How to Clean a Coffee Maker

If your mornings start with a cup or two of coffee, you may cherish every sip while you wait for the caffeine to kick in. This morning ritual, however, can be ruined when your coffee has a funky flavor. While you might assume that your coffee grounds are old, this problem is often caused by a dirty coffee maker.

Coffee makers are prone to mineral buildup in homes with hard water. In addition, the combination of warmth, moisture and darkness makes the interior parts of the coffee maker ideal for germ growth.

Bacteria, yeast and mold can thrive in a coffee maker, but you often cannot see them until the growth is substantial. When consumed, these elements can cause infections and allergic reactions. How do you clean your coffee maker?

How Do I Know When It’s Time to Clean My Coffee Maker?

A dirty coffee maker may display several signs. For example, it may take longer to brew a pot of coffee than it once did. The coffee pot may not be as full as you expected after each brew. In addition, you might see coffee grounds at the bottom of your coffee mug. In some cases, you will see or smell mold and minerals.

Some cleaning steps are required daily or after each use. These steps include dumping the grounds out and washing all of the removable parts. The removable parts are the carafe, the lid and the filter basket. You also should wipe down the coffee maker after each use. In between uses, keep the reservoir lid open. The interior, non-removable parts in your coffee maker also must be cleaned. Ideally, they will be deep cleaned monthly. However, if you aren’t a daily coffee drinker, you may schedule deep cleaning for your coffee maker every three to six months.

How to Clean Coffee Maker with Vinegar

One of the easiest and most effective ways to clean a coffee maker is with distilled white vinegar. Vinegar kills most germs, and it isn’t toxic. To clean your coffee maker with vinegar, add four cups to the reservoir. After the vinegar stands in the reservoir for 30 minutes, turn on the brewing cycle so that the vinegar can run through the interior components. Then, run fresh water through the coffee maker three times to remove any vinegar remnants.

Alternative Coffee Maker Cleaning Methods

Some coffee makers are designed to be fully machine washable. All of the components can be washed in the dishwasher, so no vinegar is needed. You can also use alternative cleaning agents. For example, rather than using white vinegar, you can use apple cider vinegar following the same steps. Apple cider vinegar has a stronger scent than white vinegar, but it is non-toxic and effective. You could also run diluted lemon juice or a baking soda solution through the coffee maker as alternatives. The baking soda solution includes four parts warm water and one part baking soda.

When you don’t clean your coffee pot monthly, the matter will accumulate more thickly. As a result, vinegar may not do the trick. If this is the case, you can purchase a specialty descaler, such as Affresh, to cut through the buildup.

FAQs

How Often Should I Descale My Coffee Maker?

Hard water contains heavy minerals that accumulate on the various surfaces that get wet. These areas include in pipes, on faucets and even inside your coffee maker. The accumulation, known as limescale, must be properly cleaned as it will continue to grow over time. In your coffee maker, limescale also affects coffee flavor. Vinegar is an effective solution for descaling your coffee maker. For the best results, your coffee maker should be descaled every month.

If I Use Vinegar to Clean My Coffee Maker, Will My Coffee Taste Like Vinegar After?

After running vinegar through your coffee maker, you should run two to three cycles with fresh water. By taking this step, you’ll remove any vinegar remnants. However, if you continue to smell vinegar after running fresh water through the coffee maker, you can run another cycle or two of fresh water through it. By adding the fresh water step into your coffee maker cleaning efforts, your coffee will be flavorful and have no lingering vinegar taste.

How to Keep Your Coffee Maker in Top Shape

Once you find a coffee maker that you love, you understandably want to get the most use out of it. When properly cared for, you could enjoy several years of great coffee from it. Limescale buildup and other filth prevent your coffee maker from functioning properly. As a result, the coffee is not as amazing as you expect, and the coffee maker endures more wear and tear. This extra wear and tear detract from the machine’s life and results in the premature need to replace it. One of the most effective ways to keep your coffee maker in top shape is to deep clean it regularly.

A dirty coffeemaker can cause illness and detract from the robust flavor of your brew. Cleaning your coffee maker and various other areas of your home are easy to overlook, but they require regular attention. If you need professional assistance with your cleaning tasks, Tidyhere can help. Schedule cleaning services in Boston with our professional cleaners today.