How to deeply clean your coffee maker
How to clean a coffee machine, that is the question. Cleaning our coffee machines help us to have a better result in our coffee and also to extend the useful life of them.
Is important to know that daily cleaning must be done every time we use the machine, and once in a while we have to make a deeper one.
The frequency of the deep cleaning will vary depending on the use we give to the machine, but in general terms we are talking about a once in a month job.
In this article we are going to talk about the cleaning process of two of the most popular home coffee machines: traditional drip coffee maker and Keurig/Nespresso machine.
With no fancy and expensive articles, you will learn how to take care of your coffee machines properly. You wont need to buy special products, just things you certainly have in your house.
If you are interested in learning how to clean a traditional drip coffee maker and Keurig/Nespresso machine keep on reading this article.
Articles sections:
Traditional drip coffee maker
When to clean in
What you need
Step by step
Keurig / Nespresso coffee maker
When to clean in
What you need
Step by step
Bottom line
Traditional drip coffee maker
Probably one of the most popular coffee makers. For sure most of us have one at home. It is very easy to use and also you will not have a problem at all cleaning it.
When to clean in
As everything, cleaning frequency will change depending on the use you give to that item. If you are using your drip coffee maker everyday, the recommendation is to clean it every month. Otherwise, if you are an occasional coffee drinker, you can clean it every 3 months.
It is important to have some knowledge about how much time your machine can be used without a deep clean, so you can have better coffee results and a longer life of the machine.
Remember that this is a deep clean for the machine. Normal cleaning must be done after each use.
What you need
- White vinegar
- Cleaning cloth
- Water
Step by step
- Fill the tank:
Fill the drip coffee maker tank with a combination of 1:1 white vinegar and water, all the way through. Vinegar will sanitize and dissolve unwanted minerals from the coffee machine.
- First brew:
Turn the machine on and let the combination of vinegar and water flow. Once half of the tank is gone, pause the machine. Your first brew is done.
- Let it sit:
After the first brew, let the machine sit for about 30 minutes. In this time vinegar will be doing its disinfestation job.
- Second brew:
Turn the machine on again and brew the remaining combination of 1:1 water and vinegar.
- Cleaning brew:
Fill the tank back again but this time only with water. Let it run completely.
That 's all! Now you have your drip coffee maker perfectly clean.
Keurig / Nespresso coffee maker
The last few years this kind of machine has gained a lot of popularity in homes. Those people who want an espresso like coffee, but cheaper and with less effort, found in Keurig and Nespresso machines a great solution. Cleaning process can look terrifying because of the big amount of pieces the machine has, but it is not complicated at all. Learn how to clean them properly.
When to clean in
In Keurig and Nespresso style machines you must be a little more aware of cleanliness than with the drip coffee maker. There are some extra parts that can easily get dirty and harm your machine.
Almost all of these kinds of machines have a small tray where you put your cup while coffee is brewing. Some water from coffee that can get stuck there must be clean after every use. Also, it is important to pay some attention to the place where we put the capsules, because some rests of grounded coffee can easily remain there and ruin your next brew.
For the rest of the machine, one deep clean every 1 or 2 months will be ok.
What you need
- White vinegar
- Cleaning cloth
- Water
- Cup or bowl
- Toothbrush (a new one, not yours!)
- Dish liquid detergent
- Towel
Step by step
- Start from outside:
First thing first. Start cleaning your Keurig or Nespresso machine from outside with some water and the towel. Remove any splashes of coffee or dust you can find in there.
- Capsule holder:
Time to clean your capsule holder. If you can remove it, take it out so you can handle it better. With a new toothbrush (that you can use for the same purposes in the future) , clean the capsule holder. We are looking to remove any coffee grounds that might be stuck there.
- Cup holder:
Remove it and clean it deeply with detergent. Most of them are dishwasher safe, so you can simply put it there. Be sure to dry it well before putting it back with the coffee machine.
- The interior of the machine:
Now we have to clean the inside part of our Keurig or Nespresso machine. For this we will use the same process as the drip coffee maker.
Fill the water tank with a solution of 1:1 water and vinegar. Let it run half way and let it sit for 30 minutes. Run the rest of it.
Fill the water tank again but just with water. let it run completely.
With this simple method now you can make a complete and intense clean of your Keurig or Nespresso machine. Always remember that a soft clean must be done every time you use it.
Bottom line
Cleaning is a very important process to have a nice cup of coffee and machines that last n time. A deep cleaning once in a while will let you enjoy better coffees and will prevent some failures in your machine.
Now you know how to deep clean a traditional drip coffee maker and Keurig/Nespresso machine. And remember, always do the daily cleaning!