How to Clean a Coffee Maker?

A good cup of coffee is the perfect way of starting a morning, and let’s be honest, and it is just what we need to start our day. But what if your coffee starts tasting bitter? Obviously, no one would like it. When your brewed coffee starts tasting bitter, it is the time to give clean your coffee machine.

When a buildup of minerals from water and coffee residue deposits in your coffee maker, it starts affecting the flavor and taste of your coffee. In addition to this, it also clogs the components and parts of the coffee maker. Over time, it might also impair the drip operation of your brewer. Coffee grounds contain natural oils that are not properly removed just by rinsing with water.

 If you do not clean the brewing basket and other parts of your coffee maker properly, then it would spoil the taste of your coffee. The moist environment developed by leftover coffee grounds can result in the growth of bacteria, yeast, or mold. Moreover, mineral deposits from water lead to narrowing of the water channel, which in turn reduces the efficiency of your coffee maker and makes it work slow. 

A simple cleaning can help you in maintaining the freshness, preventing the staining, and removing the hard water spots. It also helps in cleaning the coffee oils and removing hard water spots. And you know what the best part is? Cleaning coffee makers is not at all a tough task. You can easily clean the coffee maker and enjoy your fresh and delicious cup of coffee every morning. 

Required Things

If you are finally planning to clean your coffee maker, then here are some things that you would need to clean it.

• White Distilled vinegar
• Fresh Water
• Soapy Water
• Dry Cloth

Steps to Clean the Coffee Maker

In order to clean the coffee maker, empty the carafe, and rinse it properly. Clean all the coffee grounds that are left in the filter. After emptying it, follow the below-mentioned steps to clean the coffee maker. 

Step 1: Make Solution By Mixing Vinegar and Water

First of all, make a solution by mixing half water and half white vinegar. If your brewer is too dirty and has nasty buildup, then you can increase the ratio of vinegar to the water. The vinegar helps in sanitizing the coffee maker, and it also dissolves the mineral deposit. 

Step 2: Pour the Solution, Brew, and Soak

Now the second step is to pour the vinegar solution into the water chamber of the coffee maker. You need to fill the chamber completely with the solution. After filling, it starts the brew cycle, and when it is halfway, turn off the coffee maker and allow the solution to sit for half an hour. Let the solution soak in the reservoir for around 30 to 40 minutes. 

Step 3: Complete the Brew Cycle 

After half an hour, turn the coffee maker on and finish the brew cycle. Finally, pour out the solution. Now, you need to flush the scent and taste of the vinegar from the coffee maker. For this, fill the reservoir with clean and fresh water and put a filter in the basket. Now turn on the coffee maker and complete the brewing cycle.

Step 4: Clean by Fresh Water Cycle

Once you complete the brewing process with fresh water. Now turn off the coffee maker, remove the filter, and pour out the water. Now, in order to make sure that there is no taste of vinegar, run a whole new cycle with fresh water. It will also help in cleaning the coffee maker properly.

Step 5: Clean the Removable Parts 

The final step of cleaning the coffee maker is to clean the removable parts. For this, wash the filter basket and carafe using soapy water. Finally, wipe the exterior part of your coffee maker using a clean, dry cloth.  

Other Tips

• Clean the removable parts of your coffee maker frequently
• Clean your coffee maker every month to assure the proper functioning of your coffee maker
• You can also use apple cider vinegar for cleaning. But keep in mind, it has a stronger taste so you would need to run brew cycle 3-4 times with fresh water to assure that no taste and scent of apple cider vinegar is left in the coffee maker
• For final cleaning try to swirl a small amount of rice in it with warm water, It will give a nice sparkle clean to your coffee maker. 

It is quite obvious that rinsing the removable parts after each brew is the perfect solution to maintain fresh-tasting coffee. However, if you feel that it is time-consuming, then it is recommended to follow a monthly schedule to clean your coffee maker. It will help in maintaining a clean machine, and you will get a fresh and strong-tasting coffee every morning.