How to descale a coffee machine with citric acid

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Review of the Bosch TCA 5309 Benvenuto Classic coffee machine: features and photos.

A person who loves high-quality coffee realizes that the instant product is in most cases unnatural. If you use ground beans in production, which can even be brewed in cups, then the quality of the resulting product changes slightly for the better, but you can really get excellent results only by using a coffee machine. Often, even using such a device, it is difficult to prepare truly high-quality coffee. The machine can make the drink taste very pleasant.

Now the question is which device to choose. There are a huge number of devices on the market that suit different tastes and price requirements. The main thing is to choose the right car. You shouldn’t be guided by the motto: “The cheaper, the better.” If we are talking about coffee, then there is no need to save. The Bosch TCA 5309 Benvenuto Classic coffee machine can now be called a rather exciting option. We’ll talk about it specifically further.

Appearance and design

We'll look at how to use the device later. It is recommended to immediately talk about the appearance of the device. The rather massive dimensions of this device may initially repel the buyer. But, if you take a closer look at the functionality, this device has received impressive functions. There is a coffee reservoir at the back. In general, the appearance of the device is decent. The case is made of plastic, but it is of such high quality that it is quite difficult to scratch it. Even though it is glossy, the performance is excellent. It is recommended to highlight pallets, certain mechanisms, etc. among the iron parts. There are silver buttons on the front surface. They allow you to control this device. Therefore, in terms of design solutions, the Bosch TCA 5309 coffee machine is completely good.

Why is it better to choose lemon?

Manufacturers produce special equipment care products for their products. They effectively cope with the task, but often the cost of such compositions is high, and buyers are looking for a replacement. For example, citric acid. The cost is low, you can find it in a regular store.

Positive aspects of the method

Citric acid is a universal remedy . They can be used to clean any brand of coffee machine.

There are several positive aspects of the method:

1. The product is absolutely harmless to humans and the environment.
2. It efficiently cleans equipment even from old scale deposits.
3. Non-toxic by evaporation and heating.
4. Low price category.

In addition to the listed advantages, it should be clarified that citric acid is available for purchase at any hardware store or grocery store.

Negative points

As it turned out above, the use of citric acid is safe for a coffee machine. But you should know that you should use acid to wash stainless steel surfaces very carefully, as darkening of the tank may occur. In such cases, citric acid is used only in diluted form and with constant monitoring of the appearance of the equipment.

Citric acid to remove scale.

Features of appearance

In principle, among its rivals, this car is not very different in its external design. But still there are some differences. For example, here you can use good sized bowls. Although this is a design feature, it has an impact on the design. The body received strict stripes, also a traditional color scheme. That’s why the car will fit into any interior. This device is standard and universal. He can brew really high quality drinks. This is the described Bosch TCA 5309 coffee machine. The capabilities of this device amaze many.

Machine abilities

The most expensive devices are capable of brewing coffee from a small number of beans, adding a huge amount of frills to it. But this device does not have such broad capabilities. We are talking about an ordinary and reliable machine that is capable of creating a huge number of varieties of high-quality coffee. The Bosch TCA 5309 copes with this need with a bang. The device can brew espresso, latte, Americano and cappuccino, and in large quantities. There is a function that allows you to choose how strong the drink will be and what degree of grinding to use.

Also exciting is a feature called the Aroma Whirl System. The device pours boiling water over the grains before you start using them. Because of this, the smell of coffee is revealed one hundred percent, and the taste also becomes unsurpassed. How to activate the option is described in the annotation for Bosch TCA 5309.

Multifunctional Features

This coffee machine has a mechanical cappuccino maker. This is a tube through which compressed air is transmitted throughout the structure. It allows you to make foam from milk so that you can later add it to your cappuccino. In addition, the machine can provide just ordinary boiling water. This functionality is considered obvious for modern coffee machines, so there is nothing unusual in the above properties. In general, consumers note that the Bosch TCA 5309 Benvenuto Classic will be comfortable for use at home and in offices.

Requirements and rules

Basic

Cleaning with lemon juice is considered a safe chemical method. The main thing is to follow the proportions and rules of use. And then you will be able to avoid malfunctions in the operation of the coffee machine.

To properly descale your coffee machine with citric acid, please refer to the instructions for use. It will help you understand whether home methods can be used. Your coffee machine may have a special sensor and a self-cleaning system.

If your coffee maker has removable brewing units, wash them every 2 days. To do this, use running water. This will help prevent future breakdowns.

Before washing, make sure that there is no water or coffee beans in the coffee maker. This is especially true for carob-type devices and those with a coffee grinder. This way you can prevent unpleasant noise and malfunctions during the operation of the device.

Additional

When washing, pay attention to the sieve and holder. It is better to clean them under running water without special products or soap solutions, so that the drinks do not have an unpleasant odor or taste.

After cleaning the coffee machine, rinse its parts with plain water. This will remove acid residues and prevent salt stains and damage.

Interesting! Top 7 best descaling products for coffee machines

Follow the recommendations and quickly remove scale from the mechanisms of household appliances. The tips will also help if you don’t know how to descale your coffee maker.

Control

There is nothing complicated in operating this coffee machine. It is 100% mechanical. But it’s better to read the instructions first, since users often fail to make high-quality coffee the first time. Any Bosch TCA 5309 button is responsible for a separate function. For example, there is a button that allows you to select the serving size. There is also a button to turn on the cappuccino maker and adjust the degree of grinding. There is also a special button responsible for changing the amount of steam supplied and its pressure if you need to use a cappuccino maker. Overall the management is good. The interface is actually not overloaded and will be completely understandable for anyone. A beginner can handle this machine. Therefore, it is recommended to highlight: ergonomics is a well-implemented nuance of the Bosch TCA 5309. You can also choose a function in which all characteristics are set manually.

There are a huge number of positive and negative reviews. Consumers praise the assembly, materials, functionality, and also highlight the mode that allows you to automatically wash the car. In particular, people note the taste of brewed coffee. The Bosch TCA 5309 device allows you to drink not only a perfectly fragrant drink, but the quality is no different from professional. Naturally, it is necessary to use only expensive grains and better bottled water. Then the greatest effect will not be expected. Many people praise the cappuccino maker. He can whip up any kind of milk in order to add it to a drink.

As for negative reviews, buyers usually describe a manufacturing defect. Therefore, when choosing, you need to carefully examine the car and check for flaws. Some complain that this device brews weak coffee. But this is a matter of taste, marriage has nothing to do with it. You must receive the device only at specialized points of sale.

How to descale a Bosch coffee machine at home.

Even German quality is unable to protect the coffee makers of this popular manufacturer from limestone. Therefore, proper cleaning of your Bosch coffee machine is an urgent necessity.

Instructions for descaling different types of coffee makers

The method for descaling a coffee maker depends on the design of the device.
Machines with a removable filter and brewing unit can be easily washed under the tap in running water. If you regularly wash the device after making coffee, then thorough cleaning with citric acid or store-bought tablets can be done no more than once a month. Models with a built-in unit often have an auto-cleaning (decalcification) function, and if it is not provided, the scale is removed independently using a cleaning solution.

Most modern products are based on citric acid.

Descaling a drip coffee maker

1. Wash the filter with warm water and a soft brush (unnecessary toothbrush) and return it to its place.
2. Prepare a working liquid from citric acid: dissolve 30 g of crystalline powder in 4 glasses of warm water.
3. Pour the solution into the water tank. Add cold water to the tank up to the Max mark.
4. Turn on the coffee maker for 5-10 minutes. After 30 minutes, repeat the procedure and wait until the entire solution passes into the receiving flask.
5. If there are still traces of scale on the filter, dip it in a hot solution prepared in the indicated way and hold for an hour.
6. Rinse the filter well and replace it.
7. Run clean water through the coffee maker several times until the acid comes out completely.

If the glass vessel for collecting the finished coffee becomes cloudy, you need to fill it with a warm solution and rinse thoroughly after 30 minutes with water.

Descaling carob, pod and capsule coffee makers

The operating principle of these types of coffee makers is almost the same, the only difference is in the design of the receiving device for coffee powder. Therefore, the descaling methods are the same:

1. Unplug the coffee maker.
2. Remove used coffee from the horn (holder).
3. Wash the removable reservoir under running water and fill it with a solution of the product prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions, or a solution of citric acid (according to the recipe described above). Allow the working solution to act for 15–20 minutes.
4. Empty the pulp container.
5. Empty the water from the drip tray.
6. Turn on the coffee maker.
7. Release approximately half of the heated solution through the cappuccino maker nozzle, turning on the steam mode.
8. Pass the remaining solution through the empty horn (capsule holder) in the coffee preparation mode.

After removing the limescale, they begin to wash the inner surface of the coffee maker; the process consists of two cycles.

Rinse cycle for loading block and heater:

• fill the tank with clean water (up to the Max mark);
• start the coffee preparation program;
• Collect the rinsing water in a waste container.

Cappuccino maker rinse cycle:

• Fill the tank again with clean water (up to the Max mark);
• select and run the steam generation program. Collect the rinsing water from the cappuccino maker nozzle into a nearby container.

Cleaning with Auto Clean Mode

Modern coffee machines and coffee makers of the latest generation have an “automatic descaling” mode (decalcification). After completing the first 6 points of the algorithm described above for manual mode, you need to enable the “Auto Cleaning” function. The smart machine will do everything itself. All that remains is to add the cleaning solution or water by following the commands that appear on the device’s LCD display.

Helpful Tips:

• if the house does not have filters for water treatment based on ion exchange resins, use only bottled water with a salt content of 75 to 250 mg/l for brewing coffee;
• Do not mix solutions of branded products with citric or acetic acid;
• In order to clean the coffee maker from scale, it is prohibited to use abrasive products;
• Several servings of coffee brewed immediately after cleaning will have to be thrown away: they cannot be drunk.

Author of the article: Ilya Sokolov project manager, author of articles and editor-in-chief

The appearance of scale during use

The condition of such devices is significantly affected by the quality of tap water. The main reason for problems with limestone is excessive hardness or excessive content of minerals and salts.

Why and how scale occurs

The process of scale formation is the result of boiling hard water. During heat treatment, the liquid evaporates, and salts and minerals settle:

• on the walls of the tank,
• heating elements,
• inside water canals.

As a result, a snow-white or yellowish coating appears, which spoils the taste of the drink and can be harmful to health and can damage the device.

How to Find When Cleaning is Needed

To find out when it is necessary to clean the device, do not necessarily open the container and visually look for signs of plaque. A sure sign of stone formation is the appearance of corresponding sediment in the cup. Many Bosch models are equipped with a special scale sensor. When it lights up in a reddish color, you must immediately clean the device using the methods provided in the instructions.

How do you know when it's time?

The main signs of scale formation on the internal elements of the unit are the appearance of an unpleasant, musty odor and a deterioration in the taste of the drink (even if the proportions of the ingredients are strictly observed during the brewing process, the coffee turns out to be insufficiently strong and tasteless). The following may also indicate the formation of hardness salt deposits on the heating elements of the machine:

• humming, changes in the sound of the device’s electric motor, the appearance of extraneous noise;
• a significant drop in steam pressure during the preparation of the drink;
• the presence of tiny white flakes in brewed coffee.

Do you use your coffee machine often?

Not really

Many modern machines are equipped with special sensors with light indicators displayed on the unit panel, which after a certain time inform the owner of the electrical appliance that it is time to decalcify.

IMPORTANT! The correct operation of the sensors depends on the correct setting of water hardness indicators in the device settings: the higher the content of magnesium and calcium salts in the liquid used for brewing coffee, the more often decalcification should be carried out.

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Proper care of your coffee machine

There is no universal method for cleaning a coffee maker. Any type of device, different models require different maintenance methods. The only source of necessary information in these conditions will be the unique annotation attached to the coffee machine. If for some reason it is missing, the solution will be to appeal to Internet resources. Simply enter a specific device model into a search engine in combination with the word “instructions” and, most likely, you will find the necessary link to a suitable document in the search results.

Cleaning procedure

After familiarizing yourself with the operating instructions, you can choose the available method for removing limestone.

Cleaning Methods

Depending on the design features, you can choose one of two cleaning options: automatic or manual. Expensive, technically complex models are equipped with an automatic descaling system. In this case, the procedure may look like this:

• The product recommended by the manufacturer is loaded into the device,
• pressing a button starts the automatic program,
• after which all that remains is to wait for its completion.

Manual cleaning is a little more difficult: a product diluted in suitable proportions is evenly passed through the system. After about half an hour, the car should be washed thoroughly with cool water.

Special means

You can descale your Bosch coffee machine at home using special products. Such drugs are available in liquid or tablet form.

1. Top House, a German-made cleaner designed specifically for coffee machines, including Bosch. The watery formula allows you to completely get rid of scale in one use.
2. Topperr, another German liquid for effectively removing stone from coffee makers. Similar to the previous one, it was made taking into account the advice of the largest coffee machine manufacturers.
3. Bosch TCZ 8002, special pills for coffee machines, can be used in capsule-type devices. In addition to removing stone, they protect against oxide and corrosion.

Usually the manufacturer advises using unique products. But scientists consider such conditions only a publicity stunt and allow the use of products from various manufacturers.

Popular traditional remedies

The use of traditional remedies prepared at home is also contraindicated. But the experience of users indicates that some available drugs are harmless when used correctly. These include citric acid. In this case, 10 g of acid is dissolved in a liter of water and poured into a container. The following actions are similar to using factory cleaners. It is strictly unacceptable to clean the coffee machine with vinegar, soda, and especially cola. In general, comparison of the effectiveness of manufactured and traditional drugs is not in favor of the latter. The savings from using them are small, but the efficiency is worse.

What is important to know about cleaning coffee machines

All Bosch coffee machines are equipped with an indicator indicating that the machine needs cleaning; the indicator is activated after a certain number of prepared servings. There are no sensors in the coffee machine itself to detect that scale has formed; the sensor is triggered after preparing a certain number of servings of coffee. This is not a completely correct method, since depending on the hardness of the water you use, cleaning may be required either much earlier or much later. Many manufacturers make it possible to program water hardness.

To remove scale and fat deposits, special descaling tablets or a special cleaning liquid are used; the manufacturer, of course, recommends using only original cleaning products.

Is it possible to use vinegar, citric acid, cola, etc. for cleaning ? – it is very undesirable, if in the case of citric acid this can be done periodically (10 g per 1 liter of water), then we definitely reject the other options. There is a very high probability that over time some components or sealing gaskets will “fly”.