To descale a drip coffee maker, fill the reservoir with equal parts white vinegar and water or a descaling solution made for coffee makers, run about half the cycle, let it sit for 30 minutes, then finish the cycle. Run two or three full cycles of plain water afterward until there is no smell. Always check your maker's manual first, because some brands recommend a specific descaler.
Why does a drip coffee maker need descaling?
Hot water leaves mineral deposits behind, called scale, wherever it heats and flows. Over time scale can slow the brew and leave the machine running longer than it used to. How often you need to descale depends on how hard your water is and how much you brew. Many makers also have a light or a reminder, and the manual usually gives a schedule. If your local water report lists hardness, that tells you more than any general rule, and your city utility usually publishes one.
What do you need?
We keep this by category, not by brand, because every maker is a little different.
| Type of descaler | How it is used | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White vinegar | Mix with water, equal parts | Cheap and easy to find. Needs more rinse cycles afterward. |
| Citric acid solution | Dissolve in water as the package says | Often has less smell than vinegar. |
| Descaler made for coffee makers | Follow the bottle | Some makers specify one in the manual. Use that one if so. |
You also need a clean carafe, a paper filter in the basket (some people use one to catch loose bits) and fresh water for the rinse cycles.
How do you descale step by step?
- Empty the carafe and the filter basket. Remove any used grounds.
- Fill the reservoir with your descaling mix. For vinegar, use equal parts vinegar and water, filled to the maker's maximum line.
- Place the carafe and start a brew cycle.
- When about half the solution has run through, turn the maker off. Leave it to sit for 30 minutes.
- Turn it back on and let the rest of the solution run through.
- Pour out the carafe. Wash the carafe and the basket with dish soap and water.
- Fill the reservoir with fresh water and run a full cycle. Repeat two or three times, until the water smells and tastes like plain water.
If your maker has a descale mode, use it instead of steps 3 to 5 and follow the manual.
What are the common mistakes?
- Skipping the rinse cycles. Vinegar leaves a smell and taste. Run plain water until it is gone, then brew a first pot and taste it before you serve anyone.
- Ignoring the manual. Some makers name a specific descaler or a descale mode. Follow it.
- Leaving the carafe out. Wash the carafe and basket separately with dish soap. A descale cycle does not clean them.
- Descaling with coffee in the basket. Take out the grounds first, so the solution does not run through them.
How do you slow scale down?
Scale builds from minerals in the water, so the water you use matters. If your tap water is hard, filtered water will build scale more slowly, though it will not stop it. Emptying the reservoir after you finish brewing, and leaving the lid open so it dries, also helps. Your city water report is the best place to check how hard your water is, and many of them are posted on the utility's website.
What if it still brews slowly?
A second round is reasonable if the first one did not help, particularly if you have never descaled before. If it is still slow after that, the cause may be something else, such as a clogged basket or a worn part, and the manufacturer is the right person to ask. We are a coffee company, not a repair shop, and we would rather say so than guess.
What should you brew first afterward?
A clean maker shows you what your coffee actually tastes like, so pick something you know. Our pick is No. 1 Common Sense, which the label says is the cup you make every morning without thinking about it. It is a medium roast from Huila and Medellin-Antioquia in Colombia, with notes of cocoa, red apple and brown sugar. The label says to brew it in drip or French press at 60 g per litre with water just off the boil, and that it takes milk without falling apart.
If you want to know which of our coffees suits a drip maker more broadly, read best coffee for a drip coffee maker. For measuring, see how much coffee for a 4 cup coffee maker. If a bitter or sour cup is what made you descale in the first place, why does my coffee taste bitter and why does my coffee taste sour cover the other causes.
Our pick
No. 1 Common Sense
Huila and Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia · 1,300 to 1,500 m · Fully washed, solar dried · Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, Typica · Medium roast
Notes of cocoa, red apple and brown sugar make it an easy first cup from a freshly cleaned drip maker.
Every coffee is $28 for 12 oz, whole bean or ground, with free shipping in the US. See all ten coffees, or set up a subscription (11% off, skip or cancel in one click) so the bag arrives before the last one runs out.
Rinse well, brew something familiar, and you will know in one cup whether it worked.
Questions people ask
How often should you descale a drip coffee maker?
It depends on how hard your water is and how often you brew. Check your maker's manual for its schedule, and your city water report for hardness. A slower brew than usual is a sign it is due.
Can you descale a coffee maker with vinegar?
Yes, many people use equal parts white vinegar and water, then rinse with plain water two or three times. Check your manual first, since some makers recommend a specific descaler.
How long does it take to descale a drip coffee maker?
About an hour in total, including the 30 minute rest in the middle and two or three rinse cycles at the end.
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