How to Descale a Nespresso Vertuo (When should you descale your Nespresso Vertuo + more information)

If you own a Nespresso Vertuo coffee maker, the company recommends that you descale the machine regularly. But do you know how to descale a Nespresso Vertuo?

My workmates gave me a Nespresso Vertuo as a birthday gift. Before using the device, I read the user manual and received instructions on descaling the machine and its benefits. All you need to effectively descale the machine is the company-recommended descaling solution and fresh water. In this article, I have outlined the ten steps you can use to descale your Nespresso Vertuo effectively. Keep reading to learn more!

What is used to descale a Nespresso Vertuo?

What you use to descale your Nespresso Vertuo will affect the taste of your coffee. Nespresso advises that you use a descaling solutions and water.

Descaling solutions are powerful and effective yet gentle on your Nespresso machine. They are safe for you and the environment and will restore the performance of your Nespresso Vertuo and improve the taste of your coffee. Also, descaling your machine will extend its lifespan and save you the cost of regularly replacing your Nespresso machine.

Mix the descaling solution with water. The kit’s manual outlines the best ratio of descaling solution to water. The Nespresso Vertuo’s tank holds four cups; therefore, you can use a ratio of 1.5 cups of descaling solution to 2.5 cups of water.

You can also use citric acid tablets instead of Nespresso’s descaling solutions; however, as I mentioned, Nespresso recommends that you use its descaling solutions.

How to descale a Nespresso Vertuo: Step-by-step guide

Purchase a Nespresso descaling solution or citric acid tablets

The best and easiest way to descale your Nespresso Vertuo is to purchase the official descaling kit from the company at Amazon or from other outlets that sell genuine descaling solutions. Let the solution do the job for you. You can also use citric acid and water to descale your machine.

The Nespresso descaling solution contains some phosphates and lactic acid. These are powerful and effective cleaners that target scum-covered metals and lime. The descaling solutions can be hazardous to your skin; therefore, be very careful or wear protective gear when using them. Make sure to check the company’s instructions for health and safety tips.

Empty the machine of capsules.

If unused or used pods are in the Nespresso machine, they will affect the ability of the descaling solution to strip your machine. Remove the pods from the used capsule container and the capsule holder before proceeding.

Fill the Nespresso machine’s tank with fresh water and the descaling solution.

Use the ratio of the descaling solution to water that the company has provided you with in the user manual. Each Nespresso machine requires a different amount of water to run through it. If you use the citric acid tablet and water solution or other homemade solutions, be careful not to use too little or too much solution. If too strong, the solution will damage some metal surfaces and plastic seals inside your Nespresso machine. If too diluted, the solution will not effectively descale your machine.

Place a 0.6 liter or larger container below the spout

The descaling process requires a lot of fresh water. Therefore, ensure you set a container under the coffee spout to hold all the descaling solution, water, and limescale lodged from the Nespresso machine without overflowing.

Press the required buttons on your Nespresso Vertuo machine 

Each Nespresso machine’s descaling process is started by pressing a different combination of buttons. Check the user manual to know the controls you should press and how long the machine will take to begin descaling.

To put the Nespresso Vertuo in descale mode, press down the power button for about seven seconds.

Leave the machine to descale for approximately ten minutes

During the ten minutes, the descaling solution will remove a great deal of lime scum and gunk from the channel in the Nespresso machine tasked with producing your coffee. Please do not interrupt the descaling process or remove the water-holding container you placed under the coffee spout unless it is almost overflowing.

Repeat all necessary steps.

You might be required to place the water back into the Nespresso machine’s tank and repeat the descaling process to ensure that the machine is fully descaled. Instead of recycling the same solution, prepare a fresh solution to get better results. Repeating the descaling process lets the descaling solution soften the lime and gunk and strip them during the consecutive water runs through the machine. This ensures that the machine is spotlessly clean on the inside.

Fill your Nespresso Vertuo machine’s tank with fresh water to run a cycle with no descaling solution.

The freshwater will remove any leftover descaling solution in your machine and make it ready for making coffee again. Rinse the water tank several times before making coffee using the machine.

Exit the descaling mode by pressing the same buttons you pressed to enter the descaling mode.

This reverses what you did to enter the descaling mode and leaves the machine ready for making coffee. Leave the machine to dry for about ten minutes before making a cup of coffee.

Wipe the Nespresso machine dry with a damp cloth. The outside of your Nespresso machine also needs some care. The recommendation is to wipe the machine regularly to keep it clean and dust-free. Also, clean it thoroughly when descaling it.

Make yourself a cup of coffee using the machine.

After ten minutes, make yourself a fresh cup of coffee using the machine. You will notice that the coffee will taste better than before cleaning the machine.

How often should you descale your Nespresso Vertuo?

It would be best if you descaled your Nespresso Vertuo at least twice yearly. You should descale your Nespresso Vertuo several times a year. Leave at most six months between descaling. This process will extend your Nespresso Vertuo’s lifespan and ensure that every cup of coffee you make using the machine tastes its best. You will be removing gunk and lime build-up from the inside of the machine. If you are a daily coffee drinker, you should descale your Nespresso machine as often as monthly.

How to tell if your Nespresso Vertuo needs descaling

If you own a Nespresso Vertuo, count yourself lucky because the machine will notify you when it requires descaling. When there is too much limescale and gunk inside the machine, it will start flashing orange light. The light will then turn white for about three seconds. When this happens, you should buy or take the descaling kit if you already have one and descale your Nespresso Vertuo. Descaling it immediately, it starts flashing the light will extend its lifespan.

FAQ SECTION

Will vinegar damage my Nespresso Vertuo coffee maker?

Yes, vinegar can damage your Nespresso Vertuo coffee maker. Although vinegar is effective at removing limescale from metal surfaces, it can damage some parts of your machine. It attacks certain metal surfaces and rubber seals, damaging them. Nespresso recommends not using the white vinegar solution to descale their machines because the solution might damage them. If you use white vinegar to clean your Nespresso machine and the solution damages it, the machine’s warranty becomes void.

Also, descaling your machine with white vinegar might leave a strong smell and flavor. This might affect your coffee’s taste for quite a while.

How much vinegar should you use to descale a Nespresso Vertuo coffee maker?

You should descale your Nespresso Vertuo with 1-2 cups of white vinegar and 2-3 cups of fresh water. After running this solution in your Nespresso Vertuo several times, rinse the machine thoroughly with fresh water. This frees your machine off any white vinegar smell or taste that can affect the quality of your coffee.

Can I use just water to descale my Nespresso Vertuo coffee maker?

No, you cannot use water alone to descale your Nespresso Vertuo coffee maker. Water alone will not effectively dislodge the lime and gunk inside your Nespresso machine. Therefore, you have to use the company-recommended descaling solution to descale the Nespresso Vertuo effectively.

How do I put my Keurig in descaling mode?

Pressing the power button for seven seconds will put your Keurig in descale mode. Observe the blinking button to ensure you enter descaling mode and not brewing mode. You have approximately 45 seconds to do this.

How do I turn off the descale light on my Nespresso Vertuo?

Once the tank is empty, close the Nespresso Vertuo’s steam valve, and it will turn itself off. Refill the coffee maker’s tank and turn it back on. The descale light will turn off. You can now make a cup of your favorite coffee using the machine.