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As a coffee lover, I make mine every morning<\/a> in a Chemex<\/a>, because it tastes amazing and requires minimal maintenance. My husband, however, is obsessed with his espresso machine, and my guests have no patience for my pour over, so \u2014 through no fault of my own \u2014 we own two machines, a Breville Bambino Espresso Machine<\/a> and a Keurig K-Classic<\/a>, that require regular descaling<\/a> to remove mineral buildup and keep the caffeine flowing efficiently.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n On my most recent descaling adventure, I decided to try America\u2019s Test Kitchen\u2019s top coffee-maker cleaning tip, as recommended in this recent TikTok.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n According to their test kitchen experts, Urnex Dezcal Descaling Powder Solution<\/a> is the best choice for cleaning coffee makers<\/a>. If you\u2019re still using vinegar to descale, America\u2019s Test Kitchen says you\u2019re doing it wrong, because it\u2019s not as effective and can actually be corrosive over time. Things got heated in the comments over this claim, but since I hate the smell of vinegar anyway, I wasn\u2019t bothered by this more expensive powdered alternative. I decided to put their method to the test.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The process took a little bit of time (probably because it was with my Keurig and not a standard coffee pot), but all the steps were straightforward. Here\u2019s how it worked:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n For my Keurig, I dissolved one packet of powder in 32 ounces of cold water and filled the reservoir with the solution.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Without inserting a coffee pod, I \u201cbrewed\u201d a series of 12-ounce cups, dumping each in the sink, until the \u201cAdd Water\u201d light came on.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n I rinsed the reservoir and then refilled it with clean water. I ran all the water through the machine again, in another series of 12-ounce cups. At this point the water was clear and flowing well, so I tasted it to see if all the solution had been rinsed away \u2014 mistake! The water was definitely still sour from the acid and I was moderately alarmed by the poison control warning on the box. Trust me, and complete step four.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n There was a lot of standing at the Keurig and pushing buttons, plus a lot of trips to the sink to pour out the water, but by the time the third reservoir of clean water had filtered through, the water tasted like water. (Thank goodness.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n I like Dezcal Descaling Powder<\/a> for one main reason: it has no odor. It also worked well on my machine; the water flow definitely improved after the descaling marathon, plus the pre-measured packets made the process super easy.<\/p>\n The Dezcal powder is phosphate-free, and the ingredients include citric acid, sulfamic acid, and aluminum sulfate. If that list alarms you, appliance professionals say<\/a> you can just use plain citric acid<\/a> instead \u2014 it\u2019s more affordable, too.<\/p>\n So, how often should you really descale your machine? Expert and manufacturer recommendations<\/a> vary from every six weeks for heavy use to every four months for light use. Most coffee makers have a descaling alert light, but if water isn\u2019t flowing properly through your machine, it\u2019s time to descale. Since the descaling light on my ancient Keurig has never once turned on, I set a reminder on my calendar to descale every two months.\u00a0<\/p>\n Buy: Urnex Descaling Powder Solution<\/a>, $10.97<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nStep 1: Fill the reservoir with the powder solution.\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Step 2: Run the solution through the machine.\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Step 3: Fill the reservoir with clean water and run it through the machine.\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Step 4: Repeat Step 3 twice more.\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n