You asked for it and here it is!

We now stock the Cafetto Pod Machine Descaling powder. It comes in 25 gram sachets and should be used with approximately 1 litre of water. The video above will take you through how to use it with your machine. Some machines have different settings and you may need to refer to your machine’s instructions for further details.

How to use the Cafetto descaler?

• First you want to check that you machine has no pod in the slot and that the pod tray is empty
• Open the Cafetto sachet and pour it into the Nespresso machine's water tank
• Fill the water tank with approximately 1L of water (different machine models have different sized tanks)
• Put a jug or container where you would usually put your coffee mug to collect the water
• Run the empty machine to allow the diluted descaling solution flow through the machine. You can do this by repeatedly pressing the long shot button or using the machines descaling mode (check your machines manual for information regarding this)
• You will notice the water will be discoloured. This is from all of the coffee residue in your machine
• Extract all of the water until the tank is empty
• Fill the tank with clean water and repeat the process of extracting the water through the machine into a jug. This will rinse the machine so that there is no descaling powder residue left
• Once the machine has been rinsed it is ready to use again

Why should you descale your machine?

Coffee grounds are messy and small and, even though they are compact in our pods, some can leak from the pod into the front of your machine after extraction. Calcium can also build up in the machine and cause issues.

Pre-flushing

We have asked and found that many customers don’t pre-flush their machine when making a coffee. Pre-flushing is a commonly mandatory task in cafes when making coffee and coffee pod machines should be no different. Pre-flushing your machine will flush any coffee grind residue from previous coffees, as well as any old water. This will improve the taste and temperate of your coffee.

So next time you are making a coffee, run a short or long shot with no pod in the machine before using a pod and see if it improves your coffee experience. This will also reduce how often you need to descale.

Water Quality

The quality of the water you use in your machine can affect not only the taste of your coffee but also the life span of your machine. Depending on where in Australia you live, the quality of your tap water will vary, and you may have hard or soft water. Hard water has a high mineral content which makes its pH level higher, whereas soft water is lower in mineral content. The harder the water, the more calcium carbonate. Calcium can build up in your machine and cause issues which makes descaling even more important. As hard water has a higher pH level, the taste of your coffee can also be affected.

If possible, we recommend you use filtered or mineral water with your coffee pod machine as it will improve the taste of the coffee and help prevent calcium build up. This will also reduce how often you need to descale.

When should I descale?

Ideally, your machine should be descaled every few months (2-3 months) but it depends on how often the machine is used and also the quality of the water used. If you descale regularly, your machine should retain its pump pressure and also reduce the amount of water that goes into your drip tray. 

Descaling your machine regularly will help it function efficiently, make your coffee taste better, and extend your machine's lifespan.

Have any questions?

Check out our FAQ's, send us an email at hello@expresspods.com.au or call us on 1800 370 656. We’re happy to help!

Enjoy!

Toby Strong

Founder & Happiness Hero