Although you need one to two hours, the process on how to descale Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker isn’t as complicated as some might think.
Likewise, the descaling solutions you would need aren’t hard to find.
Allow us to guide you through this routine maintenance procedure so that you keep your machine running optimally throughout its lifespan.
Why You Need To Descale Your Coffee Maker
The water you use for brewing coffee has beneficial minerals, so each time you use your Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker, it leaves behind mineral deposits.
After all, Breville does not recommend using heavily filtered water, which has lesser mineral content, because it can do more harm than good.
In the end, it can negatively affect the machine’s electronics and your coffee’s taste.
That said, these minerals can build up over time and affect water flow and most of the machine’s functionality.
Descaling it with the right solution and procedure can help reduce and remove these deposits.
How Often Should You Descale Your Coffee Maker?
The good thing about the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker is that its screen displays the “dESC” message when it’s time for descaling.
However, it’s best to do so even before the message appears because seeing the message means enough water has already gone through the coffee machine.
Breville recommends that you descale the coffee maker every two to three months, depending on your drinking water’s hardness level.
The higher the hardness level or mineral concentration, the more often you need to descale your Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker.
It’s also best to make a note of how many cups of coffee you prepared before the screen starts displaying the “dESC” message.
This way, you will have a good idea of when you need to descale your machine without waiting for the coffee maker to inform you.
What Is a Good Descaling Solution?
How often you descale your coffee machine doesn’t 100% ensure your coffee maker will have little to no mineral deposits.
You must also have an effective cleaning solution that will not damage any part of the machine.
Fortunately, you can choose from various solutions to descale your Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker.
Some of the highly recommended and tried-and-tested ones are:
Commercial Descalers
With several appliances requiring descaling, you will find many brands offering descaling solutions.
The best ones offer the ideal balance between performance and value, have low odor, and don’t produce fume.
They are also available in several forms: powder, liquid, and tablet. Whichever you choose, make sure you follow the instructions on how to use these descalers.
Some require dilution because they are too concentrated, while you can use the others as is.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is among the most popular cleaning solutions, so it’s also not surprising that it is the top choice for homemade descalers.
In fact, it’s Breville’s highly recommended DIY descaling solution.
Thanks to its acidic nature, vinegar is also excellent for removing coffee stains, so you can dilute it 2:1 (water:vinegar) and use it to wipe the brewer’s exterior.
However, the vinegar’s smell can linger. That’s why you need to run two brewing cycles using only water before using your machine to brew coffee.
Citric Acid
As another acidic compound, citric acid is an effective cleaning and descaling solution. It has a lower pH level than vinegar, so you would need to run more descaling cycles when using it.
The good thing is that it won’t leave any lingering smell, so you can start brewing your coffee after the descaling process.
To prepare your diluted citric acid descaler, measure a tablespoon of citric acid pellets and dissolve them in a gallon of water.
You may use half a gallon of water if you want a stronger solution.
How To Descale Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker
Now that you have your descaling solution, it’s time to descale your Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker by following the steps below.
Step 1: Pre-Rinse
Plug your coffee maker and fill its tank with water to the maximum capacity.
Press the CUP/CARAFE button, then select the water volume indicated by rotating the DIAL.
Turn the STRENGTH dial and set it to PRE-GROUND. Do not add any coffee beans. Secure the lid by locking it in place.
Ensuring that the carafe is empty, press the START/CANCEL button to run one rinse cycle.
Once completed, discard the water in the carafe.
Step 2: Descale
Pour your chosen descaling solution into the water tank until the coffee maker’s display screen reads “4 Cups.”
Next, add clean, cold water until the screen says “12 Cups.”
Press the coffee maker’s CUP/CARAFE button and turn the DIAL to 12 Cups.
Press the STRENGTH button and hold it for five seconds to start the descaling cycle.
If you plan on pausing, which we don’t recommend, unplug the machine.
Wait until the cycle is complete or until the screen reads READY.
Step 3: Rinse
After the descaling cycle is completed, discard the water in the carafe.
Next, remove any remaining smell or residue in the coffee maker by running a rinse cycle. All you have to do is follow the pre-rinse step we discussed above.
Run two to three rinsing cycles if you used vinegar as a descaling solution.
Step 4: Clean and Allow to Dry
Discard the water in the carafe and rinse it thoroughly, together with all removable and washable parts, and allow them to dry.
Press the coffee maker’s MENU/EXIT button and unplug the machine.
Wipe the entire machine with a soft or non-abrasive, clean damp cloth, and dry it with a soft, microfiber cloth.
Once everything is dry, re-assemble your coffee maker. That’s it! You’re done.
Effectively Descaling Your Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker
Like your coffee grinder, you shouldn’t just clean your Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker regularly.
You also need to perform maintenance procedures, and one of the most important ones is descaling.
Doing so allows you to prepare a flavorful cup of coffee and protect your machine from any buildup that can damage its parts.
Be familiar with how frequently you should descale your machine and master the steps on how to descale Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker to the T.