Cleaning your coffee maker regularly ensures that your coffee tastes fresh and prevents mold, bacteria, and mineral buildup from forming. Here’s how you can do it:
What You’ll Need:
- White vinegar (to descale)
- Water (to rinse and clean)
- Dish soap (for cleaning removable parts)
- Sponge or soft cloth (for scrubbing)
- Toothbrush or soft brush (for scrubbing hard-to-reach areas)
- Baking soda (optional for removing stains)
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Unplug and Disassemble the Coffee Maker
- Before cleaning, ensure your coffee maker is unplugged and cooled down.
- Remove the carafe, filter basket, and any other detachable parts. If your coffee maker has a reusable filter, remove that too.
2. Clean Removable Parts
- Carafe: Fill the carafe with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap. Use a sponge to scrub the interior, focusing on any coffee stains. For stubborn stains, sprinkle a little baking soda and gently scrub.
- Filter Basket and Other Parts: Soak the filter basket and other detachable parts in warm, soapy water. Use a soft brush or toothbrush to scrub any small parts, crevices, or areas that have accumulated grime.
3. Rinse and Dry the Parts
- Rinse all the parts thoroughly with clean water to remove soap residue. Dry them with a towel or let them air dry.
4. Descale the Coffee Maker with Vinegar
Mineral deposits (scale) can build up inside your coffee maker’s water lines, affecting its performance over time. Use white vinegar to remove this buildup.
- Prepare a Solution: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water (usually about 2 cups of each, depending on your coffee maker size).
- Fill the Reservoir: Pour the vinegar-water solution into the water reservoir of the coffee maker.
- Run a Brewing Cycle: Start the coffee maker as if you were brewing coffee. Allow the vinegar solution to run through the machine. If there is a lot of buildup, you can pause the brewing halfway and let the solution sit for 30–60 minutes to break down deposits.
- Finish the Cycle: Once the cycle is complete, discard the vinegar solution.
5. Rinse the Coffee Maker
- To remove any vinegar residue and prevent your coffee from tasting like vinegar, you’ll need to run multiple cycles of fresh water through the machine:
- Fill with Water: Fill the reservoir with clean water (no vinegar this time).
- Run a Full Cycle: Run the coffee maker through 2–3 complete brewing cycles using only water to flush out any remaining vinegar.
6. Wipe Down the Exterior
- Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe down the exterior of the coffee maker, including the warming plate, buttons, and lid. For sticky or greasy spots, a drop of dish soap on the cloth can help.
7. Reassemble the Coffee Maker
- Once all parts are dry, reassemble your coffee maker, and it’s ready to brew!
How Often to Clean Your Coffee Maker:
- Daily: Rinse out the carafe and filter basket after each use to prevent coffee oils from accumulating.
- Monthly: Run a vinegar descaling cycle to remove mineral deposits and keep the machine functioning properly.