by Carolyn Noblett

Created on: March 08, 2010   Last Updated: May 01, 2012

One of the secrets of good tasting coffee is a clean coffee pot and coffee maker. How do you clean the mineral deposits and oil from your coffee maker? Vinegar does a great job and is used by women (and men) all over the country.

Cleaning a coffee maker is a fairly simple job. If you have something other than a standard drip coffee maker, be sure and check your manufacturers instructions.

First remove the basket and discard of old coffee grounds and the disposable filter. Replace the basket and any permanent filter you may use. There is no need to replace the disposable one. The only reason for returning the permanent filter is to allow it to clean with the rest of the system.

Then simply add about 1 cup of vinegar to the coffee pot and swish it around for a few seconds to help begin the loosening process. After a couple of swishes in the pot add lukewarm tap water. Pour the combined vinegar and tap water in the same reservoir  you use for your usual coffee water and let it run through its regular brewing cycle.

After the cycle is over let the coffeemaker cool for a period of 20 to 30 minutes by turning it off. When the cleaning solution has cooled pour the water and vinegar solution down the drain.

Next run a cycle of clean lukewarm water through the coffee maker the same way you did the vinegar wash. You will see lots of small particles in each cycle. These are the minerals and some of the coffee bean oil loosening up and rinsing out.

Repeat the rinse cycle after letting the pot cool again using the same method you used earlier. After the second rinse, if you notice that the water still has a brownish or yellowish cast to it you might want to use the vinegar solution again. If you do, be sure and run two rinse cycles afterward as previously described.

It can make your house smell like vinegar for a while, so just burning a candle during this process will capture some of the odor. The vinegar smell dissipates quickly and isn't usually a problem. If it seems unnecessarily strong, you may be a little sensitive to it and you can just cut down on the vinegar. Try using 1/2 cup of vinegar next time and maybe adding an extra cleaning cycle.

To help you remember how long it has been since you have cleaned the coffee maker write a reminder on your kitchen calender along with your other chore reminders. Once a month should be fine.

It is a good idea to wash the glass pot every day with warm soapy water but some people just give it a quick rinse and make another pot right away forgetting to wash the collecting oil off of the inside. So while you are at this, wash the glass pot good, rinse it well and enjoy your next pot of delicious coffee.

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