Why and When to Descale Your Café Machine

Descaling removes mineral buildup—mainly calcium and magnesium—that accumulates inside your Café coffee maker over time. This buildup slows water flow, makes brewing take longer, and can affect how your coffee tastes. If you live in an area with hard water, minerals build up faster.

You should descale every three to six months if you use your machine daily. If your water is very hard, descale every month. The easiest sign that it's time: brewing takes noticeably longer than it used to, or water drips slowly from the group head or brew basket.

Key Takeaways

  • Descaling removes mineral deposits that slow brewing and affect taste, and should happen every three to six months for daily-use machines.
  • Café machines use a descaling solution (not plain vinegar), which you run through the group head, portafilter, and water tank in a specific order.
  • The process takes about 30 to 45 minutes total and requires you to run solution through, let it sit, then flush with fresh water multiple times.
  • After descaling, run at least two full tanks of fresh water through the machine before brewing coffee, or your next cup will taste like descaling solution.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these items before you begin: a commercial descaling solution made for espresso machines (Café recommends their own brand, but Cafiza, Durgol, and Dezcal also work), a large empty container or sink to catch liquid, a clean cloth, and access to fresh water. Do not use white vinegar—it is too acidic and can damage the internal seals and gaskets in your machine.

Check your Café machine's manual for the exact descaling solution it recommends. Most Café models use a powder or liquid concentrate that you mix with water according to the package directions. Have the mixed solution ready before you turn on the machine.

Running Descaling Solution Through the Group Head

Turn on your Café machine and let it heat for about five minutes until the ready light comes on. Place your large container under the group head (the part where you attach the portafilter).

Pour the mixed descaling solution into the water tank until it is full. Run the solution through the group head by pressing the brew button, letting it flow for about five seconds, then stopping. Repeat this cycle—five seconds on, five seconds off—until the water tank is empty. This takes roughly ten minutes. You are flushing the solution through the internal lines.

Once the tank is empty, refill it with fresh water and run that through the group head the same way (five seconds on, five seconds off) until the tank is empty again. This rinses out the first round of solution. Repeat this fresh-water rinse one more time. Your machine should now smell like fresh water, not descaling solution.

Descaling the Portafilter and Basket

While the group head is soaking, soak the portafilter (the handle you pull espresso shots with) and the basket inside it in a cup or small bowl of the same descaling solution for about 15 to 20 minutes. This breaks down mineral buildup on these parts too.

After soaking, scrub the portafilter and basket with a clean cloth or soft brush under running water to remove loosened deposits. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water until no solution smell remains. Dry with a clean cloth and set aside.

Flushing the Steam Wand (If Your Model Has One)

If your Café machine has a steam wand for frothing milk, descale that separately. Fill a small cup with descaling solution. Submerge the steam wand tip into the solution and turn on the steam valve for about three to five seconds, letting solution flow through. Stop and let it sit for one minute. Repeat this cycle three times.

Then submerge the wand tip in a cup of fresh water and repeat the same cycle—three to five seconds on, one minute rest—three times. Wipe the outside of the wand with a damp cloth. If milk has dried inside the wand, use a thin pipe cleaner or the cleaning pin that came with your machine to clear the opening.

The Final Fresh-Water Flush

Refill the water tank with fresh water. Run water through the group head again (five seconds on, five seconds off) until the tank is completely empty. Refill and repeat this cycle at least two more times. You want to be absolutely certain no descaling solution remains in the lines.

After the final flush, run water through the steam wand one more time if your machine has one. Let the machine sit for five minutes, then run one more full tank of fresh water through everything. This step is critical—if you skip it or rush it, your first cup of coffee will taste like descaling solution.

What to Do If Descaling Doesn't Fix Slow Brewing

If your machine still brews slowly after descaling, the problem may not be mineral buildup. Check that your portafilter basket is not clogged with old coffee grounds or that the shower screen (the flat part inside the group head where water comes out) is not blocked. Remove the shower screen and rinse it under hot water, using a soft brush to clear any debris.

If slow brewing continues after descaling and cleaning the basket and screen, the issue may be inside the machine's internal lines or the pump itself. At that point, contact Café customer support or a may have access to repair technician. Trying to force water through a severely blocked line can damage the pump.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use vinegar to descale my Café coffee maker?

No. Vinegar is too acidic and can damage the rubber seals, gaskets, and internal metal parts of espresso machines. Use only a commercial descaling solution made for espresso machines. Café's own descaling powder is designed for their machines, but other brands like Cafiza and Durgol also work.

How long does the whole descaling process take?

Plan for 30 to 45 minutes from start to finish. Most of that time is running solution and water through the machine in cycles. The soaking steps for the portafilter and basket happen while you are flushing the group head, so they overlap.

What if I accidentally used vinegar already?

Run at least three full tanks of fresh water through the machine to flush out the vinegar. If your machine starts leaking or the pump sounds strained, stop and let it cool. Vinegar can corrode seals over time, so if problems persist, contact a repair technician.

Do I need to descale if I use filtered water?

Filtered water reduces mineral buildup, so you may descale less often—perhaps every six to nine months instead of every three months. However, even filtered water contains some minerals, so descaling is still necessary. Check your machine's manual for the recommended schedule based on your water type.

Can I drink the water that comes out during descaling?

No. Descaling solution is not safe to drink. Always discard the liquid that runs out during descaling. Make sure your container is large enough to catch all the solution without spilling, and dispose of it according to the solution's package directions.