Life Style

How to Properly Clean Your Coffee Maker

The quality of your coffee can be affected by a buildup of coffee residue and mineral deposits (scale) from water, which can clog the components of your coffee maker. It may slow down your brewer's drip operation over time. Natural oils in coffee grinds are not eliminated by rinsing with water.

If you don’t clean the brewing basket and other pieces on a regular basis, your coffee may get bitter. Yeasts, molds, and bacteria can thrive in the damp environment of leftover coffee grounds. Mineral deposits will limit the water channel, especially if you have hard water, and your coffee maker will perform more slowly if they are not cleaned.

How Often to Clean a Coffee Maker

You should clean your coffee maker after every use, removing the grounds and cleaning the brew basket, lid, and carafe. The deeper cleaning of descaling to remove mineral deposits should be done at least every three months.

If your home has hard water (water with heavy mineral content), or if you tend to fill the water reservoir of your coffee maker from a rinsed carafe (not washed), the residue may build up more quickly. In this case, a monthly cleaning is recommended.

Some coffee makers have an audible or visible cleaning signal and that usually precedes a forced downtime. You can avoid downtime by being proactive with maintenance. Other brewers have a cleaning cycle set-up, which is usually detailed in the manual. Always follow the manufacturer’s detailed instructions for cleaning.

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Soft cloth

Materials

  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Sponge
  • Paper towel (optional)

clean coffee maker 1

Instructions

How to Clean a Coffee Maker With Soap and Water

Remove Brew Basket and Filter

After each use, remove the brew basket and discard the grounds and any disposable paper filter.

clean coffee maker 2

Run Hot Water

Partially fill your sink or a suitable container with hot water.

clean coffee maker 3

Add Soap

Add dishwashing liquid, especially a brand that is formulated for removing oil.

clean coffee maker 4

Clean Brew Basket and Permanent Filter

Place the brew basket and, if using, a permanent filter into the soapy water. Wash with a sponge or soft cloth to remove any coffee grounds and oily residue.

clean coffee maker 5

Clean Carafe

Discard any remaining coffee and rinse the carafe in warm water. Add a little of the warm soapy water and clean the carafe with a sponge brush.

clean coffee maker 6

Rinse With Warm Water

Rinse the brew basket, permanent filter, and carafe with warm water. Wipe with a soft cloth and set to dry.

clean coffee maker 7

Wipe Down Coffee Maker

Dip a soft cloth or paper towel in the soapy water and wipe down the inner lid, outer lid, and brewing area to remove any residue. Dampen a cloth in freshwater to wipe away any soap residue.

clean coffee maker 8Reassemble the Coffee Maker

When the parts are dry, put your coffee maker back together.

clean coffee maker 9

Cleaning a Coffee Maker With Vinegar

Use this process to descale your coffee maker, removing the calcium mineral buildup. Before you begin, check your coffee machine’s manual to ensure that cleaning with vinegar is recommended by the manufacturer. There are some brands that do not advise it, usually because of their coffee maker’s metal parts.

Supplies

  • Hot soapy water (made with hot water and dish detergent)
  • Vinegar
  • Tools
  • Soft Cloth

clean coffee maker 10

How to Clean a Coffee Maker With Vinegar

Remove and Clean the Parts

Empty your coffee maker, remove and clean the carafe, brew basket, and permanent filter with hot soapy water. Remove the water filter, if applicable. Replace the empty filter basket and carafe.

clean coffee maker 11

Mix Vinegar and Water

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, sufficient to fill your water reservoir. One easy way to do this is to fill the chamber in half with vinegar and then fill it to the top with water. But if you can’t see the level in your brewer, mix it separately to add.

clean coffee maker 12

Fill Reservoir and Replace Carafe

Fill your water reservoir with the vinegar and water solution. If you use paper filters, place a paper filter in the brew basket.

clean coffee maker 13

Run Half of a Drip Cycle

Run your coffee maker through half of a drip cycle, stopping it so the solution can sit in the reservoir and the water channel. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes to an hour in both the reservoir and the carafe.

clean coffee maker 14

Resume Brew Cycle

After 30 to 60 minutes, resume the brew cycle and finish brewing the vinegar and water mixture through your coffee maker. Discard the vinegar and water solution from the carafe and replace the paper filter (if using).

clean coffee maker 15

Run Cycle With Water Twice

Fill the water chamber with plain water and run it through the system for a full brew cycle. Discard the brewing water, replace the paper filter (if using). Allow the coffee maker to cool down. Repeat a full brew cycle with water.

clean coffee maker 16

Clean Carafe and Brew Basket

Clean the removable filter basket, permanent filter, and carafe with hot, soapy water. A change of water filter is also a good idea if your brewer has one. Thoroughly wipe the exterior of your coffee maker with a soft cloth.

clean coffee maker 17

Tips to Keep Your Coffee Maker Cleaner Longer

  • Use demineralized water when brewing coffee.
  • If you are using the carafe to fill the water reservoir, do so only if you clean the carafe with hot, soapy water after each use.
  • Don’t leave wet, used grounds in the coffee maker for any length of time, or you may have growth of mold, yeast, or bacteria.
  • K-Cup brewers, like Keurig machines, need a thorough, detailed cleaning to remove trapped coffee residue from the impact needle as well as to clean the brewer. Follow the manufacturer’s detailed instructions.

Source
thespruce.com
Back to top button