How To Clean Nespresso Vertuo & Original Models For Better Coffee Taste

Are you a new owner of a Nespresso Vertuo or Original machine looking for advice on how to clean it and keep it working at its best? Welcome to the club! You are in the right place.

Or maybe you have been using your Nespresso machine for a few months and are starting to notice that something is off. For example:

• The taste of your coffee is unusually bitter, burnt or metallic
• There are coffee grinds in your cup
• The temperature of your coffee is a bit cooler than it used to be
• Your Nespresso machine is not pumping water or brewing the expected volume

Nespresso recommends regularly cleaning your machine. If you haven’t been doing that, well… better late than never! Keep reading to learn how.

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Nespresso Machine Cleaning & Care Best Practices

Daily Care & Cleaning

• Only use pods made by Nespresso or an authorized partner like Starbucks.
• Refill the water tank on a daily basis using fresh water.
• Always eject used coffee pods right after brewing. Never leave them in the pod holder. If you do coffee grinds can get stuck there leading to a burnt or bitter taste in your next cup.
• Empty the drip tray to prevent overflowing and bacteria buildup.
• Empty the used capsule container
• If your machine has any milk frothing attachments or accessories, be sure to wipe those down immediately after use and clean them at the end of the day.
• Original line owners: make sure you never over extract your pods (e.g. never brew an espresso pod as a lungo). Be sure to check the sleeve for the recommended extraction size. Vertuo owners, no need to worry about this since the barcode on your pods tells the machine how long to brew them for.
• Original model owners: run a water only brew cycle with no pod in the unit

Weekly Cleaning

• Use a damp cloth with water or a mild cleaner to wipe down the exterior of the machine and under the coffee outlet. Never use any strong cleaning agent or solvent cleaner.
• Vertuo owners: perform a cleaning cycle using fresh water only, no abrasive cleaners (see instructions below)

Less Frequent Cleaning

About every 3 months or after 300 capsules, whichever comes first, you should run a deep cleaning cycle called “descaling”. If you have hard water, you should do this more often. This process will remove limescale buildup inside your machine. If ignored, this can cause problems over time with water flow, water pressure and temperature. Learn how to descale Vertuo machines or Original machines.

Why Cleaning Nespresso With Vinegar Is A Bad Idea

Thinking about how to clean Nespresso machines with vinegar? Don’t! For weekly cleaning, all you need is fresh drinking water. In fact, Nespresso specifically warns that you shouldn’t use vinegar to clean your Vertuo or Original model. White vinegar contains 5-8% acetic acid. This type of acid can wear down metal and cause your machine to leak. As a result, using vinegar to clean your Nespresso can void the warranty on your machine.

Cleaning Cycle Steps For Your Nespresso Machine (By Model)

How To Clean Nespresso Vertuo Next, Vertuo or Evoluo

• Rinse and clean the water tank
• Fill the water reservoir with fresh drinking water
• Place a large container under the outlet
• Eject any used capsule from the holder
• Turn the machine on and turn the lever left to the lock position
• Push the brew button 3 times within 2 seconds
• Within 2 minutes, water will start flowing out of the machine. The cleaning procedure will then run for 2-5 minutes depending on your model. The orange light will blink during this process.
• Wipe the coffee outlet with a damp cloth

How To Clean Nespresso VertuoPlus

• Rinse and clean the water tank
• Fill the water reservoir with fresh drinking water
• Place a large container under the outlet
• Eject any used capsule from the holder
• Turn the machine on
• Push the brew button 3 times within 2 seconds
• Within 2 minutes, water will start flowing out of the machine. The cleaning procedure will then run for 2-5 minutes. The light will blink orange when the process is complete.
• Wipe the coffee outlet with a damp cloth

Recommended By NespressoDude

Creatista Pro

• After frothing milk, wipe down the steam wand immediately with a damp cloth.
• Remove the used capsule container and wipe down inside the machine with a damp cloth.
• Eject the used pod. Place a cup under the outlet and run a rinse cycle by selecting the espresso or lungo option.
• Fill the milk jug with fresh water to the max lines. Place the steam wand in the jug.
• Select RINSE STEAM WAND in the menu. When done, discard the water and wipe down the steam wand with a damp cloth.
• Rinse the milk jug between each use. Clean with a mild detergent or in the dishwasher at the end of each day.
• You will also want to clean the steam wand parts on a monthly basis or when prompted by the machine. Go to menu selection and select CLEAN STEAM WAND. It will take about 10 minutes. Remove the water tank to access the cleaning tool and follow the instructions on the touch screen.

Creatista Plus

• After frothing milk, wipe down the steam wand immediately with a damp cloth.
• Remove the used capsule container and wipe down inside the machine with a damp cloth.
• Eject the used pod. Place a cup under the outlet and run a rinse cycle by selecting the espresso or lungo option.
• Fill the milk jug with fresh water half way between the min and max lines. Place the steam wand in the jug.
• Select the milk function and press start. When done, discard the water and wipe down the steam wand.
• Rinse the milk jug between each use. Clean with a mild detergent or in the dishwasher at the end of each day.
• You will also want to clean the steam wand parts on a monthly basis or when prompted by the machine.

Creatista Uno

• After frothing milk, wipe down the steam wand immediately with a damp cloth.
• Remove the used capsule container and wipe down inside the machine with a damp cloth. Also clean the coffee outlet.
• Eject the used pod. Place a cup under the outlet and run a rinse cycle by selecting the espresso or lungo option.
• Fill the milk jug with fresh water half way between the min and max lines. Place the steam wand in the jug.
• Press the steam button to start the wand rinse. When done, discard the water and wipe down the steam wand.
• Rinse the milk jug between each use. Clean with a mild detergent or in the dishwasher at the end of each day.
• You will also want to clean the steam wand parts on a monthly basis or when prompted by the machine.

Lattissima Pro

• After every use, remove the used Nespresso capsule.
• With no pod in the machine, run an espresso or lungo cycle to rinse the machine with water.
• Clean the coffee outlet with a soft damp cloth.
• Rinse away any residue on the hot water nozzle with clean water and a damp cloth.
• Wash all components of the rapid cappuccino system in the top rack of your dishwasher or by hand. No other machine components should go in the dishwasher! If washing by hand, soak in hot water with mild detergent for at least 30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

Lattissima One

• Eject the used pod. Place a cup or container under the outlet and press the Lungo button to run a rinse cycle.
• Clean the coffee outlet and machine surface with a damp cloth.
• At the end of each day, clean the rapid cappuccino system.
• Press the buttons on the sides of the milk jug to remove it.
• Unplug the tube. Position the milk spout vertically to disassemble it.
• Turn the the connector to the unlock symbol and remove it.
• Turn the milk froth regulator knob to the remove knob position and remove it.
• Wash all components of the rapid cappuccino system in the top rack of your dishwasher or by hand. No other machine components should go in the dishwasher! If washing by hand, soak in hot water with mild detergent for at least 30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

Gran Lattissima

• After each coffee preparation, you will want to empty the used capsule and press the Lungo button to rinse the machine.
• To rinse the rapid cappuccino system in between uses, place a container under the outlet. Turn the milk froth knob to clean position to start the cleaning process. Hot water and steam will flow through the milk spout. The rinsing process will stop automatically. Turn the knob to froth position.
• At the end of each day, clean the rapid cappuccino system.
• Press the buttons on the sides of the milk jug to remove it.
• Unplug the tube. Position the milk spout vertically to disassemble it.
• Turn the the connector to the unlock symbol and remove it.
• Turn the milk froth regulator knob to the remove knob position and remove it.
• Wash all components of the rapid cappuccino system in the top rack of your dishwasher or by hand. No other machine components should go in the dishwasher! If washing by hand, soak in hot water with mild detergent for at least 30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

How To Clean Nespresso Inissia, Pixie, Essenza Mini and CitiZ

• Rinse and clean the water tank
• Fill the water reservoir with fresh drinking water
• Place a cup under the outlet
• Eject any used capsule from the holder
• Turn the machine on
• Press either the espresso or lungo button and let the water flow through the machine to remove any residue
• Wipe the coffee outlet with a damp cloth