Cheap Coffee Descaler

Tarnsie on 20/01/2015 - 12:09

Where can i find cheap coffee machine descaler for a fully automatic esrpesso machine (Jura J9.1). I think the brand of machine does not matter since most descalers work the same. I have a machine we use at work that i provide cost price coffee (so everyone saves cash) but we need to descale atleast once per week since its producing over 150 coffees per week.

I have emailed a few coffee places and most quotes come back between $6.50 and $7.50 per descale (Cost of descaler/ how many descales per bottle or packet).

General Discussion

Comments

  • Mobe1969 on 20/01/2015 - 12:16
    +2

    Honestly just go to ebay and buy a bulk bag of citrix acid. Or go to coles and get some citric acid from the cooking section, for smaller quantities. That is all it is. That is what I use, and I've had the same machine for 15 years (Rancilio Silvia) and only need to descale once every three years or so. And I use it every day.

  • Tarnsie on 20/01/2015 - 12:21

    Thanks, I will probably buy this: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CITRIC-ACID-1kg-FOOD-GRADE-/33070…

    Do you know if it will leave a bad aftertaste after descaling? i.e Can you taste the citric acid in your coffee?

    • Mobe1969 on 20/01/2015 - 12:31

      Yeah that looks like what I last got and currently use.

      Regarding aftertaste, you just have to flush it out sufficiently afterwards, and that includes all water paths (backflush, steam wand, grouphead). I just taste test the water I get out, until it is clean tasting. You could probably use ph test paper if you wanted to see when acidity low as your source water I guess.

      • ESEMCE on 20/01/2015 - 12:43

        ph Paper - If you're going that far, you could "tune" the descale solution concentration to match the scale buildup. It's an acid/base reaction, so if you have excess acid when you drain the machine, you had too much and it will have attacked the metal of the machine.

    • ESEMCE on 20/01/2015 - 12:33

      No it wont..
      it will rinse out easily provided you dissolve it properly first..

      Worst case if you don't properly rinse is that the first few coffees might have a slight tingle on the tongue..

    • Brouw3r on 20/01/2015 - 14:55

      Just get some from WW see here. Just rinse it with water a few times after and there should be no aftertaste.

      I would think that descaling it every week is over kill. Our work uses the lavazza blue pods and we only descale it every few months, and we would put at least 200 per week through it. However we are under no obligation to keep them running as if they die we just get a new one for free.

      • Mobe1969 on 20/01/2015 - 15:04

        Yeah WW one (or at coles as I'd suggested also) that will do the trick. But given the price, and the quantities you might use over a year, the 1kg bag from ebay is good value.

      • Tarnsie on 21/01/2015 - 11:19

        The descale light comes on every few days. Last time i ignored the descale warning for a while and the coffee machines pump failed due to 'stress'. The cost was $500.

        • ESEMCE on 21/01/2015 - 11:32

          Might be worth investing in a water softener then.. Descaling does incremental damage to the machine.
          The acid attacks the metal of the machine (albeit at a slower rate) as well as the lime scale.
          It's generally a non-issue cause most descale rarely.

        • Tarnsie on 21/01/2015 - 11:38

          @scubacoles:
          It does have a water softener but these are more expensive than the descale and they have to be replaced just as frequently.
          http://www.bhg.com/shop/home-improvement/kitchen-fixtures/ju…

        • Mobe1969 on 21/01/2015 - 11:41

          @Tarnsie:

          Or just get a water filter? I've always used filtered water in mine. And it has been going daily for over 15 years.

        • ESEMCE on 21/01/2015 - 12:02

          @Tarnsie:

          The janky softener's that come with coffee machines are a joke..
          They might successfully soften water for a week, a month at most (especially at your usage).
          I mean an actual softening unit that you put salt into and that has a backflush cycle to refresh the ion-exchange beads with Sodium ions.
          Properly soft water means no more scale ever!

  • bluesky on 21/01/2015 - 00:48

    We just use the woolworths homebrand white vinegar - very economical. Many comments here refer to citric acid. Does anyone know the pros and cons, or if one is better than the other? Thanks.

    • ESEMCE on 21/01/2015 - 08:25
      +2

      Neither is better really.
      Citric acid is a slightly stronger acid and tastes "nicer" if you fail to rinse out properly.
      But Vinegar (acetic acid) will still do the job plus you don't have to bother dissolving it, but you do need to be more rigorous when rinsing.

      • bluesky on 21/01/2015 - 16:36

        Many thanks.

  • what on 21/01/2015 - 01:05

    I have an Aldi coffee machine. I might try the white vinegar or citric acid to descale it next time. How much of the vinegar or citric acid should be used?

    • bluesky on 21/01/2015 - 01:11

      Approximately quarter of a litre. But as it comes out into the cup, you recycle it, and do this a few times. Later, flush with water.

      • what on 21/01/2015 - 01:14

        Thank you.

        • bluesky on 21/01/2015 - 01:17

          You're welcome. Just some additional info, the vinegar may change colour to a bluish tinge, this is probably the chemical reaction from the descaling.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2015 - 09:27

    I'm exploring my "value" options on descaling at the moment as well. Again <sigh>!

    We did use citric acid on our machines as well, as discussed, but after one of the machines died the techo at the repair shop said it wasn't a good idea. He recommended any commercial descaling solution or tablets available on ebay. He said the newer machines use a lot of plastics, which may be badly affected by citric acid if the dose is too high. I'm not sure, so if there is someone here with "inside" knowledge I'd love to hear.

    Q: What's the ratio of citric acid powder to water??

    So, the cheapest recommended option works out around $3.00 per descale. OK if you have a $1,000 machine, I suppose. The cynic in me says the commercial descalers are a con-job, just like branded inks for printers.

    On the citric acid, it can be had for $6 to $8 per kilo bulk, so that's cost effective.

    I'm still not sure.

    Anyway, I've just ordered some commercial stuff at the best price I can find.

    I'd love to see Choice or some other reputable consumer group do some tests on the this stuff.

    Cheers

    • [Deactivated] on 06/04/2015 - 09:38

      Further reading has indicated 1 to 2 tablespoons of citric acid to 1 litre of warm water is regarded as a "gentle" treatment.

      Metal and teflon are adversely affected by citric acid. Teflon, from what I read, will blister if the dosage is too high. One warning on this is

      "Higher concentrations of the acid solution, not watched carefully can cause damage to delicate finishes, quickly eating through the chrome on plated brass parts. The acid can also cause galvanic corrosion where two dissimilar metals meet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion) and quickly destroy your parts. "

      On the upside, most crap we buy these days is entirely plastic, so who knows?

      Be careful out there…

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