Why and how often should I descale my filter coffee maker?

Generally speaking, appliances that use hot water become calcified under normal circumstances. In order to extend the life of your appliance, they must be descaled regularly as part of the maintenance routine. Essentially, the frequency of descaling operations depends on the level of hardness of the water in your area. (Ask your local water authority for information about the hardness of the water in your region.) To ensure problem-free operation, Melitta® recommends regularly carrying out a descaling operation after 40 filter processes.

For thermal appliances, the descaling cycles should be shorter (after around 20 brewing operations). The heater in these appliances is not positioned below the keep-warm plate, but is instead hung inside the machine (like a horseshoe). There is always a little water remaining in the curve of the heater. This causes the appliances to calcify a little more quickly.

To descale your appliance, please do not use any agents containing acetic, hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid. Melitta® recommends that you use Swirl® Bio-Kalklöser or Swirl® Schnellentkalker. (www.swirl.de).

How will I know if my filter coffee machine has calcified?

The most commonly-occurring indicator that your coffee maker has become calcified is that it takes longer for the coffee to trickle through and there is more noise during the brewing process.

Are calcified deposits harmful to my coffee maker?

Chalk deposits in the water pipes of the heating element in a coffee machine reduce the effectiveness of heat transfer to the water and can alter the entire heating system.
If larger chalk deposits have developed, they can be dissolved using the appropriate agents, but often the small lumps of chalk block the coffee maker's circulating system and cause damage.
This is why Melitta® recommends that you descale your coffee maker regularly.

How do I clean the filter on my coffee maker?

The filter can be easily washed by hand using washing-up liquid or in a dishwasher. On light-coloured filters made from plastic, the coffee-making process can often leave behind dark-coloured staining. This has no effect on your coffee's aroma.
A filter made from stainless steel does not discolour and is absolutely taste-neutral. The Linea Unica® DeLuxe coffee makers have a high-quality stainless steel filter built in.