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.

Table of Contents

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:

descale-Nespresso-pixie-with-Nespresso-descaling-solution — Source: Nespresso

1. Preparing Your Pixie

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

lift the bar to empty Nespresso pixie — Source: Nespresso

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

remove drip tray and all used Nespresso capsules — Source: Nespresso

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.

put a 1liter empty container beneath the dispenser — Source: Nespresso

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

fill the tank with water and Nespresso Descaling solution — Source: Nespresso

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

press the small cup button to start the machine and heat up the machine — Source: Nespresso

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.

Press Both Bottoms to enter descaling mode — Source: Nespresso

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

press both small and long cup buttons simultaneously to enter descaling mode — Source: Nespresso

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

press the large cup button to start descaling process — Source: Nespresso

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.

put-the-used-liquid-again-in-the-water-tank-and-repeat-the-process-once-more. — Source: Nespresso

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.

wash and rinse water tank with fresh water — Source: Nespresso

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

completely fill it with water and place it on the machine — Source Nespresso

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

How do I descale my Nespresso Pixie with vinegar?

To descale your Nespresso Pixie with vinegar, create a descaling solution by mixing one part white distilled vinegar with two parts water. Fill the coffee maker’s reservoir with the solution and turn it on, as if making coffee. Let the cycle run through the machine, which may take several minutes. After the cycle is complete, let the solution sit in the pot for about 15 minutes before pouring it out. This process will help to remove mineral buildup and improve the taste and quality of your coffee.

Can I descale Nespresso without a solution?

Yes, you can descale your Nespresso machine without a descaling solution. To do this, begin by emptying and cleaning the water tank thoroughly. Refill the water tank with fresh water, then replace it and run a cycle with just water. Press the button to start the cycle, and the machine will run through a cycle of clean water. Once the cycle is complete, the machine will stop, and you can proceed to use it as usual.

Can I use lemon juice to descale my Nespresso machine?

Yes, you can use lemon juice to descale your Nespresso machine. To use lemon juice for descaling, mix equal parts water and lemon juice, fill the water tank with the solution, and run a cycle. After the cycle is complete, run a cycle with clean water to rinse the machine thoroughly.

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.

Sophie Pierce

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.

How to Descale Nespresso Pixie