Coffee maker cleaners and descalers can be designed for a specific machine or work in different setups, but each has an individual purpose. “While cleaning is done for the elimination of rancid substances, the aim of descaling is the removal of mineral build up in the machine,” says Maria Isabel Angela, spokesperson for Mr. Coffee. To effectively remove pesky mineral deposits, a descaler usually falls “on the acid side of the PH scale,” says Brandon Pleshek, member of The Spruce’s Cleaning and Organizing Review Board. According to Pleshek, cleaning your coffee maker should be done roughly once per month, and “descaling is done as needed, depending on how hard your water is.” Pleshek also notes that a descaler is “usually a much stronger acid and takes time to properly rinse your coffee maker.” With that in mind, he “would suggest only descaling when needed.” Most of the below options are descalers that tackle mineral build-up, and our top pick, the Impresa Coffee Machine Descaler, works on just about every coffee maker and machine out there. It’s effective on hard water build-up and mineral deposits and easy to use, so you can get back to your morning rituals sooner. You should still run a cycle or two of plain water before brewing your coffee, though, which is standard amongst both cleaning and descaling products. Here are the best coffee maker cleaners and descalers to ensure that your coffee tastes fresh, and your machine lasts for a long time. To run the solution through the machine, you’ll pour it into the water reservoir and dilute it with water. The exact solution-to-water measurements aren’t included, which might be tricky if you have a machine with a smaller or larger-than-normal water reservoir. Just make sure you run a full tank of clean water at least two times through before you make coffee after descaling. Notably, this solution is very effective on hard water build-up, including limescale and other mineral deposits, though. And while the potent formula (which contains citric acid and sulfamic acid) is effective, it is also straightforward to use. Price at time of publish: $14 The bottle holds 8 ounces of solution, but you can measure in 1-ounce increments using the markings on the back and only use as much as you need. Just note: if you have a 12-cup coffee pot, you’ll use 6 ounces of solution per cleaning, which will leave you with 2 ounces that you can’t use or the need to purchase more bottles. If you like this descaler, that isn’t a problem, but you may need more storage space to keep a couple of bottles on hand. Price at time of publish: $5 This is a more eco-friendly option that doesn’t contain phosphates, is biodegradable, and uses plant- and mineral-based ingredients to get rid of limescale and other build-up. It dissolves completely when mixed with 32 ounces of warm water, so you don’t need to worry about any powder getting left behind in your machine. You should still run a cycle or two of plain water before brewing your coffee, though. Price at time of publish: $12 These tablets are formulated for descaling, so it’s a good idea to add another cleaning product to your shopping cart. They are individually wrapped and easy to store, however, as long as you have a compatible machine. They do work with single-cup machines, as well as larger drip coffee pots, but they aren’t formulated for use with espresso machines. Price at time of publish: $9 Each cleaning uses half of the bottle. Pour it into the reservoir, fill the remaining amount with water, and run the largest cycle you can. Throw out any unused diluted solution, and then run three water-only cycles to rinse the system. Depending on the size of the reservoir, this means that your cleaning solution may be more or less diluted. If it is less diluted, you may want to run additional rinse cycles to make sure that it is all out of the machine before you make coffee. This pick is very similar to our best overall option, and it primarily differs in that it requires one or two extra water-only cycles during the cleaning process. Price at time of publish: $14 Because Keurigs have complex interior systems and small places to hold K cups, it’s important to take the extra steps needed to really deep clean the interior and water tank. That will require washing the removable components and cleaning the exterior of the machine. You might need to use a sponge or cloth to get into every nook and cranny. These are pricey, compared to a similar solution, powder, or tablet option, but they are so easy to use and made specifically for Keurigs to get into all of the areas you can and can’t see. They remove stains and old coffee residue but do not descale the machine. For that, consider the Keurig cleaning and descaling kit from Caffenu that includes these pods, as well as a descaling solution. Price at time of publish: $12 The descaling solution is potent and may cause damage to your countertops; however, this is especially true of natural stone and unsealed countertops. Make sure to wipe up any drips quickly, and consider putting down a protective barrier as an extra precaution. It may be a good idea to wear gloves to protect your skin in case of any spills, as well. Price at time of publish: $15 Keep in mind that this is a descaler rather than a cleaner, so it targets limescale and other hard water build-up. It isn’t as effective on organic residue, such as old coffee grounds and burnt-on coffee. Depending on how hard your water is, you should plan on using this descaler every one to three months. Price at time of publish: $12
Type and Application Method
Many coffee maker cleaners and descalers come in a liquid solution. To use, you just need to pour the designated amount, and dilute it with water. Then run, typically, between one and four cycles in your coffee maker, as well as additional rinse cycles. The number of cycles will depend on what your individual product calls for, so you should always read the instructions on the packaging and follow them thoroughly. The Essential Values Coffee Maker Descaler is a versatile liquid option, making it our “best solution” pick. Powders are similar and are put into the water reservoir along with warm water, which dissolves them. The Urnex Biocaf Descaling Powder is worthy of consideration if you’re looking for a powder to remove mineral deposits from your coffee maker. Tablets, such as the Affresh Coffee Maker Cleaner Tablets, are the same as powder, but can be even easier to store.
Coffee Maker Compatibility
Some cleaners and descalers are made for specific types (or brands) of machines. Keurig-compatible pods, like the Caffenu Safe Clean Keurig Cleaning Pods, are the most common machine-specific cleaners, but they can’t be used for traditional brew coffee makers or espresso machines. On the other hand, liquid solutions can often be used for single-serve machines, drip coffee makers, and espresso machines. Just make sure to pay close attention to the amount needed, since that can vary, depending on the size of the bottle.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written by Katie Melynn, a freelance writer who specializes in home and family products. Katie has been writing for The Spruce since 2019. An enthusiastic coffee drinker, Katie has tested out most of the cleaners on this list in her own home. She talked to Maria Isable Angela, a spokesperson for the well-known coffee maker brand Mr. Coffee, about when to clean and descale your coffee maker. Brandon Pleshek, a third-generation janitor and founder of Clean That Up!, also offered insights into the differences between coffee maker cleaners and descalers, and how often to use them. If you have other problems resulting from hard water in your home, you may want to consider installing a water softener system. Water softeners can reduce the mineral content in your water before it enters your plumbing, appliances, and fixtures. “Your coffee will begin to taste bitter. Your coffee and coffee machine will produce an acrid smell,” says Angela. “Coffee residue can cause clogging and blockages that can render a machine unusable.” Pleshek adds, “Cleaning and descaling can seriously make your coffee taste so much better when done correctly,” additionally noting, “I also like to always suggest thoroughly rinsing your machines, you don’t want to leave any cleaner or descaler behind.” It is still a good idea to descale your coffee pot periodically. Vinegar can’t always break down mineral deposits that form, especially if you have hard water. If you try vinegar and still experience the same signs that your coffee pot needs to be deep cleaned or descaled, it may be time to try something stronger.
