How to Clean a DeLonghi Coffee Machine

Key takeaway: Rinse a DeLonghi coffee machine with fresh water daily, pull out and rinse the brewing unit with water only (no detergent, no dishwasher) on a schedule DeLonghi itself puts anywhere from weekly to monthly depending on use, and never reach for vinegar anywhere on the machine. This is separate from descaling, which deals with mineral scale rather than coffee residue.

To clean a DeLonghi coffee machine, rinse it with fresh water before and after daily use, remove and rinse the brewing unit (infuser) in water only roughly once a month or more often with heavy use, and clean any milk carafe or steam wand parts with a dedicated milk detergent straight after use. None of this replaces descaling, which is a separate process for mineral scale rather than coffee residue.

Daily Cleaning

DeLonghi’s own guidance is straightforward for everyday use: fill the tank with fresh water each day rather than leaving old water sitting in it, and run a rinse before and after use to stop coffee residue building up in the circuit. It’s a habit rather than a chore, and it’s the single easiest thing that keeps the bigger cleans further apart.

A scope note before you start: the removable brewing unit described below is a feature of DeLonghi’s automatic bean-to-cup machines. A manual pump machine like the Dedica doesn’t have this part; wipe its portafilter and group head after use instead, and see our DeLonghi descaling guide for how that range differs.

Cleaning the Brewing Unit (Infuser)

1. Switch the machine off properly. Use the On/Off button and wait for the full shutdown procedure to finish, then unplug it before opening the service door.
2. Remove the brewing unit. Push the coloured lateral buttons while sliding the unit out. If it won’t come out, don’t force it, restart the machine and repeat the full shutdown sequence instead.
3. Immerse the unit in lukewarm water for about 5 minutes, then rinse it under the tap and use a brush to clear any coffee residue.
4. Dry the unit thoroughly before putting it back.
5. Reinsert it by pressing the PUSH button until you hear it click into place.

DeLonghi’s own FAQs aren’t perfectly consistent on how often this needs doing, one page says weekly, its dedicated Brewing Unit guide says at least monthly depending on how much you use the machine. The practical takeaway is the same either way: the more coffee you’re making, the more often the brewing unit needs to come out, so treat monthly as the minimum rather than the maximum if you’re using the machine daily.

Two things matter more than the schedule. First, clean the brewing unit with water only, DeLonghi is explicit that detergents will damage the appliance. Second, it can’t go in the dishwasher, hand rinsing under the tap is the only method DeLonghi describes.

Cleaning the Milk System or Frother

If your DeLonghi uses a milk carafe, separate its parts and either run them through the dishwasher or soak them in DeLonghi’s Eco MultiClean (or another milk-specific detergent). If it uses a steam wand instead, separate what parts you can and soak them the same way. Either way, the real trick is timing: clean milk residue off immediately after use, since dried milk is far harder to shift than fresh milk and hardens inside narrow openings fast.

Common Mistakes

• Using vinegar anywhere on the machine. DeLonghi’s own cleaning guidance is direct on this: use its descaler, never vinegar.
• Washing the brewing unit with soap or detergent, which DeLonghi states will damage the appliance.
• Trying to put the brewing unit through the dishwasher instead of hand rinsing it.
• Forcing a brewing unit that won’t slide out, rather than restarting the shutdown sequence and trying again.
• Letting milk sit in the carafe or wand until it dries, instead of cleaning it straight after use.

Cleaning vs Descaling: What’s the Difference?

Cleaning and descaling solve two different problems on a DeLonghi. Cleaning clears coffee oils and milk residue using water and, where needed, a milk-specific detergent. Descaling clears mineral buildup from your water supply using DeLonghi’s own descaler and a completely different process; see our guide on how to descale a DeLonghi coffee machine for that side of it.

We’ll add a dedicated how-to-use guide for DeLonghi machines as this site builds out, alongside our existing Breville cleaning guide if that’s the brand on your bench instead.

Frequently Asked Questions