How do I descale my coffee maker and why is it important?

To descale, fill the water reservoir with a mixture of 1/3 white vinegar and 2/3 water, place an empty carafe on the warming plate, press the 'Clean' button, and let the special cleaning cycle run until the 'Clean' light turns off. Then run two full cycles with fresh water to rinse out the vinegar solution. Descaling is recommended every 2-3 months (or more frequently with hard water) to remove mineral deposits that affect performance and flavor.