Descaling a coffee machine is the process of removing mineral buildup, such as limescale, that accumulates in the machine from the minerals in the water. Descaling is necessary to keep the machine in good working order and to improve its efficiency. Daily cleaning is also important to remove coffee splashes, oils, and other residues that can be easily removed with a quick rinse or soapy water. Descaling can be done using vinegar or specialized descaling tablets. Descaling tablets are engineered to remove the toughest scale buildup from hot water tanks and coffee machine components without damaging the equipment. The frequency of descaling depends on the hardness of the water in your region and how often you use the machine. In general, you should descale your coffee machine about once a month if you brew coffee daily. Here are the steps to descale a coffee machine using vinegar:

1. Fill the reservoir with a solution consisting of half water and half white distilled vinegar.
2. Run a brew or cleaning cycle.
3. Empty the carafe and run 2-3 more brew cycles with fresh, cool water.
4. Wash the carafe and brew basket with hot, soapy water and rinse thoroughly.

If youre using a descaling powder, always follow the specific instructions on your product, as they may differ. Generally-speaking, first dissolve the cleaning powder into a liter of water, then pour the solution into the water reservoir. Run a brew cycle, then rinse the machine by running two more cycles with fresh water.