Whether you’re a lover of pods or a bean-to-cup brewer, coffee is a daily essential for many. But, your much-loved coffee machine needs to be cared for. Water is a key element in brewing perfect coffee, so descaling your machine is essential. Your cleaning routine will depend on the model you have, but usually, such gadgets require descaling every few months to remove limescale, oils and residue.

In hard water areas, this is even more important. Failing to descale your machine will not only damage it but will affect the flavour of your brew. Plus, there’s extensive research showing that bacteria and germs thrive inside coffee machines. A study of Nespresso and Krups machines revealed that bacteria live inside drip trays and can “spread to the rest of the machine as they multiply due to moisture”.

29 costly mistakes that could be making your appliances dangerous