How to Descale Your Keurig Coffee Maker (or Other Pod Coffee Makers)
Pod coffee machines like Keurig and Nespresso are more convenient than their pot-fill predecessors, but they still get dirty inside, just like any coffee maker. You should descale your machine every three months or so, removing calcium deposits and other debris. Of course, you can buy products designed for this, but you can also just use vinegar.
How to Descale a Keurig
To descale your Keurig machine, fill the water reservoir with a mixture of half water and half distilled white vinegar . Place a large mug or bowl where you would normally place a cup of coffee and run the machine as normal, pouring out the mixture each time the mug is filled. Continue doing this until the water tank runs out of mixture. Wash and fill the reservoir, then repeat the process to flush it, filling the container until there is nothing left in the machine. (Of course, try to use a large bowl if possible so you don’t have to run back and forth to the sink with a full mug.)
Be careful not to overwork your poor Keurig. Consider a half-hour break between descaling and rinsing.
How to descale Nespresso coffee
Nespresso warns against using vinegar or other brands of descaling products, as you might argue that they want you to spend money on their products. However, if you’re nervous, just buy Nespresso cleaning products . Many people have discussed using vinegar to clean cars online, but if you’re going to do this, dilute the vinegar a little. I tried it using one part vinegar and two parts water, running the solution only once, and it worked great.
Be sure to follow the instructions for your specific model, but in general you will likely have to turn the machine off, press the top button and lever at the same time until the light turns orange, and then press the lever down once to begin descaling. . It will take some time, but your tank will empty. Conversely, I just “brewed” a cup of the mixture and had no problems. Wash your car by rinsing the reservoir, filling it with water, and running some plain water through it several times.
Tools for descaling capsule coffee machines
If you’re a cheapskate like me, grab some distilled white vinegar and get started. You can purchase 128 ounces for $3.99 at Target .
If you’re worried about using vinegar, Amazon also has a 3-month Keurig Brewery Maintenance Kit ($17.99) and Nespresso Descaling Cleaner ($19.99).