How to Descale the Delonghi Eletta Explore (and other Delonghi Superautomatics)

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I hope this video will be helpful to some of you - the process should be the same for most Delonghi machines with a screen.

[@Lorec03]

Great video,Tom. Even though the process is fairly simple for all delonghi machines, I still found myself looking for a descaling video for my EC885 just to make sure Im doing it right. Surely it will come in handy for someone. Cheers!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

On this machine, it’s pretty straightforward, since there’s a wizard on the screen to do it. But I know that some people like to see a video anyway before proceeding. Since I had to descale anyway, I just thought I would document it. 👍🏻

[@vijithawettasinghe4489]

Thanks I did my machine under your instructions.

[@johne7100]

Yeah, I use a Pyrex loaf dish as well. Only for the descale pass I use plain tapwater - the descaler will make short work of any Ca++ in it.

[@SunriseLAW]

Tom, I use CLR instead of the Gaggia descaler for my GCP. It is a fraction of the cost and seems to have the same ingredients. I put Oxyclean in my blind basket for the backflush. Oxyclean has mostly the same ingredients as the official stuff at a fraction of the cost, I make sure to rinse really well. It is not so much 'cost' as it is convenience. I have CLR on hand for my tankless hot water flushing and oxyclean for laundry.

[@Albertojedi]

Hello Tom. This would be my to go superautomatic machine but unfortunately Amazon does not ship it to Puerto Rico any longer and locally there is nowhere to find it. It would be interesting to know how if there's a noticeable improvement in taste after the Bean Adapt Technology is applied.

[@cpbellamarie]

Can You rinse a couple times? My concern was because the solution is toxic so we need to rinse a couple times? Just trying to figure out this whole Machine care. 👏🏽☕️💛🙏🏽

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

It does have you rinse twice. But anyway, it's just a milk or citrus based acid. I wouldn't consider that toxic. Just make sure to give the container a good rinse out, before filling it with the water to rinse the circuit, twice. Cheers!

[@edwardrodriguez611]

Tom, thanks for another great video. I have this machine and love it. Quick question: would you recommend using reverse osmosis filtered water? I have an RO on my sink, but also use a whole house inline carbon filter. So far I have been using tap water because supposedly it is recommended to have water with minerals on it which reverse osmosis removes. I also use the filter inside the water reservoir. Thank you!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I’ll be honest, I’m definitely not the expert on water treatment. But I believe I’ve heard of people getting good results from reverse osmosis water. If I’m not mistaken, I think some cafés use such a system. Maybe just try both, measure the TDS, and see which one you prefer.

[@edwardrodriguez611]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thank you! By the way? How are you liking the eletta? Compared to the breville touch impress, do you think there is a significant, noticeable difference between their espressos? Thanks again!

[@takeajakebreak5713]

How long does that entire process take?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

25-35 minutes, if I remember right.

[@ArminArmin-gg4tt]

Hey! For espresso, at what number do you recommend I put the grinder and not to force the espresso machine? As coffee I use delonghi 80% Arabica 20% Robusta. Thank you!

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I generally run between 3-4 on mine, with fresh beans. Cheers!

[@ArminArmin-gg4tt]

@@TomsCoffeeCorner Thank you!

[@pemista]

Can you use Vinegar instead of the chemicals?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

I wouldn't, because then it'll smell vinegary for quite a while.

[@kniels2856]

Vinegar can also harm any rubber seals and hoses in the long run, so best not to use that. Citric acid, however, is very cheap and works great. You can buy it in granular form and often save even more. Espresso manufacturers have mostly switched to lactic acid or a combination of lactic and citric acid, most likely due to lactic acid's better anti-microbial properties. Depending on where you live, you might also be able to buy generically branded lactic acid at a reasonable price. This is the exact same chemical that DeLonghi uses in their EcoDecalc product.

[@pemista]

THANK YOU for this great help that clarifies everything plus tells me what to do best !!

[@gosman949]

I have an inline filter with my tap water. If so, do I need their internal filter on the machine? Will the filter detect the filtered water that I am putting in and decrease the descaling time period? If not, why pay for the extra filter?

[@TomsCoffeeCorner]

No, it has no scale detector - it's just based on shot counter. Cheers!