Vinegar is acetic acid and it does dissolve limescale. That does not make it a good descaler.
Why not
It attacks rubber and silicone seals. Acetic acid degrades elastomers over repeated exposure, and a machine is full of gaskets and O-rings.
It attacks some metals, including aluminium components and certain brass alloys, more aggressively than citric acid does.
The smell persists. Vinegar residue survives many rinse cycles, and the first several coffees afterwards taste of it. This is the complaint people report most.
It is not more effective. Citric and lactic acid descalers dissolve calcium carbonate at least as well at the concentrations used.
What to use instead
Citric acid — cheap, effective, food-safe, and available as a plain powder for very little money.
Lactic acid based commercial descalers — gentler on components, common in branded products.
The manufacturer’s own, if the machine’s warranty requires it. Some do.
Warranty note
Several manufacturers explicitly void warranty for vinegar descaling. Worth knowing before you do it.
The method regardless
Remove the water filter, run the solution through every path including the steam wand, then two full tanks of clean water.
The exception
A cheap kettle or a moka pot, where there are no seals to damage and no warranty to lose. There, vinegar is fine.
Last reviewed 8 August 2026