Descaling is an essential step in the brewing process for coffee makers. You will sooner or later be required to “descale” your coffee brewing apparatus, regardless of whether you use an espresso machine, an Aeropress, a Moka pot, or a coffee pod system.
This is due to the fact that hard water, which is often present in our houses, contributes to the formation of limescale over time anytime it is heated in an activity such as the brewing of coffee. The limescale adheres to the minerals that are already present in the water and then deposits itself inside the apparatus.
The equipment becomes cloudy, soiled, and even runs the danger of being clogged as a result of this. It will have an effect on the flavour of your coffee, and unfortunately not one that is favourable.
A descaling solution is what is utilised to remove this limescale and restore the kettles, boilers, pots, and equipment to their former condition, which is clean and functioning. This process may take quite some time.
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Limescale, which is composed of calcium or magnesium carbonate, may be dissolved by descaling agents, which are often acidic chemicals. This allows the limescale to be removed from the surface. Descalers come in a variety of forms, some of which are bought and others of which are created at home. There are a variety of descaling options, each of which will have a unique efficacy and set of applications.
You probably already have some of the options for descaling in your house. These are the natural descalers that may be discovered in the foods and drinks that are used and ingested on a regular basis by humans.
Citric acid is a powerful descaler that is often found in typical citrus juices like lemon and lime juice. It does not have an offensive scent, and it is quite simple to locate in comparison to many other natural descaling methods. This gives it an edge.
Lemon juice has a high concentration of acid, which gives it a descaling capability comparable to that of vinegar. If not thoroughly cleaned, many times, the scent of lemons has a tendency to linger for a long time after they have been used. This is one of the disadvantages. In order to descale, a solution of one third lemon juice and two thirds water is used, with more than one run being performed if necessary.
Water Softening Pellets/Morton Salt
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Preventing limescale from forming in the first place is an alternate strategy to eliminating it using a descaling solution once it has already formed. In this context, water softening pellets, of which Morton Salt is one example, may be used to effectively soften the water before it is used.
They decrease the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water, which are the primary elements responsible for the formation of limescale in the first place. It is important to remember to purchase enough water softening pellets for the whole household’s water use, which may increase the amount of time and effort required as well as the associated expenses. Water softening pellets can be highly cost effective and simple to use.
Baking soda is a home remedy that is often used to remove scale buildup. Baking soda, which can be found very easily in grocery stores, is an excellent method for removing any stain from your coffee equipment.
Limescale may be easily dissolved with its help, which is another one of its many benefits. It is a benefit that it does not leave any odour behind. The natural descaling solution that it provides may also be used for a low cost, and only a little amount is required. The proper descaler may often be made with only a few teaspoons of the substance diluted in some water.
Vinegar, another naturally occurring substance that can be found in every home, is widely recognised as being one of the most effective natural cleansers now available. It is also capable of eliminating limescale and stains, although you may need to repeat the vinegar and water solution a few times before it reaches its full potential.
The fact that it is both very inexpensive and acidic gives it the ability to effectively remove scale off surfaces. In the same manner as lemon juice does, it will leave behind an odour that must be carefully removed afterwards by washing.
Commercial Descalers vs Homemade Descalers
Descalers available for purchase are made up of certain chemical compounds that are formulated to remove limescale in a prompt and effective manner. The vast majority of them include at least one different form of acid. The vast majority of them are identical to the components that are found in the natural descalers that we covered before. In most cases, bleaching chemicals that may assist with the removal of stains are also added, and the whole solution is then dissolved in water.
Therefore, store-bought descaling remedies and homemade ones are not that unlike from one another. In general, they are more costly, but they are also more effective; nevertheless, the actual cost to you will very likely vary substantially.
If the limescale and stains that need to be removed are not very thick or extremely old, then a solution that you make at home should be adequate.
You have nothing to lose by giving it a go, and if the piece of equipment you are cleaning turns out as good as new, you will have saved some money. In any other case, if the limescale is extremely old or particularly thick, you will have a better chance of removing it by using a commercial descaling solution, which will need very little to no work on your side.
Descaling a Nespresso
The frequency of descaling a Nespresso machine is contingent on the hardness of the water that is used in the machine and should be performed every few months at the very least.
Check to see that the container for the capsules is empty. Put a huge container beneath the coffee outlet. Preferably, the container should be the same size as the water tank. To remove scale, pour the descaling solution into the water tank and give it a good stir.
The steps that really need to be taken after that are a little bit varied from one type of Nespresso machine to the other. Be prepared to push a number of buttons in a predetermined sequence in order to repeatedly flood the inside of the machine with the descaler solution.
In order to remove any residue left behind by the descaler, the machine will be flushed with hot water a few times. It will be essential to press a certain button combination in order to leave the descaling mode after the whole descaling procedure has been finished. If you want to learn more about Nespresso Machines, be sure to read this post.
Wait until the machine has had a chance to dry for a few minutes before using it to make coffee again.
Descaling a Keurig
The procedure for descaling a Keurig machine is not too dissimilar from the standard one. To begin, the reservoir should be emptied. After that, pour the descaler solution into the container. After that, you should fill the reservoir with fresh water.
Put a container, even something as simple as a big cup, beneath the coffee machine’s outlet. Produce a cup of coffee measuring 10 ounces and then throw it away.
Continue doing this step until the indicator light that tells you to add additional water turns on. Allow the machine to rest for approximately a quarter of an hour. Perform a final cleaning of the reservoir, then fill it with fresh water. In order to ensure that the machine is free of any residue cleaning solution, it is necessary to do at least 12 cycles of brewing using just water.
Any Keurig machine, just like any Nespresso machine, should have its scale removed at the most once every several months. If you want to learn more about Keurigs, be sure to read this post!
Conclusion
The process of descaling your coffee equipment is a step that is often skipped. However, you are mistaken. Limescale buildup around the tubes and containers where you brew your coffee over time has a bad impact on the flavour of the coffee, makes the equipment more likely to fail, and in essence shortens its longevity. Limescale also severely affects the equipment’s lifespan.
Descale your water heater every two to three months, or at most once every six months, if you live in an area with extremely hard water. This is especially important for those who live in regions with very hard water. Even while using water that has been filtered may help reduce the rate at which limescale builds up, this alone is not enough to avoid descale completely. Any piece of machinery that uses hot water requires descaling as an essential part of its routine maintenance in order to preserve its capacity for efficiency and longevity.