Coffee makers are prone to limescale build up, a result of having unfiltered water on board that is not treated. Most coffee makers come with a descaling program that creates a soda water solution to clean and purify the machine. When descaling the brewer, there are usually instructions that come with the machine which involve disconnecting the machine from the power source, and running the descaler. Once the descaling cycle has completed users may raise the question ‘is it safe to drink coffee after descaling?’.
First, it is important to understand the properties of descaling agents in order to examine the effects of consume. Descaling agents are generally comprised of citric acid and other materials, like phosphoric acid. Citric acid is a natural acid commonly found in many fruits and vegetables, and phosphoric acid is used to clean and sterilizes surfaces in many industries worldwide, including coffee production. Therefore, while they may make coffee taste wince it is important to understand that they are not hazardous in terms of safety. Therefore, the answer to the questions is Yes, it is safe to drink coffee after descaling.
In addition, it is worth noting that decaling does help improve taste and aroma of coffee, as well as the performance of the machine. Therefore, it is wise to regularly descale the coffee-maker, although some argue that it is something that should only be completed on an annual basis. However, seeking advice from the machine’s manufacture will provide the best advice on frequency of descaling. Unfortunately, when tasting the coffee for the first time after descaling, it can taste a bit strange to some people, so it is worthwhile to rinse the coffee maker a few times to flush off any descaler that may be left in the machine.
Effects On Health
When it comes to health, descaling agents are very mild and one should not worry about it’s effects on the body. As mentioned earlier, the descaling agents (phosphoric acid and citric acid) are very common in many foods, such as fruit and potatoes, and therefore in no way will should cause any health problems when consumed on an occasional basis. Nevertheless, taking caution by regularly descaling the machine and only using safe descaling agents is always advised.
Nutrition
Interestingly, scientific research suggested that descaling can also improve nutrition of the coffee. An impurity found in some of the leading coffee makers is calcium. Calcium is not harmful on its own, but consuming too much of it can cause risk of certain illnesses, such as kidney stones. Therefore, if calcium impurity is found in the coffee we drink after descaling, it is paramount that we look to reduce calcium amount in machine in order to reduce these health risks.
Environmental Factors
We have already highlighted the health benefits that come with descaling, but it is also important to look at the environmental impact of descaling in order to examine the overall risks associated with it. The good news here is that descaling causes very minimal environmental damage due to the fact that the descaling agents mentioned earlier are non-toxic, biodegradable materials. Therefore, the environmental damage is minimal and there’s no major concern when it comes to descaling coffee machines.
Maintenance
Another key factor to consider when it comes to the safety of drinking coffee after descaling is to look at how well the machine is maintained. Regularly cleaning and descaling the coffee maker helps ensure that the coffee does taste attractive and does not cause an unpleasant surprise in the cup. It is also important to pay attention to safety features such as built-in filters, temperature regulation and descaling features as this will help to ensure the best quality of coffee at all times and reduces health implications of, for example, the levels of impurities such as calcium found in the drinking water.
Overall Safety
Overall, it is safe to drink coffee after descaling, as long as regular descaling of the machine, with appropriate descaling agents, is conducted. In addition, looking to maintain the machine with regular cleaning, attention to health and environmental factors and testing of the drinking water will ensure that the coffee we drink is safe, tastes good and is healthy for consumption.
What To Look Out For
When descaling the machine, it is important to pay attention to the descaling agents being used. Seek advice from the manufacturer to make sure that they are safe, non-toxic and soy-based, which include citric acid and phosphoric acid. It is also important to look at the frequency of descaling, and as mentioned earlier, many argue it should only be done once a year or biannually. It is also important to rinse the machine with clean water several times after descaling to make sure that any descaling agent that remains in the machine does not enter the coffee.
Tasting Coffee After Descaler
After descaling it is normal to experience an alteration in taste, it is however important to note that this is just temporary and will fade away after the machine has been thoroughly rinsed. This could be because the descaling agent may still be in the machine and affect the flavour of the coffee. Therefore, rinsing the machine with several cycles of potable water until the taste of the descaler fades away is recommended before drinking the coffee.
How To Descaling A Coffee Maker
Descaling is a simple process. All you need to do is fill the water reservoir with the descaling agent and then begin the descaling cycle. It is important to follow the instructions given by the manufacturer and always keep safety in mind when descaling, by making sure to unplug the machine from the power source. After the descaling cycle is complete, it is important to rinse the machine several times with potable water to flush away the descaling agents that remain in the machine.
Conclusion
In conclusion, descaling coffee makers is safe and should be done regularly in order to maintain good coffee taste and performance. Descalers used to generally be comprised of dangerous materials, but today are mostly made up of non-toxic, biodegradable materials, like phosphoric acid and citric acid. When descaling, it is important to make sure the descaling agent is appropriate, and then rinse the machine several times after the cycle is complete. In short, yes it is safe to drink coffee after descaling, though it is recommended to take several precautionary measures.
