Descaling is a simple process that we often neglect (I’m guilty of it too). When you brew coffee while there’s mineral build-up within your machine, you might have noticed how bland or bitter your java tastes. Sometimes, the machine takes longer to brew, which makes the water work harder to heat up and leads to higher energy bills. To descale your machine:
- Remove the water filter.
- Empty and remove the water tank and pour the descaler.
- Add water to level “B”.
- Place a container under the water spout.
- Press and hold the flashing descale button until it illuminates red. Turn the steam dial to the left to start descaling.
- When the water light goes on, turn the dial to the right.
- Remove, empty, and rinse the tank and container.
- Fill the tank with clean water to the max line.
- Place the container under the water spout and then turn the dial to the left.
- When the water light turns a solid red, descaling is complete.
In this post, I will guide you through easy steps to descale your Delonghi Magnifica machine so you can enjoy fantastic-tasting coffee and enhance the longevity of your coffee maker.
Not the right machine for you? Check out our other descaling guides for Delonghi coffee machines below:
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Table of Contents
What is Descaling?
Descaling is the process of removing mineral buildup, also called scale or limescale, that accumulates on the heating element and other components of your machine. Why does scale happen in the first place? Hard water is usually the culprit. It contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which tend to coat the heating element and prevent it from transferring heat to water. The scale can also interact with your water and transfer off flavors to your java.
Why Descale Your Delonghi Magnifica
Scale can affect your coffee’s taste and even clog the machine. I’ve noticed the deposits alter the flavor of my coffee, making it bland, weak, bitter, or sometimes salty! Also, because the machine is not performing at its optimum, it takes longer to brew or produces cold coffee altogether. Once I’ve completed the descale cycle (and cleaned all removable parts), my Delonghi is back to brewing flavorful coffee, and I don’t have to deal with any malfunctions.
How Often Do You Need to Descale Your Delonghi Magnifica Machine?
Delonghi recommends you descale your Magnifica on a regular basis, ideally every 3-6 months. But this frequency will depend on the mineral content in your water and your brewing habits. We also advise you to clean the detachable parts to eliminate stubborn coffee stains around the machine and any debris lingering in any nooks and crannies.
The table below summarizes the cleaning intervals for 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?
It takes about an hour to descale your Delonghi Magnifica.
What You Will Need
To effectively remove limescale, you’ll need a descaler. It’s fantastic because it’s acid based, which helps to dissolve all deposits. But, not all descaling products are created equal. Some can be harsh on your machine’s internal components, while others are expensive or difficult to find. If you’re looking for a cost-effective and eco-friendly option, I recommend this descaling powder. It’s gentle enough to use on all types of coffee machines and it’s only $20 for a year’s supply.
Here’s a list of equipment to have at hand when you start the process:
- Descaling Solution
- Clean water
- A container (large enough to capture the spent solution)
A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Descale Your Delonghi Magnifica Coffee Machine
Below’s a 3-step process to having your machine in tip-top shape.
Preparation
- Remove the water filter.
- Empty and remove the water tank and pour the descaler.
- Add water to level “B”.
- Reattach the tank to the machine.
- Place the container under the water spout.
Descale cycle
- Press and hold the flashing descale button until it illuminates red. Turn the steam dial to the left to start the process of descaling.
- When the water stops flowing into the container, the first process of descaling is complete.
- Turn the dial to the right.
- Remove, empty, and rinse the tank and container.
Rinse cycle
- Fill the tank with clean water to the max line.
- Reattach the tank into the machine.
- Place the container under the water spout and then turn the dial to the left.
- When the water light turns a solid red, descaling is done.
- To turn off the machine, turn the dial to the right.
- Use a wet, soft cloth to wipe down the body of the machine.
Download: Get a copy of our descaling cheatsheet below.
Want to see how to descale your Delonghi Magnifica? Delonghi has a helpful video on YouTube that walks you through the entire process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I put my Delonghi in descale mode?
You can put your De’longhi in descale mode by pressing the descaling button for 3 seconds or until a red light comes on. From here, turn the dial to the left. This will activate the descaling cycle and you can follow the instructions on the display or in the manual.
Q. How do I deep clean my Delonghi Magnifica?
Here’s how to deep clean your Delonghi Magnifica.
You will need:
Descaling Solution
Clean water
A container (large enough to capture the spent solution)
1. Remove the water filter.
2. Empty and remove the water tank and pour the descaler.
3. Add water to level “B”.
4. Place a container under the water spout.
5. Press and hold the flashing descale button until it illuminates red. Turn the steam dial to the left to start descaling.
6. When the water light goes on, turn the dial to the right.
7. Remove, empty, and rinse the tank and container.
8. Fill the tank with clean water to the max line.
9. Place the container under the water spout and then turn the dial to the left.
10. When the water light turns a solid red, descaling is complete.
Q. How long does it take to descale Magnifica?
The entire Magnifica descaling cycle takes about an hour.
Q. Why is the red light still on after descaling Delonghi Magnifica?
If the red light is still on after descaling it means the machine needs to be rinsed with fresh water to remove any traces of the descaling solution. To do this, fill the water tank with fresh water and press the descale button again. The machine will rinse itself and the red light should go off.
Q. What can I use instead of white vinegar to descale?
You can use citric acid or lemon juice instead of vinegar. Ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when you descale with these products.
Q. What is a substitute for Delonghi descaler?
There are a few products you can use in place of a Delonghi descaler. But we recommend this Eco-Descaler. It’s an eco-friendly and easy-to-use descaling powder suitable for various coffee makers. It contains 4 sachets, enough for 1 year of use, making it cost-effective.
Final Thoughts And Recommendations
Regular descaling is a vital maintenance task for any coffee machine, including the Delonghi Magnifica. Doing so prevents the machine from producing unpalatable coffee or malfunctions that can result in costly repairs.
You can use any brand of descaling product in your Delonghi Magnifica, 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.
