How to Rinse & Descale De'Longhi Espresso Machines

Updated October 2026

To descale a De'Longhi espresso machine, wait for the descale alert, remove the water filter if one is fitted, and fill the tank with De'Longhi descaler diluted the way the pack and your manual say. Then switch the machine on, let it reach ready, and start the descale program. When the descaler has run through, rinse the tank and run the rinse cycle with fresh water until the machine shows it's finished. On most models the whole job takes about 25 to 30 minutes.

We sell De'Longhi espresso machines, and this guide follows De'Longhi's own published instructions. Button layouts and prompts differ from model to model, so your machine's manual always has the final word. You can download it from De'Longhi's manuals page.

When to Descale Your De'Longhi

De'Longhi's guidance is simple: descale when your machine's descale indicator comes on. How often that happens depends on how hard your water is, which is why there's no universal schedule in months.

• Set the water hardness. Test your water and set the hardness on the machine (many models come with a test strip). The descale alert can only time itself correctly if this setting is right.
• Use the De'Longhi water filter if your model takes one. De'Longhi recommends it to lengthen the time between descaling cycles.

What You Need Before You Start

• De'Longhi descaler. De'Longhi recommends its Decalk Care descaler (formerly EcoDecalk) and says that using an unsuitable descaler, or descaling incorrectly, may cause faults that its warranty doesn't cover. We carry the De'Longhi Decalk Care 500 ml bottle (DLSC500), which covers five uses, and the De'Longhi Coffee Care Kit (DLSC306), which pairs descaler with a cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth.
• No vinegar. De'Longhi tells owners never to use vinegar, which can leave a strong smell and an acidic taste in your coffee.
• A large container. De'Longhi calls for one that holds at least 2 liters on its bean-to-cup machines. It goes under the spouts to catch the solution and the rinse water.
• Fresh drinking water for rinsing.
• About 30 minutes. On some models, the descale cycle can't be interrupted once it has started.

How Much Descaler Should You Use?

There's no single ratio for every De'Longhi, so skip any chart that gives one. Follow the instructions on the descaler pack and in your manual:

• Machines with A and B lines on the tank (including many bean-to-cup models, such as the Magnifica Evo): pour in descaler up to level A, which matches one 100 ml pack. Then add water up to level B (1 liter).
• Machines without those lines (such as the Dedica): dilute the descaler in the tank with water as the pack instructions describe.

Descaling a Bean-to-Cup Machine (Magnifica Evo, Dinamica, Eletta)

De'Longhi's bean-to-cup machines, both our automatic and super-automatic models, have a built-in descale program that prompts you through each stage. These steps follow De'Longhi's instructions for the Magnifica Evo. Machines with a display, such as the Dinamica and Eletta Explore, show the same stages as on-screen messages.

1. Start the program. With the machine on and the descale alert showing, start descaling. On the Magnifica Evo, you press and hold the descale button for at least 5 seconds until its light flashes rapidly. On display models, follow the prompt or choose descaling from the menu.
2. Prepare the machine. Empty the drip tray and grounds container and put them back. Make sure the hot water spout is fitted.
3. Remove the water filter. Empty the water tank and take out the water filter if one is installed.
4. Add the descaler. Pour descaler to level A, add water to level B, and put the tank back.
5. Place the container. Put a container that holds at least 2 liters under the coffee and hot water spouts.
6. Run the descale stage. Press to start. The machine alternates between pauses and dispensing from the spouts, which takes about 15 minutes on the Magnifica Evo.
7. Run the first rinse. When the machine asks for water, empty the container. Rinse the tank, fill it to MAX with fresh water and put it back. Reposition the container and start the rinse.
8. Run the second rinse. Empty the container again and refill the tank to MAX. Reinstall the water filter if you use one, then start the rinse.
9. Finish up. When the machine shows that descaling is complete, empty the container, drip tray and grounds container. Then refill the tank with fresh water.

If you don't fill the tank to MAX for a rinse, some models ask for an extra one. Just repeat the step.

Descaling a Dedica

De'Longhi publishes one descaling guide for the Dedica and Dedica Arte. Check your manual for your version's buttons and dial positions.

1. Remove the water filter if one is installed.
2. Fill the tank with descaler diluted in water according to the pack instructions.
3. Switch the machine on. Remove the filter holder and place a container under the steam wand and coffee spouts.
4. Wait until the indicator lights stay steadily lit, which means the machine is ready.
5. Press and hold the descale button for 10 seconds, until the three buttons flash in sequence.
6. Turn the steam dial to the descale position, then press the button to start. The program dispenses solution with pauses until the tank is empty. Every so often, close the steam dial to send a little solution through the coffee spouts.
7. When the machine stops, empty the container. Rinse the tank, fill it to MAX with fresh water and refit it. With the steam dial in the rinse position, start the rinse.
8. Run a second rinse the same way, with the water filter reinstalled if you use one.
9. When the descale light goes out, turn the steam dial to 0 and refill the tank. The machine is ready to use.

Other Manual Machines (Stilosa, La Specialista Arte Evo)

The La Specialista Arte Evo has its own descale warning and program. Follow the descaling section of its manual, or De'Longhi's how-to video for the model. For the Stilosa and other pump espresso machines, De'Longhi says to use its descaling solution and follow the instruction manual.

Don't improvise steps that aren't in your manual. It's easy to skip part of the circuit or leave descaler behind.

Why the Rinse Matters as Much as the Descale

Descaler dissolves mineral deposits, and the rinse cycles flush that acidic solution out of the boiler or thermoblock, the spouts and the steam circuit. Always let the rinse finish. Never pull the tank or switch the machine off partway through.

If your first coffee afterward tastes sharp or chemical, run another tank of fresh water through the coffee spouts and the steam wand or hot water spout before you brew again.

Cleaning the Milk System and Brew Unit

LatteCrema Milk Carafe

Many LatteCrema carafes have a CLEAN setting. After you make a milk drink, run it as your manual describes to flush hot water and steam through the milk tube. Rinse the carafe parts after each use, and check your manual to see which parts are dishwasher safe. For a deeper clean, De'Longhi makes Eco MultiClean, a detergent designed for the milk circuit.

Manual Steam Wand

• Purge the wand for a second or two before and after frothing.
• Wipe it with a damp cloth right away, before milk dries on it.
• Remove the frothing sleeve or nozzle as your manual shows and wash it in warm water. Clear any blocked holes.

Brew Unit (Bean-to-Cup Machines)

De'Longhi recommends cleaning the brew unit every week. First, turn the machine off with the On/Off button and wait for it to finish shutting down. Then remove the brew unit and clean it with water only. Let it dry before you put it back.

Troubleshooting

The Descale Light Stays On

The rinse usually didn't finish. The tank may not have been filled to MAX, or the machine may have been switched off mid-cycle. Run the rinse again as your manual describes. Some models also have their own way of clearing the alert, which the manual explains.

Bitter or Chemical Taste

That's descaler residue. Flush one or two more tanks of fresh water through the spouts and the steam or hot water outlet.

Little or No Water Flow

Check that the tank is seated properly and has water in it, and that the filter is installed correctly. If the flow is still poor after a full descale and rinse, contact De'Longhi support or an authorized service center.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I descale my De'Longhi?

Whenever the descale alert comes on, with the water hardness set correctly on the machine.

What's the right amount of descaler?

Follow the descaler pack and your manual. On machines with A and B tank lines, pour descaler to level A (one 100 ml pack), then add water to level B (1 liter).

Do I need to remove the water filter?

Yes. De'Longhi says to remove the water filter before descaling. Reinstall it when your manual tells you to, which is typically for the final rinse.

Can I use vinegar?

No. De'Longhi says never to use vinegar, and an unsuitable descaler can cause faults its warranty doesn't cover.

Is the machine on or off during descaling?

On. The descale program runs with the machine switched on and ready. The only routine step in this guide that needs the machine switched off is removing the brew unit on a bean-to-cup machine.

Keep Your Machine Brewing Well

Descale when your machine asks, use De'Longhi's descaler, remove the filter first and always let the rinse finish. Add daily milk-system cleaning and a weekly brew unit rinse, and your machine will keep pulling consistent shots.

Still choosing a machine? Read our guides on manual vs. automatic vs. super-automatic espresso machines and how to use a De'Longhi espresso machine. You can also browse our full range of coffee makers and espresso machines.