alternative ways to descale my U Nespresso maker?
1705951
We haven't used it enough to develop scale on it yet. We always use our filtered water in it to begin with.
1078080
This powder cannot be used for descaling. It will destroy your machine if it goes into the boiler. You can only use this powder to clean your portafilter and filter basket if its all metal. Don't use it on any plastic or rubber. All you do is mix half a teaspoon in a bowl with water and leave the portafiter and filter basket in there for about 10 minutes. You also use this for back flashing your machine if it has a three way solenoid. There are great videos on YouTube on how to backflush the machine.
1376492
My experience is that it needs descaled with white vinegar...and I have found that this needs to be done once a month, which is somewhat aggravating. Also, there are three little valves where the water comes out that need to be cleaned with a paperclip...first you have to remove the little black gasket. I was told to do this by the Keurig customer service people.
1874934
There are tablets and liquid decalcifiers. Saeco sells them on their site or if you're near a Bed Bath Beyond they usually carry bottles of Durgol Swiss which I prefer. The machine's cleaning menu will instruct you on how to descale. It's very easy and important to do! Although I don't use an AquaPrimer filter, I have filtered water throughout my home and still descale once per month.
2256179
I take the pods back to the store for recycling, but I don't think every store does that (I live in NYC). There's a contraption called the Outpresso that makes it easy to empty the coffee grounds (once they're empty they can be recycled anywhere). Unfortunately it's not widely available, but I think it can be ordered: http://www.outpresso.com/index-e-1.htm.
8426
Take 36 oz. of warm water, mix 4 level tablespoons of Dezcal powder to the water. Stir until the powder is completely dissolved. Pour this water into your machine tank and "brew" four 12 oz. cups of water through the machine, then rinse out your water tank. Add clean water to the tank and flush "brew" four 12 oz. cups. The recipe for using Dezcal is about 1 oz. powder (2 Tablespoons) to 16 oz. of water to make a descaling solution. This is a professional product designed for pro espresso machines, etc. However, if you follow the directions I gave you, it is the equivalent of Urnex's consumer line of descaler. (It is the same ingredient) Take 36 oz. of warm water, mix 4 level tablespoons of Dezcal powder to the water. Stir until the powder is completely dissolved. Pour this water into your machine tank and "brew" four 12 oz. cups of water through the machine, then rinse out your water tank. Add clean water to the tank and flush "brew" four 12 oz. cups. The recipe for using Dezcal is about 1 oz. powder (2 Tablespoons) to 16 oz. of water to make a descaling solution. This is a professional product designed for pro espresso machines, etc. However, if you follow the directions I gave you, it is the... » Read More Take 36 oz. of warm water, mix 4 level tablespoons of Dezcal powder to the water. Stir until the powder is completely dissolved. Pour this water into your machine tank and "brew" four 12 oz. cups of water through the machine, then rinse out your water tank. Add clean water to the tank and flush "brew" four 12 oz. cups. The recipe for using Dezcal is about 1 oz. powder (2 Tablespoons) to 16 oz. of water to make a descaling solution. This is a professional product designed for pro espresso machines, etc. However, if you follow the directions I gave you, it is the equivalent of Urnex's consumer line of descaler. (It is the same ingredient) « Show Less
8427
Take 36 oz. of warm water, mix 4 level tablespoons of Dezcal powder to the water. Stir until the powder is completely dissolved. Pour this water into your machine tank and "brew" four 12 oz. cups of water through the machine, then rinse out your water tank. Add clean water to the tank and flush "brew" four 12 oz. cups. The recipe for using Dezcal is about 1 oz. powder (2 Tablespoons) to 16 oz. of water to make a descaling solution. This is a professional product designed for pro espresso machines, etc. However, if you follow the directions I gave you, it is the equivalent of Urnex's consumer line of descaler. (It is the same ingredient)
1106943
I have a Jura Capresso machine & use the large descaling tablets that come 9 to a pack. They work great!
1584500
I would not think you would have to unless you have very hard water. We tested at soft water and have not been prompted to descale since setting up at Christmas. We use the machine daily to several times a day. Descaling can be done simply with water and vinegar so you don't really even have to worry about the expense of the descaling kits. If in doubt, run some vinegar water through, rinse, enjoy good coffee. And the reviews are right, coffee is not as hot as it could be, but is a very drinkable warm unless you like scalding. A triple cup, 30 seconds in the microwave as I put on my coat and I'm drinking hot coffee on the way to work! I would not think you would have to unless you have very hard water. We tested at soft water and have not been prompted to descale since setting up at Christmas. We use the machine daily to several times a day. Descaling can be done simply with water and vinegar so you don't really even have to worry about the expense of the descaling kits. If in doubt, run some vinegar water through, rinse, enjoy good coffee. And the reviews are right, coffee is not as hot as it could be, but is a very drinkable warm unless you like scalding. A triple cup, 30 seconds in the microwave as I put on my coat... » Read More I would not think you would have to unless you have very hard water. We tested at soft water and have not been prompted to descale since setting up at Christmas. We use the machine daily to several times a day. Descaling can be done simply with water and vinegar so you don't really even have to worry about the expense of the descaling kits. If in doubt, run some vinegar water through, rinse, enjoy good coffee. And the reviews are right, coffee is not as hot as it could be, but is a very drinkable warm unless you like scalding. A triple cup, 30 seconds in the microwave as I put on my coat and I'm drinking hot coffee on the way to work! « Show Less
1980657
Cafiza is a cleaning tablet just for in between de calcifying, I suggest durgol agent for that process also available on amazon for a really good price, in my humble opinion I would use both to keep the life of your espresso machine long.
368010
Just turn down the amount of espresso that u are using. also turn your dosage to a higher setting
782395
Same here, i know there are claims of reusable capsules, but never tried them. I only use nespresso capsules.
1790252
DESCALING If the water in your area is hard, lime scale deposits may build up over time. These deposits may affect the correct operation of the appliance. It is suggested to descale the appliance after 300 uses. Descale the appliance using commercially available descaling products for drip coffee makers. Follow the instructions provided with these products. 1. Dilute the descaler in the carafe, following the directions on the packaging of the descaler. 2. Pour the descaling solution in the water compartment; 3. Put the carafe on the non stick plate; 4. Switch the appliance on and let the equivalent of one cup run through, then switch off the machine. 5. Let the solution work for 15 minutes, then repeat steps 4 and 5. 6. Switch the coffee maker back on and run the solution through until the tank is completely emptied. 7. Rinse by operating the machine with water only for at least three cycles (3 full tanks of water).
1078082
There are two cleaning processes for an espresso machine- backflushing (the 3-way solenoid valve if your machine has one) and de-scaling. Search on-line for how to clean the brand and model you own. Cafiza is for backflushing and cleaning the portafilter and baskets. It is an awesome product. But you will need a different product for de-scaling.
1801586
It depends on where you live. If you live in the United States you can take capsules to Nespresso boutiques or Sur La Table store for recycling. If you do not live near any of these establishments and if your local recycling accepts aluminum, you can use a knife to cut out the foil lid on used capsules, empty out the spent coffee grounds, and then put the empty capsules in with your recyclable metals (that's what I do).
291241
I fear that your espresso machine has probably run its course. You might try running a descaler through it (very cheap at Morrissons) in case it's just scaled up. Failing that, you'll have to replace it.
117796
Thanks for the info, I'll give that brand a try next. Do report back how the pod maker goes, I read online about people just saying to use a standard filter and then trim the top and fold it over and wet it, I tried but in order to get a tight enough fold I couldn't use enough grounds to get a decent cup, and using enough grounds meant it wouldn't fit in the chamber right.