How to Descale a De'Longhi Coffee Machine, Step by Step

To descale a De'Longhi, run the machine's own descaling programme as soon as the descale light or message appears. On a bean-to-cup machine such as the Magnifica S, you empty the water tank, take out the water filter, pour in De'Longhi descaler up to level A (100 ml), top up with one litre of water to level B and start the cycle. A Magnifica S takes around 45 minutes, including two rinses.

How do you descale a De'Longhi Magnifica S?

A De'Longhi Magnifica S is descaled in about 25 minutes, followed by two rinses with fresh water. Hot water containing acid comes out of the steam spout and the coffee spouts, so keep your hands clear.

1. Prepare the machine. Descale when the descale light flashes. With the machine ready for use, empty the drip tray and the grounds container and put them back.
2. Take out the water filter. Empty the water tank and remove the water softener filter, if fitted.
3. Add descaler and water. Pour De'Longhi descaler up to level A (100 ml), add one litre of water up to level B and refit the tank.
4. Position a container. Place a container of at least 2 litres under the steam spout and the coffee spouts.
5. Start the programme. Once the coffee lights are on steadily, press and hold the descale button for at least 5 seconds.
6. Turn the dial. When the steam light flashes, turn the hot water/steam dial to I. Solution comes out at intervals.
7. Finish the descaling phase. After about 25 minutes the machine stops. Turn the dial to 0.
8. First rinse. Empty the container, rinse the tank, fill it to MAX with fresh water and turn the dial to I. When the tank is empty, turn the dial to 0.
9. Second rinse. Empty the container, refit the water filter if you removed one, fill the tank to MAX and turn the dial to I. When it stops, turn the dial to 0 and refill the tank.

If the tank was not filled to MAX for the rinses, the Magnifica S asks for a third rinse.

How do you descale a De'Longhi Magnifica Evo?

A De'Longhi Magnifica Evo uses the same quantities as the Magnifica S, but its light works the other way round: a steady descale light means the machine needs descaling, and a flashing light means descaling is in progress.

Hold the descale button for at least 5 seconds, until its light flashes quickly. Empty the trays and the tank, remove the water filter, and add descaler up to level A (100 ml) and one litre of water up to level B. Put a container of at least 2 litres under the coffee spout and the cappuccino maker, press the button and turn the steam/hot water dial to I. For about 30 minutes the machine alternates between pausing and releasing liquid. Then rinse twice with the tank filled to MAX, refitting the water filter at the start of the second rinse. Once begun, the cycle cannot be interrupted.

How do you descale a De'Longhi by machine type?

The instructions for your own model take precedence.

How do you descale a De'Longhi Dedica?

A De'Longhi Dedica, a pump espresso machine, is descaled in around 25 minutes, starting when the orange light flashes.

1. Remove the water filter if fitted, unhook the filter holder and place a 1 litre container under the hot water spout and coffee spouts.
2. Pour the descaler into the tank and top up with water to MAX. The manual refers to the packaging for the amount; for Decalk Care that is 100 ml.
3. Press and hold the descale button for 10 seconds, until the three buttons flash in sequence, then turn the steam dial to the hot water position and press the button.
4. Close the steam dial now and then, so that some solution also runs through the coffee spouts.
5. When the tank is empty, rinse it, fill it to MAX and press the button to rinse. Rinse a second time and refit the water filter during that rinse. When the orange light goes off, descaling is complete.

Which descaler can you use in a De'Longhi, and how much?

De'Longhi advises using only its own descaler. It is called Decalk Care (formerly EcoDecalk), is made from lactic acid of vegetable origin and is dosed at 100 ml per descaling. According to the manuals, unsuitable descalers, and irregular or incorrect descaling, can cause faults outside the manufacturer's warranty.

De'Longhi advises against vinegar for espresso machines: it can leave odours and, over time, is too aggressive for some internal parts. For citric acid, De'Longhi says the result depends on the correct dilution and use, and a wrong amount can leave descaling incomplete.

How often should you descale a De'Longhi?

Descale a De'Longhi when the machine asks for it. De'Longhi gives no fixed interval in months. The message depends on the amount of water used and the water hardness setting; hard water brings it sooner.

The Magnifica Evo and the Dinamica leave the factory on the highest hardness, level 4. Dip the supplied test strip in the water for about 1 second; after about 1 minute it shows 1 to 4 red squares, one per level. The Dedica has three settings: low, medium and high.

What if the descale light stays on after descaling?

De'Longhi says the programme was not completed correctly: a step was skipped or done too quickly. Repeat the descaling procedure with water only and fill the water tank to MAX for the last two rinses. If the light still stays on, contact De'Longhi customer care.

What about a descaler, a water filter or another type of machine?

If you choose a descaler other than De'Longhi's own, weigh up the warranty advice above and follow the packaging. Our universal descalers for De'Longhi machines and the wider descaler range are in the shop. For ECAM machines there is a compatible water filter for De'Longhi ECAM; De'Longhi advises replacing a filter after 2 months of regular use.

For other machines, read how to descale an espresso machine or how to descale a Nespresso machine, which also covers a De'Longhi Nespresso. For Dolce Gusto there is a descaler for Dolce Gusto.