Archive for the ‘Accessories’ Category
For those of you who don’t know what a descaler is, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, when you type the term in Word, it shows up with a red squiggly line underneath it. To descale something simply means to remove the deposits that buildup from chemicals in water form. And as you can probably ascertain for that definition, a descaler is a product that facilitates this process.
Chemical buildup is an acute problem in areas that have hard water, due to the high concentration of chemicals. Buildup is perpetuated by heat, meaning that showers, laundry machines and coffeemakers tend to be the first to fall victim. With a quality descaler however, you can have you appliances running like new in just a few minutes.
Nothing is worse than waking up in the morning only to find that mineral deposits and buildup are impeding the flow of java from your coffee machine. Unfortunately, I faced that exact scenario this morning. Instead of being able to brew my own coffee, I was forced to wait in the long, snaking line that forms at the Starbucks drive-thru window every morning.
I am definitely not subjecting myself to that again, so I called my husband to pick up some espresso decalcifier on his way home from work. Typically, I just use vinegar in my machine, but my friend informed me that that method of cleaning coffee makers is now antiquated. Specialized decalcifiers not only do a better job, but they also won’t leave an unpleasant aftertaste in the machine.
My mother in-law is a coffee addict. I know that many people make that claim, but she is on a different level. Throughout the day, she drinks no less than 15 cups of coffee, and it seems like there is always a pot brewing on her countertop. A few days ago, however, she gave me a call and asked if I would come inspect her coffee maker.
She was complaining that the taste of her coffee was off and that it was taking an increased amount of time to brew each pot. I assumed that this was due to some in the machine—likely from her hard water—so I brought my Durgol over to her house. After quickly inspecting the machine, I found that my initial hypothesis was correct, and I had her coffee maker running like new in no time.
Any coffee addict knows the problems that lime and calcium can cause in your machine. While using vinegar or some other household cleaner will help the problem, a descaler is the only surefire way to eliminate the deposits and prevent future buildup. Not only will the descaler clean your machine completely, but it also won’t leave any residue or aftertaste.
Premium descalers, such as Durgol, use a proprietary blend of ingredients to create their cleaning formulas. Like most cleaning products, the main ingredient in a descaler is water. Some sort of acid usually follows this on the ingredient list, as well as a combination of other chemicals and cleaning agents.
After you’ve been using your espresso machine for a few months, chances are you will notice some changes. Perhaps the machine doesn’t brew as quickly as it used to, or the coffee may have an acrid taste. This is particularly common in areas that use hard water, as it has a higher mineral content.
When this build up occurs in your machine, it is often referred to as lime scale. The minerals tend to collect in the areas that are in contact with heat, such as the boiler and pumps. There are several methods to remove these deposits, but the easiest and most effective solution is to use a decalcifier such as Durgol.
As with most things, the best way to keep your coffeemaker performing to its potential is to clean it regularly. There are several options for this, but one of the most widely practiced is using vinegar. The process is quite simple.
Start by running a cycle of vinegar through your coffee machine, and stopping it three-quarters of the way through to let it soak. Once this is done, repeat the process with clean water before brewing your next pot. If you are like me and neglect your machine, chances are that there is some considerable buildup and mineral deposits impeding the flow. When this happens, you will need an espresso decalcifier to get your machine back in working condition.
Yesterday morning I turned on my coffee machine and went about my morning routine as I always do. When it came time to leave and I was preparing to fill my thermos, the coffee pot was barely half-full. I didn’t have time to deal with the problem then, so I was forced to spend an exorbitant amount of coffee at the snack cart in my office building.
When I got home, I decided to examine the coffee machine and see if I couldn’t pinpoint the problem. After doing some investigating, I found that there were calcium deposits and buildup impeding the drip of the coffee. I whipped out my Durgol, and the machine was looking like new in no time. And when I went to brew my coffee this morning, not only did the machine work like a champ, but the coffee tasted better too.
When most people brew their own coffee, they usually only consider the main components, such as the quality of the beans, the features of the coffee maker and what cream, sugar, or additional products they will be adding. There is one critical aspect of the coffee that is often overlooked: the water. When drinking a cup of coffee, the vast majority of it is actually water. As such, ensuring the quality of the water should also be a top priority.
Even if you live in an area where the tap water is safe to drink, it may be hard water. Hard water has a high volume of chalk and other minerals that can affect the taste and build deposits in your coffee machine. To ensure that you brew the best tasting cup of coffee and don’t have to use a decalcifier on a regular basis, use bottled or soft water when making coffee.
People who live in areas with soft water are in for a rude awakening when they travel to another city that has hard water. Hard water is caused when the surrounding land has a high concentration of chalk, so that the underground water supply that flows through it picks up a lot of chalk.
This chalk-tainted water eventually becomes drinking water. Hard water is a nuisance; it clogs up pipes, kettles and other appliances. In order to stop this from happening in your coffee maker or other appliances, you will need to use a descaler. Not only does hard water cause damage to your appliances, but the taste can also be difficult to stomach, especially for a person unused to it.
Most people cannot start their day without that first mug of coffee. Coffee has evolved from being just a pleasant start of the day beverage to a multifaceted social drink. There are cafes everywhere. In addition, coffee can be taken in a variety of ways. Coffee also can be prepared with a lot of different techniques; espresso coffee is one such preparation.
One shot of Italian espresso coffee and you will be glad somebody thought of this. It is coffee in its most concentrated form. It contains approximately three times more caffeine per shot compared to regular coffee. Also, because of the concentrated flavors, espresso is often the base for other coffee-based drinks like latte, macchiato and cappuccinos. To ensure that you get the best tasting cup of espresso, clean your machine with an espresso decalcifier periodically.