Descaling

We recommend using filtered water with your 9Barista but if you live in a hard water area, you may find that limescale deposits build up inside the 9Barista boiler and around the heat exchanger coil. Small deposits of limescale are not a problem, but if too much is allowed to form it can begin to interfere with the function of the machine.

If you notice large limescale deposits forming, or if there appears to be a restriction in the flow path through the machine, we recommend running a descaling cycle. If you find that you’re having to descale your machine more often that once a month, we would recommend using a water softener to reduce the mineral content of your water.

Please note: it’s very important that you follow these instructions closely, as there may be a risk of causing damage to the plating of the machine if you do not. Always use the recommended acid at the correct concentration and temperature.

Which descalers do we recommend? 

We recommend using sulfamic/amidosulfonic acid descaler. These have shown the best results for removing limescale deposits from the 9Barista and are gentle on the plated parts. Our three recommendations are: 

Puly Descaler

• Puly descaler only. (NOT: Puly Caff, Puly Cleaner or Puly Baby)
• Available in 125ml sachets of liquid
• For light descaling: mix 31ml (1/4 of a sachet) with 100ml of cold water.
• For deep descaling: mix 125ml (one sachet) with 400ml of cold water.
• You can buy Puly Descaler from our webshop, here

Note: always follow the manufacturer's safety instructions, and ensure the liquid is completely mixed before use. 

Urnex Dezcal Liquid

• Liquid descaler only. (NOT: powder or tablet)
• Available in various bottle sizes.
• For light descaling: mix 31ml with 100ml of cold water.
• For deep descaling: mix 125ml with 400ml of cold water.

• Available in 125ml bottles
• For light descaling: mix 31ml (1/4 of a bottle) with 100ml of cold water.
• For deep descaling: mix 125ml (one bottle) with 400ml of cold water.

Note: always follow the manufacturer's safety instructions, and ensure the liquid is completely mixed before use.

Bravilor Bonamat Renegite Descaler

• Available in 50g sachets of powder.
• For light descaling: mix 4.5g (1/5 of a sachet) with 120ml of cold water. 
• For deep descaling: mix 16g (1/3 of a sachet) with 450ml of cold water. 

Note: always follow the manufacturer's safety instructions, and ensure the powder is completely dissolved before use. 

Light descaling procedure 

If you see limescale buildup on your heat exchanger coil and in your boiler, this will clean up your machine nicely. We recommend that you complete a light descale only when you see visible buildup, and no more frequently than once a month. 

Instructions: 

1. Mix one of our recommended descalers in a jug with cold water as per the instructions above. Ensure the descaler is fully dissolved before use and do not heat the solution.

2. Remove the boiler o-ring from the heat exchanger. 

3. Pour the mixed descaling solution into the boiler, up to the 120g "fill to here" line.

4. Carefully assemble the group head onto the boiler and screw the machine together until fully screwed down. 

5. Leave to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.

6. Unscrew the group head from the boiler and dispose of the solution. If any limescale remains, it will be softened by the process and can be removed by gently wiping with a non-abrasive cloth (do not scrub the machine after descaling, this can damage the plating).

7. If significant limescale deposits remain, repeat steps 3 to 5 with fresh descaling solution. 

8. Rinse the boiler and group head thoroughly and replace the boiler o-ring. Fill the machine with clean water and complete a brew cycle without coffee in the portafilter to flush the internals of the machine through. 

10. Discard the water and leave the machine to dry, ready for your next brew. 

Deep descaling procedure

We recommend a deep descale once a year to ensure good function of the machine. If you live in a hard water area, we recommend no more than once every 6 months.

Instructions

1. Mix one of our recommended descalers in a jug with cold water as per the instructions above. Ensure the descaler is fully dissolved before use and do not heat the solution. 

2. Follow our disassembly instructions to isolate the boiler and the heat exchanger. Ensure you have removed the valve pin, valve spring and boiler o-ring. 

3. Pour the mixed descaling solution into the boiler, up to just below the brim. 

4. Pour the rest of the solution into a tall vessel like a pint glass. The vessel should allow you to submerge the heat exchanger fully and while holding it upright. 

5. Submerge the heat exchanger in the solution. Bubbles will appear from the valve chamber for a couple of minutes while the coil fills with solution.

6. Drop the valve pin and valve spring into the vessel with the heat exchanger, but not in the valve chamber itself.

7. Leave both to stand for 15 minutes.

8. Dispose of the solution, taking care not to lose the valve pin and valve spring. If any limescale remains, it will be softened by the process and can be removed by gently wiping with a non-abrasive cloth (do not scrub the machine after descaling, this can damage the plating)

9. If signficant limescale deposits remain, repeat 3 to 8 with fresh descaling solution.

10. Rinse the boiler and heat exchanger thoroughly. Follow the reassembly steps in our disassembly instructions.

11. Fill the machine with clean water and complete a brew cycle without coffee in the portafilter to flush the internals of the machine through.

12. Discard the water and leave the machine to dry, ready for your next brew. 

FAQ

I already have citric acid descaler, can I use that instead?

Yes, but it is much less effective than sulfamic acid. If you have citric acid crystals that you'd like to use, we recommend a solution of 0.5g citric acid to 120g of water. Follow the same processes as above, using cold water and taking care to ensure that the crystals are fully dissolved before use. 

I already have lactic acid descaler, can I use that instead? 

No. Lactic acid descalers are very commonly found in supermarket descaling solutions. Our tests have shown that lactic acid descalers are extremely damaging to the plating of the 9Barista, so do not use them as they will damage your machine and void your warranty. Some examples of what NOT to use include:

Oust - 75% lactic acid solution

Gaggia decalcifier  - <10% lactic acid + <25% citric acid solution

Delonghi ecodecalk - 30-50% lactic acid solution

I have some descaler but I don’t know what’s in it, can I use that instead?

If you don’t know, it's safer not to risk it and we cannot guarantee they will not damage your machine’s plating. The recommended descalers are widely available, inexpensive and we’ve tested them to make sure they’re effective and safe on the parts.

I have some sulfamic acid descaler, but it also contains citric/lactic/another acid. Can I use that instead?

No. We don’t know how combinations of acids perform together and can’t recommend them.