How to clean a coffee maker without harsh chemicals
Once you know how to clean a coffee maker, add this task to your routine kitchen cleaning schedule.
A weekly cleaning will ensure you get the best flavor from your coffee beans. Crédito: Stock.xchng
Pot after pot, you depend on your coffee maker. Next weekend, give it a little TLC. Thankfully, you don’t have to turn to abrasive kitchen cleansers to make this appliance sparkle. With a little elbow grease and ingredients hiding in the kitchen cupboards, you can learn how to clean a coffee maker in less than 20 minutes.
Scrubbing the carafe
Pour any leftover coffee from the carafe. Now, measure 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the container. Add 1 cup of white vinegar. The mixture will foam and bubble inside the carafe. Dip a scrub brush into the cleanser and rub the stains inside the vessel. Scrub the sides and bottom of the carafe to remove burnt-on coffee rings and spots.
Once the carafe appears clean, pour out the vinegar mixture and rinse the carafe with warm water. Do not use any dish detergent. Dry the carafe with a soft towel.
Cleaning the appliance
Place the carafe in the coffee maker. Remove any old coffee grounds or coffee filters from the coffee maker. Pour 1 cup of cold water into the water reservoir. Now add 1 cup of white vinegar. Turn on the coffee maker and let it go through a brewing cycle with the vinegar-water mixture.
As the mixture is heated, it cleans the internal components of the coffee maker. Vinegar dissolves hard-water build-up and neutralizes stale coffee odors. This is also how to clean a coffee maker that uses the carafe to both brew and hold the coffee. These are known as “percolators” or “hot pots.” Eventually, the brewing cycle will stop. Carefully pour the hot vinegar water into the sink.
Now, refill the coffee maker with cold, clear water. Run another brewing cycle to rinse the coffee maker. This will make the vinegar odor dissipate. Once the brewing has stopped, pour the hot water down the sink.
Finally, give the clean coffee maker a test run by brewing a half pot of coffee. Splurge on whipping up a Mexican coffee complete with a dash of cinnamon and cream de cacao. Delicious!
Now that you know how to clean a coffee maker, add this task to your routine kitchen cleaning schedule. A weekly cleaning will ensure you get the best flavor from your coffee beans. If you brew flavored coffees often, take a few minutes to clean the coffee maker between flavors to avoid mixing old and new coffee varieties.
