Most individuals have strong immune capabilities; a dirty coffee machine will not harm them. Nevertheless, It will make a low, off-tasting, ruined coffee pot that will take much longer to prepare than usual.
Considering that it can look like a death sentence on some days, cleaning the coffee maker daily, followed by a comprehensive descaling once a month or 2 months, is time well spent.
I’m facing so many questions about coffee machines, and among them, but how often should you clean a coffee maker?
A coffee maker must be cleaned in 3 situations: right after use, regularly, and once every month. Otherwise, your coffee machine’s performance will be bad day by day.
How Often Should you Clean a Coffee Maker?
How often you should clean your coffee maker is depended on how often you use them. Without cleaning, using a coffee maker can harm your health because a dirty coffee maker gives birth to lots of germs.
However, you should clean a coffee maker in three situations. Let’s see in detail:
- Right after making the coffee: Remove the grounds or dirty filtration from the brewing basket, then use a clean, wet cloth to wipe out any coffee that remains in and outside the basket or everywhere on your machine. Next, clean the water tank and leave it open to air dry.
- Daily basis: wash all the detachable components of your coffee machine with warm water, dishwasher solutions, as well as a fresh cloth using your hands. This procedure will remove any sticky germs, coffee particles, and residue that would otherwise mix with freshly made coffee the following day, giving this a stale flavour. Next, get into the nooks and crannies where microorganisms like to hide. Rinse thoroughly, then allow it to air dry.
- Every month: Clean your coffee machine as per the instructions in the owner’s manual. Running a brew loop with the sanitizing solution is recommended for various coffee makers. Actually, I always believe in the do-it-yourself approach: Refill the water tank with white vinegar and water in the same ratio. Take a clean filtration and put it into the basket. Complete a cycle, dump the jar, and continue using vinegar. Replacing the filter, emptying the pot again, and finishing with tap water are all options. “Additional cycles with simply water will remove the vinegar flavour,”
Also Interesting: Best Keurig for Iced Coffee and Tea
What are the Ingredients Used in Cleaning a Coffee Maker?
Using ingredients in cleaning a coffee maker depends on your choice and the cleaning process itself. If you want to clean your coffee maker deeply, the ingredients will be one type, and for light cleaning, the elements will be another type.
I will now tell you about some elements that you can use in cleaning a coffee maker, But don’t forget to confirm whether the ingredients are safe for your coffee maker or not because some coffee makers can be compassionate. However, they can be ruined by using any harmful things. So let’s see:
| Ingredients name | Cleaning type | Using process | Writer’s note |
| white vinegar | Deep cleaning | Mixing with the water in a similar proportion | Don’t use it so often. Although it won’t harm your coffee maker, too much use can bring harm. |
| Dishwasher | Deep and light cleaning | A minimum proportion of the dishwasher by mixing with hot, cold or regular water | Check before using it on your coffee maker whether your machine is dishwasher safe or not |
| Baking Soda | Deep cleaning | It can be used directly or mixed with water | Don’t use it so often. Too much use can ruin the colour of your machine |
| Rust Remover | Deep and light cleaning | Follow the direction of your purchased rust remover | Check the ingredients of the rust remover and match it with the direction of your coffee maker. If any of the ingredients are restricted by the company, don’t use them. However, always take a branded and good rust remover with a good review. |
| Citrus Juice | Deep and light cleaning | N/A | N/A |
| Calcium and Lime | Deep cleaning | It depends on your purchased one | Careful! They are harrss, but a safe and careful using process can help you to get a good result |
| Salt | Light cleaning | N/A | N/A |
| Warm water | Light cleaning | N/A | N/A |
How to Clean a Coffee Maker with Vinegar?
White vinegar solution is an excellent natural cleaner. It effectively eliminates oil and calcium deposits, making it ideal for a coffee maker that gets into touch with minerals into the water.
To maintain the coffee maker’s sanitary and taste fantastic, clean this with vinegar solution once a month or six months. I usually clean my coffee makers with a white vinegar solution every month to maintain hygiene and germs-free.
Curious to know about the process of cleaning your coffee maker with vinegar? Okay, let me tell you the whole process step by step:
Step 1: Preparing both the coffee maker and vinegar solution
- Discard the coffee beans and the filter: Remove the excess coffee grounds from the jar. If you’ve not already, dispose of the discarded filter. Remove any leftover water from the previous brew.
- Rinse the baskets thoroughly: Clean the baskets using hot water as soon as possible. This will ensure that there are no coffee grounds trapped inside it. If there are still stubborn grounds, wash them with soapy water before rinsing them. If you see that all of the particles have been cleaned, replace the basket inside the coffee machine.
- Mix the white vinager with water: Take white vinegar and some water and mix them in a 1:2 ratio.
- Put the solution in the coffee maker: Put the solution directly into the coffee maker and fulfil the water tank with the solution.
Step 2: Cleaning the machine
- Complete a half-brew cycle: Tap the brew switch as the solution is now in the pitcher. To prevent the coffee maker from finishing the cycle, keep an eye on it while it brews. Midway through all the brewing cycles, turn the switch off.
- Allow the coffee machine to cool for around 50 minutes. This gives the vinegar solution space to concentrate on every mineral and mould accumulation. If you are in a hurry, 30 minutes will also be enough.
- Complete the brewing process. After 50 minutes, reactivate the brew mechanism. Allow the remainder of the solutions to brew in the coffee machine. Brown and white bits might well be visible inside the water. It’s typical and indicates that the prepared solution is working well.
Step 3: Rinse the machine
- Remove the solution from the container. Pour the vinegar solution into the sink drainpipe once the coffee machine has completed the entire brewing procedure. If there are any leftovers of the vinegar solution inside the coffee machine, that’s fine.
- Thoroughly wash the pitcher. Clean your carafe with hot soapy water. You may scrub with a cloth or whisk the soapy water throughout. Drain the hot soapy water when you’re done cleaning, then clean with simply water to remove the soap foam.
- Fill the carafe with fresh water. Fill the carafe with fresh water once you’ve cleaned it. Don’t combine vinegar with clean water. Instead, use the necessary water that the coffee machine can brew.
- Do the brewing process at least three times. To perform a cycle solely with water, click the brewing button. Allow for the completion of the brewing process. The brewing cycle should be repeated twice. After each cycle, the water should be emptied and replaced. Allow 5 to 10 minutes every cycle for the coffee machine to cool.
How often Should you run vinegar through your Coffee Maker?
Cleaning your coffee machine with vinegar at least once every month is recommended. Dirt from the grounds, filtered water, and calcium layers build up within the machine each time you prepare coffee. It must be washed with vinegar to eliminate those particles and keep the coffee taste fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. What happens if a coffee machine is not kept clean regularly?
If you don’t keep clean, the coffee won’t taste good. Additionally, If you don’t clean your coffee machine, it’ll jam up. It can either stop operating or leak since the liquid won’t run. Dirtiness is the perfect condition for germs and bacteria to grow. So, there will be a lot of bacteria in your dirty coffee machine that can harm your health.
Q2. What is the best way to clean a coffee maker?
According to my experience, vinegar and hot water solution are the best way to clean a coffee maker. Furthermore, vinegar is not too costly and can clean the coffee maker properly. It is also very easy to use.
Conclusion:
Now you know that your coffee maker must be clean in 3 situations: right after use, regularly, and once every month. So, don’t forget to clean the machine properly because dirtiness will harm your machine and your health. And you must take care of your health in a proper way. So, keep your necessary thing clean and stay healthy with freshness.
SEE MORE:
- Can I Use Keurig Descaler in Nespresso? (Complete Guide)
- How to Remove Water Reservoir from Keurig Mini | Expert Guide!