Descale coffee machine. The 3 mistakes to avoid.
Descaling the coffee machine is afundamental habit, but often neglected until the machine starts to become noisy and no longer extract good coffee.
Limescale in the coffee machine - Why we need to clean the coffee machine at home
Descaling the coffee machine is important both to keep our machine healthy and to ensure that it is properly cleaned.
The first mistake is in fact that of waiting too long before descaling the stain for the first time.
Descaling the coffee machine in fact ensures that we not only maintain our clean and limescale-free machine, but it greatly extends its life, allowing us to make good coffee every day, even for years, without having to resort to unnecessary (and possibly expensive) repair and maintenance work.
The formation of limescale is a normal consequence of using the appliance. The water we use naturally contains minerals, which on contact with the boiler, due to the heat transmitted, are deposited on the walls.
Limestone is the greatest enemy of the coffee machinebecause it is an insulating material. When it is deposited in the boiler, it thermally insulates the water from the heating element that is supposed to impart heat to it. This results in the water not reaching the optimal extraction temperature and the coffee extracted does not have the desired aroma and cream.
In addition, limescale acts by forming a surface on which it is easier for pathogens to settle. One study done by NFS International, mentions the coffee machines to which constant cleaning is not carried out as the fifth place for presence of germs in the housewith half of the tanks and boilers tested containing yeasts or moulds. These organisms can cause allergic reactions or infections, so it is essential to clean your coffee machine properly and constantly.
It may seem like a chore, but don't worry because with the right products becomes a practice quick and easy.
How to descale the coffee machine
So we have ascertained that the machine needs to be cleaned in order to enjoy good coffee every day without sudden breakdowns, but how to descale the coffee machine?
To remove limescale, it is necessary to use an acid agent that allows limescale to dissolve and be dispersed.
There are different methods, and often grandmother's remedies are recommended online that are not very effective, or even counterproductive because they will ruin your car. The time has come for clarity.
The second mistake is the choice of wrong method and/or product to clean our machine from limescale.
Two types of procedures are recommended on how to descale the coffee machine: those based on natural products and those chemical-basedsome are true legends, and others should be used with great caution because they can damage the device, or introduce toxic agents, but there is also a third solution that no one is talking aboutread on to find out what it is.
What to use to descale the coffee machine?
Descaling the coffee machine with lemon juice
Lemon juice is a real myth, and besides not contributing in any way to descaling your machine, for which much stronger acidic agents are needed, it also introduces organic elements into the tank, pipes, and boiler of your machine, which with humidity and high temperatures can contribute to the formation of bacteria and mould. Absolutely avoid it.
Descaling coffee machine: bicarbonate
Baking soda is often used to clean the house, for its anti-odour and anti-mould properties, but it is a alkaline agent. Limestone is composed of calcium carbonate and dissolves in an acidic environment. For this reason it is not possible to descale the coffee machine with bicarbonate.
Descaling the coffee machine with vinegar
Vinegar is the acidic agent we all have at home and the classic grandma's remedy for cleaning cookers and surfaces.
Vinegar is often recommended as a do-it-yourself machine descaler because its properties can dissolve limescale.
But descaling the coffee machine with vinegar is this really a good idea? Not really.
Although vinegar dissolves limescale, it also ruins the rubber parts of our machine, especially the gaskets, so it makes little sense to use it periodically for the maintenance and cleaning of our machine, as it will ruin key components, shortening its life and causing leaks and breakdowns.
Descaling coffee machine with chemicals
Most machine dealers recommend descaling through the use of specific chemicals.
These work very well, but have a big problemwhich is the reason why so many people go in search of natural products: they put in the toxic and potentially harmful substanceswith which we have to be very careful, especially considering that we will then use the appliance to prepare our beloved drink that we enjoy every day.
Descale coffee machine with specific natural products
The solution nobody talks about is the natural products, specifically designed for descaling and cleaning the coffee machine, but what is it? And why doesn't anyone talk about it?
It is probably the best coffee machine descaler on the marketas it is based on natural acids - melic acid and citric acid to be precise - and in addition to being the only descaler certified for food contact, is also biodegradable and respects the environment.
When to Descale the Coffee Machine
The third mistake which unfortunately shortens the life of many coffee machines, is to not to be constant in frequency of descaling the machine.
The frequency of descaling is one of the most important elements for the longevity of the machine and the quality of the coffee dispensed. It should be related to the workload of the coffee machine, and the hardness of the water.
In any case, we always recommend using packaged wateror low-lime content, and regardless of their use, we recommend descaling at least every 3-4 months.
So what to do in practice?
In any case, we always recommend using packaged wateror low-lime content, and regardless of their use, we recommend descaling at least every 3-4 months.
So what to do in practice?
- Firstly, as I just told you, uses packaged wateror low lime content. If you want to know whether in your area your hard or soft water you can see it here. This will greatly extend the life of your machine and allow you to enjoy better coffee.
- Don't wait too long to descale your machine, even if you have just bought it. Four months is more than enough time to start limescale build-up.
- Descale regularly to avoid problems: every 3-4 months regardless of use.
- Choose the right products. At Aroma we specifically chose the CLEANER Aroma because we are not only manufacturers of coffee machines we guarantee its assistance.
After testing all products on the market, we are convinced that Cleaner Aroma is the best solution, both in terms of product quality and effectiveness cleaning and consumer safety. In addition, it is really quick and easy to use and is biodegradable: so it allows us to make the good for the environment. - Have you already purchased an Aroma machine? Follow the instructions in the user manual and our illustrative videos and take care of your machine using only our Cleaner, so you can qualify for free Aroma service.
