Daily Meal Says a Flashing Orange Nespresso Light Usually Means Descale

A flashing orange light on a Nespresso usually means the machine wants to be descaled, according to a Daily Meal explainer published Nov. 3. The site says the same light can also come on for an empty water tank, a stuck capsule or a lever that isn’t locked, so it’s worth ruling those out before you reach for the descaler.

The reasoning is the familiar one. Minerals in tap water build up in the heater and the nozzles, slow the water down and make brewing temperatures less consistent. Daily Meal says the machine’s descaling sensor runs on a timer, and warns that ignoring it long enough can leave the inside permanently clogged.

Its steps: empty the drip tray, the used-capsule container and the water tank, then refill the tank with fresh water and a packet of Nespresso’s descaling liquid or another approved descaler. Set a container that holds at least 34 ounces under the spout, put the machine into descaling mode (on most Vertuo models that means holding the button or lever down for a few seconds), and let the solution run through. Rinse the tank, run a full cycle of clean water, and exit descaling mode, which per the article resets the counter and turns the light off. Daily Meal suggests descaling every three to six months. It mentions that some owners use diluted vinegar instead, but cautions that getting the mix wrong could damage the machine.

Our take: skip the vinegar and use a proper descaler. The step people usually get wrong is the button combination, which changes from model to model, and our Vertuo descaling walkthrough lists it. If the light is doing something other than a steady orange flash, our guide to Vertuo blinking lights decodes the other patterns.

Check descaler prices on Amazon