Cleaning The Coffee Maker

A clean coffee maker is essential for great tasting coffee. Over time, oils from coffee beans and residue can build up, leading to rancid flavors and unpleasant cups of coffee. Fortunately, cleaning the coffee maker is easy and inexpensive.

Why Clean the Coffee Maker?

• Oil Buildup: Coffee beans naturally contain oils that can accumulate and go rancid.
• Residue & Spoilage: Residue left in the filter can spoil over time, ruining the flavor.
• Hard Water Deposits: Mineral spots from hard water can affect the machine’s performance and coffee taste.

What You’ll Need to Clean the Coffee Maker

• White vinegar
• Warm, soapy water
• Nylon bristle brush
• Scrubby sponge (green side)
• Soft, clean towel

Cleaning the Coffee Maker with Vinegar

Wash Removable Parts

• Fill your sink with warm, soapy water.
• Wash the coffee pot, lid, filter, and any removable items using a sponge.
• Scrub the coffee pot with the green side of a sponge to remove oily residue.
• Rinse thoroughly with warm water and set aside to dry.

Clean the Exterior

• Unplug the coffee maker.
• Use a damp sponge to wipe down the exterior, removing coffee drips or stains.
• Dry with a soft towel.

Prepare the Vinegar Solution

• Fill the coffee pot 1/4 full with vinegar and the rest with cold water. (For an 8-cup pot use 2 cups vinegar and 6 cups water.)
• Pour the solution into the machine’s water reservoir.

Run the First Cleaning Cycle

• Reassemble the coffee maker and plug it in.
• Start a brewing cycle. The hot vinegar will dislodge buildup inside the machine.
• When the cycle finishes, carefully pour the hot vinegar down the drain.

Run a Second Cleaning Cycle

• Repeat the process with another vinegar water solution.

Rinse with Clean Water

• Rinse the coffee pot with fresh water.
• Fill the reservoir with plain cold water and run 1 to 3 full brewing cycle.
• After each cycle, check for any remaining vinegar smell – if necessary, run another clean water cycle.

Removing Hard Water Spots

Hard water deposits can cause white spots inside the coffee maker and affect its performance. Vinegar works well, but denture tablets are another effective option if the vinegar didn’t do the trick:

Cleaning the Coffee Maker with Denture Tablets

1. Drop two denture tablets into the coffee pot and fill with water.
2. Let the tablets dissolve and pour the mixture into the water reservoir.
3. Place a filter in the basket and run a brewing cycle.
4. Run two additional cycles with plain water to rinse out the machine.

With regular cleaning, your coffee maker will brew better-tasting coffee and last longer!