How To Clean A Coffee Maker
Keep your coffee pot clean in order to brew the tastiest cup.
To paraphrase a popular commercial, "The best part of waking up is hot, fresh coffee in your cup." It is a testament to modern ingenuity that we can prepare the coffee machine at night and be awakened the next morning by the enticing smell of brewing coffee wafting down the hallways.
To keep your coffee maker running smoothly (and your mornings enjoyable), you need to keep it clean. Oily residue, hard-water deposits, and other impurities build up over time, slowing down the inner workings of your machine and influencing the taste of your coffee. Whether you have a traditional percolator, automatic drip coffeemaker, or a single-cup "pod" system, the machine is a moist environment where mold and bacteria can grow. And it doesn't matter how expensive your coffee beans are: If the pot is dirty, you aren't going to get a great-tasting cup of joe. Here are simple steps to keep your coffee maker in tip-top condition.
How Often to Clean a Coffee Maker and Pot
The removable parts of your coffee maker should be washed every day of use with warm, soapy water to remove coffee, grinds, and oil. These parts are usually dishwasher safe, as well. You also need to give it a deeper clean once a month to clean the interior.
What You Need:
Dishcloth
Dish soap
Clean cloths
Towel
Distilled white vinegar
How to Clean a Coffee Maker Daily
Wash the carafe, filter basket, water tank, and any other removable parts in warm, soapy water. Let dry before putting them back in place.
Wipe down the outside and the warming plate with a damp cloth.
How to Clean a Coffee Maker Once a Month
Fill the water reservoir with a 50/50 mixture of distilled white vinegar (this common household product sanitizes and removes mineral buildup) and water.
Turn on the coffee maker. Let several cups run through, then turn it off and let sit for an hour.
Start the machine again to complete the cycle.
Pour the vinegar mixture out and run plain water through the coffeemaker a few times until the vinegar odor disappears.
How to Keep a Coffee Maker Clean Longer
For fresh-tasting iced coffee, lattes, and afternoon perks, make sure to clean your coffeepot daily. Don’t leave coffee sitting in the carafe all day. As the liquid evaporates, it can cause a ring on the pot if the burner is kept on. Using distilled water helps prevent mineral buildup. Another good idea is to leave the reservoir lid open after use so it can dry out—germs love moisture.
For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Southern Living.
