For many people, there’s nothing much more important to their day to day regime than their coffee. Whether it’s a cup of joe to get going in the morning, or a quick mug before you head out for the evening, getting coffee ready made and fresh is always helpful.
Coffee machines have made this process far easier and more straightforward than ever before – but if they’re used regularly, especially in busier households or offices, they can rapidly build up limescale that can really bring down the taste of your coffee.
Fortunately, with the help of specially designed descalers – like the Care+Protect Descaler for coffee machines and kettles – descaling can be a simple and painless task that you can get done quickly and reliably.
Here’s a quick guide to show how you can do this and what steps you need to take.
How you can tell if you need to descale your machine
There are a few different ways you can tell if your coffee machine needs taking a look at and descaling. Here are some of those ways:
- Limescale in your coffee
The easiest way to tell if too much limescale has built up in your machine is to simply look at your coffee after you’ve made it. If you can see light coloured deposits floating at the top of the liquid, it’s time to do some descaling.
- Coffee taking too long
If you’ve noticed that your coffees are taking longer than they normally do, you might want to take a look to see if you’ve got some limescale building up under the hood. This can be a clear warning sign.
- Cleaning light comes on
Certain more advanced models of coffee machines come with an alert system that will let you know that limescale levels have started to creep up. If this light comes on, it’s time to grab the descaler and clear up the limescale.
A guide to descaling a coffee machine
Generally, we’d always say to check the user manual for your coffee machine before you dive into the descaling process. All of the information you’ll need for carrying out the cleaning operation will be in there, including any warnings you should heed about the machine itself.
If you’re using the Care+Protect Descaler, the following process should be quick and easy. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Add your product to water
Your first step is to fill up a water jug with around half a litre of warm water, straight from the tap. Then, open up the bag that contains the descaler, either by ripping it or by using a pair of scissors.
Add it to the water and gently stir it.
Step 2: Place the water and descaler mixture in the water tank
Locate the water tank on your coffee machine. Once you’ve done that, pour in the solution and wait for around three minutes. This will help the descaler break down the limescale.
After the three minutes is up, pour the solution down the drain in the sink.
Step 3: Repeat the same process with water only
Now that you’ve descaled the water tank, you can rinse it out with water. Fill another half-litre jug with warm water from the tap and add it to the tank for three minutes. Once it’s done, empty the water and you’re all set to make limescale-free coffee again.
What are the benefits of descaling?
There are a number of benefits that descaling your coffee machine can bring, including:
Taste
The obvious change you’ll notice once you’ve descaled your coffee machine is taste. You’ll likely notice that the aroma and flavour of your coffee is richer and more flavoursome, bringing out more of the delicate textures of the coffee you choose for optimal drinking.
Texture
Removing the limescale from your coffee machine also removes it from the surface of your coffee which gives you an all-round smoother and more indulgent texture – perfect for those silky smooth morning mugs that get your day off to a great start.
Appliance life
A lesser-known advantage to descaling your coffee machine regularly is that it actually extends the life of your coffee machine. Too much limescale build up can increase temperatures, damaging the appliance and causing it to break more regularly.
How often should I descale my machine
Generally, we’d recommend you use our descaler on your coffee machine at least once every month. This will keep your machine and your coffee in tip top shape for long, giving you an optimal performance from your machine with every single drop.
Ready to get started on descaling your machine? Buy your descaler today.
