Delonghi Guides, Descaling Guides
How To Descale Your Delonghi La Specialista Machine (3 Simple Steps)
Your Delonghi La Specialista delivers high-quality drinks at the touch of a button. To enjoy its full potential, you need to maintain it. One of the best ways to do that is by descaling it regularly. This vital step removes mineral deposits that can affect its performance and taste.
To descale your machine:
- Remove the filter handle, portafilter, and water filter.
- Empty and wash the water tank.
- Pour the descaler into the tank and fill the tank with fresh water to level “B”.
- Reattach the tank to the machine.
- Turn the dial to the far right.
- Place a container under the spouts and press “OK.”
- When the water tank light turns on, remove, empty, and rinse the container and water tank.
- Fill the tank with fresh water to the max line, and reattach it to the machine.
- Return the container under the spouts and press “RINSE”.
- When the water tank light turns a solid red, remove and rinse the container.
- Empty, and thoroughly rinse the drip tray and water tank.
In this blog, we will share with you simple descaling steps to ensure your machine stays in tip-top shape.
Not the right machine for you? Check out our other descaling guides for Delonghi coffee machines below:
Why Listen To Us? Well, because we KNOW coffee! In fact, we make our own coffee, coffee machine cleaners, and reusable capsules which we've sold to over 41 countries. Our team ouf experts include Tristan (an engineer), Claire (a food writer) and Richy (a barista). So, whether you're looking for a recipe or repair guide, we've got you covered 💚
Table of Contents
What is Descaling
Each time you brew coffee, minerals in your water accumulate on the heating element and form what is called scale or limescale. Descaling is the process of running a descaler through your machine to remove the build-up.
Why Descale Your Delonghi La Specialista Coffee Machine
Scale can clog the water pipes, reduce the water flow, and lower the brewing temperature. The substance not only damages the machine from within, leading to malfunctions and costly repair, but I’ve noticed that my Delonghi produces bitter or sometimes salty java. After descaling, I was able to enjoy a tasty coffee.
Descaling is also beneficial for your well-being. Bacteria thrive in the moist and warm environment of your coffee maker, like the water reservoir, filter basket, and drip tray. These microorganisms can contaminate your brew and cause infections, allergies, and respiratory problems.
How Often Do You Need to Descale Your Delonghi La Specialista Coffee Machine
Delonghi recommends you descale your machine every 3-6 months. The frequency will depend on the hardness of your water and how often you brew coffee. The harder your water, the more times you should descale. And if you consume several cups of coffee a day, you might have to maintain it every second month. Scale can go unnoticed for several months. If you’re uncertain when your machine is due for maintenance, the descale light will turn red to let you know.
Also, clean the removable parts after every use or weekly. This will remove coffee stains around the machine, brews that might spill into your drip tray, or debris lingering in any crevices. The table below breaks down the cleaning frequency of each component.
| Part | Cleaning Frequency |
| The drip tray | Every day |
| Cup tray | After every use |
| Espresso cup grille | Every day |
| Coffee filters | After every use |
| Bean container | Every 2-3 weeks |
| Coffee grinder burrs | Every 2-3 weeks |
| Coffee grinder outlet | Every 200 coffees |
| Boiler outlet | After 200 coffees |
| Water tank | Weekly |
| Cappuccino maker | After every use |
| Infuser | Once a month |
How Long Does The Descaling Process Take?
You will need approximately an hour to descale your Delonghi La Specialista machine.
What You Will Need
To start descaling, you’ll need a descaler. The product will eliminate limescale so you can go back to enjoying a delicious cup of coffee. There are various options on the market, but some may be abrasive and corrode the internal components of your machine. If you find Delonghi’s descaler quite pricey, we recommend this environmentally-friendly descaling powder which gives you a year’s worth of descaling powder for only $20!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Descaling Solution
- Clean water
- A container (large enough to capture the spent solution)
A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Descale Your Delonghi La Specialista Coffee Machine
Follow these 3 simple steps to descale your machine.
Preparation
- Remove the filter handle, portafilter, and water filter.
- Remove, empty, and wash the water tank.
- Pour the descaler into the tank and fill the tank with fresh water to level “B”.
- Reattach the tank to the machine.
Descale cycle
- Turn the dial to the far end right.
- Place the container under all the spouts and press “OK.”
- When the water tank light turns on, remove, empty, and rinse the container and water tank.
Rinse cycle
- Fill the tank with fresh water to the max line and reattach it to the machine
- Return the container under the water sprouts and press “RINSE”.
- When the water tank light turns a solid red, remove and rinse the container.
- Empty, and thoroughly rinse the drip tray and water tank.
- Refill the water tank and reinsert it into the machine and reattach the drip tray.
Download: Get a copy of our descaling cheatsheet below.
For a visual guide of the entire process, check out this YouTube video by Delonghi on how to descale your machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do you use the descaler on a Delonghi La Specialista?
1. Remove the filter handle, portafilter, and water filter.
2. Empty and wash the water tank.
3. Pour the descaler into the tank and fill the tank with fresh water to level “B”.
4. Reattach the tank to the machine.
5. Turn the dial to the far right.
6. Place a container under the spouts and press “OK.”
7. When the water tank light turns on, remove, empty, and rinse the container and water tank.
8. Fill the tank with fresh water to the max line, and reattach it to the machine.
9. Return the container under the spouts and press “RINSE”.
10. When the water tank light turns a solid red, remove and rinse the container.
11. Empty, and thoroughly rinse the drip tray and water tank.
Q. How long does Delonghi La Specialista take to descale?
It takes approximately an hour to descale the Delonghi La Specialista.
Q. Can I use vinegar to descale Delonghi?
You can use vinegar to descale a Delonghi coffee maker but we don’t recommend it. Vinegar is corrosive and can damage the internal parts of the machine, voiding its warranty. If you do decide to use vinegar, opt for white vinegar.
Q. What’s in a Delonghi descaler?
Delonghi’s descaler is made of 100% lactic acid. It’s biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
Q. Do you have to use Delonghi descaler?
You don’t have to use Delonghi descaler. There are many other effective descaling solutions available on the market. One alternative we recommend is this Eco Descaler. It’s an eco-friendly and easy-to-use descaling powder suitable for all coffee machines. It’s also food safe, so you can be confident it won’t harm your machine.
Q. How much water do I put in my Delonghi descaler?
You put enough water in your Delonghi descaler to reach level B. This is about a liter of water for every 100 ml of descaler.
Final Thoughts And Recommendations
Descaling your Delonghi La Specialista machine is essential for its longevity and quality of the coffee you brew.
This will improve the water flow, the brewing temperature, the flavor, and the aroma of your coffee. It will also prevent damage to the heating element and other components of your machine, saving you money on repairs. We recommend you descale your machine at least once every 3-6 months, depending on the hardness of your water and the frequency of use.
You can use any brand of descaling product in your Specialista machine, as long as you dilute it with the correct amount of water to the manufacturer’s instructions.
We recommend using this Green Pods Eco Descaler. It comes with 4 sachets (1 year’s supply) which are perfectly portioned. It’s environmentally friendly, and it’s also more cost-effective than the name-brand Keurig Descalers.
You can get it from Amazon here.
- ✔️ ENJOY BETTER TASTING COFFEE: Infrequent descaling is the #1 reason your coffee is tasting bad. Descale and you’ll taste the difference.
- ✔️ SAFE FOR YOU AND YOUR MACHINE: Our Eco Descaler is safe for all machine parts. It leaves no harmful residues and does not cause corrosion within the coffee machine.
- ✔️ WORKS ON ALL COFFEE MACHINES: Designed and tested on all leading coffee machines including Nespresso, Keurig, Dolce Gusto, Caffitaly, Breville, Delonghi, and more.
Let us know in the comments below if this helped an what tips and tricks you have to keep your delonghi magnifica clean and fresh.
