How To Seriously Clean Your Coffee Maker

source: Facebook/Kayci Bates

We’ve all made a pot of coffee, forgot to clean it out afterwards, and ultimately, have been left with a gross, moldy disaster. When mold starts growing in the coffee and grounds, you know it’s bad. And it definitely isn’t the most pleasant cleaning job, but it needs to be done. Thankfully, with a few minutes and a few cleaning products, you can have your coffee maker looking brand new again.

source: Making Manzanita

Even if you don’t actually see mold in your coffee maker, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Mold can hide in the nooks and crannies of any coffee maker, and a buildup of residue and oil can cause your coffee to taste bitter. Aside from health and safety reasons, this is why it’s vitally important to deep clean your coffee maker on a regular basis. To get started, you’ll need a sponge, baking soda, liquid dish soap, warm water, and baking soda.

Firstly, you’ll want to descale your coffee machine. This can generally be done using a mixture of equal parts water and distilled vinegar. You should refer to your machine’s owner’s manual for exact descaling instructions, but descaling your machine will get rid of any germ and calcification buildup, and leave your coffee tasting much better.

source: Making Manzanita

You’ll also want to remove all of the removable parts of your coffee machine. Give each part, including the pot, a soak in hot, soapy water. If there are stubborn stains or residue anywhere, you can use a small brush or sponge sprinkled with a small amount of baking soda to work the residue off. Give everything a thorough wash, rinse, and dry, and you’re good to go!

source: Enjoy Java

While you should be in the practice of cleaning the coffee pot and filter after every single use, it’s a good idea to give your machine a descaling and a deep clean every couple of months. Not only will this prolong the lifespan of your machine, but it will also leave your coffee tasting fresher and better!