How to Clean a Coffee Maker – 5 Different Ways
If you are a coffee enthusiast, then you certainly need a hot cup of your favorite brew every morning to get your day off to a great start. According to Good Fika, most people drink coffee to speed up, get through work faster and generally perk up, and regular coffee drinkers agree with this thesis. Brewing with a coffee maker is an easy task, and after, you can let your coffee machine switch off automatically before placing it in a dishwasher.
Although running your coffee pot and other removable components of your coffee maker in a dishwasher is an effective way to sanitize them, other parts might require more precise cleaning. Fortunately, there are several ways to deep clean your coffee maker.
Deep cleaning is essential since it helps get rid of coffee residue buildup and mineral deposits from water, which affects the flavor of your coffee and clogs the components of your coffee maker. The moist leftover coffee grounds lead to developments of moulds, yeasts and other bacteria and mineral deposits in particular end up narrowing the water channel, which makes your coffee maker work more and more slowly over time.
Signs You Need to Clean Your Coffee Maker
It’s possible that you might not always have time to clean your coffee maker properly, but some signs imply that you definitely need to clean it; they include:
- Regular coffee tastes different and bitter
- Your coffee maker takes longer to brew
- Your coffee maker sounds louder than usual
- Your coffee maker makes irregular noises
- While brewing, your coffee maker spews coffee everywhere
5 Ways to Clean Your Coffee Maker
1. Cleaning with Vinegar
- Throw away the old coffee and grounds that are in the basket and return it and the pot in place
- Pour hot water into the water reservoir until half full and use white vinegar to fill it up. This mixture will help loosen and remove limescale and other mineral buildups
- Power up your coffee maker as you would while making coffee. When the cycle is complete, pour the hot vinegar-water mixture into the reservoir and run the machine again
- After the second cycle is complete, pour out the mixture in the pot and wash it with soap in hot water
- Take out the basket and wash it with soap and hot water as well. If necessary, use an old toothbrush to thoroughly scrub out any coffee residue that might be in the basket’s crevices
- Once the basket and pot are clean, fill the water reservoir with clean cold water, run the coffee maker, then empty the pot. Repeat this twice to ensure you have gotten rid of all the vinegar
- Using a lint-free cloth, remove water spots from the coffee maker’s exterior. You can dip the cloth into vinegar to scrub any stubborn stains, then wipe it down with plain water and use a dry lint-free cloth to wipe it dry
- After doing this, you should rewash the basket and pot with soap and hot water or place them in the top rack of your dishwasher. Ensure that they are completely dry before putting them back into your coffee maker
2. Cleaning with Lemon Juice
Pour ½ a cup of bottled or fresh lemon juice into the reservoir and use hot water to fill it up completely. Run your machine and wash the basket and pot with hot, soapy water, then let them dry.
3. Cleaning with Baking Soda
Mix ¼ cup of plain baking soda into hot water and pour it into your coffee maker’s reservoir until it’s filled up. Proceed to run your machine, washing the pot and basket with hot, soapy water and letting them dry.
4. Cleaning with Borax
You can buy borax online if you don’t find it in the laundry section of your local supermarket. Powdered borax is convenient for decalcifying and cleaning a coffee maker.
Add 2 tablespoons of borax to hot water, then use it to fill your coffee maker’s reservoir. Run your machine twice, then wash your basket and pot in hot water using soap and let them dry after.
5. Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide
Ensure you get the kind of hydrogen peroxide that comes in a brown bottle that’s labeled 3% from the first aid section of any supermarket. Add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to hot water, pour the mixture into the reservoir until full and use the same steps you would use to clean with vinegar.
Clean Your Coffee Maker As Regular As You Can
Each of the cleaning methods outlined above has unique benefits and are effective for thoroughly cleaning your coffee maker. With various ways to clean your coffee maker, you can enjoy your coffee without fear of contracting bacteria from residue buildup.
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