Learn how to descale your Sage coffee machine with our quick and easy coffee machine descaler guide.
Keeping your machine in top condition is vital to making great-tasting coffee.
It also helps to increase the longevity of the machine's life span.
Our Founder James compares looking after your coffee machine just as you would your car (servicing it every 10-15k miles).
I have included step-by-step instructions and a video guide to help you properly look after your machine.
How Often Do You Need To Descale Your Machine?
Thankfully, Sage have done the hard work. Your machine will give you an automated prompt when it needs descaling.
You'll need to ensure you have the appropriate descale cleaning powder.
You can either purchase the official Sage cleaner, which is recommended. Alternatively, a descaling solution for espresso machines will work well.
Look out for the descale message that appears on the machines displayStep By Step Sage Descaler Instructions:
1. Enter the menu on your display screen, scroll to descale (only appear if your machine needs to be descaled).
2. Next you'll need to remove the drip tray from your machine and find a 1L container that will sit underneath.
3. Then add 1L of warm water and add your Sage descale sachet into the water. Let it dissolve for 5 minutes.
4. Add this water to the water tank at the rear of the machine.
5. Now you're ready for start the descale process. Place the 1L container beneath the group head and ensure the hot water outlet and the steam arm are inside the container. This will be used to collect the descale residue.
6. Press enter to begin the cycle and follow the instructions on screen. It will ask you to alternate between the group head flush and the hot water. And the steam. You'll need to switch between functions manually.
7. After you have completed the descale process it's recommended to repeat the same flush process but this time without the descale solution. Empty your water tank and replenish it with fresh cold water. Now flush the group head, the hot water outlet, and the steam wand.
8. Your machine should now be ready to go and squeaky clean.
Citric Acid Descaler - Can I Use Vinegar To Descale My Sage Espresso Machine?
This question is perfectly valid, but the Balance Coffee team says a resounding No.
We've even consulted Sage directly to double-check this online myth, so we're here to debunk it once and for all.
Vinegar can damage the internal parts of a coffee machine, especially the seals and the rubber gaskets.
It's difficult to rinse, and the smell and taste will remain within your espresso machine for a long time, meaning you'll have tainted flavours (no one wants vinegar con leché).
Why Do You Need To Descale Your Coffee Machine?
Coffee machines are generally designed to be pretty straightforward; however, they contain lots of small parts with small holes and tubes helping to circulate and heat the water from ambient temperature to hot enough to brew your morning espresso shot. This is where it can become problematic.
Particularly in hard-water areas of the UK, such as London, water is extremely hard, and equipment and kettles become ideal targets for limescale build-up.
When you heat water, it begins to form a chalky substance and bits of debris—not what you want floating in your coffee machine.
This is why it's so important to descale your Sage machine periodically: if you don't, limescale deposits will begin to stick to internal parts and cause several issues, which we've outlined below.
Descaling your machine means you'll always get great tasting coffee!Three Common Signs You Have Scale Build-Up In Your Machine:
1. Cooler Water Temperature If your espresso shot is much cooler than you'd like and seems to have dropped in temperature, then limescale could well be the root cause. 2. Low Flow Rate If you are having dosing issues or the water flow that is being dispensed from the group head is different, then it may well be caused by scale buildup. Make sure you have descaled your machine and given it a thorough clean first, though.
3. Low Steam Pressure. If you have noticed a dramatic drop in your steam wand pressure, then it's likely it could be linked to limescale buildup.
Just like the group head, if limescale is blocking the components then it is likely to be the issue.
If any of these issues occur, you can contact Sage Appliances directly to resolve them immediately. If you're looking for a more general Sage cleaning rundown, then check out the Sage coffee machine cleaning guide we created to make sure you're giving it the TLC it needs.
