How To Descale Oxo Coffee Maker (3 Simple Steps)

To keep your Oxo coffee maker in top shape, you should descale it every 90 days or as needed. Descaling takes about 25 minutes and helps you enjoy delicious and aromatic coffee every time. Whether you’re a casual sipper or a fervent enthusiast, here’s how to descale your machine:

Fill the water reservoir to the max-fill line and mix in a quality descaling product like this one on Amazon. Turn the knob until the “-9-” apppears on the display. Press the button again to start descaling. Let the machine run a full brew cycle and repeat until the water reservoir is empty. Rinse the machine with up to 9 cycles of clean water.

Keep reading for some tips and tricks and also the difference in descaling the OXO 9 cup vs. the OXO 8 cup coffee maker.

Oh, and we’ll tell you how to get rid of that annoying descaling light!

What Is Descaling

As you use your Oxo coffee maker, you may notice that the water flow becomes slower,  the brewing temperature drops, or it produces weak or bitter coffee. This is because limescale and other mineral deposits build up inside the machine over time, affecting its performance and quality. 

Descaling, also called decalcifying, is the process of removing these deposits by running a descaling solution through the machine. This helps to improve water flow, maintain a consistent brewing temperature, and prevent corrosion and damage to your device. Also, performing this crucial step can enhance the flavor and aroma of your coffee because contaminants that may affect its taste have been eliminated.

How Often Do You Need To Descale Your Oxo Coffee Maker?

How often you need to descale your coffee maker depends on how often you brew coffee and your water hardness. The harder the water, the more minerals it contains, and the faster it builds up inside the machine. We recommend descaling your machine every 90 days, or whenever you notice a drop in performance or quality. If you brew a lot of coffee, like we do, you may need to descale more often–about every 60 days. Don’t worry if you forget when to descale–the clean button light will remind you when it’s time.

How Long Does the Descaling Process Take?

The descaling process is not very complicated or time-consuming. It usually takes about 25 minutes to complete, but it can take longer if there’s a lot of mineral build-up. 

What You Will Need

There’s nothing as frustrating as having our coffee maker due for decalcifying only to find we’re out of cleaning agents. To make sure you have everything on hand here’s a list of what you’ll need: 

• A soft, damp cloth
• Fresh water
• The carafe that came with your machine
• Descaling solution

Our recommendation: If you’re looking for an affordable option, we recommend this eco-descaler. It comes in convenient pre-measured packets that are easy to use and store. In fact, because it’s so versatile–and offers great value for money–we use it to descale all our other coffee machines. That way we’re not restricted to a single product that’s designed for a specific machine. It’s also eco-friendly and biodegradable.

A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Descale Your Oxo Coffee Maker: 3 Simple Steps

There are two methods to descale your machine: manually or when the light is on. 

But first, let’s give the machine a good clean.

Step 1: Exterior clean

When descaling, we often take the time to clean both the removable parts and the body of the machine. These components can accumulate coffee oils, grounds, and stains that can affect the taste and quality of your coffee. Doing so ensures we’ve got an all-around clean machine.

These include: 

• The carafe
• Rainmaker showerhead
• Brew basket
• Single accessory
• Reversible well cover and platform

You can either wash them by hand using warm soapy water or put them in the dishwasher (except for the carafe–it’s not dishwasher safe, rather hand wash it). Dry them thoroughly with a soft cloth or let them air dry. Then wipe down the outside of your coffee maker with a damp cloth. Reattach the parts to the machine and make sure they’re securely in place.  

Step 2: Descale cycle

To descale manually: 

1. Fill the water reservoir with the descaling solution and clean water to the MAX line.
2. Remove the filter or coffee from the brew basket and place the carafe on the drip tray.
3. If you’re using the 8-cup model, turn the switch all the way to the carafe icon. Press the power button and then the clean button. 
4. For the 9-cup model, unplug the coffee maker and press the OXO button while plugging it back in. Release the button when “-9-” appears on the display and the LED ring turns red. Press the button again to start descaling.
5. Let the machine run a full brew cycle and repeat until the water reservoir is empty.

Descaling when the light is on: 

1. Fill the water reservoir with the descaling solution and water to the MAX line.
2. Place the carafe on the drip tray.
3. Double-check to ensure you’ve removed the filter or coffee in the brew basket.
4. If you’re using the 8-cup model, follow steps 3 and 5 above. 
5. For the 9-cup brew, turn the knob to the right until “-9-” appears and the light turns on. Press the OXO button to enter descale mode, and then follow step 5 above. 

Step 3: Rinse cycle

1. Fill the water tank with clean water.
2. Press the OXO button and let the machine run a water-only cycle. 
3. When the tank is empty, top it with fresh water and repeat step 2 up to 9 times.
4. Discard the water. 

Watch: If you’d like a visual presentation of the entire process, check out this YouTube video by OXO on how to descale your coffee maker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts And Recommendations

Descaling your Oxo coffee maker is an essential part of maintaining your machine and enjoying your coffee.

Limescale and other mineral deposits can clog the water pipes, reduce the water flow, lower the brewing temperature, and affect the taste and aroma of your coffee.

By following the steps in this post, you can easily and safely give your machine a deep clean and prevent any malfunctions caused by limescale buildup.

We recommend you decalcify your machine every 90 days, or more often if you have hard water or brew several cups of coffee per week.  

You can use any brand of descaling product in your Nespresso U, as long as you dilute it with the correct amount of water to the manufacturer’s instructions.

We recommend using our Green Pods Eco Descaler. Its comes with 4 sachets (1 year’s supply) which are perfectly portioned. Its environmentally friendly, and it’s also more cost-effective than the name-brand Nespresso Descaler.

You can get it from Amazon here.