There are many types of coffee makers – drip, automatic, and percolator. Just as with any other appliance, a little bit of time spent maintaining your coffee machine goes a long way. It is easy to clean a percolator coffee maker in some simple steps, but these days a percolator coffee maker is not in demand. No matter which type or brand of coffee maker you use, all of them tend to accumulate coffee oils inside the pot. Therefore, it is required to clean your coffee maker on regular basis.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Time Required: Fifty minutes
Estimated Cost: $ 10
Get the following together to get started:
1. Water
2. Dishwash soap
3. White vinegar
4. Baking soda (for percolator)
Tip: Always read the manufacturer’s instruction manual of your coffee maker before beginning any cleaning.
To Clean a Drip or Automatic Coffee Maker:
1. Add one cup of vinegar to two cups of water. Pour this solution in the water reservoir of your coffee maker.
2. Put the filter in the coffee maker and turn it on. Let it run through half the brew cycle.
3. Turn the coffee maker off and let it cool for fifteen minutes, and then pour out the solution.
4. Repeat the process twice, but use water instead of vinegar to get rid of the vinegar smell or taste.
5. After cleaning the coffee maker, wash the carafe and any other plastic part with soap and water. Rinse thoroughly to remove any residue.
To Clean a Percolator Coffee Maker:
1. Remove the percolator coffee pot from the filter basket after every use and washes it with soapy water or a mixture of water and vinegar (one half of water and one half of vinegar).
2. If the stains are still visible, you can use baking soda to remove the stains and to eliminate the bitter taste. Add the baking soda (5 tablespoons) in the basket, fill it with water and turn it on. Let it run for fifteen minutes and then let it cool.
3. Pour out the water, refill it with cold water, and let it run for fifteen minutes. You can repeat the process to get rid of the baking soda smell or taste. As soon as the pot stops perking, remove it from the heat.
4. Empty the pot, rinse it with water and wipe it out completely.
Things to Watch Out For
Never use cold water for cleaning a hot coffee pot – this might cause your pot to rupture.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should I clean my drip coffee maker?
A thorough cleaning is recommended every two to four weeks, depending on how often the machine is used.
2. Why is it important to clean the coffee maker?
With repeated use, the coffee maker accumulates coffee oils inside, and these oils turn rancid, ruining the taste of the coffee. So it is important to cleanse the coffee maker regularly.
