Descale Senseo coffee machine


A Senseo coffee machine has to be decalcified from time to time to make it run smoothly. Your coffee maker actually reports when necessary. You'll also learn how to decalcify your coffee maker and how to descale your Senseo coffee machine step-by-step below.

When does it have to be descaled?

The Senseo coffee machines are equipped with a lamp that lights up red when it is necessary to descale the coffee maker. This lamp is usually labeled with "CALC". The Senseo coffee maker is set to automatically indicate after 400 cups that it has to be descaled. That is, depending on how high your coffee consumption is, this will be all three (with four to five cups of coffee a day) to six months (with one to two cups of coffee a day) will be necessary. But there are other signs that the coffee maker needs to be descaled:

  • The coffee cups are only half full
  • The coffee machine makes a lot of noise when brewing coffee
  • The coffee does not have a delicious crema on top

These phenomena may be due to your Senseo coffee maker becoming calcified. It may happen that your machine calcifies when it has less than 400 cups of coffee, if e.g. Their tap water is very hard, so it contains a high amount of lime.

Home remedies instead of expensive descaler product?

The manufacturer advises against home remedies as descaling agents, as this can attack the hoses. However, Senseo's descaling product is pure citric acid, as indicated on the ingredient display on the package. So why not resort to traditional citric acid or vinegar essence? However, experts in chemistry tend to discourage the use of citric acid, as calcium citrate, which forms during decalcification with heated citric acid, can be found in the machine just like lime. Therefore, you should try it with a citric acid-free descaler, vinegar or baking soda.

Instructions for descale a Senseo coffee machine

1. Prepare solution

First put on your decalcifier mixture. If you have decided on a commercial descaler, follow the instructions on the box. For vinegar essence, use one-third vinegar essence to two-thirds water. In both cases, stir the mixture well.

2. Prepare

Place your descaler mixture in the water tank of your Senseo coffee machine (to the maximum) and place it in accordance with regulations.

Then place a container under the coffee spout that holds at least one liter of water.
Insert a used pad into the device. The pad is used to catch limescale, so they do not get into the nozzles.

3. Descaling

Now turn on your Senseo coffee machine and press the button for one and two cups of coffee at the same time. This activates the cleaning mode. If that does not work, press the button for two cups of coffee until all the water in the tank is used up.

4. Repeat?

Senseo advises to repeat the descaling process. Whether that is really necessary is debatable. If you want to play it safe, try a second solution and try again.

5. Rinse

Then fill your tank with clear tap water and repeat the process, this time without descaler. Repeat this "empty passage" at least twice, often more often, to make sure that there are no more acid residues in the machine and that the taste of the coffee is not affected by the descaler.

Descale Senseo coffee machine

FAQ - 💬

❓ How do you descale a Senseo coffee machine?

👉 Start the rinsing cycle

  1. Replace the 2-cup pod holder with an empty 1-cup pod holder. Close the lid and make sure it is properly locked.
  2. Rinse the water tank under the tap.
  3. Fill the water tank with fresh water to the maximum indication.
  4. Place an empty jug under the coffee spout.
  5. Press the 2-cup button to start rinsing.

❓ Can I use vinegar to descale SENSEO?

👉 Note: Do not use white vinegar, mineral acids such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfamic acid and acetic acid to descale your SENSEO. Using these cleaning products will damage your SENSEO coffee machine.

❓ What can you use instead of descaling solution?

👉 Which home remedies are suitable for descaling?

  • citric acid. One of the most popular means of descaling is citric acid. ...
  • acetic acid. Acetic acid works effectively, the concentrated vinegar essence is even stronger. ...
  • baking powder. ...
  • Denture cleaner or aspirin. ...
  • cola. ...
  • Baking soda. ...
  • Amidosulfonic acid.

❓ Can I use vinegar to descale my coffee machine?

👉 Tetro says you can descale a coffee maker by running a brew cycle with one part water to one part vinegar. As long as you're deep-cleaning with vinegar or a store-bought descaling solution at least once a month, you'll be able to keep the germs, mineral deposits, and mold away.

❓ How do you descale?

👉 0:222:01How To Descale Your Keurig® Brewer

❓ How much citric acid is needed to descale?

👉 A popular citric acid descaler recipe has a citric acid descaling ratio of one quart of water to two tablespoons of citric acid.

❓ Is descaling solution better than vinegar?

👉 Both vinegar and descaling solutions work equally well when it comes to descaling. Some people say that the white vinegar leaves a lingering taste, but many also tout it as the ideal method to clear away limescale. Some manufacturers, like Mr. Coffee, solely recommend white vinegar to clean their machines.

❓ What is a good natural descaler?

👉 Two of the most effective substances are lemon juice and ordinary vinegar. Lemon juice is usually the best (and will also leave a lovely smell behind). Stronger pickling vinegar and lime juice are both even more acidic and can be used for really stubborn deposits.

❓ How do you clean a Senseo coffee maker with vinegar?

👉 How to remove scale from your Senseo coffee maker

  1. Fill the tank with white wine vinegar. ...
  2. Leave the vinegar for about 5 minutes in the tank to descale it.
  3. Switch on your coffee maker. ...
  4. Do the same again with pure water. ...
  5. If your coffee maker still does not work.

❓ How do I make my own descaling solution?

👉 The white vinegar solution that is often used for descaling purposes in coffee makers is the following:

  1. Fill half of your maker's water reservoir with water.
  2. Add white vinegar until you fill the entire tank. It's basically a 50/50 solution.
  3. Stir and start your decalcifying cycle.

❓ How do you make a descaling solution?

👉 Mix 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of citric acid in a quart (1 liter) of warm water. Stir to dissolve the powder in the water. Add the solution to the water tank and start descaling according to the instructions, provided by your machine's manufacturer (usually available in its booklet).

❓ How do I descale my Senseo® coffee machine?

👉 If you have a SENSEO® Coffee Machine with a smaller water tank of 1 Liter, add the rest of the descaling mixture to the water tank until all descaling mixture is used. The first descaling cycle is now finished, continue with the second descaling cycle.

❓ Can you clean a Senseo coffee maker with vinegar?

👉 Although white vinegar is a cleaner of choice in traditional coffee machines, it is less optimal with the Senseo due to its steam technology. Additionally, Phillips warns that it may damage parts of your machine.

❓ How do I descale my Nespresso machine?

👉 Close the lid and make sure it is properly locked Place an empty jug under the coffee spout to collect the descaling mixture Press the 2-cup button and let it run. Repeat this until the water tank is empty

❓ What is the Senseo coffee machine by Phillips?

👉 The Senseo coffee machine by Phillips brews coffee in pods rather than with the old-fashioned filter, basket and grounds. As it brews differently, so too does it require a specialized cleaning method according to the manufacturer.


Video Board: How to descale your Senseo® Original Coffee pod machine | Philips | HD7833