Guide · Descaling and cleaning
How to descale a Smeg bean-to-cup (BCC) machine
Smeg's descaling cycle for its BCC bean-to-cup machines, step by step from the official manuals: the button combination for each model, what you need, the rinse and setting water hardness.
If you’re looking up how to descale Smeg bean to cup machines, the main thing to know is that there’s no menu. You start the cycle by holding two buttons together, and which two depends on your model. This guide covers the BCC02, BCC12 and BCC13, using Smeg UK’s help centre and Smeg’s own user manuals, which we read on 3 Oct 2026. We haven’t tested this in person. Read how we compare.
To find your model number, check the box or the Smeg listing you bought from. Smeg UK’s shop listed the BCC12 and the BCC13 (the version with an automatic milk frother) on 3 Oct 2026.
When a Smeg BCC needs descaling
Smeg’s machines work out when to ask for a descale from the water hardness you’ve set. Every manual we read uses the same two signals:
- Descaling LED lit steadily: a descale is due. Smeg says you can still make drinks for a limited number of cycles, but it shouldn’t be put off, as scale can affect the taste and damage the machine.
- Descaling LED flashing: a descale is mandatory, and the machine won’t make any more drinks until you’ve done it.
What you need
- Descaler. Smeg says to use descalers it recommends, to avoid damaging the machine, and to mix it in the doses the descaler’s maker gives. Smeg’s own Descaler for Coffee Machines and Kettles was £7.99 at Smeg UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. See it at Smeg UK. Smeg warns that descaler contains acids that can irritate the skin and eyes, so follow the safety advice on the pack.
- A container that holds at least 1.4 litres. On the BCC02 and BCC12, it needs to sit under both the coffee spout and the steam wand. The BCC13 manual mentions only the coffee spout.
- About 30 minutes. Smeg asks you to stay near the machine, as you may need to refill the tank.
How to descale Smeg bean to cup machines: step by step
These steps are common to all three models, put into our own words:
- Remove any softener filter from the tank. The BCC12 and BCC13 manuals say to do this first.
- Place the 1.4-litre container under the coffee spout (and under the steam wand on the BCC02 and BCC12).
- Select the White programme, so the buttons are lit white. If they’re orange, press the button that changes the programme.
- Fill the tank to MAX with water and descaler, in the doses given on the descaler.
- Hold the two-button combination for your model for at least 3 seconds (see below). A button flashes orange and the descaling LED stays lit for the whole cycle.
- Wait. The cycle takes about 30 minutes, with pauses to let the descaler work. It’s finished when the tank is empty and the button turns white.
- Rinse. Fill the tank to MAX with clean water and press the rinse button for your model. The rinse is finished when the buttons turn white again.
The button combination for each model
| Model | Start descaling (hold 3 seconds) | Start the rinse |
|---|---|---|
| BCC02 | Middle circle button + third coffee cup button | Third coffee cup button |
| BCC12 | Change programme button + Coffee button | Coffee button |
| BCC13 | Change programme button + Hot water button | Hot water button |
For the BCC12 and BCC13, we’ve used the names the manuals give these buttons in the White programme. The manuals number them: keys 26 and 24 on the BCC12, and keys 36 and 32 on the UK BCC13.
Who this isn’t for: owners of Smeg’s manual espresso machines or other brands’ bean-to-cups, which use different methods. Our guides on descaling a Philips 5400 and descaling a Gaggia Brera show how other machines do it.
What to do if it doesn’t finish properly
- The descaling light is still on after the rinse. On the BCC02, Smeg says this means not enough descaler was used and you need to run another cycle. The BCC12 manual says the same if the change-programme button blinks white and the descaling LED stays lit at the end.
- The machine stops and asks for water. That’s normal. Smeg says you may need to refill the tank during the cycle, so top it up and let it carry on.
- The machine misreads the water level. The BCC02 troubleshooting table says limescale inside the tank can cause a false reading. Its fix is to clean the tank thoroughly and descale if needed.
If the cycle still won’t run, Smeg says any servicing beyond normal cleaning should be done by an authorised service centre.
How to descale less often
Set the water hardness. Smeg machines leave the factory set to “hard water”. Setting yours to match your local water means fewer descaling prompts. A test strip comes in the box:
- Dip the strip in a glass of water for about a second, shake it gently and wait about a minute.
- Read the result. 5 blue stripes means light water, 1-2 pink stripes means average, and 3-5 pink stripes means hard.
- On the BCC12, hold the Ristretto and change-programme buttons together for 3 seconds. Press the Ristretto button to choose the level, then hold both again (or wait 15 seconds) to save. Other models use a similar two-button combination, which is shown in their manuals.
Use a softener filter. Smeg recommends its optional Softener Filter. Once one is fitted, it says to set the water hardness to “light”. Remember to take it out before every descale. Smeg UK also sells a “single water filter for coffee machines” for £5.95 (checked 3 Oct 2026), but the listing doesn’t say which machines it fits, so check with Smeg before buying.
Where to go next
Our bean-to-cup machines overview compares upkeep across brands. If you like the Smeg look, see our Smeg milk frother review.
FAQ
Can you descale a Smeg bean-to-cup with vinegar? Smeg doesn’t suggest it. It says to use descalers it recommends to avoid damaging the machine.
How long does a Smeg descale take? About 30 minutes for the descaling cycle, according to Smeg, followed by a tank of rinse water.
Can you still make coffee when the descale light is on? If the light is steady, yes, for a limited number of drinks. If it’s flashing, no, not until you’ve descaled.
Do you need to remove the water filter? Yes. Smeg’s BCC12 and BCC13 manuals say to remove any softener filter before descaling.