To descale a Nespresso machine, put descaling solution and water in the tank, switch the machine to descaling mode, run the solution through, then rinse with fresh water. The steps below follow Nespresso's instructions for each Nespresso Original model Coffee & Cream sells: Essenza Mini, Inissia, CitiZ, Lattissima One and Gran Lattissima.
When to descale
Nespresso's instructions say to descale every 3 months or 300 capsules, whichever comes first. On Lattissima One and Gran Lattissima the descaling light also shines orange when it is time. The machine counts the drinks you make and turns the light on when descaling is due. On Gran Lattissima the orange light shows while the machine is in ready mode.
On Essenza Mini, Inissia and CitiZ, Nespresso's troubleshooting pages list "descale if necessary" as a fix when coffee flows slowly or does not come out right. If the lights blink in an irregular pattern, the Inissia page says to call Nespresso.
Before you start
- Descaling solution, and a container of at least 1 litre under the outlets.
- Something under the machine. Descaling solution can damage or mark surfaces if it spills.
- Keep the solution away from children. Do not drink it. It can irritate eyes and skin. If it gets in your eyes, rinse with plenty of water for 15 minutes and get medical advice.
- Do not top up the tank during the cycle.
Descaling the Essenza Mini, step by step
Essenza Mini has two buttons, Espresso and Lungo, and a 0.6 litre tank. Allow about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Turn the machine on by pressing either cup button, and wait until the lights are steady.
- Eject the capsule and close the lever.
- Empty the capsule container and the drip tray, then put them back.
- Put a container of at least 1 litre under the coffee outlet.
- Fill the water tank with 1 packet of descaling solution, then water up to the 0.6 litre line.
- Press and hold both buttons together for 5 seconds. The lights blink quickly. The machine is in descaling mode.
- Press the Lungo button and let all the solution run through the coffee outlet.
- Pour the used solution back into the tank, empty the drip tray, put the empty container back, and press Lungo again so it runs a second time.
- Throw the solution away, rinse the tank well, fill it to the top with fresh water, empty the drip tray, and run the whole tank through with Lungo.
- Repeat that fresh-water rinse two more times. The tank is small, so the rinse is three full tanks.
- Press and hold both buttons for 5 seconds to leave descaling mode. The blinking slows, then the lights go steady.
- Empty and rinse the capsule container and the drip tray, refill the tank, wipe the machine with a damp cloth, and let it rest 10 minutes before you use it.
Descaling Inissia and CitiZ, step by step
Inissia and CitiZ use the same steps, and Inissia takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Descaling mode needs Espresso and Lungo held together. On CitiZ, holding Lungo alone for 3 seconds does something else.
- Turn the machine on and wait until the lights are steady. Eject the capsule and close the lever.
- Empty the drip tray and the used capsule container.
- Fill the tank with 0.5 litre of drinking water and add 1 Nespresso descaling sachet.
- Put a container of at least 1 litre under the coffee outlet.
- With the machine on, press and hold Espresso and Lungo together for 3 seconds. Both lights blink.
- Press Lungo and wait until the tank is empty.
- Pour the collected solution back into the tank and run it again with Lungo.
- Empty and rinse the tank, fill it with fresh drinking water, and run it through. Rinse twice.
- Press and hold Espresso and Lungo for 3 seconds to leave descaling mode. On Inissia the lights blink while the machine heats, about 25 seconds, then go steady.
- Empty and rinse the capsule container and the drip tray, refill the tank, wipe the machine with a damp cloth, and let it rest 10 minutes before you use it.
Descaling Lattissima One and Gran Lattissima, step by step
Both are milk machines and take about 20 minutes. Each uses the descaling pipe stored at the back of the machine, then one run of solution and one fresh-water rinse. The buttons and amounts differ between the two, so follow the steps for your model.
Lattissima One
These steps follow Nespresso's Lattissima One (F121) user manual.
- Start when the descaling light blinks orange in ready mode.
- Lift and close the lever to eject any capsule. Empty the drip tray and the capsule container.
- Fill the water tank with 100 ml of Nespresso descaling agent (1 pouch), then add water up to the descaling mark on the tank, about 500 ml. Keep to these amounts, or the cycle may not finish.
- Take the descaling pipe from the back of the machine and plug it into the Rapid Cappuccino System connector. The machine enters descaling mode: the descaling light blinks orange and the Espresso button lights white.
- Put a container of at least 1 litre under the coffee outlet and under the descaling pipe.
- Press Espresso. The solution runs in turn through the coffee outlet, the descaling pipe and the drip tray until the tank is empty.
- Empty the capsule container, the drip tray and the 1 litre container. Rinse the tank and fill it to MAX with fresh drinking water.
- Press Lungo to rinse. The Lungo button blinks while the water runs through until the tank is empty, then the machine switches itself off.
- Remove and store the descaling pipe. Empty the drip tray and the capsule container, rinse the tank and refill it with drinking water, wipe the machine with a damp cloth, and let it rest 10 minutes before you use it.
Gran Lattissima
- Start when the descaling light shines orange in ready mode.
- Eject any capsule and close the lever. Empty the drip tray, the used capsule container, the cup support and the drop collector.
- Fill the tank with 100 ml of Nespresso descaling agent, then water up to the descaling mark (500 ml).
- Take the descaling pipe from the back, plug it into the steam connector, and put the tank back. The descaling alert blinks orange and the Flat White button lights up.
- Put a container of at least 1 litre under the coffee outlet and under the descaling pipe.
- Press Flat White. The solution runs through the coffee outlet, the descaling pipe and the drip tray until the tank is empty.
- Throw the solution away, rinse the tank, and fill it to MAX with fresh water. Empty the containers, the capsule container, the drip tray and the cup support.
- Press Flat White again to rinse. The machine switches itself off when the rinse is done.
- Remove and store the descaling pipe, empty the drip tray and the capsule container, refill the tank with fresh water, and wipe the machine with a damp cloth. If descaling did not finish properly, repeat the cycle.
Cleaning the milk system and the Aeroccino 3
On Lattissima One, clean the milk-system parts after each use. They go on the upper rack of the dishwasher. By hand, rinse them with hot water at 40°C, soak them at least 30 minutes in hot water with a mild detergent, check that the air inlet is clean, then dry and reassemble. Do not store the Rapid Cappuccino System in the fridge. Use skimmed or semi-skimmed cow milk, cold from the fridge at about 4°C. The milk system is not designed for plant milk or frozen milk. Keep strong cleaning agents and solvents off the machine, and put only the milk-system parts in the dishwasher.
On Gran Lattissima, after each milk drink the Clean alert lights orange. Put a container under the coffee outlet, turn the froth knob to Clean, and let the hot water and steam rinse the milk spout until they stop on their own. Turn the knob back to froth. If milk is left in the milk tank, disconnect the tank and put it in the fridge straight away. Wash the milk-system parts on the upper rack of the dishwasher, or by hand, when there is not enough milk for the next drinks or after two days. By hand, rinse with hot water at 40°C, soak at least 30 minutes in hot water with a mild detergent, clear the air inlet, and dry the parts before you put them back. If the parts are very dirty, run Clean twice. Skip abrasive materials.
Aeroccino 3 is washed by hand. Take the jug off the base, take the seal off the lid, and remove the whisk and the spring. Wash the jug, seal, lid, whisk and spring with detergent, rinse with warm or hot water, and use non-abrasive materials. The jug does not go in the dishwasher. Do not put the jug in water to clean it, and do not wash the base, because the base holds the plug. Dry every part with a clean towel, cloth or paper, then reassemble. Nespresso's Aeroccino 3 instructions give no descaling cycle.
Everyday care
On Essenza Mini, empty the drip tray, the drip base and the capsule container every day. On Inissia and CitiZ, empty and clean the used capsule container and the drip tray, and wipe the coffee outlet regularly with a soft damp cloth. After any descaling cycle, wipe the machine with a damp cloth.
Descaling solution or vinegar
Nespresso's instructions recommend its own descaling kit and say other solutions, such as vinegar or store-bought descalers, may damage the machine. Descaling solutions shows what Coffee & Cream has now.
Purex Descale Solution 100 ml is a household descaler. Our product page lists it for all household coffee machines, including capsule machines, and says it is not for commercial machines. If you use it, follow the dose printed on the bottle and run the machine's own descaling cycle. If the machine is still under warranty, read the warranty terms before you use anything other than the kit Nespresso names.
FAQ
How do I put my Nespresso in cleaning or descaling mode?
On Essenza Mini, hold both buttons for 5 seconds until the lights blink quickly. On Inissia and CitiZ, hold Espresso and Lungo together for 3 seconds until both lights blink. On Lattissima One, fill the tank with the solution and water up to the descaling mark, then plug the descaling pipe from the back into the Rapid Cappuccino System connector. The descaling light blinks orange and the Espresso button lights white. Press Espresso, and press Lungo for the rinse. On Gran Lattissima, fill the tank with the solution and water first, plug the pipe into the steam connector and put the tank back. The descaling alert blinks orange and the Flat White button lights up, and you press Flat White.
Can you descale a Nespresso without descaling solution?
Nespresso's instructions give no water-only method. Each one calls for descaling solution in the tank for the descaling run, and fresh water comes only after it, as the rinse.
Can I descale a Nespresso with vinegar?
Nespresso advises against it. Its instructions say vinegar and store-bought descalers may damage the machine, and they call for the Nespresso Descaling Kit.
What solution do I use to descale a coffee machine?
For Essenza Mini, Inissia, CitiZ, Lattissima One and Gran Lattissima, Nespresso's instructions name its own descaling kit. Descaling solutions shows what we carry now. Our product page lists Purex Descale Solution 100 ml for household coffee machines, including capsule machines. Follow the dose on the bottle and the cycle in your machine's manual, and check the warranty terms first if the machine is still under warranty.
How often should I descale a Nespresso?
Every 3 months or 300 capsules, whichever comes first. On Lattissima One and Gran Lattissima, descale when the descaling light shines orange.
How do I fix a Nespresso machine?
Descale if coffee flows slowly or does not come out right. If the lights blink in an irregular pattern, the Inissia troubleshooting page says to call Nespresso. Coffee & Cream is not a service centre.
How do you descale a Nespresso Vertuo?
Vertuo machines have their own descaling steps in their manual, and we do not sell Vertuo machines or capsules.
You can find the machines in this guide in Nespresso machines and the capsules they take in Nespresso capsules. The Aeroccino 3 is in milk frothers. If you own a Dolce Gusto machine, use the Dolce Gusto guide and the manual for that model. Orders reach Cairo and Giza in 1 to 2 business days and other governorates in 2 to 4 business days. You can pay cash on delivery or by card. Delivery fees are on the shipping policy.