Summarise this article with:
ChatGPT
Mistral
Claude
Perplexity
Grok
The Citiz is one of Nespresso’s most loved Original-line machines — compact, retro-styled and built around two simple buttons, Espresso and Lungo. But like any coffee machine, it only keeps pouring a rich, balanced shot if you look after it. Knowing how to clean a Nespresso Citiz properly takes the guesswork out of maintenance: a few minutes of washing, a weekly rinse and a descale every few months are all it takes. This guide covers the full routine for both the standard Citiz and the Citiz & Milk, plus how to descale it safely.
Why your Nespresso Citiz needs regular cleaning
Every espresso leaves a trace. Coffee oils splatter around the capsule head, used grounds sit in the capsule container, and heated hard water gradually leaves limescale inside the machine. Over time that build-up mutes the flavour, slows the pour and can stop the Citiz heating to the right temperature.
There are two separate jobs. Cleaning keeps the removable parts — the water tank, capsule container and drip tray — free of residue and bacteria. Descaling dissolves the limescale and mineral deposits that hard water leaves in the internal pipes. Stay on top of both and your Citiz will brew beautifully for years.
How often should you clean a Nespresso Citiz?
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Empty & rinse drip tray + capsule container | Daily |
| Wipe the coffee outlet and body | Daily / after milky drinks |
| Wash water tank, tray & container in soapy water | Every 1–2 weeks |
| Water-only rinse cycle | Weekly |
| Full descale | Every 3 months / 300 capsules |
If you live in a hard-water area or brew several cups a day, lean towards the more frequent end of each range.
What you’ll need
- Washing-up liquid and a soft, non-abrasive cloth
- A container that holds at least 1 litre
- Fresh water for rinsing
- A Nespresso descaling kit (or coffee-machine descaling solution)
How to clean a Nespresso Citiz: the 5-step method
Step 1: Switch off and remove the parts
Turn the machine off before you start. Lift out the water tank, eject any used capsule, and remove the capsule container, drip tray and cup support. On the Citiz these all detach by hand in seconds.
Step 2: Wash the water tank, capsule container and drip tray
Hand-wash each part in warm, soapy water with a soft cloth. Work into the corners of the water tank where a slimy film can gather, and tip the cold dregs from the drip tray down the sink first. Rinse everything thoroughly and leave the parts to air-dry. Skip the dishwasher and avoid scented detergents — both can taint your next cup.
Step 3: Wipe the coffee outlet and exterior
Coffee oils build up around the spout and capsule head, so wipe these with a damp, non-abrasive cloth, then give the body of the machine a quick going-over. If you drink milk-based coffees, do this daily to stop residue setting.
Step 4: Run a water-only rinse cycle
Reassemble the clean, dry parts and fill the tank with fresh water. Place your container under the coffee outlet, make sure there’s no capsule inside, and press the Lungo button to flush a full cup of water through. Repeat two or three times. This rinse clears old grounds and oils from the internal system and takes just a couple of minutes — it’s the single easiest habit for keeping your Citiz tasting fresh.
Step 5: Descaling solution to remove limescale from the machine : De’Longhi
For the deep clean, empty the drip tray and capsule container, then fill the tank with fresh water and a sachet of descaling solution. Place a 1-litre container under the outlet and enter descaling mode by pressing the Espresso and Lungo buttons together for about 3 seconds — the buttons will blink to confirm. Press to run the solution right through, then repeat the whole cycle with clean water to rinse the system. Because the exact light sequence matters and differs slightly across Original models, we’ve laid it out button-by-button in our full guide to descaling a Nespresso machine. The principle is the same one behind learning to descale a kettle: acid dissolves the scale that hard water leaves behind.
Cleaning a Nespresso Citiz & Milk (Aeroccino)
If you have the Citiz & Milk, the attached Aeroccino milk frother needs cleaning after every use — milk turns quickly and can harbour bacteria. Unplug the frother and let it cool, remove the lid and detach the whisk and seal, then rinse all three under warm water. Wipe the inside with a damp, non-abrasive sponge (never submerge the Aeroccino base) and dry everything before reassembling. A quick rinse each time saves a scrubbing session later.
How to clean a Nespresso Citiz without a descaler
You’ll find videos running white vinegar through a Citiz, and “can you descale a Nespresso Citiz with vinegar?” is one of the most common questions. The honest answer: Nespresso strongly advises against it. Vinegar and homemade acids are hard to dilute accurately, and the wrong strength can damage internal parts — especially the rubber gaskets, which may then leak.
The safest route is an official descaling kit or a descaler made for coffee machines. If you’d still rather use a natural acid, citric acid for cleaning is gentler and less pungent than vinegar and is the active ingredient in many branded descalers — though it’s used at your own risk on a Nespresso. The same caution applies to white vinegar: perfectly fine for a kettle, but not Nespresso’s recommendation for their machines.
Keeping your Citiz in top condition
A few small habits protect the machine between deep cleans:
- Use filtered or soft water to slow limescale and mineral deposits
- Leave the capsule head open after brewing so the inside dries
- Run a quick rinse cycle whenever you switch the machine on
- Store capsules somewhere cool and dry to keep them fresh
Treat it like any hard-working kitchen appliance and it’ll repay you — the same little-and-often approach behind our best kitchen cleaning hacks keeps a Nespresso Citiz reliable, hygienic and ready for that first espresso of the day.
FAQ
How do I run a cleaning cycle on my Nespresso Citiz machine?
With the tank full of fresh water and no capsule inside, place a container under the outlet and press the Lungo button to flush a full cup through. Repeat two or three times to rinse the internal system.
How do I clean my Nespresso machine after not using it for a long time?
If your Nespresso Citiz has been sitting idle for months, you should deep clean it by washing the removable parts in warm soapy water, running several water-only rinse cycles to flush out stale water or debris, and performing a full descale to ensure the internal pipes are sanitized and free of mineral build-up before your first brew.
How to get Nespresso CitiZ out of cleaning mode?
To exit descaling mode on a Nespresso CitiZ, press and hold both the Espresso and Lungo buttons simultaneously for at least three seconds until the lights stop flashing rapidly and become steady.
How do I descale my Nespresso Citiz?
Fill the tank with fresh water and descaling solution, place a 1-litre container under the outlet, then hold the Espresso and Lungo buttons together for about 3 seconds to enter descaling mode. Run the solution through, then repeat with clean water to rinse.
Can you descale a Nespresso Citiz with vinegar?
You can, but Nespresso strongly advises against it — vinegar is hard to dilute correctly and can damage internal parts and seals. An official descaling kit or coffee-machine descaler is the safer choice.
How often should I clean my Nespresso Citiz?
Wash the removable parts every one to two weeks, run a weekly water-only rinse, and descale every three months or 300 capsules — more often in hard-water areas.
Why is my Nespresso Citiz not making full cups?
A short or slow pour usually means limescale is restricting the water flow. A full descale normally restores the pressure and your cup sizes.
How do I clean the milk frother on my Citiz & Milk?
Clean the Aeroccino after every use: unplug it, remove the lid, detach the whisk and seal, rinse them under warm water, wipe the inside with a damp sponge and dry before reassembling. Never submerge the base.
