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Run the descaling (Clean) cycle: KitchenAid Semi-Automatic KES6503
Before you start
- Market
- Product Help is the US site (KES6503); the FAQs are KitchenAid UK (5KES6503)
- Time
- About 10 minutes (4 phases)
- Tools
- container of about 17 oz / 500 ml
- Supplies
- descaling solution for espresso machines (4.25 oz (~125 ml) with 8.5 oz (~250 ml) water)
Warnings
- Use only a descaler made for espresso machines. Source: KitchenAid Product Help (US): Descaling the KitchenAid Espresso Machine (Semi-Automatic)
- Do not use less water or descaler than stated: the cycle cannot finish with a smaller volume. Source: KitchenAid Product Help (US): Descaling the KitchenAid Espresso Machine (Semi-Automatic)
- Let all four phases finish before using the machine again; Start/Cancel pauses and resumes if needed. Source: KitchenAid Product Help (US): Descaling the KitchenAid Espresso Machine (Semi-Automatic)
The machine tells you when
This machine keeps count itself and tells you when this job is due, so follow the machine rather than a calendar.
- What you see
- Clean cycle indicator light blinks
- Shown as
- A light
- What it counts
- Water, against the hardness it is set to
- Depends on
- water hardness setting Low / Medium / High (0-60 / 60-120 / over 120 ppm)
Source: KitchenAid UK FAQ: How often to clean your espresso machine?
Steps
- Once, at setup: select Water with the Mode button and hold it 3 seconds to open the hardness setting. Optional Only when: setup, or after moving house
From the manual: “Toggle the Mode Button to Water, press and hold for 3 seconds.”
- Choose Low, Mid or High hardness with the Mode button, then save with Start/Cancel or wait 10 seconds. Optional Only when: setup, or after moving house
From the manual: “Toggle the Mode Button between Low-Mid-High to select desired water hardness.”
- Put about 250 ml (8.5 oz) of water and 125 ml (4.25 oz) of espresso-machine descaler into the tank.
From the manual: “Fill 8.5 ounces (~250 mL) water and 4.25 ounces (~125 mL) descaling solution inside the Water Tank.”
- Phase 1: stand a container of about 500 ml on the drip tray under the group head.
From the manual: “Phase 1: Place a container”
- Hold the Clean cycle button for 3 seconds, until the Clean light stays lit.
From the manual: “button for 3 seconds or until the Clean light is solid.”
- Press Start/Cancel to run phase 1; Start/Cancel blinks fast when it ends. Empty the container.
From the manual: “to start the first phase of the decalcification cycle.”
- Phase 2: move the container under the steam wand and press Start/Cancel.
From the manual: “Phase 2: Place the container”
- When Start/Cancel and the Water mode light blink fast, empty the container.
From the manual: “and Water Mode lights will blink fast after the second phase is complete.”
- Phase 3: put the container back under the wand; empty, rinse and refill the tank with fresh water to Max, and refit it.
From the manual: “Empty, rinse, and refill the Water Tank with fresh water to Max fill line.”
- Press Start/Cancel; when it blinks fast, empty the container.
From the manual: “Phase 3: Place the container”
- Phase 4: set the container under the group head again and press Start/Cancel.
From the manual: “Phase 4: Place the container”
- When the Clean light and Start/Cancel blink fast, empty the container.
From the manual: “Clean light and the button light will blink fast after the fourth and final phase is complete.”
- Press Start/Cancel to finish the cycle; the machine goes back to heating.
From the manual: “Press the button to complete the Clean cycle.”
Sources
- KitchenAid Product Help (US): Descaling the KitchenAid Espresso Machine (Semi-Automatic) Maker’s support page
- KitchenAid UK FAQ: How often to clean your espresso machine? Maker’s support page
- KitchenAid UK FAQ: How to programme espresso water temperature and water hardness? Maker’s support page
- KitchenAid UK FAQ: What do the buttons mean on the Espresso Machine? (names the 5KES6503) Maker’s support page
Researched on .
Published: the sentence is on the maker’s own page or in the maker’s own document.