If you don’t clean the brewing basket and other pieces on a regular basis, your coffee may get bitter. Yeasts, molds, and bacteria can thrive in the damp environment of leftover coffee grounds. Mineral deposits will limit the water channel, especially if you have hard water, and your coffee maker will perform more slowly if they are not cleaned.
How Often to Clean a Coffee Maker
You should clean your coffee maker after every use, removing the grounds and cleaning the brew basket, lid, and carafe. The deeper cleaning of descaling to remove mineral deposits should be done at least every three months.
If your home has hard water (water with heavy mineral content), or if you tend to fill the water reservoir of your coffee maker from a rinsed carafe (not washed), the residue may build up more quickly. In this case, a monthly cleaning is recommended.
Some coffee makers have an audible or visible cleaning signal and that usually precedes a forced downtime. You can avoid downtime by being proactive with maintenance. Other brewers have a cleaning cycle set-up, which is usually detailed in the manual. Always follow the manufacturer’s detailed instructions for cleaning.
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
Soft cloth
Materials
- Dishwashing liquid
- Sponge
- Paper towel (optional)
Instructions
How to Clean a Coffee Maker With Soap and Water
Remove Brew Basket and Filter
After each use, remove the brew basket and discard the grounds and any disposable paper filter.
Run Hot Water
Partially fill your sink or a suitable container with hot water.
Add Soap
Add dishwashing liquid, especially a brand that is formulated for removing oil.
Clean Brew Basket and Permanent Filter
Place the brew basket and, if using, a permanent filter into the soapy water. Wash with a sponge or soft cloth to remove any coffee grounds and oily residue.
Clean Carafe
Discard any remaining coffee and rinse the carafe in warm water. Add a little of the warm soapy water and clean the carafe with a sponge brush.
Rinse With Warm Water
Rinse the brew basket, permanent filter, and carafe with warm water. Wipe with a soft cloth and set to dry.
Wipe Down Coffee Maker
Dip a soft cloth or paper towel in the soapy water and wipe down the inner lid, outer lid, and brewing area to remove any residue. Dampen a cloth in freshwater to wipe away any soap residue.
Reassemble the Coffee Maker
When the parts are dry, put your coffee maker back together.
Cleaning a Coffee Maker With Vinegar
Use this process to descale your coffee maker, removing the calcium mineral buildup. Before you begin, check your coffee machine’s manual to ensure that cleaning with vinegar is recommended by the manufacturer. There are some brands that do not advise it, usually because of their coffee maker’s metal parts.
Supplies
- Hot soapy water (made with hot water and dish detergent)
- Vinegar
- Tools
- Soft Cloth
How to Clean a Coffee Maker With Vinegar
Remove and Clean the Parts
Empty your coffee maker, remove and clean the carafe, brew basket, and permanent filter with hot soapy water. Remove the water filter, if applicable. Replace the empty filter basket and carafe.
Mix Vinegar and Water
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, sufficient to fill your water reservoir. One easy way to do this is to fill the chamber in half with vinegar and then fill it to the top with water. But if you can’t see the level in your brewer, mix it separately to add.
Fill Reservoir and Replace Carafe
Fill your water reservoir with the vinegar and water solution. If you use paper filters, place a paper filter in the brew basket.
Run Half of a Drip Cycle
Run your coffee maker through half of a drip cycle, stopping it so the solution can sit in the reservoir and the water channel. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes to an hour in both the reservoir and the carafe.
Resume Brew Cycle
After 30 to 60 minutes, resume the brew cycle and finish brewing the vinegar and water mixture through your coffee maker. Discard the vinegar and water solution from the carafe and replace the paper filter (if using).
Run Cycle With Water Twice
Fill the water chamber with plain water and run it through the system for a full brew cycle. Discard the brewing water, replace the paper filter (if using). Allow the coffee maker to cool down. Repeat a full brew cycle with water.
Clean Carafe and Brew Basket
Clean the removable filter basket, permanent filter, and carafe with hot, soapy water. A change of water filter is also a good idea if your brewer has one. Thoroughly wipe the exterior of your coffee maker with a soft cloth.
Tips to Keep Your Coffee Maker Cleaner Longer
- Use demineralized water when brewing coffee.
- If you are using the carafe to fill the water reservoir, do so only if you clean the carafe with hot, soapy water after each use.
- Don’t leave wet, used grounds in the coffee maker for any length of time, or you may have growth of mold, yeast, or bacteria.
- K-Cup brewers, like Keurig machines, need a thorough, detailed cleaning to remove trapped coffee residue from the impact needle as well as to clean the brewer. Follow the manufacturer’s detailed instructions.