How to Descale a Nespresso Machine: Step by Step for Original and Vertuo

Canadian care note

Water hardness varies a lot across Canada: much of the Prairies and southern Ontario has hard water, while coastal British Columbia is much softer. In a hard-water area, descale more often than the default reminder and consider filtered water. For repairs or parts under warranty, contact Nespresso Canada or the retailer you bought from.

Find your machine

Pick your machine below and the page jumps to its steps. Machines that descale the same way share one section, so you will not read the same instructions twice. Not sure which model you own? The name is printed on the front or underside of the machine and on the original box.

Descaling at a glance

Nespresso publishes a separate guide for each machine, and the sequences are not interchangeable. The Vertuo Up is not covered here in full: open its page in Nespresso's machine assistance directory or browse the whole directory for any other model.

When to descale and how to tell

Nespresso's US guides and FAQ recommend descaling every three months or 300 capsules, whichever comes first. The UK FAQ gives every two to four months, or when your machine triggers an alert. Those are manufacturer guidelines, not a fixed date for every kitchen: the harder your tap water and the more you brew, the sooner scale builds up.

Several models tell you when. A Vertuo Next button blinking orange three times signals that it needs descaling, and on a Vertuo Pop the cup button blinks orange three times before turning steady white. A VertuoPlus shows a green and red light together, and only a few more coffees can be made before descaling becomes mandatory. A Vertuo Creatista has a descaling light that blinks orange. The Essenza Mini and Pixie have no such alert, so put the date in your calendar.

Other signs are a slower or weaker flow, coffee that is no longer hot, a louder pump and white flakes in the cup. Scale in the water path is a common reason for these. Our guide to blinking lights separates a descaling alert from a fault.

What you need: the Nespresso descaling kit

Use the Nespresso Descaling Kit. Each kit holds two sachets of descaling solution, 100 ml each, and works in Original and Vertuo machines. That is two descaling cycles, not one cycle with two sachets: one packet per descaling, except the Vertuo Creatista and Vertuo Lattissima, which take two. Older Classic range and Concept range machines have their own kits, so check the box against your model.

Nespresso says other solutions, such as vinegar or store-bought descalers, may damage your machine. We explain what vinegar and citric acid do and why the manufacturer advises against them in our vinegar and citric acid guide.

Besides the kit you need fresh drinking water, a container that fits under the outlet (sizes are in the table above), something to protect the worktop and about 20 minutes. The cycle should not be interrupted once it has started (the Vertuo Creatista can be paused with its steam button).

Before you start: safety and preparation

• Protect surfaces. Descaling solution can damage or discolor worktops, so place something under the machine and wipe up any spill at once.
• Keep it away from children and never drink it. If it gets in your eyes, rinse with plenty of water for 15 minutes and seek medical advice. It can irritate eyes and skin.
• Remove any capsule, empty the capsule container and the drip tray, and put them back.
• Do not top up the tank while a solution pass is running.
• Descale with the machine plugged in and keep the container under the outlet for every pump phase.

Essenza Mini

Nespresso's Essenza Mini guide takes 15 to 20 minutes. The Mini's tank is small, so it needs the second solution pass and three water rinses below.

1. Press any cup button to switch the machine on and wait until the lights are steady. Lift the lever to eject the capsule and close it. Empty and replace the capsule container and drip tray. You can remove the cup support.
2. Put a container under the coffee outlet. Pour one packet of descaling solution into the tank and fill with water to the MAX line.
3. Press and hold both cup buttons together for 5 seconds. The cup lights blink quickly: you are in descaling mode.
4. Press and release the large cup (Lungo) button and let the whole tank run through the outlet.
5. Pour the collected solution back into the tank, empty the drip tray and return the empty container. Press Lungo again to run it a second time.
6. Discard the solution. Rinse the tank, fill it to the top with fresh water, put it back and press Lungo to run the full tank through the outlet.
7. Repeat step 6 two more times, because the tank is small.
8. Press and hold both cup buttons for 5 seconds to exit. The blinking slows and the lights turn steady.
9. Refill the tank, empty and rinse the capsule container and drip tray, wipe the machine with a damp cloth and let it rest for 10 minutes before use.

Pixie, Inissia and CitiZ

These three Original machines share one routine, set out in Nespresso's Pixie, Inissia and CitiZ and CitiZ Refresh guides: one packet in a half-full tank and both cup buttons held for 3 seconds, a second pass with the collected solution, then a full-tank rinse. It takes 15 to 20 minutes. Only the exit hold differs: 1 to 3 seconds on the Pixie, 3 seconds on the Inissia and 3 to 5 seconds on the CitiZ.

1. Switch the machine on (wait for steady cup buttons on the Pixie, Inissia and original CitiZ; press either cup button on a CitiZ Refresh). Eject the capsule, close the lever, empty and replace the capsule container and drip tray.
2. Put a receptacle under the outlet. Fill the tank halfway with water and add one packet of descaling solution.
3. Press and hold both cup buttons for 3 seconds. The cup lights blink quickly and together.
4. Press and release the large cup button and let all the solution run through.
5. Pour the used solution back into the tank, empty the drip tray and run the large cup button again.
6. Discard the solution, rinse the tank, fill it to the top with fresh water and run the large cup button so the entire tank passes through.
7. Press and hold both cup buttons to exit (3 seconds on the Inissia, 1 to 3 on the Pixie, 3 to 5 on the CitiZ). The lights become steady, or slow down and then become steady.
8. Empty and rinse the capsule container and drip tray, refill the tank, wipe the machine and let it rest for 10 minutes.

CitiZ Platinum

The CitiZ Platinum guide takes 15 minutes and needs one packet. It starts when the orange descaling light blinks in ready mode, and it uses the Hot Water button instead of the cup buttons.

1. Open and close the lever to eject any capsule. Empty and replace the drip tray and capsule container. The cup support can be set aside.
2. Fill the tank halfway (about 0.5 L, 0.5 L) and add one packet. Put a container of at least 1 L under the coffee spout.
3. With the machine on and warmed up, press and hold the Espresso, Lungo and Hot Water buttons until all the lights blink together (about 5 seconds). If you cannot see them blinking under your fingers, the descaling light also turns steady.
4. To exit at this point, release and press any recipe button. To start descaling, press and release the Hot Water button.
5. The solution dispenses, the five buttons scroll from back to front and the descaling light stays on. Wait until the tank is empty and the five buttons blink together again.
6. Discard the solution, empty the drip tray, wash and rinse the tank, fill it full with fresh water and put it back. Put the container back under the spout.
7. Press and release the Hot Water button to rinse. The machine switches off by itself when the rinse is complete.
8. Discard the rinse water, empty the drip tray, wipe the machine and refill the tank.

Lattissima One and Gran Lattissima

The Lattissima family descales through the descaling pipe stored at the back, which you plug into the steam connector so the solution also flows through the milk path. Nespresso publishes guides for the Lattissima One (20 minutes) and the Gran Lattissima (20 to 25 minutes). Both take one packet. They differ in the fill level and in which button you press: the Espresso button on the Lattissima One and the Flat White button on the Gran Lattissima.

1. When the descaling light shines orange, eject the capsule and close the lever. Empty and replace the drip tray, capsule container, cup support and (on the Gran Lattissima) drop collector.
2. Put one packet in the tank. Fill the Lattissima One two thirds full; fill the Gran Lattissima with water to the descaling mark.
3. Take the descaling pipe from the back of the machine and press it firmly onto the steam connector (with the machine on, on the Gran Lattissima). The descaling light blinks orange and the Espresso or Flat White button blinks white. Put the tank back.
4. Put a receptacle under the coffee outlet and the descaling pipe. Press and release the Espresso or Flat White button. The solution flows alternately from the coffee outlet, the pipe and the drip tray outlets.
5. When the button shines or blinks white again, the solution is done and the tank is empty. Discard the solution, rinse the tank and fill it to the MAX line with fresh water. Empty and replace the drip tray and capsule container.
6. Put the empty receptacle back and press and release the same button. The rinse alternates between the coffee outlet, the pipe and the drip tray.
7. The machine switches itself off when rinsing is complete. Discard the rinse water, rinse the drip tray and capsule container and refit them.
8. Remove the descaling pipe (it can be hot), rinse it and store it. Refill the tank, wipe the machine and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Older Lattissima models use the same pipe method with their own buttons and timings: the Lattissima Plus (30 minutes, halfway-full tank, Cappuccino button), the Lattissima Touch (30 minutes, halfway-full tank, Warm Milk button) and the Lattissima Pro (25 minutes, two-thirds-full tank, menu on the display and the hot water nozzle). Follow the guide for your exact name.

Creatista Uno

The Creatista Uno guide takes 15 minutes and uses one packet with water to the DESCALE line. It starts when the descaling LED lights up and runs through both the coffee outlet and the steam wand.

1. Eject the capsule, close the lever, empty and replace the capsule bucket and drip tray.
2. Fill the tank with fresh water to the DESCALE line, add one packet and put the tank back. Put a receptacle under the coffee outlet and the steam wand.
3. Power the machine off by pressing the Ristretto and Steam buttons together until all lights go off.
4. Press and hold Ristretto and Steam together until both lights are steady white (about 5 seconds).
5. Press and release Ristretto or Steam. The solution dispenses in short intervals from the coffee outlet and then the steam wand while the two buttons blink alternately.
6. When the two lights become steady, discard the solution and put the receptacle back. Rinse the tank and fill it to the MAX line with fresh water.
7. Press Ristretto or Steam to rinse. The machine stops when the tank is about half empty: add about two more inches of water and press again to finish.
8. When the two buttons blink three times and the beverage buttons light steady, rinsing is complete. Discard the rinse water, empty and rinse the bucket and drip tray, refill the tank, wipe the machine and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Creatista Plus and Creatista Pro

These two machines are guided by the display. The Creatista Plus guide and the Creatista Pro manual both give about 15 minutes and one packet with water to the DESCALE line. The machine shows a descaling alert based on the water hardness you set, and the Creatista Pro will lock after 30 further uses if you ignore it.

1. When the descale alert appears, open the menu and choose Descale (on the Creatista Plus: turn the SELECT dial to DESCALE MAINTENANCE and press SELECT). Follow the on-screen prompts.
2. Open and close the coffee lever to eject any capsule. Empty and clean the capsule bucket, drip tray and tank.
3. Fill the tank with fresh water to the DESCALE line and add one packet. Put the bucket, tray and tank back and place a large container under the coffee spout and the steam wand.
4. Press and release START/CANCEL. The solution dispenses from the coffee outlet in five intervals and from the steam wand in two.
5. When the display prompts you, discard the solution, empty the bucket and tray, rinse the tank and fill it to the MAX line.
6. Put the container back and press START/CANCEL for the first rinse. When prompted, discard the water and replace the container.
7. Add about two more inches of fresh water to the tank and press START/CANCEL for the second rinse.
8. Discard the rinse water, rinse the tank to MAX, empty the bucket and tray, wipe the machine and let it rest for 10 minutes.

If you change the type of water you use, repeat the water hardness test so the alerts stay accurate. The hardness setting is in the display settings.

Vertuo Next, Pop and Pop Plus

These three machines use the same descaling routine: one packet with 0.5 L of water, a container of at least 1 L, about 20 minutes, and the cycle cannot be interrupted. The guides are the Vertuo Next and the Vertuo Pop, which Nespresso also uses for the Pop+. The tricky part is entering descaling mode: two button holds of about seven seconds each, with a lever move between them, all within 45 seconds.

1. With the machine plugged in, empty and replace the capsule container and drip tray. Fill the tank with one packet and 0.5 L of water. On the Pop and Pop+, also remove the cup support first (and put it back at the end).
2. Make sure there is no capsule inside. On the Next, close the head and lock the lever to the left to switch the machine on and wait about 30 seconds for a steady light. On the Pop, switch the machine on, close the head and leave the lever unlocked.
3. Unlock the lever with the head closed. Press and hold the button until the steady light turns off and then blinks orange quickly (about 7 seconds).
4. Turn the lever left to lock, then back to the front to unlock. Press and hold the button again until the light goes off and blinks orange quickly (about 7 seconds). Steps 3 and 4 must be done within 45 seconds.
5. Lock the lever. Quick orange blinking means you are in descaling mode. If not, start again.
6. Place a container of at least 1 L under the spout. Press and release the button once. The light keeps blinking while the solution runs.
7. When the machine goes quiet, discard the solution and put the empty container back.
8. Empty the drip tray and capsule container. Rinse the tank, fill it to the top with fresh water and refit it. Press and release the button once to rinse, and discard the water when the noise stops.
9. The machine stops by itself and the button turns steady. Refill the tank, empty and rinse the capsule container and drip tray, wipe the machine and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Descaling is needed when the Next's button blinks orange three times, or when the Pop's cup button blinks orange three times before turning steady white. The Pop+ may ship with a regional booklet, so use the document that came with your machine if its lights behave differently. Do not confuse descaling with the water-only cleaning routine in your manual: it uses a different button sequence and no descaling solution.

VertuoPlus

The VertuoPlus guide takes about 20 minutes with one unit of solution, at least 0.5 L of water and a container of at least 0.8 L. It does not use the Next and Pop seven-second routine: it has a special-functions menu and a manual exit.

1. Turn the machine on with the button. Lift the lever to open the head and let the used capsule eject, then close the head by pushing the lever down.
2. Switch the machine off by holding the lever down for 3 seconds. Empty the cup support and capsule container.
3. Fill the tank with one unit of descaling liquid and at least 0.5 L of water.
4. With the machine off, press the button and lever down together for 3 seconds. A steady orange light means you are in the special-functions menu.
5. Press and release the lever once to select descaling mode.
6. Put a container of at least 0.8 L under the spout and press and release the button once. The orange light blinks and the solution runs. You can stop the cycle at any time by pressing the button.
7. When the cycle ends, empty and rinse the tank and cup support and refill with fresh water. Press and release the button once to rinse. The machine stops by itself.
8. Exit by holding the button and lever together for 3 seconds, or until the light turns green. Rinse and refill the tank and let the machine rest for 10 minutes.

Vertuo Creatista

The Vertuo Creatista guide is the longest at about 25 minutes, and the only one here that needs two packets. Nespresso recommends cleaning the steam wand tip first. You can pause the descale and rinse cycles at any time with the Steam button and resume by pressing it again.

1. Descaling is needed when the descaling light blinks orange. Eject any capsule and empty the capsule container and drip tray.
2. Fill the tank with water to the marked descaling line (1 L, about 1 L) and add two packets of descaling solution.
3. Put an empty container of at least 65 oz (1.9 L) under the coffee outlet and steam wand. With the machine on, close the head and lock the lever.
4. Press the Steam button and the milk-temperature button for about 5 seconds until the descaling light is steady yellow and the steam button flashes orange.
5. Press and release the Steam button to start the steam and coffee descaling cycle.
6. When it finishes, discard the solution and rinse the tank, capsule container and drip tray. Refill the tank to MAX with fresh water.
7. Replace the empty container, then press and release the Steam button to start the rinse cycle. The machine leaves descaling mode on its own when it is done.
8. Empty the rinse water, rinse the tank, capsule container and drip tray, refill and wipe the machine. Let it rest for 10 minutes.

Vertuo Lattissima

The Vertuo Lattissima needs two units of descaling agent, which the Vertuo Lattissima manual calls for with water up to the descale mark on the tank (about 1 L, 1 L). It takes about 20 minutes and uses the descaling pipe at the back, like the Original Lattissima range.

1. When the descaling alert blinks orange, open the machine to eject the capsule, then close the head and turn the lever toward the lock position.
2. Empty the drip tray, used capsule container and cup support. Fill the tank with two units of descaling agent and water to the descale mark.
3. Take the descaling pipe from the back and plug it into the milk carafe connector. Put the tank back.
4. The machine enters descaling mode by itself: the descale alert blinks orange throughout and the Cappuccino button lights up.
5. Put a container of at least 1 L under the coffee outlet and the pipe nozzle. Press the Cappuccino button. The solution flows alternately through the coffee outlet, the pipe and the drip tray.
6. When the tank is empty and the Latte Macchiato button lights up, empty the drip tray, capsule container, cup support and container. Rinse the tank and fill it to MAX with fresh water. Put the container back.
7. Press the Latte Macchiato button. The rinse runs until the tank is empty and the machine returns to ready mode.
8. Remove and store the pipe, empty the drip tray and capsule container and refill the tank. Dry any water visible in the machine head.

Complete the whole procedure: the Vertuo Lattissima manual says that an unfinished descaling leaves the machine blocked. After a descaling alert it can still make a few milk drinks, and then it blocks to protect itself.

Older VertuoLine and Evoluo

The VertuoLine and Evoluo guides use the same lever and button entry as the Next (steady light off, then quick blinking, twice within 45 seconds) with a half tank of water and one packet, a 20 oz (about 0.6 L) receptacle, and a rinse with two thirds of a tank. To exit, hold the button until the blinking light turns steady, about 7 seconds. Rinse, wipe and rest for 10 minutes as with the other Vertuo models.

After descaling

• Rest the machine for 10 minutes, wipe it with a damp cloth and refill the tank with fresh water.
• Run a first cup normally. If a model shows a different light than the one in its guide, check the guide before brewing.
• Clean the parts descaling does not reach. Wash the drip tray, capsule container and cup support, and keep a milk frother or steam wand clean with its own routine.
• Note the date. Set a reminder for three months or 300 capsules from now.

Common mistakes

1. Using vinegar or another descaler. Nespresso warns that it may damage the machine.
2. Putting both packets in one cycle (except the Creatista). One kit is two cycles.
3. Using the wrong model's buttons. A Next sequence on a VertuoPlus, or an Essenza Mini hold on a Pixie, will not enter the right mode.
4. Skipping the rinse. The solution phase is followed by a separate fresh-water rinse on every model.
5. Topping up the tank during the cycle or interrupting it. Wait for the machine to stop.
6. Brewing a capsule during descaling.

If something goes wrong

• The light pattern is not the one in your guide. Stop, return the machine to its ready state and start again from the first step instead of pressing buttons at random.
• The machine does not enter descaling mode. On a Vertuo Next or Pop, both holds and the lever move must fit inside 45 seconds. If the quick orange blinking is missing after locking the lever, start over.
• The tank empties too early, water leaks or the pump struggles. Check that the tank is seated and the container is in place, then contact Nespresso support for your exact model.
• You already used another liquid. Do not add more chemicals. Ask Nespresso support for model-specific advice.

Questions people ask

How often should you descale a Nespresso machine?

Every three months or 300 capsules, whichever comes first, according to Nespresso's US guides. Nespresso UK says every two to four months, or when your machine triggers an alert.

How long does it take to descale a Nespresso machine?

About 15 to 20 minutes for the Essenza Mini, Pixie, Inissia and CitiZ, 15 minutes for the Creatista range, 20 to 30 minutes for the Lattissima range, 20 minutes for the Vertuo Next, Pop, VertuoPlus and Vertuo Lattissima and 25 minutes for the Vertuo Creatista, plus a short rest before the next coffee.

How many descaling packets do I use?

One packet (one 100 ml sachet) per cycle for most machines. The Vertuo Creatista and Vertuo Lattissima use two, so a kit covers one descaling for those and two for the rest.

Can I use vinegar or citric acid to descale a Nespresso machine?

Nespresso says vinegar and other store-bought descalers may damage the machine and recommends only its own descaling kit. See our vinegar and citric acid guide for the reasoning.

Is the Nespresso descaling kit the same for Original and Vertuo?

The current Nespresso Descaling Kit, two 100 ml sachets, is sold for Original and Vertuo machines. Older Classic range and Concept range machines have their own kits.

Do all Nespresso machines descale the same way?

No. The solution and the idea are the same, but the buttons, the water level and the number of packets differ by model. Use the picker at the top and follow only your machine's section.

Can I stop descaling halfway?

Nespresso says the Vertuo Pop and Next cycles cannot be interrupted. The VertuoPlus can be stopped with its button and the Vertuo Creatista can be paused with the Steam button. Follow your model's guide.

What happens if I never descale my Nespresso machine?

Scale can slow the flow, cool the coffee and make the pump work harder. Nespresso's VertuoPlus guide adds that only a few more coffees can be made after the descaling alert before descaling becomes mandatory.

Where can I buy the Nespresso descaling kit?

On Nespresso's website and in boutiques, or from the official Nespresso store on Amazon. The button in the kit section above opens the listing for your country.

Official guides used

Essenza Mini · Pixie · Vertuo Next · Vertuo Pop · VertuoPlus · Vertuo Creatista · VertuoLine · Evoluo · Vertuo Up · Inissia · CitiZ · CitiZ Platinum · Lattissima One · Gran Lattissima · Lattissima Plus · Lattissima Touch · Lattissima Pro · Creatista Uno · Creatista Plus · Creatista Pro · Vertuo Lattissima · All machines. Procedures follow Nespresso's US documents and its user manuals; regional editions and later revisions can vary.