How to Descale a Coffee Maker or Electric Kettle

By Sam · Reviewed by CaseyLast updated July 12, 2026

To descale a coffee maker or electric kettle, run a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water through it (or a store-bought descaling solution), let it sit briefly, then flush it out with several rounds of plain water. This removes the chalky mineral buildup (“scale”) that forms from hard water over time, which is usually the cause of slow brewing, odd-tasting coffee, or a kettle that takes longer to boil.

How often: most households should descale every 1–3 months, more often if you have hard water or use the appliance daily.

Signs it’s time to descale

• Coffee tastes bitter, off, or different than usual
• Your coffee maker brews more slowly than it used to
• Your kettle takes noticeably longer to boil
• You see white or chalky spots inside the tank or on the heating element
• Steam or brewing sounds louder or more sputtery than normal

How to descale a drip coffee maker

1. Empty the coffee maker completely and remove the paper filter and any used grounds.
2. Fill the water reservoir with a mixture of half white vinegar, half water.
3. Place a paper filter in the basket (to catch any loosened residue) and start a brew cycle as if you were making coffee.
4. Halfway through the cycle, turn off the machine and let the vinegar mixture sit in the reservoir and tank for about 30 minutes.
5. Turn the machine back on and let it finish the brew cycle.
6. Discard the vinegar mixture and filter, then run two to three full cycles with plain water to rinse out any remaining vinegar taste.
7. Brew a test pot with a fresh filter and grounds — it should taste normal again.

How to descale a single-serve pod coffee maker

1. Empty the water reservoir and remove any used pod.
2. Fill the reservoir with a half vinegar, half water mixture (or a manufacturer-approved descaling solution — check your specific brand, since some recommend against vinegar).
3. Run a brew cycle without a pod inserted, into an empty mug.
4. Repeat 2–3 times, discarding the liquid each time.
5. Refill the reservoir with plain water and run 2–3 more cycles to rinse.

How to descale an electric kettle

1. Fill the kettle about halfway with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water (or a descaling solution made for kettles).
2. Bring it to a boil, then unplug it and let it sit for 20–30 minutes.
3. Pour out the mixture and rinse the inside thoroughly with plain water.
4. Fill the kettle with plain water, boil it, and discard that water as well — this clears any remaining vinegar smell or taste.
5. If mineral buildup remains visible, use a soft brush or sponge to gently scrub the inside before rinsing again.

Tips to prevent buildup from coming back so quickly

• If you have very hard water, consider using filtered or bottled water for brewing and boiling.
• Wipe out kettles and coffee maker reservoirs when empty, rather than always leaving standing water in them.
• Descale on a regular schedule (write the date on a sticky note somewhere visible) rather than waiting until performance noticeably drops.

Frequently asked questions