Chemistry Majors...

[GC7]

Vinegar is mainly citric acid in dilute form (a few % to slightly more).  You are fine.

We have well water that is hard and I take my Pina kettle and clean it in 5% solution of citric acid every couple of months. It's good as new after treatment.

[MGLloyd]

^^^^ Uh, no.  Vinegar is dilute acetic acid.

I knew that 30 year old masters in chemistry would come in handy some day.

I myself use a citric acid solution to clean my espresso and coffee gear.  I bought a five pound bag of powdered citric acid at a soap-making store a couple of decades ago, and I still have a couple of pounds left. Cheap, easy and works well.  Be sure to rinse thoroughly when you are done, and you are good to go.   

[GC7]

Oops - my bad.  Sorry you're right.

[BoldJava]

Oops - my bad.  Sorry you're right.

Hey, I majored in business -- they both have -tics in them.  Close enough.

B|Java

[GC7]

B|golfer - As an engineer I work with tells me all the time with a grin on his face -"close enough for biology".  It's what I get for posting before thinking.

[Tex]

^^^^ Uh, no.  Vinegar is dilute acetic acid.

I knew that 30 year old masters in chemistry would come in handy some day.

I myself use a citric acid solution to clean my espresso and coffee gear.  I bought a five pound bag of powdered citric acid at a soap-making store a couple of decades ago, and I still have a couple of pounds left. Cheap, easy and works well.  Be sure to rinse thoroughly when you are done, and you are good to go.   

Here's where I get my citric acid - usually 2 lbs at a time. It's also a good place to buy bulk spices if you've got friends to split bulk orders?

[BoldJava]

Hario Buono kettle + C6H8O7 = Bad News

Let's just say Peter wasn't available and that left me as guinea goat.  First pot from the sparkling clean Hario kettle is ... ahm....not nice.  I washed it twice, boiled about 4 pots through it, rinsed it numerous times.  

Holy cannoli.  I'm headed to the kitchen to brew a vacpot.  Mercy.  Where is that magic clip that Peter engineered?  Braun taking over.

B|Java

[GC7]

Hard to believe mild citric acid will ruin your kettle. 

Did you taste the water alone after boiling in the kettle?

[peter]

Holy cannoli.  I'm headed to the kitchen to brew a vacpot.  Mercy.  Where is that magic clip that Peter engineered?  Braun taking over.

B|Java

I have a SS water kettle with a wonderful spout, that came from a local restaurant supply store, you could have it for cheap.  As nice as that was in its day, the magic clip works better.

[BoldJava]

Situation resolved.  The residual taste disappeared after 7 days of boiling a pot and pouring out the water.  Back in action.

B|Java

[BoldJava]

I have a SS water kettle with a wonderful spout, that came from a local restaurant supply store, you could have it for cheap. 

Thanks for the offer but hang on to it.  It will come in handy when you have that AARP high tea next spring at your house.

B|Java

[YasBean]

When I went to descale my VBM, I was told by a distributor to use Dezcal, and not citric acid.  He did not explain why.  It seems that they are almost the same, but Dezcal has a few extra goodies in there.  Any explinations?

[Warrior372]

When I went to descale my VBM, I was told by a distributor to use Dezcal, and not citric acid.  He did not explain why.  It seems that they are almost the same, but Dezcal has a few extra goodies in there.  Any explinations?

The only difference is that 20oz of Dezcal is $13 dollars and 20lbs of Citric Acid is $20 dollars. I restore old espresso machines and have never had a problem with Citric Acid. I am guessing the distributor just wanted to make a few bucks off of you.

[Tex]

When I went to descale my VBM, I was told by a distributor to use Dezcal, and not citric acid.  He did not explain why.  It seems that they are almost the same, but Dezcal has a few extra goodies in there.  Any explinations?

The only difference is that 20oz of Dezcal is $13 dollars and 20lbs of Citric Acid is $20 dollars. I restore old espresso machines and have never had a problem with Citric Acid. I am guessing the distributor just wanted to make a few bucks off of you.

+1

BTW: Where are you getting citric acid so cheaply? I buy mine here: http://www.americanspice.com/catalog/20550/search/Citric_Acid,_%28Sour_Salt%29.html?SEARCH=3&WORDS=ascorbic%20acid&orig=30&PAGE=0&_ssess_=ec5fcc515cb3ff3119576a837418f83d