Descale kettle and coffee maker with white vinegar
Limescale slows down heating and gives a bad taste. Descaling is necessary.
Recommended Materials
- White vinegar
- Water
Steps to follow
Step 1
Why descale? : Limescale is deposited on the heating resistance. Result: the water takes longer to heat (overconsumption of electricity), the machine makes more noise, and the coffee has a strange taste. If you wait too long, the machine will break down.
Step 2
The Kettle (Vinegar Method): Pour a mixture of 50% water and 50% white vinegar into the kettle (until the limescale is covered). Bring to a boil. The smell will be strong (open the window!). Leave on for 15 to 30 minutes. Empty. Rinse thoroughly 3 times with clean water to remove the taste.
Step 3
The Filter Coffee Maker (Vinegar Method): Fill the reservoir with 50% water and 50% white vinegar. Put in an empty paper filter. Start the coffee maker. When half of the liquid has passed, turn off the machine. Leave on for 15 minutes (to descale the internal pipes). Turn it back on and finish the cycle. Then run 2 full cycles with plain water only to rinse.
Step 4
The Expresso Machine / Pods (Citric Acid Method): Vinegar is sometimes not recommended by manufacturers (it can attack certain rubber seals). Prefer Citric Acid (natural powder sold in drugstores). Dilute 2 tablespoons of citric acid in 1 liter of water. Pour into the tank. Pour one cup, wait 15 minutes, pour the rest. Rinse with 2 tanks of clean water.
Frequently Asked Questions
The smell ?
Hot vinegar smells very strong but it is harmless. Citric acid is completely odorless (this is its big advantage).
Frequency ?
As soon as the machine becomes noisy or slow. Approximately every 2 months if your water is hard, every 6 months if it is soft.
Precautions
- Rinse well (coffee with vinegar is disgusting).
- Do not drink the mixture!
