How to descale a De'Longhi Magnifica Evo, step by step

The short answer

1. When: when the descale light comes on.
2. With what: De’Longhi descaler up to level A, then water up to level B.
3. How long: about 30 minutes, two rinses included.
4. No stopping: once started, the cycle cannot be interrupted.

Everything here comes from De’Longhi’s manual (ECAM29X.6Y - 29X.8Y EX:1 Bean to cup espresso and cappuccino machine, Instructions for Use). We have not descaled this machine ourselves. The model in our UK database is the ECAM 290.83.TB; its figures are in the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo profile.

Descaling the Magnifica Evo: the steps

The hot water spout must be fitted.

Phase 1: descaling

1. Press and hold the descale button for at least 5 seconds, until its light blinks quickly.
2. Empty the drip tray and the grounds container and put them back. Empty the water tank completely and take out the water filter, if one is fitted.
3. Pour descaler into the tank up to level A (a 100 ml pack), then add water up to level B (one litre). Refit the tank.
4. Place a container of at least two litres under the coffee spouts and the hot water spout.
5. Press the button: the programme starts. For about 15 minutes the machine alternates pauses and delivery.

Phase 2: first rinse

6. When the water tank light comes on: empty the container, rinse the tank, fill it with fresh water to the maximum level and refit it. Put the container back and press the button.

Phase 3: second rinse

7. Empty the container and fill the tank to the maximum level again. This is when the water filter goes back in, if you use one. Press the button.

Phase 4: finish

8. The grounds container light comes on: empty the container, the drip tray and the grounds container. According to the manual it is normal to find rinse water there.
9. Fill the tank with fresh water. The machine is ready.

If the tank was not filled to the maximum level for a rinse, the machine asks for a third one.

Which descaler

The manual says to use De’Longhi descaler only, and that an unsuitable descaler, or descaling that is not carried out regularly, may cause faults not covered by the manufacturer’s guarantee.

De’Longhi sells its descaler as Decalk Care (reference DLSC500, 500 ml). One cycle takes 100 ml, so one bottle covers five. On other De’Longhi country sites the same reference is called EcoDecalk (Decalk Care).

See the descaler on Amazon*

Water hardness and the water filter

The Magnifica Evo asks for descaling according to the water hardness level you have stored. The settings menu has four levels according to the manual. The water hardness guide shows where to find your figure in the UK.

According to the manual, a water filter means descaling less often. De’Longhi’s water filter (reference DLSC002) is, according to its product page, ideal for all De’Longhi automatic coffee makers and can be used for up to 2 months (Coffee Machine Water Filter).

See the water filter on Amazon*

Cleaning: brewing unit, milk carafe, containers

For the whole machine, the manual rules out solvents, abrasive detergents, alcohol and metal objects for scraping off deposits. It adds that no chemical products are needed for cleaning.

• Brewing unit: at least once a month. Take it out only with the machine switched off, through the door on the right-hand side. Rinse under running water without washing-up liquid; soak for five minutes if the dirt is stubborn. No dishwasher.
• Milk carafe: clean it thoroughly on a regular basis. The manual recommends the dishwasher, on a 50 °C programme. By hand: soak all parts for at least 30 minutes in hot water with washing-up liquid, then rinse carefully.
• Grounds container: empty it when the light comes on. The machine also asks 72 hours after the first coffee, even if the container is not full.
• Drip tray: empty and clean it before the red level indicator protrudes from the cup tray, and always empty the grounds container at the same time.
• Inside of the machine and coffee spouts: check and clean about once a month.

The schedule at a glance

When	What
When the light comes on	Empty the grounds container and the drip tray
Regularly	Clean the milk carafe thoroughly
Once a month	Rinse the brewing unit with water; clean the inside and the coffee spouts
When the descale light comes on	Descale, about 30 minutes

What this page does not replace

It summarises the manual and does not replace it: which button carries which symbol is shown in the instructions for your machine. The manual covers the ECAM 29X.6Y to 29X.8Y range; other versions of the Magnifica Evo may differ.

For the older Magnifica S, see how to descale a De’Longhi Magnifica S. The three Magnifica models are compared on the De’Longhi coffee machine page, and the general principles are in how to descale a coffee machine.