When to replace a coffee machine water filter
Author: AMT SerwisUpdated:
Take care of the water you use to brew coffee in your automatic machine. Find out how often the water filter should be replaced so you can enjoy delicious, aromatic coffee and protect your machine from breaking down.
The water filter in an automatic coffee machine is usually changed every 2 months or after about 50 litres of water – whichever comes first. The exception is Philips machines with an AquaClean filter, which count usage themselves and ask for a change after roughly 625 cups. With heavy use or very hard water you will change it more often than every two months; with occasional use the calendar decides, because the cartridge loses effectiveness even while it just sits in water.
How often to change the filter – 7 brands
| Brand | Filter | When to change |
|---|---|---|
| Jura | CLARIS Smart / Smart+ (older models: CLARIS Blue) | every 2 months or after ~50 l |
| De'Longhi | DLSC002 | every 2 months or after ~50 l |
| Philips / Saeco | AquaClean CA6903 | when the machine prompts – after ~625 cups |
| Siemens / Bosch | BRITA Intenza TZ70003 | after ~50 l or when the machine prompts |
| Nivona | CLARIS NIRF 700 / NIRF 701 | every 2 months or after ~50 l |
| Melitta | Pro Aqua | every 2 months or after ~50 l |
| Krups | Claris F088 | every 2 months or after ~50 l |
The values are a guide – the exact interval for your model is in the user manual, and most newer machines remind you themselves if the filter option is switched on in the menu. After fitting a filter, activate it in the menu: otherwise the machine does not count the water used and keeps assuming unfiltered hardness.
What happens if you miss a filter change
- Scale builds up faster than the machine thinks. With the filter active, the machine assumes soft water and asks for descaling less often. An exhausted cartridge lets hard water through while the machine still counts as if it were soft – and the thermoblock and valves scale up without a descaling prompt.
- A clogged cartridge restricts flow. An old filter can limit the water reaching the pump – the machine hums, reports no water despite a full tank, or delivers coffee intermittently; see coffee machine not drawing water.
- Water stands in a spent cartridge. A filter left in for months, especially in a rarely used machine, is no longer hygienic – which is why the calendar applies even if you have not used 50 litres.
If the filter has stayed in much longer than it should, replace it and descale the machine straight away (with the filter removed, as the manual says). If coffee is still lukewarm or weak afterwards, scale may already be blocking parts the descaling programme does not reach – request a free quote.
What affects the taste of coffee from a machine
The first thing that comes to mind is, of course, the quality of the beans. That is the fundamental factor, but not the only one. The taste of coffee from a machine depends heavily on several others:
- grind size – the finer the grind, the more intense and pronounced the taste
- water temperature – too low and the coffee will be bland and lacking aroma; too high and it will turn bitter and unpleasant
- the coffee-to-water ratio – getting the proportions right is key to a perfect cup, so it is worth sticking to the manufacturer's recommendations
- brewing time – coffee brewed too briefly can be bland and lacking aroma, while coffee brewed too long can turn bitter and unpleasant
- water quality – the water used should be clean and free of contaminants so that it does not interfere with the taste
How to look after the water quality in your machine
The simplest way to achieve optimal water hardness is to use filters. Hard water – which is what most of us have – can affect the taste of coffee for the worse. Water with a high hardness level contains more minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which settle inside the machine and restrict the flow of water through the coffee. That in turn changes the taste: the coffee comes out less aromatic, sour, or with an unpleasant metallic note. What is more, limescale is one of the most common causes of faults in automatic coffee machines. So to avoid these problems it is worth making sure the water you use has an optimal hardness – and a water filter is what makes that possible.
What a water filter in a coffee machine does
Water filters in coffee machines clean the water used for brewing. The water is stripped of contaminants, hard mineral content, and the smells and tastes that would otherwise affect the coffee. As mentioned, filtered water is also better for the machine itself, because it prevents limescale and other deposits building up inside the appliance, allowing longer and trouble-free use. Filters are particularly useful if you run your machine on tap water, which often contains hard minerals and other contaminants that can spoil the taste of your coffee.
How a water filter works
Water filters consist of a chamber holding a filter cartridge of some kind. Cartridges can be made from various materials, such as activated carbon, polypropylene, polyester or other filtration media. The composition varies between manufacturers and filter types, but they all do the same job: they clean the water by removing contaminants, hard mineral content, and unwanted smells and tastes. Some filters also contain additional ingredients, such as minerals, that can improve the quality and taste of the water.
How to change the water filter in an automatic coffee machine
Changing the water filter is a fairly simple job you can do yourself without calling on a service centre. The filter sits inside the water tank. To replace it, first disconnect the machine from the mains. Then you can get started. Begin by taking the water tank out of the machine. If there is water in it, pour it away. Start the replacement by removing the used filter, if one was fitted. Then wash the tank and fit the new filter. How the filter is fitted depends on the model: some screw in – you will find this arrangement in Krups machines, for example – while the filter in a Saeco machine is pushed into place. The manufacturer should supply instructions covering filter replacement for your particular model, and we recommend reading them before you start. Once the new filter is correctly fitted, refill the water tank, put it back in the appliance and reconnect the power. Then comes the last step: rinsing. Most appliances have a dedicated programme that runs an automatic rinse. If yours does not, do it manually – we suggest not using the water from the first tank for brewing, but pouring it away.
How often to change the water filter
How often the filter needs changing depends above all on the quality of the water you use and on the model of your machine. Some manufacturers express filter life in cups of coffee (anything from 150 to 600 cups per filter), while others give a volume of filtered water (50 litres, for example). Either way, on average the water filter in an automatic machine should be replaced every two months. That said, we encourage you to check your machine's manual, where you will find the manufacturer's precise guidance.
Do you still have to descale a machine that uses a water filter?
Yes. Even if you use a water filter, the appliance still needs descaling regularly. Filters effectively reduce the mineral content of the water, but they do not remove it entirely, so there is still a risk of deposits and scale forming in various parts of the machine. Water filters are an important element and genuinely help you look after both the technical condition of your machine and the taste of your coffee – but using them does not exempt you from the other maintenance the appliance needs.