So, you bought an espresso machine to make delicious coffee drinks! Great, but what? After a few days or months, your coffee started tasting bad; doesn’t smell good and results in strange flavors! Don’t worry, your machine needs some help with cleaning and for that, you need a Descaling Solution.
Why Descale an Espresso Machine
Whether you are having an espresso maker at home or simply a coffee maker, when used, minerals from water build up a layer inside. The water tank, the tubes that carry water are the victims. Somehow, you are able to clean the water tank, but what about the tubes? This unwanted layer gives coffee a strange and unwanted taste.
This is why, your machine needs thorough clean up periodically to avoid the bad odor.
When to Descale
The time span of cleaning completely depends on the type of water being fed to the machine. If it’s hard water, clean it once every 15 days and if you are using filtered water, this period can be extended for up to 2-3 months. In coffee terms, this cleaning is commonly called descaling an espresso machine and you need an espresso descaler for that. Many types of equipment, especially the super-automatic espresso machines have an automatic descaling function which does all the cleaning by itself and just requires a descaling solution.
To descale an espresso machine, one can use white vinegar but it many a times leaves some smell that is unwanted and goes after days of some use. People also descale with citric acid which is again a bad pick. It doesn’t cleans the limescale built up fully and over, it forms another layer of calcium citrate which can even sometime fail your machine.
There are dedicated descaling solutions available in the market which are better built for cleaning, don’t give any smell and also extend the life of the machine. Few are dedicated for single brand machines and few are universal. Go on reading to find the best solutions for descaling.
Best Descaling Solutions for Espresso Machines
1. De’Longhi Ecodecalk Descaler
- Significantly reduces the likelihood of premature breakdown...
- Made with 100% lactic acid
- Suitable for all espresso/coffee machines
- Will keep your machine running smoothly so you can always...
Though being from the brand De’Longhi, this descaler is not just meant for their products, but rather for most of the espresso machines. Since being developed by an espresso machine brand, it’s one of the best espresso machine descalers in the market. It is an all-natural solution that is made from plant-derived lactic acid. The packaging is also completely recyclable and contains 5 doses per bottle.
2. Gaggia Decalcifier
- The Gaggia decalcifier cleans all the water circuits in your...
- Regular maintenance ensures the best taste and aroma from...
- This special decalcifier protects your appliance from the...
- The decalcifier removes limescale residues in the water...
Again, from a known brand, this Gaggia Decalcifier is an affordable solution that has reputation and trust. This solution targets all your machine’s water circuits by cleaning the limescale layer which affects the performance and taste of your machine. The limescale in its nature absorbs heat from water which results in a weak cup of espresso. Use this one regularly to prevent your machine from rowing down.
3. Essential Values Universal Descaling Solution
- COFFEE MACHINE DESCALER: Our coffee descaler and cleaner...
- COMPATIBLE WITH ANY COFFEE MACHINE: Use our coffee machine...
- THE PROOF IS IN THE TASTE: Every coffee lover knows that...
- INCREDIBLE VALUE: Our 4-pack descaling solution coffee...
This is the No. 1 Best Seller on Amazon and has over 500 positive customer reviews which simply says that it works great. It comes packed in an 8 oz bottle and it can be used twice (4 oz x 2 times ). It’s a citric acid-based cleaner that is odorless and safe for the environment. What’s more, it comes packed with 100% PET bottles which is again a plus.
4. Durgol Swiss Espresso Descaler
- DESCALING SOLUTION: This professional grade cleaner will...
- LIMESCALE REMOVER: Use on all coffee makers as a solution...
- EASY TO USE: Pour 1 portion into your machine's water tank...
- DESCALE TWICE: This package includes two 4.2-fluid-ounce...
With no unpleasant odors or taste, this descaling solution is highly appreciated. It has over 750 positive reviews on Amazon. It also comes in environmentally safe recyclable PET bottles and is made in Switzerland. It comes in packing of 4 oz bottles which means, one bottle per cleaning. Durgol is costly than others but it does have the experience of 65 years in making descaling solutions.
5. Urnex Cafiza Professional Espresso Descaler
- Eliminates coffee residue and oils from espresso machine...
- Specially formulated to clean heavily soiled equipment in a...
- Powder format allows for easy and controlled dosing
- Recommended for use as part of a daily backflush regimen
Urnex is also one of the most reputed brands in the manufacturing of descaling solutions. This product is not a liquid solution but rather it’s in powder form. It comes as packing of 20 oz in 1 box and is non-toxic, biodegradable, therefore safer to use. Moreover, it can be used in espresso machines, french press, or other kitchen utensils too where mineral built-up is present. It is listed in Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and is NSF certified.
6. Urnex Dezcal Coffee Maker and Espresso Machine Descaler
- UNIVERSALLY COMPATIBLE DESCALER - This product can be used...
- BETTER THAN VINEGAR - This descaler is more effective at...
- MAINTAIN YOUR COFFEE EQUIPMENT - Descaling extends the...
- DRINK BETTER TASTING COFFEE - Descaling removes limescale...
Coffee as we all know is a very oily substance and those oils after brewing constitutes to form the drink we consume. It’s natural that some oil gets collected in the passages of a coffee machine producing clogs. Urnex dezcal targets those oils, as well as the mineral, build up. So, all in all, if you are satisfied with none of the above, try this one for a great job.
7. Full Circle Descaling Solution
- MULTI-USE - This product can be used to descale coffee and...
- ECO-FRIENDLY INGREDIENTS - Formulated entirely from plant-...
- BETTER THAN VINEGAR - This descaler is more effective at...
- MAINTAIN YOUR COFFEE EQUIPMENT - Descaling extends the...
Full circle is another prominent name in descaling solution which has been contributing from long to the coffee machine industry. The solution does its job well and the results are good. Moreover, it’s non-toxic, biodegradable, and phosphate-free, therefore safer to use. People often chatter about this product when deciding about one.
8. Saeco Decalcifier
- Pack of 3 Bottles (3x 250ml) Decalcifier in Classic Saeco...
- Maintains and cleans machine
- Each bottle cleans for one descaling cycle
- Prevents corrosion, rids limescale, but won't damage your...
If you owe a Saeco machine, you might already be aware of this one as it is highly suggested by the representatives while selling an espresso machine. It’s a highly recommended product since it has got a 100% positive rating by the people who have already used it. You might at first find it costlier than others, but the quality is definitely worth a try.
9. Gourmesso Cleaning Capsules for Nespresso Machine
- ✔ BETTER TASTING COFFEE - Use between blends, flavored...
- ✔ 10 CLEANS PER BOX - Enjoy the simplicity of cleaning...
- ✔ SIMPLE CLEANING - Just insert the cleaning capsule into...
- ✔ SATISFACTION GUARANTEE – We promise to go above and...
For Nespresso machine users, there is a limitation of products, but yes, the minimal ones are good. There is one Gourmesso descaler for coffee machines by Nespresso in a form of a capsule. Using it is very simple – Just brew with this capsule as usual and then run an empty brew cycle, that’s it. It will clean all the water circuits, nozzle, and spout from inside. A single packaging contains 10 capsules, so 10 cleans per box.
In The End
Above were the best descaling solutions available in the market that are rated well and do not harm your coffee machine. One can trust these brands without any problem as they are cleaning the coffee machines for decades and know what they are doing.