Guide · Nespresso Original
How to descale a Nespresso Citiz
Nespresso Citiz descaling from the official manual: what you need, the 3-second button sequence, the rinse, how often to descale and what the blinking lights mean.
Nespresso Citiz descaling is a 15-minute job that clears limescale from inside the machine. It’s worth doing on schedule: Nespresso’s troubleshooting table lists descaling as the fix for slow coffee, coffee that isn’t hot enough and no water coming through. We haven’t tested this in person. The steps below come from the Nespresso Citiz user manual for the EN167 (made by De’Longhi), which we read on 3 Oct 2026. The Citiz is also sold in a Krups version and a Citiz & Milk version, so check the manual that came with yours. Read how we compare.
Short answer: how to descale a Nespresso Citiz
Fill the tank with 0.5 L of fresh water and one sachet of Nespresso descaling liquid. With the machine on, hold the Espresso and Lungo buttons together for 3 seconds, then press Lungo to run the tank through. Pour the used solution back in and run it again. Rinse with fresh water, then hold both buttons for 3 seconds to finish.
Who it isn’t for: Vertuo owners. Their machines use a different sequence, so see our Vertuo descaling guide.
When the Citiz needs descaling
The EN167 user manual gives a schedule based on water hardness, counted in 40 ml espresso cups:
| Water hardness | Descale after |
|---|---|
| Hard (36 fH, 360 mg/l calcium carbonate) | 300 cups |
| Medium (18 fH, 180 mg/l) | 600 cups |
| Soft (0 fH) | 1,200 cups |
Nespresso’s service manual for the Krups-made Citiz refresh describes a descaling alarm, where both lights blink while the machine is in ready mode. The De’Longhi user manual we read doesn’t describe an alert, so don’t rely on one. Keep a note of when you last descaled, and check your water supplier’s website to find out how hard your local water is.
What you need
- One sachet of Nespresso descaling liquid. The manual says never to use any product other than the Nespresso descaling kit, to avoid damaging the machine. The French text of the same manual specifically warns against products such as vinegar, which it says can leave a taste and damage the machine. We couldn’t check Nespresso’s own prices on 3 Oct 2026, because its site blocked our check, and Currys didn’t list a Nespresso descaling kit when we searched that day.
- 0.5 litres of fresh drinking water for the tank, plus more for rinsing.
- A container that holds at least 1 litre, to go under the coffee outlet.
- About 15 minutes.
The descaling solution can be harmful. Keep it off your eyes, skin and worktops, and wipe up spills straight away.
How to descale a Nespresso Citiz: step by step
- Remove the capsule. Take out any used capsule and close the lever.
- Empty the trays. Empty the drip tray and the used capsule container.
- Add water and descaler. Fill the water tank with 0.5 L of fresh drinking water and add one sachet of Nespresso descaling liquid.
- Put the container in place. Stand your 1 litre container under the coffee outlet.
- Enter descaling mode. With the machine switched on, press and hold the Espresso and Lungo buttons together for 3 seconds. Both lights blink.
- Run the solution through. Press the Lungo button and wait until the water tank is empty.
- Run it again. Pour the used solution from the container back into the tank. Empty the container, put it back under the outlet and press Lungo again.
- Rinse the tank. Empty and rinse the water tank, then fill it with fresh drinking water.
- Rinse the machine. Put the container back under the outlet and press Lungo to run the fresh water through.
- Leave descaling mode. Press and hold the Espresso and Lungo buttons together for 3 seconds. The machine is now ready to use.
Nespresso’s service manual adds a warning not to open the handle during descaling, because hot solution can splash. It also warns that leftover descaler may be harmful and says to rinse thoroughly. If you want extra reassurance, run a second tank of fresh water through before your first coffee.
If something goes wrong part-way
The user manual doesn’t describe a recovery routine for an interrupted cycle. If the cycle stops before you’ve rinsed, don’t make coffee until the machine has been rinsed with fresh water. If the lights blink irregularly, the troubleshooting table says to contact Nespresso and send the machine for repair.
The Essenza Mini uses a 5-second hold, but the Citiz uses 3 seconds. If the machine doesn’t enter or leave descaling mode, check you’re pressing both buttons at the same time for the full 3 seconds.
Tips to descale less often
- Watch your cup sizes. The schedule assumes 40 ml cups, so Lungo drinkers will need to descale sooner.
- Clean the parts that come off. The manual says the drip tray and capsule container (the maintenance unit) come apart for easy cleaning. Wipe the coffee outlet regularly with a soft, damp cloth.
- Keep it out of water. Never put the machine in water or in the dishwasher, and don’t use strong cleaners, solvents or abrasives.
Downsides
- The user manual doesn’t include a clear reminder light, so you have to keep track yourself.
- The only descaler the manual approves is Nespresso’s own, and we couldn’t confirm its UK price.
- The rinse in the manual is a single tank of water, which some owners may want to repeat.
Where to go next
- Nespresso Citiz review
- Nespresso Essenza Mini vs Citiz
- How to descale a Nespresso Essenza Mini
- Pod machines
FAQ
How long does Nespresso Citiz descaling take? About 15 minutes, according to the manual.
Why won’t a Citiz go into descaling mode? The machine must be switched on, and you need to hold the Espresso and Lungo buttons together for 3 seconds.
Can you use vinegar on a Citiz? No. The manual says to use only Nespresso’s descaling kit, and its French text names vinegar as something to avoid.
Does the Citiz & Milk descale the same way? Nespresso’s service manual covers the Citiz and Citiz & Milk under one descaling procedure. Check your own manual to be sure.