How to descale your coffee machine

Descaling your appliance is crucial to prevent build-up of limescale which can impact the quality of your drinks and damage your machine in the long-run.

You should aim to descale your coffee machine regularly, around once a month, to prevent damaging limescale build-up.

The message, “Descaling programme urgently required!” indicates that your appliance needs immediate descaling. Failure to do so may damage your appliance. If your appliance locks after displaying, “Descaling programme is overdue. Device will shortly be locked.” It can only be operated again once the descaling process has occurred. We provide specialist descaling tablets that are suitable for your machine for safe and effective descaling.

The total process should take approximately 21 minutes to complete. Please bear in mind the service programmes may vary between appliances, so review your instruction manual or contact us if you’re unsure.

Follow our step-by-step guide below to safely descale your coffee machine:

1. Touch the rain drop icon.
2. Touch [ Descale ] to select the programme.
3. The display indicates the progress of the programme.
4. Empty drip trays and replace.
5. Remove the water filter (if there is one) and select the play icon.
6. Pour lukewarm water into the empty water tank up to the “0.5 l” mark and then dissolve one Bosch descaling tablet in it.
7. Remove the suction pipe from milk container, wipe it and insert the end of the suction pipe into the hole on the coffee grounds container.
8. Close the appliance door.
9. Place a container under the beverage outlet.
10. Select the play icon again. The descaling programme will now run for about 19 minutes.
11. Once ready, remove the container and press the play icon again.
12. Rinse the water tank and (if removed) replace the water filter.
13. Fill the tank with fresh water up to the “max” indicator.
14. Replace the water tank and close the door.
15. Place the container underneath the beverage outlet again.
16. Press the play icon. The descaling programme will now run for about 2 minutes and rinse the appliance.
17. Remove the container, empty the drip trays, replace and close the appliance door.
18. Press the play icon. The appliance has finished descaling and is ready for use again.
19. Select the rain drop icon again to exit the programme.