Descaling version 2.1. How to descale a Saeco Xsmall coffee machine?

To ensure that the Saeco coffee machine from Philips always prepares delicious coffee and does not cause any hassle associated with operation, you need to pay attention to periodically cleaning the device from scale and deposits of essential oils. The user’s arsenal includes store-bought products recommended by the coffee machine manufacturer itself, as well as traditional methods, which are also not prohibited.

Philips Saeco coffee machine

Why do you need to clean your coffee machine?

During the preparation of drinks, organic deposits form on the internal parts and in the brewing part of the device. As it accumulates, it reduces the throughput of the device and leads to clogging. Consequences of this:

the taste of coffee changes;
the machine is noisier;
energy consumption increases;
accumulation of plaque and fat leads to device failure.

Coffee machine cleaner

Appliance manufacturer Saeco recommends weekly cleaning of appliances. To do this, it is enough to rinse the removable parts of the device under running water and make sure that there is no plaque on the circuits. Once a month you can descale using Philips Saeco CA6704 tablets. This ensures full functioning of the coffee machine without failures and with health benefits.

Xsmall 3 descaling procedure

Model number: HD8644–HD8647 with control dial.

1) TURN OFF the coffee machine. 2) Drain the drip tray and replace it. 3) Empty the water tank and fill it with Philips/Saeco descaling solution. Fill with fresh water up to the MAX mark and place the tank back. 4) Place a large container under the steam/water outlet pipe. 5) Move the control dial to the center “GRAIN” position. 6) Immediately press and hold the ESPRESSO and COFFEE buttons for 5 seconds. The machine will begin dispensing descaling liquid into the drip tray at minute intervals. The liquid does not come from the steam/hot water wand. This will take about 5 minutes. The descaling indicator will slowly flash orange until the cleaning cycle is completely completed.

7) When the greenish 2 CUPS indicator lights up steadily, turn the control dial to the HOT WATER SUPPLY position. After approximately 1 minute, liquid will begin to flow from the steam/hot water wand at minute intervals until the tank is empty. This will take about 15 minutes. When the greenish 2 CUPS indicator begins to flash slowly, move the dial to the center “BEAN” position. The 2 CUPS indicator will go out, and the reddish LACK OF WATER indicator will light up. 9) Remove and clean the container and drip tray, then replace them. 10) Remove the water tank, rinse it and fill it with fresh water to the MAX line. Install it in your car. 11) When the greenish 2 CUPS indicator lights up steadily, turn the control dial to the HOT WATER SUPPLY position. The machine will begin the process of filling the circuit. 12) When the greenish 2 CUPS indicator begins to flash slowly, move the dial to the center “GRAIN” position. The machine will start dispensing water into the drip tray. The liquid does not come from the steam/hot water wand. 13) When the greenish 2 CUPS indicator lights up steadily, turn the control dial to the HOT WATER SUPPLY position. Liquid will begin to flow through the steam/water outlet tube. 14) At the end of the rinsing cycle, the orange DESCALING indicator will go out and the EXCLAMATION symbol will start flashing. Move the control dial to the center “GRAIN” position. 15) The green STANDBY indicator will start flashing. The machine will heat up and automatically perform a rinsing cycle. 16) The device is ready for use.

Cleaning your Philips Saeco coffee machine

Regular mechanical cleaning is necessary for the removable structures of the coffee machine. To ensure that the drink is served at a stable intensity, monitor the condition of the coffee funnel. Another pitfall is the state of drinking water. Even purified liquid contains a proportion of minerals and salts, which are deposited on the heating elements of the coffee machine in the form of scale.

Lemon acid

To remove scale in Saeco devices, a special product, CA6704, is used. It is adapted to the functionality of the coffee machine and prevents rapid wear of parts. In addition to cleaning the main parts, you need to wash the cappuccino maker regularly. This guarantees the preparation of beautiful and tasty milk foam. The manufacturer has released Philips Saeco CA6705 for the cappuccino maker and milk jug. It copes well with difficult tasks such as dried milk and coffee particles.

Xsmall 2 descaling procedure

Model number: HD8743–HD8747 and RI8743–RI8747 with serial number less than TW901241438213 or greater than TW901434485351.

Descaling:

1) Make sure the unit is ON and the control dial is in the center “GRAIN” position. 2) Empty the water tank and fill it with Philips/Saeco descaling solution. Fill with fresh water up to the MAX mark and place the tank back. 3) Place a large container under the steam/hot water wand. 4) Turn the control dial to the HOT WATER position and pour out 2-3 cups of water (about 150 ml). Stop the water flow by turning the dial to the “GRAIN” position. 5) Wait approximately 10 minutes for the product to take effect. 6) Turn the control dial to the HOT WATER position and pour out 2-3 cups of water (about 150 ml). Stop the water flow by turning the dial to the “GRAIN” position. 7) Wait approximately 3 minutes for the product to take effect. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until the descaling solution in the tank runs out and the LACK OF WATER indicator glows steadily.

1st washing cycle.

9) When the NO WATER indicator stays steady, move the dial back to the “GRAIN” position. Rinse the water tank and fill it with fresh water up to the MAX line. 10) Drain the liquid from the container and place it again under the steam/hot water outlet pipe. 11) Turn the control dial to the HOT WATER position. The machine's rinse cycle will begin. Wait until all the water from the tank has been drained and the LACK OF WATER indicator lights up steadily. 12) Turn the control dial to the “GRAIN” position.

2nd washing cycle.

13) Rinse the water tank and fill it with fresh water up to the MAX line. Drain the liquid from the container and place it again under the steam outlet tube. 14) Place a cup under the spout and brew one serving of coffee. Press and release the ESPRESSO button. The coffee making process will begin. Wait until the drink is ready and remove the cup. 15) Place a container under the steam/hot water wand. 16) Turn the control dial to the HOT WATER position. Wait until all the water from the tank has been drained and the LACK OF WATER indicator lights up steadily. 17) Turn the control dial to the “GRAIN” position. 18) Rinse the drip tray and replace it. Reinstall the pannarello/cappuccino maker and INTENZA+ filter (if applicable). 19) Rinse the water tank and fill it with fresh water up to the MAX line. Install it in your car.

Alternative remedy

You can fight scale and plaque not only with commercial detergents. Do-it-yourself care is always better than no care at all. Citric acid will help get rid of coffee deposits and sediment. It needs to be diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 3. Usually, no more than 3-4 tablespoons of powder are added per liter of water. After filling the water tank, pass the liquid through the system by pressing the drink preparation button.

Coffee machine tablets

Citric acid cannot completely remove scale, especially limescale with an impressive layer of the substance. The manufacturer does not recommend using vinegar as a household aid. Acid can corrode internal parts of the device and weaken seals. This negatively affects the functioning of the coffee machine. High-quality cleaning is ensured by comprehensive care products for Philips devices.

Coffee break

Descaling

The main problem that owners of kitchen appliances have to face is the occurrence of scale. In the case of a coffee machine, the heating element of the boiler requires special attention. The cleaning procedure consists of 2 steps (descaling and rinsing) and takes approximately half an hour.

First, you need to drain the liquid from the drip tray, prepare a container with a volume of about 1.2 liters to collect water during the descaling process, remove the additional INTENZA filter from the tank, and also remove the panarello nozzle or cappuccino maker (depending on the model of the coffee machine).

Fill the water tank with Saeco anti-scale agent, add water to the MAX mark and install it in place. Turn off the coffee machine by pressing the button and place a container prepared in advance under the steam/hot water outlet tube. Set disk to coffee bean icon. Press and immediately hold the buttons with the image of coffee cups located in the center of the disk for 5 seconds. After which the reddish indicator should start flashing. The machine will continue to dispense descaling solution into the drip tray. A complete cleaning cycle takes approximately 5 minutes.

After the green indicator turns on, the cleaning agent must be drained from the reservoir. To do this, the disk is moved to the position indicating a hot cup of coffee, and after a minute, liquid will begin to come out through the steam/hot water tube. The whole process will take about 15 minutes. At the end of this cycle, the disc must be placed on the coffee bean icon, drain the water and product from the reservoir and return it to its place.

Fundamentally: all actions are performed with the coffee machine turned off. Otherwise, the coffee making process will begin. If this happens, you need to repeat the actions from the very beginning.

Why are home methods not always effective?

A coffee machine that is used regularly cannot do without maintenance. Using vinegar or citric acid on the appliance is a temporary solution. Descaling your Saeco coffee machine with alternative tools is slower. Vinegar leaves a taste in the water. In addition, using one packet of acid at once does not guarantee that the inside of the machine is completely free of sediment.

A side effect is possible damage to the pipes due to regular use of acids. A more gentle product is Saeco coffee machine cleaning liquid. It has a chemical composition, but is easily washed out of the system without leaving an unpleasant odor or taste. The liquid product is universal and suitable for specific machine models, for example, Saeco Xsmall, Lirika or Minuto. The Philips coffee machine is equipped with instructions that describe in detail the process of servicing the device with products of the same brand. Regular cleaning of the Saeco Xsmall coffee machine can be carried out automatically using a range of products (liquids, tablets or powders) to remove scale and deposits.

Xsmall descaling procedure 1

Model number: HD8743–HD8747 and RI8743–RI8747 with serial number TW901241438213–TW901434485351.

The started function must be completed to the end without interrupting the process. Unplugging the coffee machine will not cancel the process. If the descaling function cannot be completed, unplug the coffee machine, set the control dial to the “BEAN” position and TURN ON the machine by pressing the ON/OFF button. The machine will automatically resume the descaling function from step 6. Continue and complete the function.

Descaling

1) Empty the water tank and fill it with Philips/Saeco descaling solution. Fill with fresh water up to the MAX mark and place the tank back. 2) TURN OFF the coffee machine by pressing the ON/OFF button. 3) Turn the control dial to the “GRAIN” position. 4) Place a large container under the steam/hot water wand. 5) Immediately press and hold the ESPRESSO and COFFEE buttons for 5 seconds. The reddish EXCLAMATION symbol will begin to flash rapidly and will continue to flash throughout the descaling cycle. 6) The machine will dispense descaling solution into the drip tray at minute intervals. The liquid does not come from the steam/hot water wand. This will take about 5 minutes. Wait until the green “2 CUPS” indicator lights up.

Please note: If you do not turn the coffee machine OFF before pressing the buttons, it will start brewing coffee instead of starting the descaling cycle. If this works, repeat the steps starting from step 2.

7) When the greenish “2 CUPS” indicator lights up, turn the control dial to the HOT WATER position. After approximately 1 minute, liquid will begin to flow from the steam/hot water wand at minute intervals until the tank is empty. This will take about 15 minutes. 9) When the greenish “2 CUPS” indicator begins to flash slowly, turn the dial to the “GRAIN” position. The reddish LOW WATER indicator will light up. 10) Drain the large container and drip tray and replace them.

Flushing cycle

11) Rinse the water tank and fill it with fresh water up to the MAX line. Install it in your car. 12) When the greenish “2 CUPS” indicator lights up, turn the control dial to the HOT WATER position. The machine will fill the inner contour. 13) After which the greenish “2 CUPS” indicator will begin to flash slowly. Turn the control dial to the “GRAIN” position. 14) The machine will start dispensing water into the drip tray. The liquid does not come from the steam/hot water wand. 15) When the greenish “2 CUPS” indicator lights up, turn the control dial to the HOT WATER position. Then water will be supplied from the steam/hot water wand until the tank is empty. 16) After which the greenish “2 CUPS” indicator will begin to flash slowly. Turn the control dial to the “GRAIN” position. The reddish LOW WATER indicator will light up.

2nd washing cycle.

17) Drain the large container and drip tray and replace them. 18) Rinse the water tank and fill it with fresh water up to the MAX line. Install it in your car. 19) When the greenish “2 CUPS” indicator lights up, turn the control dial to the HOT WATER position. 20) The steam/hot water wand will supply water until the tank is empty. 21) Then the coffee machine will turn off. The reddish EXCLAMATION symbol will go out. Turn the control dial to the “GRAIN” position. 22) Rinse the drip tray and replace it. Reinstall the pannarello/cappuccino maker and INTENZA+ filter (if applicable). 23) Rinse the water tank and fill it with fresh water up to the MAX line. Install it in your car. 24) Turn on the coffee machine to make coffee.

How do you know when it's time to descale?

Saeko coffee machines signal that it is time to clean. On average, this happens once every three months, but it all depends on how intensively you use the device and the quality of the water. The coffee maker has a special meter that determines the volume of water and, depending on its hardness, recommends cleaning:

If there is a screen, the inscription “Descall” is displayed on it;
If there is no screen, the corresponding indicator on the panel turns on.

You can tell that it’s time to clean your coffee maker by the change in coffee taste – a little chalky, soapy, or cloudy.

Error code “E05/E14” was displayed

Cause

Various malfunctions and errors;
Device overheating.

What to do?

Unplug the coffee machine and let it rest for 1 hour.

Call us on tel. and get advice on the necessary actions when error code “E05” appears.

ADVICE!

The operating instructions describe the meanings of the indicators. , find a chapter that describes the meaning of the indicators and try to fix the problem yourself.

What happens if you don't clean it?

Saeco coffee machines are quite reliable and work for a long time, even when the system is very dirty. But it’s better not to do this, because you can ruin the mechanism, and the coffee won’t be as tasty. Here's what happens if you don't descale:

The drink turns out less strong, since the water cannot heat up to the desired temperature in a short time.
The coffee machine is noisier, heating water and its passage are complicated.
The volume of the drink becomes slightly smaller.
Due to improper brewing, a beautiful foam cannot form.
A whitish coating, microparticles, and scale fragments are visible in the cup.

Timely and proper descaling of your Saeco coffee machine extends its service life and ensures the perfect taste of coffee.

Best Recipes

For those who have never used coffee peeling, we can recommend the following recipes.

For dry skin

Would need:

1 tbsp. l. ground coffee beans;
2 tbsp. l. fat sour cream.

Mix the components thoroughly and apply to prepared, moisturized skin.
Leave for five minutes and massage.
Rinse off with warm water.

For normal or combination

Would need:

1 tbsp. l. finely ground coffee;
2–3 tbsp. l. washing gel.

Mix the components and apply to damp skin with light, massaging movements.
Leave for five minutes and rinse with warm water.
Then rinse with cool water.

Jessica Alba's recipe

Would need:

0.5 cups of yogurt without additives;
1 tbsp. l. finely ground coffee;
1 tbsp. l. warmed coconut oil;
juice of 1 lemon.

Mix all components thoroughly and apply to prepared, moistened skin of the face, neck and décolleté with massaging, light movements.
After 10 minutes, remove with warm water.

Before mixing the ingredients, check the reaction to lemon juice. In case of allergic rashes, use a different recipe.

With vegetable oils

You will first have to mix 1 tsp. olive, almond and jojoba oil.

Would need:

1 tbsp. l. oil mixtures;
1 tbsp. l. finely ground coffee.

Gently mix the ingredients, add a few drops of aroma oil and apply to cleansed skin.
Leave for 10 minutes and massage a little.
Remove with warm water.
Rinse cool.

With sea salt

Would need:

1 tbsp. l. finely ground coffee;
1 tsp. finely ground sea salt.

Mix the ingredients thoroughly until the salt dissolves and apply to damp skin. After five minutes, rinse with warm water.

For advanced acne-prone facial skin

Would need:

2 tbsp. l. granulated sugar;
1 tbsp. l. finely ground coffee.

Mix the ingredients and apply with gentle movements to the face.
Leave for five minutes and rinse with warm water.

With regular use of this type of peeling, everything, even advanced phenomena, goes away.

Cinnamon

This recipe also helps treat acne-prone skin.

Would need:

1 tbsp. l. coffee;
1 tbsp. l. honey;
1 tbsp. l. cinnamon;
1 tbsp. l. brown sugar.

Mix all ingredients until smooth.
Very thick mixture can be slightly diluted with mineral water.
Apply to damp skin and rinse after five minutes.

For body

The simplest method is to apply the grounds collected after drinking coffee. It is applied with massage movements to damp skin after a bath or sauna. Then wash off with warm water. After the procedure, it is recommended to rub the body with a towel until it becomes pleasantly red.