Illustrative Guide On How To Clean A Coffee Maker: 5 Methods!

Here are 5 ways on how to clean a coffee maker. If you have one of these coffee makers read on and learn how to clean it.

Keeping your coffee maker clean also ensures that every cup of coffee you make will be flavorsome and tasty. I believe that it is a MUST to clean your coffee maker regularly.

Forgetting to clean your coffee maker is a health risk when bacteria and stains start to develop. A monthly clean will also help keep your coffee maker in excellent condition. 

Before looking for your coffee maker, I recommend on reading below on why you should learn how to clean a coffee maker.

Why You Should Clean Your Coffee Maker

I recommend that you clean your coffee maker at least once per month. If you don’t clean your coffee maker then it can cause major issues including residue and collection of bacteria. Probably the worst issue is that not cleaning your coffee maker is unhealthy. Hot water may not be enough to kill germs and bacteria and if that’s the case, then you may get sick the next time you drink coffee from your infected machine.

Other than preventing the build-up of bacteria and stained coffee residue, learning how to clean a coffee maker has other benefits. It can extend your coffee maker’s life expectancy. It will also save your hard-earned cash on repairs or having to buy a new one. 

So I urge you to learn how to clean a coffee maker or more specifically, your coffee maker.

How to Clean a Single Cup Coffee Maker

Descale your coffee machine

You can do this by brewing a few cups of vinegar through your coffee maker and then rinse thoroughly by repeating the process a couple of times with clean water. You don’t have to do this every day but I recommend doing this at least once every 2 weeks.

Daily Cleaning Tips

1. Wipe down the machine exterior as well as the surface to prevent dust from falling inside.
2. Use clean filtered water when brewing to prevent and reduce any water deposits.
3. Replace the filter if needed or recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Empty and replace old water from the water reservoir with clean water.
5. Leave the lid off the machine to air it out.

How to Clean a French Press

1. Remove the plunger from the French press and disassemble the plunger parts
2. Use baking soda dissolved in water to clean each part of the plunger. You can use either a brush or sponge.
3. Clean off any hard water deposits off the French press with equal quantities of water and vinegar.
4. Let the parts dry off and then reassemble the plunger.
5. Your French press is now clean and ready for use!

Daily Cleaning Tips

1. Empty grounds from the beaker by filling the beaker halfway with water. Swirl the water to catch the coffee grounds and pour it into a mesh strainer.
2. Dispose of the grounds from the mesh strainer into a compost bin or heap.
3. Place water and liquid dish soap into the beaker. Press the plunger up and down until the water gets foamy.
4. Throw out the foamy water and rinse the beaker with clean water. Press the plunger again and then scrub the beaker with a cloth or sponge.
5. Use a paper towel or dry cloth to clean the beaker.

How to Clean an Auto-Drip Maker

1. Brew equal parts of vinegar and water and then brew clean water afterwards. This will get rid of any remaining vinegar solution.
2. Use a soft brush or bottle sponge with baking soda to remove water deposits and any other stains. If the stains or water deposits do not go away then soak in 2 cups of baking soda and 4 cups of water overnight.
3. Clean your reusable filter by soaking the coffee pot in warm soapy water after every use.

Daily Cleaning Tips

1. Descale your coffee maker every 90 brews

This will maintain the perfect taste of your coffee and clean out any old coffee stains.

2. Don’t use strong soaps

Use regular liquid dish soap as harsh soaps may leave remnants. It may also leave a soapy taste that masks your rich coffee flavors.

3. Don’t let the coffee sit in the pot forever

This will cause unwanted stains that will be hard to remove even with deep cleaning.

4. Empty out and refill the coffee pot with clean filtered water

This will prevent the build up of water deposits and your coffee will taste better

How to Clean an Aeropress

Rinse and clean your Aeropress after each use

1. Throw out old coffee grounds from the Aeropress
2. Disassemble the Aeropress plunger
3. Rinse the cylinder thoroughly with water
4. Rinse off any oil off the vacuum seal.
5. Rinse the filter cap properly and let the Aeorpress dry on a kitchen towel.

Use liquid dish soap to clean your Aeropress

1. Place the Aeropress in a container with water and soap
2. Let the Aeropress sit in the container for a few minutes
3. Use a cloth or your fingers to rub off any oils from the plunger.
4. Run your Aeorpress under both warm and cold water. Make sure that all the soap is out of the chambers so that your next coffee doesn’t taste soapy

Soak your Aeropress in vinegar solution

1. This will remove any coffee stains or coffee particles that are difficult to clean off
2. Soak the Aeropress in vinegar for about 20 minutes or you can let it sit overnight.
3. After soaking, rinse the Aeropress in warm water. Make sure you rinse it properly so that your coffee doesn’t taste like vinegar!

Place your Aeorpress in the dishwasher

1. It is perfectly safe to wash your Aeropress in a dishwasher
2. You don’t need to worry about the hot water ruining or cracking your Aeropress
3. I don’t recommend washing your Aeropress in a dishwasher daily. The odd occasional dishwash clean is perfectly fine.
4. Use other cleaning methods to clean your Aeropress if you plan on using it daily.

How to Clean a Moka Pot With Vinegar

Cleaning your moka pot daily will prevent build up of any clogged coffee grounds and water deposits.

Descaling your moka pot

1. I recommend descaling your moka pot once every 6 months if it is used daily.
2. Fill the bottom chamber to the brim with water. . This will help remove oils from the safety valve.
3. Use a mixture of vinegar and lemon juice added to the water. Let it sit for about 3-4 hours to remove any oil and calcium deposits.
4. Remove the valve cover and pour out some of the water from the bottom chamber.
5. Make sure you have some solution left in the chamber and brew the solution. Brew the solution as you would with a normal cup of coffee.
6. Rinse your moka pot thoroughly with water. Then, use a cloth or paper towel to dry your moka pot and reassemble.

Daily Cleaning Tips

1. After every brew use, make sure to disassemble your moka pot and empty the filter basket.
2. Give each part a good rinse with water and leave it to dry. Make sure it’s completely dry before reassembly especially when using an aluminum moka pot.
3. Do not put your moka pot into the dishwasher. The metallic coat of the moka pot may rub off giving you a metallic taste in your coffee. Metal pots will be damaged by the caustic effect of dishwasher cleaning agents.

What to do next?

And there you have it, you now know 5 ways on how to clean a coffee maker. Before you have to clean your coffee maker, you have got to actually use it and brew coffee! 

Here is our guide on how to brew coffee and how to make an espresso with your coffee maker:

• How To Make Espresso Without An Espresso Machine
• How To Brew Coffee With Any Coffee Maker