by Michy Lynn

Created on: February 07, 2009   Last Updated: February 09, 2009

There is nothing like the taste of coffee brewed from a brand new, clean and fresh coffee maker. Over time, however, the coffee maker will build up with water deposits, minerals and coffee grime that can make the coffee taste bitter and lose it's natural robustness.

A coffee pot should be cleaned approximately twice per year when using bottled or clean water and more frequently for areas where water is harder and mineral deposits build up.

The important thing to remember about cleaning a coffee pot and coffee machine is that people will be brewing and drinking coffee from the machine, so harsh chemicals should not be used. Let's look at safe and effective alternatives to bleach and soapy cleansers.

Clean the Decanter

The glass part of the coffee pot is called the coffee decanter. It's easy for the coffee to stain the decanter, because coffee has an oily residue when it brews. An easy and natural way to clean a coffee decanter is to fill the decanter half way with water, then add some crushed ice to the water along with a handful of regular table salt (though rock salt works even better) and swirl the combination in the decanter.

The ice and salt will polish the inside of the coffee decanter and remove the stains while the water will wash the debris from the glass.

The plus to this cleaning solution is that ice, salt and water are all natural things we use nearly every day and they wash away with a warm water rinse, leaving a clean, polished glass coffee decanter, with no chemical residue or after taste.

If you want to sanitize the decanter, you can immerse it in a very light cold water/bleach solution of 1/2 cup of bleach to 3 gallons of cold water. Immerse for 10-15 seconds and then rinse.

Clean the Plastic Removable Parts

The lid to the decanter, the basket and filter area of the coffee machine are all removable and can be cleaned with regular dishwashing detergent.

If the plastic pieces are stained, they can be soaked in the cold water/bleach solution mentioned above for sanitizing.

If you sanitize these removable parts in bleach, be sure to completely wash and rinse them after doing so, to remove the bleach scent and chemical before brewing.

Cleaning the Coffee Machine

The actual coffee machine is the hardest part to clean and the only part where bleach absolutely should NOT be used.

First, before doing anything else to the machine, after the decanter and baskets have been cleaned, run a pot of clear water through the machine, without any coffee or filter. This will help flush out any coffee backed up in the machine's hose or mechanisms.

Next, using a sponge and warm water, open the lid for the water reservoir and gentle scrub the insides of the machine.

Next, you should make a water/vinegar solution of 5:1. Five parts water and one part vinegar. Pour the solution through the machine and let it sit unplugged and turned off for about five minutes.

Then, place the decanter in its spot and turn the machine on to run the water/vinegar solution through the machine.

Finish up by running 1-3 pots of fresh cool water through the machine to rinse out the vinegar smell and taste.

Enjoy

Your clean coffee machine is now ready to use to brew you a perfect cup of joe. Remember, coffee machines don't require frequent cleaning provided your water is not hard. Using bottled water or reverse osmosis water can help extend not only the time between cleanings but also lengthen the life of your coffee machine.

Learn more about this author, Michy Lynn.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.