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So many of us put off cleaning our coffee makers despite how much we love them.
Cleaning your Nespresso coffee machine on a regular basis ensures that it can keep brewing great coffee for years to come. Show your morning savior some love with our tips below.
How To Deep Clean A Nespresso Machine (Complete Guide)
What You'll Need
1. Rinse and clean the water tank in the sink
Remove the water tank and hand wash it in hot soapy water with a soft cloth, using the toothbrush or q-tips to remove stubborn spots.
Once completely dry, fill the tank with water and replace it. Do not put it in the dishwasher, as that could damage it.
2. Clean the capsule container
Eject any used capsule and clean the capsule container thoroughly with a damp cloth, ensuring you let it dry afterward.
Do not wipe the capsule detector lens with a damp cloth - use a dry microfibre cloth or q-tip only.
3. Clean The Drip Tray and Cup Support
Remove the drip tray and cup tray and empty them of any excess water. Wash them in hot soapy water with a clean wash cloth and q-tips or brush if necessary.
Let the cup support and drip tray air dry completely before replacing them. Not all models have a cup support, and manuals may vary on how to remove these parts.
4. Clean The Brew Head
Wipe the brew head down all over with a damp cloth and let it dry.
5. Clean The Steam Wand
Not all Nespresso maker models have steam wands, but it is vital to deep clean it once a week alongside the daily wipe down.
To do this, simply fill the milk jug with hot clean water and steam it as you would milk. Then let the wand soak for three minutes before drying it with a clean cloth and emptying the jug.
6. Clean The Milk Frother Jug
Hand wash the milk container in hot soapy water to remove any milk residue that remains. Let it dry on the rack completely before replacing it.
7. Wipe Down The machines Body
Give the outside of your machine a wipe-down with a clean damp dishcloth to remove any water stains or coffee splashes.
Let the machine dry before use. Do not use abrasive chemicals or scrubbers, as they may damage the finish.
8. Run a Cleaning Cycle
Place the container under the head and preheat your machine.
Once the light goes from blinking to steady, push the button according to manual instructions to start a cleaning cycle to flush any coffee residue or oil buildup from the internal parts.
9. Re-Assemble Your Machines Parts
Empty the container and reassemble any removable parts that were left to air dry.
Now your coffee maker is clean and ready to brew some delicious coffee.
10. Final Tips
Why Do You Need To Clean Your Nespresso Machine?
Your coffee maker must go through regular cleaning - daily for some parts, weekly for our steps above, and descaling every few months - as it could prevent you from getting sick and the coffee machine from getting damaged.[1]
Coffee has oils and residue that can build up over time in the Nespresso machine, and there are nooks and crannies where milk residue can get trapped.
These oils and substances rot and fester over time, leading to potential bacteria build-up and clogged or overheated parts.
No one wants to start drinking a fresh cup of moldy coffee - clean your Nespresso machine regularly following our suggested cleaning process above.
When your machine is cleaned regularly, it can continue working properly for years to come.
What's The Difference Between Cleaning & Descaling?
The difference between cleaning and descaling is that descaling is a deeper clean that removes limescale build up.
When you clean a Nespresso machine, you are focusing on getting rid of any bacteria and coffee oils that have gotten stuck in the machine over repeated use.
Descaling your machine using a descaling solution ensures that you remove any limescale buildup on the heating elements and internal parts.
These minerals could stick to the heating elements, causing the parts to overheat and limescale to get into the water tank.
Nespresso recommends descaling their coffee machines every three months or 300 pods - whichever comes first. Some signs that you need to run a descaling cycle include the following:
If you spot any of these indicators, you need to start the descaling process as soon as possible.
You can choose to get Nespresso's descaling solution or another commercial descaling solution, or dissolve a small amount of citric acid in the water reservoir.
Nespresso does not recommend using vinegar in their machines as it could damage the parts.
How To Descale Your Nespresso Machine
What You'll Need
Note: Please avoid using abrasive cleaners on your espresso machines.
Instructions
- 1Read over the specified instructions in your owner's manual to identify any small details to remember and access certain parts.
- 2Eject any old capsule from the capsule container.
- 3Fill the water tank with at least 17 fluid ounces of water, following the Nespresso descaling kit instructions or adding a small amount of citric acid (lemon juice) to the tank.
- 4Turn your machine on and let it preheat
- 5Once the light stops blinking, unlock the lever so it is pointing at the espresso machine.
- 6Press and hold the button for seven seconds to enter descaling mode.
- 7Lock the lever.
- 8Place the container under the heat.
- 9Once the descaling mode is done, empty the container and replace it.
- 10Press the button again to activate the rinse cycle with just water.
- 11Repeat the rinse cycle at least twice.
- 12Exit the descaling mode by pressing the button again.
- 13Clean the drip tray, Nespresso capsule container, water tank, and wand as above.
- 14Let the machine dry for at least 10 minutes. You can wipe the exterior of the Nespresso machine with a damp dish cloth or paper towel.
The instructions above are specific to the Nespresso Vertuo and Original model, but the basics are the same for each of the Nespresso machines.[4]
The biggest difference between each Nespresso machine comes down to how you activate the descaling mode, as well as other minor details.
As a general rule, the button presses to activate descale mode on a Nespresso appliance are:
If you are ever unsure of what to do, check the product manual or contact the Nespresso machine customer service team for specific descaling solutions.
FAQs
How often do I need to clean my Nespresso machine?
It is recommended that you clean the wand, eject old capsules, and wipe down the milk jug and drip tray daily. You should do a deep clean at least once a week and descale your machine every three months or 300 capsules.[5]
What happens if you don't clean the Nespresso machine?
If you do not clean a Nespresso machine regularly, it can lead to bacteria and mold buildup as well as limescale clogs. Any coffee made in a dirty machine will have contaminants in it that could harm your health or damage your machine’s overall performance.
Conclusion
Knowing how to clean and descale your Nespresso machine is a big part of keeping your machine working properly.
With a little dish soap, descaling agent, and effort, you can maintain your machine's performance for years to come.
Make sure to enter your maintenance module schedule into your calendar to keep your machine ready to go each morning.
References:
1. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-if-you-eat-moldy-food/
2. https://www.nespresso.com/us/en/order/accessories/vertuo/descaling-kit
3. https://www.nespresso.com/us/en/machine-assistance
4. https://www.nespresso.com/us/en/machine-assistance/vertuo
5. https://www.nespresso.com/es/en/atencion-al-cliente#:~:text=How%20often%20should%20I%20descale,the%20capsule%20has%20been%20removed.
