Last Updated on May 18, 2023 by Timothy Byron Smith
Your Nespresso Pixie is a reliable companion that helps you enjoy a great cup of coffee whenever you need it. To ensure that your Pixie continues to deliver the perfect brew, it’s important to keep it clean and well-maintained.
If you notice a change in taste or performance, it may be time to descale your Nespresso machine. Descaling is a simple and essential maintenance process that only takes about 20 minutes.
In this article, we will guide you through the steps of How to Descale Nespresso Pixie effectively and keep it in optimal condition for the best brewing experience.
Read More: Best Nespresso Machine To Buy in 2023
What is Descaling?
Descaling is the process of removing mineral buildup that accumulates inside your coffee machine over time. This buildup can affect the quality of your coffee, as well as the performance of your machine.
Descaling your machine helps to maintain its optimal performance and extend its lifespan.
Why is Descaling Important?
Mineral buildup in your Nespresso Pixie machine can affect the taste and quality of your coffee. Descaling your machine is essential to remove any mineral buildup that accumulates over time. It also helps to ensure that your machine is operating efficiently and extends its lifespan.
Descaling is especially important for coffee enthusiasts who live in areas with hard water. Hard water contains a high concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can cause mineral buildup to occur more quickly.
According to a study by the Water Quality Association, 85% of the US has hard water. If you’re unsure whether your area has hard water, you can test your water using a water hardness test kit, which you can find online or at a local hardware store.
How Often Should You Descale Your Nespresso Pixie Machine?
Nespresso recommends descaling your machine every three months or after every 300 uses.
If your area has hard water, you may need to descale your machine every two months. You can also know if your machine needs descaling if you notice any of the following:
- Your coffee has a bitter taste
- Your coffee has a weaker taste than usual
- Your machine makes more noise than usual
- The flow of water is slower than usual
What You Will Need
To descale your Nespresso Pixie machine, you will need the following:
- Nespresso descaling kit
- Container that can hold at least 1 liter of water
- Fresh, cold water
You can purchase the Nespresso descaling kit from Amazon or at your nearest Nespresso boutiques.
Descaling Your Nespresso Pixie In Just 4 Steps
Follow these simple steps to effectively descale your Nespresso Pixie and ensure it continues to make delicious coffee:

1. Preparing Your Pixie
Lift the bar and check if there are any capsules inserted in the machine. If present, empty the Nespresso machine.

Take out the empty capsule container and drain the drip tray.

Position a cup or container beneath the dispenser to catch the liquid during the descaling process. Make sure it can hold at least 1 liter of liquid.

Fill the water tank with 500ml of clean water and mix in the Nespresso descaling solution.

Turn on your Pixie by pressing the small cup button and allow it to heat up.

2. Starting the Descaling Process
This step will take approximately 10 minutes.
Activate the descaling mode on your Nespresso Pixie by Pressing and holding both the large and small cup buttons for 3 seconds to enter descaling mode.

Both the bottoms will light up and start flashing rapidly, indicating that you are in descaling mode.

Once the lights stop, press the large cup button to initiate the descaling process.

The water tank will start to drain and water will flow through the machine, and dispense into the empty cup or container you placed underneath.

Once the solution is completely drained, put the used solution in the water tank and again press the large cup button to repeat the process again.
3. Rinsing Your Nespresso Pixie
After completing the descaling process, empty and rinse the water tank thoroughly to remove any traces of the descaling solution.

Refill the water tank with fresh water to the top and put the container beneath the dispenser.

Restart the descaling cycle for a third and final time, by pressing the large cup button allowing the machine to empty the tank completely.
Discard the water from the cup or container.
4. Exiting Descaling Mode
Press and hold both the two buttons simultaneously for three seconds to deactivate the descaling mode.
Congratulations! Your Nespresso Pixie has been descaled and is ready to produce exceptional coffee once again.
FAQs
Conclusion
Descaling your Nespresso Pixie machine is a simple and necessary process to ensure that your machine continues to function properly and produce great-tasting coffee.
Following these steps will help you maintain your machine’s optimal performance and extend its lifespan. Remember to descale your machine every three months, or more frequently if you have hard water.
Read More:
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- How to Clean a Nespresso Machine
- How To Descale Nespresso VertuoLine
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Sophie is a 25 years old home barista, who enjoys brewing and drinking coffee with her mum. She had been writing articles for various lifestyle and coffee blogs for some time. Planning and conducting the required research, Sophie is the mastermind of EspressoCoffeeTime’s write-ups. To continue writing until well after midnight, she takes a good cup of espresso and that is it.