is right for your needs.
Descaling liquid is a popular choice for those looking to rid their appliances of mineral build-up. It typically comes in a 200ml bottle, providing two descaling cycles. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using descaling liquid:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Descaling tablets are an alternative to descaling liquid, but also an easy-to-use solution. These tablets are specially designed to remove limescale and mineral build-up efficiently. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of using descaling tablets:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
The choice between descaling liquid and descaling tablets ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. Here are some factors to consider:
Descaling is an essential maintenance task to keep your coffee machine running efficiently and to extend its lifespan. Whether you choose descaling liquid or descaling tablets, both options are effective at removing mineral deposits and limescale. Your decision should be based on factors like appliance compatibility, cost, and personal preference.
Regular descaling will help ensure your machine continues to perform at its best and provide you with great-tasting coffee, tea, and more.
Have you noticed your espresso machine is not working like it use to? Suddenly you only get half a cup of coffee instead of a full cup. Did the problem still persist after trying our Caffenu® Cleaning Capsules & Descaler?
Well, we have some good news! There’s no need to throw out your Nespresso® machine and replace it. This one is an easy fix! If your Nespresso only gives you half a cup, its most likely that you accidentally reprogrammed the pour volume. This can happen when you push the button to start and then push it again to stop before it has completed its pre-programmed pour.
A factory reset is really easy to do and will take you back to the original pour volumes (40ml, 100ml and for some machines, 25ml). We have compiled a list of how to program or reset some of the most popular Nespresso® machines. Find your machine below and simply reset its pour volume to factory settings or to your desired preference.
Did you know that your Nespresso® Pixie® is designed to remember your favourite cup size?
If you mainly use the espresso function, then your Pixie® automatically selects this function the next time you make a cup of coffee. It also allows you to set the desired amount of water precisely according to your preferences.
Here’s how to set your desired amount of water:
You have now set the desired amount of water and the machine is ready for use again.
Restore your Nespresso® Pixie® to factory settings:
You can also set your Nespresso® Inissia® or Citiz® machine to remember exactly how you like your coffee. Both Nespresso® Inissia® & Citiz® work the same way.
To set your preferred cup size, follow the below instructions:
Restore Factory Settings on your Nespresso® Inissia®
If you want to restore the factory settings and get back to the amount of water the machine was originally set on, follow these instructions:
Do you want to restore the factory settings on your Nespresso® Citiz® follow these instructions:
How to set your machine to make your coffee exactly as you like it:
You have now set the desired amount of water and the machine is ready for use again.
Do you want to restore the factory settings on your Nespresso Essenza®? Follow the instructions below:
The Nespresso® U® model has three different buttons or cup sizes to choose from – Lungo, Espresso or Ristretto. We recommend a cup size of 100 ml for a Lungo, 40 ml for an Espresso and 25 ml for a Ristretto.
Use the instructions below to set the desired cup size:
You have now set the desired amount of water and the machine is ready for use again.
To restore the factory settings on your Nespresso® U® machine, follow these instructions:
After you restore the factory settings, your machine will make a 40ml Espresso, a 110ml Lungo and a 25ml Ristretto.
The Lattissima Touch ® has 6 different buttons that can be used to brew coffee – The three buttons on the left make Lungo, Espresso and Ristretto, and the 3 buttons on the right make Latte macchiato, cappuccino and hot milk. We recommend a cup size of 100 ml for a Lungo, 40 ml for an Espresso and 25 ml for a Ristretto.
Here are the instructions to set the desired cup size:
To set the cup size for your latte macchiato and cappuccino use the instructions below to set the cup size. When setting these, be sure to define the amount of both milk and coffee:
You have now set the desired amount of water and the machine is ready for use again.
If you want to restore the factory settings on your Nespresso® Lattissima Touch®, follow these instructions:
After you restore the factory settings on your Lattissima Touch®, the machine will produce the following amounts:
On a Lattissima® you will find 4 different buttons. The two buttons on the right are for Lungo and Espresso and the 2 buttons on the left are for Latte macchiato and cappuccino.
You can use the instructions below to set the cup size of your Lungo and Espresso as it suits you.
Use the instructions below to set your favourite cup size for a latte macchiato and cappuccino. When setting these be sure to define the amount of both milk and coffee:
You have now set the desired amount of water and the machine is ready for use again.
To restore default settings on your Nespresso® Lattissima® follow the instructions below:
After you restore the factory settings on your Nespresso Lattissima®, the machine will produce the following amounts:
If you did not find your machine in this list, you can also consult the Owner’s Manual for your specific machine to find out how to program your desired amounts or to reset your Nespresso’s® factory settings. In addition to resetting or programming your machine, we recommend using the Caffenu® Nespresso Compatible Cleaning & Descaling Kit to clean and maintain your machine. A little TLC goes a long way!
Cleaning and maintaining your coffee equipment is as important as the coffee you buy when it comes to fresh quality coffee. Some cleaning products are simply a non-negotiable if you want to look after your equipment properly. We had a look at the Top 4 most popular Caffenu coffee machine cleaning products and will tell you below exactly how to use them and on which coffee machine they can and should be used on. Here’s to cleaning your coffee machine and enjoying fresher coffee!
The Descaler can be used on any coffee machine, kettle, and urn. It is probably the most important first step which any coffee machine requires so that limescale and mineral build-up does not lead to cold coffee, and machine blockage. Descale at least every 2-4 months depending on water hardness in your area.
Always consult your manufacturer’s instructions for descaling and rinsing procedures, first. General instructions below.
For Coffee Machines
For Kettle and Urns
Avoid splashing descaler on acid intolerant surfaces such as marble, silver, and limestone. Check out this cool video below on how to use the Caffenu® Eco Descaler.
The Caffenu cleaning capsule cleans the brewing chamber and spout of your machine in just 2 minutes. It removes residue and build-up from inaccessible areas. Here at Caffenu we have a wide range of Cleaning capsules. Take a look at the range of Caffenu cleaning capsules. See below for instructions on how to use most cleaning capsules.
Below is a cool video showing you how to use our Nespresso compatible cleaning capsule.
The Caffenu cleaning tablets remove dirty coffee oils, odours and bitter tannins found inside brewing units, pots, and filters. They are suitable to be used on Fully Automatic, Espresso, and Filter coffee machines.
For machines with chute/chamber for pre-ground coffee
For machines with a portafilter/coffee handle with back flushing capability
Find more information on our cleaning tablets, their usage instructions, and suitability.
The Caffenu cleaning powder removes dirty coffee oils, odours and bitter tannins from your group heads, lines, and valves. Suitable for all Manual and Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines.
Group Head Back Flushing Cleaning:
Place 1 teaspoon (3-5 g) of cleaning powder in the blind filter. Start brew cycle for 10 seconds, then stop for 10 seconds. Repeat the procedure 5 times. Remove portafilter and start brew cycle, rinse portafilter with water from group head. Re-insert portafilter without the powder and conduct flushing procedure. Make and discard the first cup of Espresso.
Weekly cleaning of filters, handles, holders, trays, and cups:
Dissolve 2 teaspoons (8-10 g) of cleaning powder per 1 litre of how water in a suitable container. Place objects to clean in solution for 20 minutes, ensure parts are clean. Rinse with fresh water thoroughly.
Check this short video on How to clean commercial machines with Caffenu Cleaning Powder.
Ever got so excited to try a new coffee in your capsule machine that you forgot to eject the capsule after brewing? This isn’t a problem if you eject it a few hours later before another cuppa. It can, however, become a problem if it’s left overnight or longer, especially if you own a Dolce Gusto® machine. To be safe, on any capsule machine, always eject the coffee capsule once you made your coffee.
Why would leaving the coffee capsule inside the machine be a problem? Well, if you do not remove the capsule until the next day, the coffee grinds inside the capsule would have likely dried up, and in case of your Dolce Gusto® trapped the needle that injects the water. You’ll notice that no matter how much you pull, the capsule won’t come out. This can be very frustrating.
So what to do if this happens to you? Is your Dolce Gusto® capsule stuck inside your machine? First & most important: don’t force the compartment, as you could break it and then it’s hopeless. The brewing needle in a Dolce Gusto® capsule machine is small, and can be broken, so don’t force it.
The best thing to do if you forget the capsule inside your coffee machine, is to make sure you lift the needle first and then try to pull it out VERY SLOWLY to remove the capsule.
Re-inject the needle if the capsule is still stuck and run the machine again, as if to brew another cup. When you run water again, the dried remains will soften, and you will be able to remove it without difficulty. However, put a glass underneath and don’t even think about drinking whatever comes out of it!
It is also never a bad idea to run a descaling solution through your machine. This will ensure all pipes are clear, and your coffee hot and fresh. Try our Caffenu Eco Descaler for an eco-friendly descaling solution.
The same can be said for ejecting capsules from Nespresso® machines. A coffee capsule won’t necessarily get stuck if you leave it in a Nespresso® machine (it’s possible), but it will get mouldy. Additionally, a capsule left in the brewing chamber will leave room for bacteria to colonise, as well as bad smells to arise. Although, bacteria and smells could arise in any capsule machine with a capsule left in it for too long!
If you do happen to forget a capsule in your machine for too long, it is highly recommended that you clean your Nespresso® machine before brewing your next coffee. It is, however, always good measure to give your machine a proper clean every now and then.
We covered the importance of ejecting coffee capsules from Dolce Gusto® and Nespresso® machines, but the same goes for any coffee capsule machine on the market. Whether it be a Keurig® K-cup® brewer, or a Lavazza® Blue®, it is generally a good idea to eject coffee capsules from the chamber, after brewing a coffee.
Proper descaling and maintenance of your coffee machine is vital for its lifespan and the quality of coffee it brews. All coffee machines with water reservoirs build up limescale and calcium deposits in their heating components, like the element, thermoblock and piping. The question that remains is: What should I use for proper descaling? And can I use Vinegar to descale my Coffee Machine?
To answer this question, it is important to understand what descaling means and which build-ups you are trying to remove from your coffee machine when descaling. One such build-up is limescale.
Limescale comes from calcium and mineral deposits present in water, especially municipal water. This build-up forms on your coffee machine’s internal parts, causing weak machine performance. Colder, poorer-tasting coffee comes with that poor performance.
There is ways to minimize the amount of limescale that builds up inside your coffee machine. For example, you can consider using fresh filtered water in your machine, as it keeps the build-up to a minimum, learn more here. However, the best and only solution to preventing and especially for removing limescale, is through proper and also regular descaling.
Descaling is the act of removing the above-mentioned deposits from your coffee machine, to remove limescale and rust from the internal elements and heating elements. But what you use to descale can make a big difference. We have all heard of a few ways to “descale” a coffee machine, and vinegar seems to come up a lot as a recommendation.
Some articles likely mention using common household vinegar to descale, which unfortunately does not turn out to be very effective. Vinegar is very weak and mild acid which is not effective to remove limescale or rust. Plus, you run the risk of leaving a vinegar taste in your machine. Vinegar has a potent smell which can take ages to get out of the pipes of your machine. And coffee and vinegar taste is not a good combination for your next cup.
A premium and food safe way to ensure the proper descaling of your coffee machine is using a lactic acid based descaling solution. Lactic acid is used in many detergents and soaps due to its natural antibacterial properties. Lactic acid effectively removes limescale build-up from a coffee machine’s internals, while leaving little to no residue behind. It is also very effective in the removal of rust.
We recommend looking for a lactic acid based solution (not to be confused with citric acid, as it is less effective) that is good to the environment as well. Our Caffenu® Eco Liquid Descaler is an eco-friendly, phosphate-free solution that uses a food safe, high-grade lactic acid from Europe which effectively removes any build-up that may hinder the performance of your coffee machine, be it a household or commercial machine. Additional additives have been added to assist in the breakdown of the deposits. It has naturally antibacterial properties for a hygienic rinse and provides a sanitising action for all your machine’s internal components. Most importantly it has no smell and leaves zero taint or stains ensuring you get the best coffee out of your coffee machine.
Sanitize and keeping it clean, that is now more important than ever. You have probably seen this build-up at the bottom of your kettle before?
This comes from the high concentration of calcium in some of the water we use. In order to test the efficiency of sanitizing products, we took this old kettle with an impressive build-up of limescale and decided to put our Caffenu® Eco Descaler to the test!
The results were overwhelming (all the build-up stuff is gone!): a limescale-free, sanitized kettle. Now just think about this: The surface of your kettle is visible, you can actually see the build-up, but what about the inside of your coffee machine? There are places we simply can’t see, where heat and moisture are present. Those places build up that exact limescale, as well as coffee residues and bacteria.
It isn’t a fun thing to consider, but coffee machines do build up some foul mess, and that’s why it is essential to give your coffee machine a thorough cleaning every now and then, too; to avoid the potentially harmful substances that build up in your precious machine, and ensure you always get a perfect cup of coffee!
Please remember, also use a cleaning capsule on your machine (if available) or a cleaning tablet, as it is just as important as descaling. Here is a complete guide on how to clean which specific coffee machine.
Please, keep it clean!
Don’t cry over spilled coffee! At Caffenu we believe in this motto. There are certain things that you shouldn’t worry about. And one of them is bad tasting coffee.
Have you ever had this experience? You prepared a fresh cup of coffee and when it’s finally ready to enjoy…you discover it doesn’t taste right. It can be disappointing, even upsetting and it sure is a waste of what was supposed to be good coffee. It could’ve been perfect but it wasn’t.
There are so many things in life that need your attention, don’t let bad coffee be one of them. Guess what, the coffee might have actually been good, but your machine made it taste bad! Ever thought about that? There is a way to not let good coffee taste awful.
Caffenu products are created for you so you don’t have to cry over spilled coffee. Using our products will clean your coffee capsule machine and make it as good as new. We know how much our customers love coffee. Cleaning your machine with Caffenu makes every cup a perfect one.
We know that the Caffenu® cleaning capsule removes old oils, tannins and odors out of the brewing chamber of your Nespresso® coffee machine.
But what is inside the capsule that makes it work so well?
Short answer no. Long answer also no.
The capsule contains a food safe product formulation which is specifically designed for the coffee industry. It comprises of 3 main ingredients that make a unique blend to clean your machine with the best possible results.
The first ingredient is sodium carbonate which is in fact a similar ingredient to bicarbonate of soda, but sodium carbonate has twice the sodium than bicarbonate of soda. It also has weak disinfectant properties and it is an effective fungicide against some organisms. It is also a great odor remover and works as a mechanical cleanser.
The second main ingredient is our oxygen based bleaching agent. This ingredient gives the Caffenu® product the unique foaming action as well as its powerful dirt and residue lifting power. This ingredient makes sure that inaccessible areas in your machine are cleaned properly.
The third main ingredient is the surfactant – this in simple terms is the detergent part of the ingredients. It allows the oils to mix with water which usually do not mix. And works to break down the surface tension of the water.
All of the ingredients lend to each other to make the unique Caffenu® product. Its superior formula allows to remove all oils, bitter tannins, build-up and odors that collect in your coffee machine which can affect the taste of your coffee, your health and the longevity of your machine. Pure bicarbonate of soda could never achieve these results.
All of the raw ingredients inside the Caffenu® cleaning capsule are naturally biodegradable and do not leave any residue in your Nespresso® machine after cleaning, which makes it 100% safe to use. So enjoy your coffee, now fresher than ever before.
Only a clean machine makes the perfect coffee!
Yes, you heard us! It is very important to preheat your cup for the perfect cup of coffee, before you brew your coffee pod. A cold cup will not only affect the temperature of your coffee, but also the coffee flavour.
Thankfully, there is an easy way to preheat your cup if you have a Nespresso® coffee machine. Simply run your machine without a capsule inside (just hot water). Swirl the hot water around in your cup, discard water. Cup is heated and ready for coffee in only a few seconds!
Did you know that professional baristas clean their coffee equipment every single day? There is a reason for that. Coffee is a very oily beverage. Every time you extract a shot of espresso it leaves a layer of oil and residue behind in your Nespresso® machine.
Bacteria can feed on the old coffee oils and build-up inside your machine. Use a Caffenu® cleaning capsule once a month to get rid of any residue. Simply insert the cleaning capsule like a coffee capsule. Put a large container underneath the spout to run the cleaning solution into. Run, rinse twice and your’re good to go.
Clean all parts of your coffee machine to ensure a clean and bacteria-free machine, and get the best-tasting coffee. Soak your drip tray, capsule basket, and water tank as part of a spring cleaning routine.
Use the cleaning solution that is left over after using a cleaning capsule. Soak all removable parts in the solution for 10 minutes. Gently scrub and rinse the parts after soaking.
Descaling is the not the same as using a cleaning capsule. The cleaning capsule gets rid of old coffee oils in the brewing chamber of your machine. The descaler removes limescale from the boiler and thermoblock, and pipes of your machine. Limescale can contribute to poor-tasting and cold coffee, so be sure to keep it away.
Descaling is only necessary every 3-6 months, depending on how hard the water is that you use to make the coffee. Regular descaling makes sure that your coffee tastes great every single time, and also keeps your Nespresso® machine in great condition.
Stale water can affect the taste of your coffee. Avoid stale-tasting coffee by keeping your water clean and fresh. Change the water inside your water tank frequently. Rinse and refill the tank, if possible with fresh, filtered water.
Also: if you are using tap water in your coffee machine, it is very likely that you need to descale your machine more often due to the lime and calcium build-up that ends up in your coffee machine.
Enjoy making your perfect up of coffee!
David Donde is the founder of Truth Coffee Roasting, a famous Coffee Shop in Cape Town that’s just been awarded best coffee shop in the world by The Telegraph in the UK.
Truth Coffee stocks the Caffenu® Cleaning Capsule for Nespresso® machines in their Online Store. We wanted to know why!
David Donde answered: “It´s pretty straight forward. I think that a machine that is not clean, is not gonna bring out the best in coffee. You start getting tanning build-up, oil build-up, the oils start going rancid, various problems, so anything that can keep it clean is good.”
David knows that a clean coffee machine is vital for any coffee production. Dirty machines with build-up inside give you bitter coffee, no matter what coffee or technique you use. “Clean your coffee machine, it is not a maybe, it is a must!”
Old coffee residue can not only affect the taste of your coffee, but also your health. Have a look at the shocking results of Bacteria in Nespresso® coffee machines here.
Regular cleaning will improve the taste of your coffee, and get rid of harmful bacteria inside your coffee machine – use Caffenu®!
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