How To Descale Nespresso Vertuo: Make Your Life Easier

Regarding coffee machine convenience, it doesn’t get much better than Nespresso. Insert a pod, press a button, and have a delicious espresso in under a minute. But proper maintenance, especially descaling, is crucial for your machine to run smoothly.

If you don’t descale often enough, your machine will build up minerals and lose pressure. This negatively affects the temperature and taste of your coffee. Here’s a Nespresso Vertuo descaling step-by-step guide, so you always have great coffee.

How to Descale Nespresso Vertuo Machine

Nespresso Vertuo is the base model in the Nespresso VertuoLine range of machines. It was introduced in 2014, and it’s a fan favourite. Here are detailed Nespresso descaling instructions for this Nespresso Vertuo model.

1. Empty the Capsule Container and the Drip Tray

You need to empty the machine before you start descaling. Open the machine head by pushing the lever upwards. Once the capsule is ejected, close the machine head by pushing the lever down. Leave it unlocked, then empty the used capsule container.

2. Add the Nespresso Descaling Solution

Next, it’s time to prepare the descaling solution. Fill the water tank with 500 ml of water, and add the descaler. You can use Nespresso descaling liquid or another descaler of your choice.

You need a descaling solution to get rid of limescale. Limescale can block machine parts, prevent optimal water heating, and damage metallic surfaces (1).

Follow the instructions on your solution and add the solution to the correct concentration, depending on which one you’re using. Usually, you need one bottle of the solution for 500 ml of water to clean the water tank and the machine’s insides.

Finally, don’t forget to put a container under the machine’s liquid output. Make sure the container is large enough to catch the water as you rinse the machine.

3. Put the Machine Into Descaling Mode

Once you’ve done all the prep, turn the machine on and put it into descaling mode. Push on the button to turn on your Vertuo coffee maker. The button will blink for about 15 seconds during the preheating phase. Once the light stops flashing, hold the button for at least seven seconds until the button starts flashing quickly.

The quick flashing light means your Vertuo coffee machine is entering the descaling process, and you have 45 seconds for the next steps. Turn the lever toward the left (towards the lock symbol) and then to the right (the unlock position). Hold the button again for another seven seconds in the unlocked position. Finally, lock the lever left to lock the machine. This will start the descaling.

Once the light starts flashing, the coffee maker will dispense the solution in short bursts. Let the solution flow through the machine. When all the liquid from the water tank has been dispensed, the Nespresso Vertuo will become silent and go off. This means the descaling cycle is done.

Note: You can’t exit descaling mode once you enter it without first completing the descaling process. Even if you remove the plug during the descaling mode, the machine will enter it again once you plug it back in.

4. Rinse the Machine

The descaling cycle isn’t quite over when the machine stops running. You need to ensure there aren’t any leftover chemicals in the machine mechanisms, or you risk having descaling solution in your coffee. Now it’s time to run a cleaning cycle using fresh water.

Empty out the container used to catch the descaler and place it back under the spout. Empty and rinse the water tank, refill it about two-thirds of the way with fresh water, and put it back in the machine. Push the button on the machine once to start the cleaning cycle.

Same as with the descaling cycle, the machine will go quiet once the water tank is empty. Remove the container and discard the water.

5. Exit the Descaling Cycle

Now that the inside of the machine is clean and free of minerals and chemicals, it’s time to exit the descaling cycle. You need to reset the machine, so it enters the brewing mode again. Press and hold the button until the flashing light turns steady. Once again, you do this by holding the button for at least seven seconds.

Let the machine dry for 10 minutes before you use it. Use this time to clean Nespresso Vertuo. Empty and rinse the drip tray and the capsule container with warm water. You can use soap, but it’s not obligatory.

Finally, you should clean the Nespresso Vertuo. Wipe the outside of the Nespresso machine with a damp cloth and refill the water tank. Once the ten minutes are up, you can make coffee as usual.

Note: The steps above describe how to descale a Nespresso Vertuo, Vertuo Next, and Evoluo Nespresso VertuoLine machine. The Nespresso VertuoPlus descaling instructions are somewhat different, and it’s best to check the user manual to learn how this Nespresso works. Overall, Nespresso has a unique process to enter a descaling mode that’s different from descaling a Keurig and other pod brands.

Final Thoughts

Descaling Nespresso Vertuo is a reasonably straightforward process. You need a descaler and know how to enter descaling mode on your Nespresso machine. Fill the water container, press the button until the orange light flashes rapidly, and turn the lever to lock mode. The machine will descale independently — all you need to do is wait.

Don’t forget to run a rinsing cycle and wash all the removable parts, and you’ll have a perfect cup of coffee with every pod.