How to Descale a Nespresso Machine (Vertuo & Original)

By Marcus · Updated May 2026

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Your Nespresso will flat-out tell you when it’s time to descale — that flashing orange or red light isn’t subtle. Mineral buildup from tap water clogs the internals, slows your brew, and makes your espresso taste off. Nespresso says descale every three months or 300 capsules, whichever comes first.

Skip it and you’ll get weak shots, louder pump noise, and eventually a machine that won’t heat properly. The official Nespresso descaling kit works fine, but citric acid from the grocery store does the same job for a fraction of the price. Either way, the process takes about twenty minutes plus a rinse cycle.

What you’ll need

Nespresso descaling solution (one packet) or 2 tablespoons citric acid powder
16-20 oz of water
Empty container (at least 1 liter capacity)
Sink or towel for drips
Fresh water for rinsing

Step 1: Remove capsule and empty drip tray

Eject any used pod and make sure the capsule chamber is empty. Pull out the drip tray and dump it. You don’t want old coffee mixing with descaler.

Step 2: Mix your descaling solution

If you’re using the official Nespresso kit, mix one packet with 16 oz of water. For citric acid, dissolve 2 tablespoons in 16-20 oz of lukewarm water and stir until clear. Both work exactly the same — citric acid just smells like lemon instead of the vaguely chemical Nespresso scent.

Step 3: Enter descaling mode

For Vertuo: hold down the button for 7 seconds until it blinks orange. For OriginalLine: turn off, hold Lungo and press power; keep holding Lungo until lights flash. Your machine is now in descaling mode and won’t brew coffee until you finish.

Step 4: Run the descaling cycle

Pour your solution into the water tank. Place your empty container under the spout and press the brew button. The machine will pump solution through in intervals — this takes 10-15 minutes. Yes, it smells weird if you’re using citric acid. Open a window.

Step 5: Recycle the solution once

When the tank is empty, pour the collected descaler back into the reservoir and run it through again. Nespresso recommends this and it does pull out more gunk. After the second pass, dump the nasty liquid down the sink.

Step 6: Rinse with fresh water twice

Fill the tank with clean water and run a full cycle to flush out leftover descaler. Do this twice. If you skip the second rinse, your next espresso will taste like chemicals or lemon.

Step 7: Exit descaling mode

For Vertuo: press the button to stop blinking. For OriginalLine: hold Lungo for 3 seconds. The light should return to steady green. If it’s still flashing orange, you didn’t rinse enough — run another water cycle.

Pro tips & common mistakes

Run descaling in your sink or over a towel — machines sometimes burp solution out the sides. If your Vertuo head won’t close smoothly after descaling, wipe the lip and gasket with a damp cloth; residue makes it stick. The official Nespresso solution is overpriced at $6-8 per packet when citric acid costs $10 for a year’s supply. The only real difference is the smell.

If the descaling light won’t reset after you’ve finished, repeat the rinse cycle one more time and exit descaling mode again. Stubborn lights usually mean the machine didn’t detect enough water flow. And don’t use vinegar — yes, it’s an acid, but it can corrode aluminum parts and voids your warranty. Nespresso’s customer service will actually ask if you used vinegar if you call with pump problems.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Can I use vinegar instead of Nespresso descaling solution?

No. Vinegar can corrode the aluminum and plastic internals of your Nespresso, and it voids the warranty. Nespresso explicitly warns against it. Citric acid is cheaper than the official solution and won’t damage anything.

How often should I descale my Nespresso machine?

Every three months or after 300 capsules, whichever comes first. If you have very hard water, do it every two months. The machine will flash an orange or red descaling alert when it thinks it’s time, but you can descale earlier if your shots start tasting flat or the flow slows down.

Why is my Nespresso still flashing orange after descaling?

You either didn’t fully exit descaling mode or the machine didn’t detect enough water flowing through the system. Run one more rinse cycle with a full tank of water, then hold the button to exit descaling mode properly. If it still flashes, unplug for 10 seconds and try again.

Is citric acid as effective as official Nespresso descaler?

Yes. Both use acids to dissolve mineral deposits — Nespresso’s solution is lactic acid, citric acid is from citrus. The chemical action is identical. The official kit is convenient because it’s pre-measured, but citric acid costs about a dollar per descale versus six or seven for the branded stuff.

What happens if I never descale my Nespresso?

Mineral scale clogs the heating element and internal tubing. You’ll get weaker shots, longer heat-up times, and eventually the pump will labor and fail. Nespresso won’t cover repairs if they find heavy scale buildup, because it’s considered user neglect. Descaling is the single most important maintenance task for any espresso machine.

Can I drink coffee immediately after descaling?

Not until you’ve rinsed twice with full tanks of fresh water. Any leftover descaler will ruin the taste of your espresso and isn’t great to ingest. Run two complete rinse cycles, then brew a throwaway shot just to be sure the system is fully flushed.