A coffee maker with excessive mineral and grime buildup is not only disgusting but may also affect the flavors in your coffee. Not only that, but it may also increase wear and tear. To keep your machine’s excellent performance, you’d have to regularly clean and descale your coffee maker, mainly if you use it daily!
We have tried different descalers so you won’t have to. Let us break it down for you!
Descalers
Descalers are chemical agents that help tremendously eradicate limescale, calcium deposits, and other non-soluble sediments in your coffee machine. These descalers work by releasing hydrogen ions upon contact with water and will eventually dissolve scale and minerals. The great thing is they aren’t only used for your coffee makers and water heaters, boilers, kettles, septic tanks, and heat exchangers.
Descalers versus other cleaning products
You don’t need a descaler if you’re looking for cleaners that will break up the built-up coffee oils in your machine and all of its components. A cleaning solution should be enough. But if the stubborn mineral and scale buildup is the enemy, that’s the descaler’s job.
Descalers versus vinegar
While vinegar can be used to descale your machine, its active component, the acetic acid, is not as effective in removing mineral buildup. Additionally, white vinegar only contains 5% acid. Not to mention the nasty smell vinegar can leave too!
Should you only use your machine’s dedicated descaler?
Some brands carry their descalers; of course, they will tell you that their descaler will work best. And it will usually be pricier than others in the market. However, there’s no problem with using an off-brand descaler too! There are many options in the market you can choose from, and we’re here to show you some of them!
Best coffee maker decalcifiers
Durgol Swiss Coffee Machine Descaling Solution
This is that one descaler I would encourage everyone to try no matter what coffee maker you have. It can effectively remove any buildup while keeping the aluminum and rubber parts intact and damage-free. It may not be the easiest for your wallet, but it’s safe and does the job well. This also works amazingly with espresso machines.
Dezcal
Many commercial establishments use this descaler: coffee shops, restaurants, and others. It’s also one of the best options in descaling espresso machines without breaking the bank. It also comes in a sachet version which is easier to use, in my opinion, as you can use the whole sachet to clean a whole tank.
But if you have the bottled version, the 31.7 oz of powder should give you around 16 descaling sessions. So a reasonable estimate is to use 2 tablespoons of the descaler per 34 fl. oz. of water. However, Dezcal can be too strong, so it’s not the best option if your machine has aluminum parts. If you have no other option, use this powder in a lower concentration if your machine has aluminum parts.
Descaler By Impresa
If you have a single-serve coffee machine and are okay with using off-brand declares, this is a great option. It’s easy to use: throw in 4 ounces (half the bottle) in the water tank and pour in. It does the job beautifully without holding a high price tag. Plus, the formula is gentle, so it won’t cause wear and tear in any parts of your coffee machine. Typically, a bottle will allow you to descale twice.
K&J Descaling Solution
Another effective and easy-to-use descaler is this one from K&J. It’s completely odorless and will improve the performance of your machine immediately. It comes in a pack of 2 bottles, with each bottle sufficient for 2 sessions. The brand recommends descaling every 2 months so that this pack will go a long way. One great thing about this brand is its top-notch customer service. They are quick to respond should you have any queries. Lastly, its price tag is reasonable!
Essential Values
This descaler’s active ingredient is citric acid and comes in liquid form. One descaling session will use up half a bottle. It’s also easy to use and comes at a great price. It comes in a pack of two 8-ounce bottles. However, this does not last as long as other descalers.
Full Circle Powder by Urnex
The main difference between Dezcal and Full Circle is that the former has citric acid and sulfamic acid while the latter has citric acid only. This comes in a pack of 2 bags, and 1 packet will decalcify your machine twice.
Thus, a bag will provide enough for 2 rounds of descaling. According to the brand, it’s best to descale your machine no less than once every 3 months. The great thing about Full circle is that it observes sustainability, from ingredients to packaging. We love everything eco-friendly! But take note that this product is not recommended for machines with aluminum parts.
Urnex Full Circle Coffee and Espresso Descaler
Urnex descaler is a non-toxic, phosphate-free, and biodegradable solution to ensure safety for everyone in your household. Most Starbucks branches use this, so that says a lot. The formula is odorless and is easy to rinse without leaving any unpleasant smell or taste.
The manufacturer recommends using this every 3 months but more frequent descaling sessions if you use hard water when brewing. This comes in a pack of two 4-ounce bottles, which should last you around 2-6 months. However, some users said that they needed to use more than a bottle’s worth for a single session.
Saeco CA6700/47
This descaler is made of 50% citric acid and 25% lactic acid and is specially designed for espresso machines. It does the job of a descaler beautifully. On top of that, this product will ensure that your coffee gives off the correct temperature, believe it or not.
How? Well, once limescale builds up, it absorbs heat coming from water. Thus, your espresso will not be as hot as usual. While it’s marketed for Saeco machines, you can use it with any espresso machine brand. However, this comes at a higher price tag for a single-treatment bottle. But we say it is worth it!
Homemade citric acid alternatives
While a DIY citric acid solution works, we still recommend that a proper descaling solution be used in decalcifying your machine.
Yes, a homemade solution is cheap, doesn’t smell awful, and is easy to make, but remember that you invested a good amount of money purchasing your machine. The way to prolong the life of your machine and ultimately enjoy your money’s worth is to use a descaling solution. Yes, it may cost you some money, but various affordable brands are on the market!
FAQs
How frequently should I descale?
There’s no one straight answer for this. The best thing to do is check your machine’s manufacturer for recommendations. Some machines come with an indicator light that lights up when it’s time to descale. You may also use the hardness of your water to determine this (you can buy total dissolved solids (TDS) testing strips to test your water:
- Hard water with 200-300 TDS: decalcify every 2 months
- Soft water with 70-150 TDS: decalcify every 5-6 months
How do I know if my espresso machine is compatible with the descaler?
How can I opt for eco-friendly descalers?
Conclusion
We will never get tired of emphasizing how you need to descale your coffee machine. It will keep your machine performing well for longer. Thus, you’ll get your investment’s worth in the long run. We’ve broken down our favorite descalers, so go ahead and try some of them!
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Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
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