Descaling the De'Longhi Dedica
Descaling clears scale from the thermoblock and water path. De'Longhi recommends its own EcoDecalk; how often depends mostly on water hardness, and the machine shows a descale reminder.
Roughly every 2 months on hard water to every 6 months on soft, or when the descale light appears
| Soft / filtered water | Every 4–6 months |
| Medium-hardness water | Every 2–3 months |
| Hard water | Every 1–2 months |
Check your manual: These intervals are general guidance. Follow the descaling procedure and interval in your Dedica (EC685) manual; your water hardness determines how often you actually need to descale.
Step by step
- Empty the drip tray and fill the tank with De'Longhi EcoDecalk (or an espresso-machine descaler) mixed to the bottle's ratio.
- Enter descale mode as described in your manual (on the EC685, this is typically holding the steam button for about ten seconds) and let the machine run its cycle.
- When the cycle finishes, refill with fresh water.
- Run two to three full tanks of fresh water through to rinse before making coffee again.
- Use a descaler made for espresso machines - avoid vinegar, which can damage seals.
- Rinse thoroughly so the next shot doesn't taste of solution.
What you'll need
- De'Longhi EcoDecalk descaler
- De'Longhi water filter
See the De'Longhi Dedica upgrade guide →
De'Longhi Dedica maintenance questions
How often should I perform descaling the de'longhi dedica?
Use the cadence above as a planning reminder, then follow the De'Longhi Dedica manual because water hardness, usage, model revision, and machine alerts can change the interval.
Can I substitute a different cleaning procedure or product?
Do not assume procedures are interchangeable. These intervals are general guidance. Follow the descaling procedure and interval in your Dedica (EC685) manual; your water hardness determines how often you actually need to descale.