Does your Dolce Gusto no longer make an as good coffee as it did on the first day? The time has probably come to descale your appliance. It is then necessary to adopt a specific technique for an interview in the rules. This coffee machine has its own cleaning mode to keep it clean and protect its parts. Find out why you need to descale your Dolce Gusto and two descaling techniques as well as some tips for successfully descaling your coffee machine without forgetting the constraints to take into account.
Why and how to descale a Dolce Gusto coffee machine?
Why descale?
Descaling is an essential step in the life of a coffee machine. You should know that the drinking water that you use to fill the latter and to prepare your drink contains lime which is deposited on the walls of your device each time you turn it on. In jargon, this deposit is called ” tartar “. Descaling helps to get rid of it and ensure that the Dolce Gusto machine continues to work well and for a long time.
Ensure proper operation and extend the service life of the coffee machine
A lime-free Dolce Gusto works optimally. In addition, you get better tasting drinks when you regularly descale your machine. No more scale forms on the walls of the device. The liquid then flows normally and the quality of the coffee is preserved. In addition, the life of the coffee maker is optimized.
Maintain your productivity speed
An optimally functioning coffee machine serves several cups of drinks within a specified time. When tartar forms at the level of the tubes, it hinders the passage of water at this level while noises are emitted during the preparation of your drinks.
The device is therefore no longer as efficient as when it first started. You may find that it takes a long time to serve a whole cup or it just doesn’t work. The drink served becomes lukewarm when it is supposed to be hot. All of these issues are resolved once you descale the device.
Avoid malfunctions
Descaling a Dolce Gusto avoids malfunctions and has multiple advantages such as:
Better preservation of the flavour and aroma of the brewed beverage;
A cup of coffee served at the desired temperature;
Avoids repair costs caused by tartar.
How to proceed?
You have three main options for descaling a Dolce Gusto. On the one hand, you can use a descaler which is a product specially formulated for the maintenance of this machine. On the other hand, you can adopt a natural method, with everyday products.
Whichever method you choose, the operation may seem complicated at first, but it becomes child’s play once the process is mastered.
Descaling the Dolce Gusto with a descaler
The necessary products and equipment
Here are the elements that you must prepare in order to descale your Dolce Gusto with a product intended for this purpose:
A container of about 1 L;
Tap water;
Dolce Gusto descaler.
Descaling the Dolce Gusto
Step 1: preparation
Turn off Dolce Gusto for safe cleaning. Mix the descaler and tap water in a container. The dosage is generally indicated on the packaging of the cleaning product. Pour this mixture into the tank and place it on your machine as if you were going to prepare coffee.
Unlock the device locking system to place an empty capsule holder. Lock the handle. Take the drip receiver before putting the used capsule device under the capsule holder.
A large salad bowl can replace the capsule container if you do not have one. The objective is to collect the water mixed with descaler poured into the tank.
Step 2: descaling
Set the Dolce Gusto to the highest dosage level using the lever provided for this purpose. Descale the appliance by pressing the ignition button for about 5 seconds. Green indicator light indicates that the coffee machine is in descaling mode.
Position the machine so that it heats the liquid. Hot water will flow into the container for about 2 minutes. Return the lever to its initial position, i.e. in the centre.
The operation you just performed is to be redone but in the opposite direction this time for an effective descaling. To do this, position the device to produce a cold liquid, orienting the lever to the left. Press the button again before waiting for about 2 minutes.
Step 3: rinsing
Then comes the time to rinse the device. Detach the capsule container (or remove the bowl) before throwing out the contents. Recharge the tap water tank before repositioning it on the device.
Repeat the process you just performed, programming the machine to produce hot water and then cold water. A red light indicates that the operation is complete. It turns green when the machine has to be turned off. The final step is to rinse the tank thoroughly with clean water.
Descaling of Dolce Gusto with vinegar or lemon
Vinegar ( white vinegar or alcohol vinegar ) and lemon are effective products for descaling your Dolce Gusto coffee machine. Their acidity will overcome the lime deposits on the walls of the device.
First, prepare a mixture of 50% water and 50% vinegar or pure lemon juice. Pour it into the tank of your machine before switching it on and setting it in “hot drink” mode. You can program two turns with the same mixture in case your device is really very scaled.
Then rinse the tank with tap water then fill it with water and make one or two turns with this water to perfect the descaling, but also to remove any trace of acid taste which could alter the flavour of your coffee.
Finally, it should be noted that the use of vinegar tends to damage the seals of your Dolce Gusto coffee machine and can cause leaks or malfunctions. Although effective, it is, therefore, more advantageous to use a special kit to extend the life of your device.
Descaling Dolce Gusto with baking soda
This alternative is intended for those who prefer natural products rather than chemicals for the descaling of Dolce Gusto. The result remains just as satisfactory and the baking soda will effectively remove the tartar that has deposited on the walls of your coffee machine.
This product will reduce the calcium level of the water knowing that it does not in any way alter the taste of the drinks after descaling.
The operation itself is very simple. Pour 2 teaspoons of baking soda into 1 L of tap water. Pour this mixture into the tank of your Dolce Gusto before activating the device. Repeat this operation 3 times with pure tap water this time to rinse the compartment having received the solution for optimal descaling.
When and how often to descale a Dolce Gusto?
The right time for descaling: indicators to take into account
There are signs that tell you that your Dolce Gusto coffee machine needs descaling:
Continuous activation of the orange indicator light: it is generally located at the “on / off” button;
The dysfunction at the level of the water flow: this operation becomes slow or it no longer presents itself in the same way as during its first uses.
This problem can also result in the release of steam and water droplets.
The frequency of use of the device and the state of the water: precious parameters
The frequency of use of a Dolce Gusto affects the rate of descaling. As well as the nature of the water in your region or more precisely the limestone content. Once every three months is suitable for a device used daily. You can do this more often if the water in your area is particularly hard.
On the other hand, descale your skills once a year if you are used to running tap water in a filter carafe before using it in the coffee machine. The content is thus less rich in limestone.
What are the constraints for descaling your Dolce Gusto coffee machine?
The choice of descaling product
It is strongly recommended to use a descaling product which has been specially formulated to treat a Dolce Gusto coffee machine. We also talk about softener or decalcifier. In all cases, the descaler is in liquid form.
Note that it is possible to opt for a product which is not specifically intended for Dolce Gusto models, but which has been designed to descale electric coffee makers. In this case, it is recommended to read the recommendations carefully and read user reviews to be sure to make the right choice.
An expense to be expected
You will pay a certain amount for the purchase of a descaler. The latter is generally in the form of a kit comprising two bottles of liquids to be diluted.
Obviously, you can turn to vinegar and / or baking soda which are much more economical, but which have significant drawbacks. The first proves to be too aggressive while the second can prove to be inevitable on recalcitrant tartar.
The ideal is to invest in a specific descaler which is very effective and which assures you optimal and durable use of your Dolce Gusto.
Conclusion
Descaling a coffee maker is vital and should be considered a routine operation at a Dolce Gusto. This process is simple and effective if you do it right. Finally, it is a good idea to carry out this operation before contacting the after-sales service in case your machine has any problems.
source https://www.tbestcoffeemakers.com/3-techniques-to-effectively-descale-a-dolce-gusto/
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