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How to Maintain a Coffee
Maker
If you are a coffee drinker, that a coffee machine is
a great appliance and an ideal way to save time and
money, but it does require a bit of maintenance. In
the hustle of the every day lives of people, so many
overlook the maintenance of their coffee machine for
too long. If a person can maintain regular maintenance
it can add years to the life to your machine. Knowing
how to care for and perform even the most routine
maintenance could help to revive an older coffee
machine. In order to keep your coffee machines working
properly and brewing great coffee, there are a few
simple steps that should be followed. Regardless if
you maintain your machine, or have never attempted
maintenance, the following steps are a great way to
go:
Regular Maintenance
Setting up a regular maintenance schedule should be
the ideal first step towards keeping your coffee
machine working for years. While cleaning the other
appliances in your kitchen, it would be good to clean
your coffee machine at the same time. Cleaning the
machine once a month is recommended, this would
produce great tasting coffee for years to come.
Cleaning your machine won’t take too long, however the
difference that it makes can be significant.
There are a few “quick” things with your machine on a
regular basis, for example:
Dusting: This can make a world of difference, and we
recommend using canned air, which can be found at most
hardware or office supply stores. By using canned air,
it will eliminate any dust inside, outside, or even on
the heating elements.
Soaking: It is a good idea to soak the baskets or
metal filters in a solution of hot water and vinegar.
This will help break up and residue or build up they
have accumulated. After soaking, please remember to
rinse the baskets or filters thoroughly to rid them of
the smell of vinegar, which may remain on them.
Cleaning: By using a nonabrasive cleaner or a solution
vinegar, you should clean the coffee pot and the
heating plate (ice, salt, and lemon juice will also
work well to clean the inside of the coffee pot,
especially if there’s any burnt-on coffee in the
bottom.)
Lime Scale and Water Deposit Removal
It is recommended that a coffee maker should be
cleaned on the inside at least once every three
months, to remove any lime scale or water deposit
build up. There is a solution specifically made to
clean coffee makers, and this can be purchased at many
local retailers. You can also make your own solution
of water and vinegar. With either, run the solution
through a standard coffee cycle (or through several
cycles if you’re worried about a lot of buildup.) Once
the cycle has finished, run several cycles of clean
water (preferably filtered or distilled) through the
coffee maker to remove any remaining deposits or
cleaning solution. It is also recommended that the
machine should be ran through enough cycles to make
sure there is no longer a smell of vinegar or cleaning
solution coming out of the machine, before brewing
another pot of coffee.
Another way to reduce the buildup of lime scale and
water deposits is by switching to filtered or
distilled water to brew your coffee; or purchase a
coffee maker with an in-line water filter. If you opt
for the water filter, remember that the filter will
need to be changed regularly. Again, a bit of a chore,
but well worth the effort.
Inspection for Damage or Wear
Inspecting your coffee pot, and machine for damage or
wear is imperative. By looking for cracks in the pot,
burned or a frayed cord may reduce leakage or even a
fire. Other signs of damage could be discolorations,
or warping on the plastic components of the coffee
maker, and/or water spots or streaks that might
indicate a leak. If you notice any of these examples,
it is recommended to send your coffee machine in for
repair, or consider purchasing another machine.
Additional Maintenance As Needed
Remember, not everything that goes wrong with your
coffee maker is predictable. Be prepared to perform
additional maintenance as it becomes needed. This may
be as basic as replacing a cracked filter basket or
cleaning up burnt-on coffee that spilled onto the
heating plate, or it may require taking care of more
serious problems such as a heating element going out
or a major leak. Most households and offices use the
coffee maker at least once a day, and a little bit of
upkeep each day will ensure that the coffee you brew
from your machine will be fresh-tasting and just how
you like it.
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