The fortunate new owner of a Nespresso machine, or curious reader: Let’s talk about how to properly operate a Nespresso coffee maker.
Nespresso’s biggest strength is convenience – and we will keep that in mind at all times when learning how to use these coffee makers.
As you would expect, the level of difficulty when using a Nespresso is incredibly low… It used to be that, to make an espresso, you had to be trained on using the espresso machine, a process that could take quite some time to get right, and years to master.
Nespresso, however, gives you a perfect espresso without any sort of hassle. One-touch espresso is their mantra and it’s a pretty good one.
14 Reasons You Should Buy Nespresso Machine— View what they are, here.
How to use your Nespresso coffee maker: The basics
So, you’ve plugged in your machine – what now?
Well, first of all, don’t make any coffee yet. It is important that your first rinse with your machine with hot water to get it going: Fill the water tank all the way up and then press any of the buttons on your coffee machine. It will then “brew” hot water to rinse the machine from the inside out. Oh, and don’t forget to place a cup on the tray, otherwise you’ll get wet!
Now that that’s been taken care of, your machine is truly ready to make coffee: Sitting there, atop your kitchen counter, full of possibilities. Where, how to start?
How to make coffee
- Make sure your water tank is full. It is usually recommended to keep your water tank at 90% capacity.
- Insert a coffee capsule in the capsule compartment. Additionally, check the used capsule container and dispose of any used capsules – stale coffee is bad for your machine.
- Place a coffee cup on your Nespresso’s tray – then simply push the button according to the drink you want to make. Espresso, in most cases, right?
- Wait just a little bit -Nespresso coffee makers are the fastest single-serve coffee makers out there- and now you can drink your freshly brewed espresso.
Taking proper care of your machine
80% of using your Nespresso is taking care of it – basically, paying attention to keeping your machine functioning at its best by keeping it clean, etc. Although it may sound simple, there’s a lot that can go wrong but, fortunately, you can prevent most problems by just taking care of your machine. Let’s see how we can do this:
Keep the water tank empty when not in use. Particularly, don’t leave water overnight or for days in there – all water (and tap water most of all) contains certain minerals and sediment that can damage your water tank in time.
While it’s fairly easy to get a replacement one from Nespresso, it’s better to avoid having to replace it. Rinse your water tank and fill it with fresh water every morning.
Descale your machine every once in a while. Depending on the level of hardness of your tap water, you’ll need to do this maximum once a month – but never go more than three months without descaling your machine.
Most Nespresso machines will alert you when they need a Descaling – though it’s better to do it before this happens because by then you won’t be able to make coffee. Don’t want this to catch you with your guard down one morning, right?
Be prepared: Always have a couple of Descaling kits (from Nespresso) around, and be sure to descale your machine as soon as you start to feel like the coffee flow isn’t the same as before – or it could be something as small as it takes two extra seconds to brew coffee.
View our guide on how to descale your Nespresso machine, in this article.
Clean your machine daily this is probably obvious, but it’s very much worth mentioning. The biggest issue with single-serve machines is that, subconsciously, we think of them as sort of vending machines: There’s a certain distance and impersonality when using these machines.
That results, however, in a reduced sense of responsibility when it comes to machine maintenance. Nespresso machines’ biggest issue is the used capsule container. And the bigger it is, the worse it can get: If you happen to forget to had used capsules in there, and they’ve been sitting in there for a few days… it’s, to put it mildly, not great.
Coffee oils go rancid, and wet coffee grounds can also attract mold that will grow on the inside of your machine. Best to keep your used capsule container clean by emptying it once a day, and taking the time to clean any loose coffee grounds that might be around.
If you ever happen to forget about used capsules and they end up sitting inside your Nespresso machine for a few days, be sure to dispose of them right away, and running hot water through your machine just in case – best to be sure.
With this, you’re all set to start making coffee and enjoy your Nespresso machine at its fullest.
View more Nespresso-related articles:
- Best Nespresso Machines (Review & Buying Guide)
- 7 Best Nespresso Compatible Capsules
- Coffee Insight: Lavazza VS Nespresso
- Definitive Guide to Proper Nespresso Maintenance
- Nespresso VS Espresso (Review & Comparison)
