Nespresso Vertuo Coffee Makers, Scale or limescale is that hard solidified substance that grabs onto the heating element of your coffee maker, water heater, or kettle over time. It appears in most cases off-white and generally makes your appliances seem dirty and neglected.
That is, however, the least of your worries with limescale. Its presence interferes with the efficiency of your heating appliances since it coats that heating element creating a resistive force, forcing the appliance to draw more power to achieve optimal temperatures for a boil.
Your energy bill shoots up and that is before your thermostat malfunctions forcing you to repair or replace your appliance altogether. Limescale almost always forms in any appliance that handles water and more so in appliances that heat water.
The difference may be how much of it forms and how fast. In areas where water has a higher concentration of minerals particularly calcium and magnesium then the scaling issue will occur frequently and severely.
Fortunately, this problem has an easy enough solution and all appliances have specific instructions simple enough that descaling should be a ten-minute job approximately.
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Nespresso Vertuo and Vertuo Plus
Nespresso is a premium high-end Swiss coffee popular for its rich aromatic blends and splendid roasts.
In the last decade, Nespresso introduced in America and Canada, the Vertuo line of Nespresso coffee machines and capsules to appeal to the distinctly American predilection for huge amounts of strong coffee which their Original line did not produce.
The older models, though successful, made a strong but small brew that did not appeal as much to American and Canadian coffee lovers who favored a larger pour of the brew in one go.
The original line of coffee poured a standard 40 MLS coffee cup or at most 110 MLS but with the new Vertuo line, you can adjust your settings to get a brew anywhere from the standard 40 MLS to 414 MLS, almost half a liter. You can make a Double Espresso, 80 MLS, a Gran Lungo 150 MLS, a Mug 230 MLS, or an Alto XL 414 MLS.
With these quantities, Americans now enjoy Nespresso coffee brews.
How to exit descaling mode Nespresso
Descaling your Nespresso machine is a piece of cake. The Vertuo Line of Nespresso machines is a great addition to your kitchen if you have a vested love for coffee. Your water quality may however present a problem and scaling can begin to occur.
In addition to ruining your machine, limescale affects the taste and flavor of your coffee giving it an unpleasant sourness that you should experience as a blunt aftertaste that was not there previously.
Nespresso Vertuo Coffee Makers notice this then scale may have formed in your machine and has begun to leach into your coffee during the brewing process. Descaling is necessary.
How to Descale your Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee Machine
Fortunately for you, your coffee maker comes with a descaling kit which is a solution made by the manufacturer precisely for clearing out limescale from your coffee maker. Below is how to use it:
- Push the button to turn the machine ON.
- Push the lever upward to open the head of the machine.
- Let the used capsule get ejected and close the head by pushing the lever down.
- Push the lever down for a continuous 3 seconds which will turn the machine OFF.
- Remove the cup support, empty it and return it.
- Empty the used capsule container and return it.
- Fill up the water tank with no more than half a liter of clean water.
- Pour a sachet of the descaling solution into the water tank.
- Push the power button and the lever down at the same time for three seconds.
- The light at the power button will become steady and ORANGE indicating you have activated the ‘Special Functions Menu’
- Choose the ‘Descaling’ function by pressing the lever down just once. Do this within two minutes or the machine will revert back to “Ready’ mode.
- The ORANGE light will continuously blink once every 2 seconds indicating you are in ‘Descaling’ mode.
- Under the coffee outlet, place a cup or jug, not less than a liter to collect the descaling mixture after it has been used.
- Push the power button once to begin the descaling process. The orange light will continue to blink as descaling continues.
- When the descaling process is complete the machine will stop automatically.
- Retrieve the descaling residue, empty the container, and rinse it thoroughly.
- Replace this container at the coffee spout to collect the rinsing water.
- Empty, wash, and rinse the water tank thoroughly as well.
- Fill up the water tank again with fresh clean water and replace it on the machine.
- To initiate a rinse cycle press and release the power button once. The rinse will begin and the process will stop automatically once it is finished.
- The water collected in the jug should be clear.
- Your machine is now ready for regular use but you must first exit descaling mode.
- To exit descaling mode, press the power button and the lever together for a continuous 3 seconds until the light at the power button turns GREEN.
- A steady green light means your machine is ready to brew a fresh capsule of coffee.
- Let the machine sit for ten minutes to dry off before making any coffee after which you are free to make the espresso of your choice.
Important information
Nespresso machines have a descaling alert. A steady green and red light. Shortly after this light appears the machine will not brew if you do not descale. Only a few more brews can be made before descaling becomes mandatory.
The descaling solution must not come into contact with the skin. If this happens rinse thoroughly and seek medical care.
Nespresso descaler is toxic to humans and animals so keep it away from children and pets. Nespresso Vertuo Coffee Makers ingested, immediately consult a physician.
Do not use other descaling methods with Nespresso machines as they may damage the machine. Only use the descaling kit from Nespresso.
