What does it mean to descale a coffee maker? ... All water contains minerals, like calcium and magnesium, which pass through your coffee machine and eventually accumulate on the machine's heating element as limescale. Descaling a coffee maker is the process of removing that mineral buildup.

How often should you Decalcify coffee maker?

You should clean your coffee maker after every use, removing the grounds and cleaning the brew basket, lid, and carafe. The deeper cleaning of descaling to remove mineral deposits should be done at least every three months.

How do you know when your coffee machine needs descaling?

You should descale an espresso machine about once a month if you have hard water, according to Breville's maintenance page (1). They also recommend descaling (also called decalcifying) before going on vacation, to prevent mineral build-up while the machine sits unused.