Last Updated on November 5, 2023 by Timothy Byron Smith
Your Nespresso Pixie is a dependable coffee companion, ensuring a great cup whenever you want it. To maintain its performance, regular cleaning is crucial. If you detect any taste or performance issues, it’s likely time to descale your Nespresso Pixie, a simple 20-minute maintenance process.
In this article, we’ll walk you through effective descaling steps to keep your Pixie in prime condition for the ultimate brewing experience.
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Why is Descaling Important?
Descaling is vital because it removes mineral buildup in your Nespresso Pixie machine, preserving the taste and quality of your coffee while ensuring efficient operation and extending the machine’s lifespan. This is particularly crucial for those in areas with hard water, as high mineral content can lead to quicker buildup, affecting coffee quality. In the US, 85% of regions have hard water (Water Quality Association), making it essential to assess your water’s hardness with a test kit if unsure.
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.
How To Descale Nespresso Pixie
Frequently AskedQuestions
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.