[kau]

We have extremely hard water so our espresso machine gets build up through it. The directions say directly do not use vinegar.

What do you use to clean out your machine?

[Dunerunner]

Never have, no calcium or lime in the water!

[bigmike787]

If you have a pour over machine, you really need to use some type of filtered water. The water in our area IS very hard. Buy a jug of water and use it for coffee only. I clean all my machines with Caffiza.

[Displaced Masshole]

Does that stuff work well?

My water out here is really hard as well, my Keurig has a built in filter, but I'm sure a good cleaning wouldn't hurt.

[bigmike787]

Those built in filters aren't really all that great, especially if you don't change out the catridge very often. Caffiza is recommended by most professional coffee organizations. There are other types, doesn't need to be the Caffiza brand, but you need a detergent to get out lime deposits and coffee oils.

[kau]

Dezcal I think is what we used last but using toxic chemicals worries me a little.

[conpewter]

I've only used vinegar, but since your machine says not to I'd go with the commercial products. I like the vinegar because it is not toxic (though it does smell up the room pretty bad!)

[Austin]

Originally Posted by conpewter

I've only used vinegar, but since your machine says not to I'd go with the commercial products. I like the vinegar because it is not toxic (though it does smell up the room pretty bad!)

I like the smell but the wife hates it. I cleaned my drip this weekend and she complained till I aired the house out.

[conpewter]

Then you should try boiling wort for an hour! Once I got the system in the basement with an exhaust fan built, my wife was much happier than the stove-top days.

[shelly_belly]

I wonder why not to use vinegar? Are they pushing their own high-priced cleaner?