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How to Clean a Coffee Maker: A Simple Guide for Baristas!

Dave Carter

Published: January 3, 2022

Last updated: January 3, 2024

Do you know how to clean a coffee maker? If not, then you are in the right place! This article will teach you how to properly clean your coffee maker with two simple, sustainable possibilities. The natural way: with and without vinegar. Cleaning your machine will keep it from being stained and nasty and help preserve the longevity of the coffee maker. Before diving into the methods, you need to make sure that your grinder is cleaned first. 

This should be done every week and then followed up with a quick cleaning once a month. You can run two cycles without any beans. Ensure that things like the carafe and all other attachments are stored properly, or they will get ruined too! They can also be used weekly, but only after you have already cleaned out your coffee maker. The other thing to do to keep your coffee maker in great shape is pretty simple, just take a million paper towels and wipe them down every time you use the machine. This will help maintain it while also making sure that no disgusting scum gets anywhere!

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How to Clean a Coffee Maker Without Vinegar

Easy Ways on How to Clean a Coffee Maker Without Vinegar

Many people use vinegar to clean their coffee maker. However, there is a much easier way that you can get the same results with less effort and without white distilled vinegar (which contains acetic acid). All you need for this method are some lemon peels and water! You will achieve a nice scent by using a mixture of those two ingredients.

There is no need to buy cleaners and replacements filters, or constantly worry about scaling. Using this process will help kill hard water bacteria that build up in the machine over time. This will help keep it clean, and thus as a coffee maker cleaner you are required to carry out cleaning coffee makers after every 3 months. This will also help prevent scale, dirt and mold buildup inside of your coffee machine’s filter basket and on the lid which can restrict water flow, block lines and clog your filter.

At times, mold and dead bacteria are less likely to smell than live ones! When yeast ferments due to excess moisture it tends to destroy the natural smells of coffee pots. Below let us look at an easy way of how to clean a coffee maker without vinegar. As a coffee pot cleaner, these steps will ensure your espresso machine is restored to its original state.

What You’ll Need

  • Coffee Maker
  • Fresh Water
  • Lemon peels

Directions:

1. Unplug your pot and let it cool

Make sure your coffee pot is unplugged and cold. If you plan on doing this right after making a pot of coffee, leave it sitting for about 5 minutes so that it has some time to cool off. The reason for this is that if you put warm lemon peels into your machine, they will pick up heat from inside, making the cleaning process less effective.

2. Peel your lemon

Peel half of one fresh organic lemon into thin strips. Optionally continue to peel until all layers are exposed, but I would not add more than ten slices, or else it will be too strong of an odour inside the machine after cleaning!

3. Place the lemon in a jar of water

Place the lemon slices and any leftover fruit into a jar that has a good seal on it, such as a mason jar or Tupperware container. Add enough hot water to cover the lemon peels, plus about an inch or so of extra water above them. Make sure none of the peels is sticking out of the water, or else they might get inside of your coffee maker while cleaning! Let them sit in this mixture for about 3 hours so that those citric acids can soak into any hard water mineral deposits and kill off bacteria.

4. Throw the lemon peels

After a few hours, you can remove the lemon peels from their water bath and throw them out (or keep them if you prefer to use them later!).

5. Pour the lemon infused water into the coffee maker

Next, find a small pitcher or another container with a spout and pour all of that used lemon/water solution into your coffee machine. Make sure it is just enough liquid to barely cover the bottom portion around the basket where the filter goes.

6. Plug the coffee machine

Now plug it back in, turn it on, and run a cycle without any coffee grounds! This will help remove any lingering cooking/bacterial smells left inside of your machine from previous uses.

7. Use a sponge

In this stage you can use a sponge to scrub off the carafe by dipping it in the lemon water.

8. Rinse it off with freshwater and go back to making fresh brews

Once done,Viola! Your coffee machine is as good as new and ready to make fresh brews! Rinsing it off with fresh water will keep your coffee maker clean!

How to Clean Coffee Maker with Vinegar

Tips on How to Clean a Coffee Maker With Vinegar

If you are a coffee lover, then chances are that your morning routine includes brewing a pot! You may not realize it, but over time the leftover coffee and oils build up in your machine and can lead to an unpleasant taste or odour when making coffee. It is important to clean out your coffee maker regularly so that this doesn't happen.

Also, you should note that there are many more elaborate cleaning instructions for chemical-filled cleaners and specialized products floating around the internet today. However, we recommend that you don't subject your family to questionable chemicals found on these sites and instead stick with our 7 step process below, which is all based on natural ingredients you probably have in your kitchen already! Make sure to clean out your coffee maker every few days and weeks, even if you don't drink a ton of coffee.

This will help keep the taste as fresh as it can be! Study shows that these steps are vital for every coffee maker regardless of whether you own a Keurig or any other coffee brewer device! Below let us look at how to clean coffee maker with vinegar.

What You'll Need

  • Coffee Maker
  • Fresh Water
  • White vinegar
  • Filter

Directions:

  1. Pour 1/4 cup of white vinegar into the reservoir. This will help break down any oils.
  2. Turn on the brew cycle without adding water or grounds. This will allow all the liquid from previous cycles to go through one last rinse before being released into the drain.
  3. Run about two pots of plain water through for a final rinse.
  4. Run a pot or two of plain water through the machine without adding coffee grounds. This will flush out any vinegar residue and make sure your coffee tastes its best!
  5. Drain the water from your coffee maker and clean out the brewing basket with a brush designed for this purpose. Coffee grounds can stick to the sides, so it's best to give a brush a try.
  6. Your coffee maker is now ready to brew fresh, delicious cups of java!

Benefits of Learning how to Clean a Coffee Pot

Reasons of Learning How to Clean a Coffee Pot

Want a clean, sparkling coffee pot? Clean it! It is as simple as that. Cleaning your coffee pot is an important step that many people overlook. But did you know the benefits of doing so? For one thing (among many), your morning brew will taste better than ever before, thanks to the lack of oils and sugars from yesterday's leftover grounds.

We will highlight three main benefits of doing so for not just you but also those in close proximity to it every day! A dirty machine can lead to a bad tasting beverage and may even require replacement parts sooner than they should be needed if left unchecked. Therefore these are the reasons why you should learn how to clean a coffee pot.

  • Cleaning your coffee pot regularly will help keep the machine running smoothly and efficiently.
  • It will remove the build-up of oils and grounds, leading to an unpleasant tasting cup of coffee.
  • Properly cleaning a coffee maker will also extend its life span by preventing corrosion from building up on the heating plate over time.
  • Cleaning a coffee pot is not complicated, but it does require some time and effort especially when cleaning the coffee maker’s filter basket and lid.
  • Save on costs for carrying out repairs or buying a new one due to damage from dirt buildup.
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Conclusion​

A coffee maker can be a great purchase when you are looking for an easy way to make fresh, tasty cups of joe. The downside is that it needs constant cleaning and upkeep to work properly. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to clean your machine without resorting to harsh chemicals or techniques. This not only saves you money but also is good for the environment. With this article you now know how to clean a coffee maker the natural way. Also, never forget to be gentle with your coffee machines and always unplug them before doing anything else (safety first)! Happy Cleaning!

Dave Carter

As a coffee enthusiastic Dave share with you his latest and greatest coffee news and insights. He es always interested in trying out new things about the best bean of the world!

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