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How to Clean and Descale a Nespresso Vertuo POP+

Learn when to run the POP+ cleaning rinse or descale, with the exact supplies, controls, timings and precautions for each procedure.

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For a routine rinse, run the POP+ cleaning cycle with fresh water. Descale separately when the machine signals that it is needed: the roughly 20-minute process uses Nespresso descaling liquid and a specific button-and-lever sequence. These POP+-specific steps follow Nespresso’s Vertuo Pop+ manual; do not substitute instructions for a different Vertuo model.

Cleaning and descaling: which should you do?

Cleaning is a water-only rinse that flushes the coffee path; it is also when you wash the removable parts. Descaling removes internal scale using descaling liquid followed by a fresh-water rinse. They are separate procedures, not alternatives: run the cleaning cycle for routine upkeep, and descale when the POP+ gives its descaling alert. Nespresso’s general descaling guidance also distinguishes descaling from regular cleaning and directs users to machine-specific instructions.

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What you need before starting

  • For a cleaning rinse: fresh drinking water and an empty container holding at least 1 L / 34 fl oz.
  • For descaling: one unit of Nespresso descaling liquid, 0.5 L / 17 fl oz of water, and an empty container holding at least 1 L / 34 fl oz. The POP+ manual specifies Nespresso descaling liquid; Nespresso support cautions that other products may damage the machine.
  • For either procedure: remove any capsule before starting. Keep soft, clean cloths handy for wiping and drying.

The descaling liquid can be harmful. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and surfaces.

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How to run the POP+ cleaning rinse

  1. Rinse the water tank and lid, fill the tank with fresh drinking water, and put it back on the machine.
  2. Open the head and eject any used capsule. Empty and rinse the capsule container and drip tray; rinse the cup support as well.
  3. Remove the cup support and place an empty container of at least 1 L / 34 fl oz under the coffee outlet.
  4. Close and lock the head, checking that there is no capsule inside. Wait until the light is steady.
  5. Press the button three times within two seconds. The rinse starts after less than two minutes, can run for up to seven minutes, and stops automatically when complete. The manual says you can stop this cycle by pressing the button.
  6. Wash the capsule container, cup support, and drip tray with hot water and mild, odorless detergent. Wipe the outlet regularly with a clean damp cloth, use a soft cloth on the machine, and dry visible water inside the head with a clean, dry cloth.

If coffee grounds are appearing in the cup, Nespresso support recommends running the cleaning procedure twice.

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How to descale the Vertuo POP+

Start this procedure when the machine gives its descaling alert. Nespresso’s POP-family assistance page describes the alert as three orange blinks; the POP+ manual governs the exact sequence below. Descaling takes about 20 minutes and cannot be interrupted.

  1. Unlock and open the head, eject the used capsule, and empty the capsule container and drip tray. Put the empty parts back in place.
  2. Mix one unit of Nespresso descaling liquid with 0.5 L / 17 fl oz of water in the tank.
  3. Remove the cup support and position an empty container of at least 1 L / 34 fl oz under the outlet. With the machine on, close the head but leave the lever unlocked.
  4. Hold the button for at least seven seconds, or until the light turns off. When the button blinks orange rapidly, you have 45 seconds to continue into descaling mode.
  5. Lock the head, unlock it again, then hold the button for about seven seconds or until the light turns off. Lock the head again. Rapid orange blinking indicates that descaling mode is active.
  6. Press the button once to start the descaling phase. The machine stops automatically when that phase is complete.
  7. Rinse the tank and drip tray thoroughly. Fill the tank with fresh drinking water, empty the catch container, and return it beneath the outlet. Press the button to begin the fresh-water rinse; the machine stops automatically when complete.
  8. Wash the capsule container, cup support, and drip tray with hot water and mild, odorless detergent. Dry them with a clean towel, dry any visible water inside the head with a clean, dry cloth, and let the machine dry for 10 minutes before use.

The POP+ manual states that the machine can enter descaling mode only after 30 or more coffees have been brewed. If it will not enter the mode before then, the alert or sequence may not yet be eligible.

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Cleaning and descaling mistakes to avoid

  • Do not use strong or abrasive cleaning agents or solvent cleaners on the machine or its parts.
  • Do not put the machine in a dishwasher or immerse the appliance or any part in water.
  • Do not begin either cycle with a capsule left inside the head.
  • Do not interrupt descaling or treat it as a routine water rinse; the POP+ manual says the descaling cycle cannot be interrupted.
  • Do not use an unverified household substitute for descaling liquid. The POP+ instructions specify Nespresso liquid, and Nespresso’s Vertuo Pop assistance page warns that other products may damage the machine.

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