Does your coffee have a slightly bitter taste to it? If you are one of the millions of people who start their day off with a cup of joe, you probably notice when the flavor is a little bit off. This is often an indication that you need to clean your coffee maker. Unfortunately, not many people know how to clean the inside of a coffee maker properly.

There are several different methods you can use for cleaning your machine. All of the best ways focus on eliminating calcium and mineral buildup from deep within your unit. By focusing on the water reservoir, you can make a major impact on the flavor profile of your favorite hot beverage.

If you’re ready to learn all there is to know about how to clean the inside of a coffee maker, look no further. Here is your complete guide.

How Do You Clean the Inside of a Coffee Maker?

Figuring out how to clean the inner workings of your coffee machine can be extremely tricky. After all, you can’t simply reach your hand into the reservoir and scrub it clean. It often requires the help of a professional descaling product to remove all of the built-up calcium and minerals. With so many different brands of descaling solutions on the market, how do you choose which one is best?

Descaling Solution Coffee Maker Cleaner

Formulas such as those used by HaleFresh (on Amazon) are ideal because they are suited for multiple makes and models. They use a universal solution that is compatible with all of the following coffee makers:

  • Keurig
  • Ninja
  • Nespresso
  • Breville
  • Cuisinart

Each bottle contains enough solution for eight separate cleanings. The manufacturer recommends that you use this product every six to eight weeks. At this rate, a single bottle of cleaner should last you more than a year. This is a great investment in the longevity of your coffee maker.

How to Use the Descaling Solution

Nothing could be simpler than using this professional product for cleaning your coffee maker. If you are using the product from HaleFresh, here are the steps you need to take to eliminate buildup inside your machine:

  1. Clean out the machine. Make sure that you are ready to brew a few rounds with your new cleaning product. Remove any filters or coffee pods from the inside of your machine. Make sure the pot is empty and clean.
  2. Prepare the solution. Add two ounces of the descaling cleaner to the reservoir. Add cold water to the reservoir until it reaches the max fill line.
  3. Brew the mixture and discard. Allow all of the cleaning solution to filter through the machine. When it is finished, discard the liquid from the carafe.
  4. Clean the machine out. Get ready to brew another round. This time, you will only add cold water to the reservoir until it reaches the max fill line. Allow this to filter through the machine and discard it when finished. Repeat this step two more times to ensure that all of the cleaner is removed.

How to Clean the Inside of a Coffee Maker with Vinegar

cleaning a coffee pot with white vinegar

Cleaning the inside of your coffee machine may require a little bit of time, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Many people prefer to clean their coffee pot with natural ingredients like vinegar. This is one of the simplest methods to achieve a sparkling clean coffee maker both inside and out.

Whole Foods Market, Vinegar White Distilled Organic

Most cleaning professionals will recommend using distilled white vinegar for cleaning. A gallon of organic distilled white vinegar like this option from 365 Everyday Value is fairly inexpensive. For less than five dollars, you can purchase an entire gallon that will last you through many coffee machine cleanings.

Keep in mind that white vinegar does have a very pungent odor to it. Some people prefer to use scented varieties that contain essential oils. This reduces the smell of the vinegar without lessening its cleaning properties. Harris makes an all-natural cleaning vinegar with a fresh lavender scent that many people find appealing.

If you don’t have distilled white vinegar on hand, you can also use other types such as apple cider vinegar. These will work in a pinch, even though white vinegar is preferred.

Cleaning Your Coffee Maker with Vinegar

Here are the exact steps you need to take to clean the inside of a coffee maker:

  1. Remove the old coffee grounds. Before you do anything else, you need to make sure that the basket and pot are free of old coffee and grounds. Dump that leftover cup of coffee into the sink and discard the filter with the grounds. Return the carafe and the basket to their places when finished.
  2. Add vinegar to the reservoir. Fill up the reservoir of your coffee machine with half water and half vinegar. This is designed to loosen up any type of buildup that is inside the machine that you can’t reach.
  3. Run the machine twice. Turn on the coffee maker so that the vinegar and water solution can run through it the first time. Then, dump the full carafe of vinegar and water back into the reservoir to run through a second time.
  4. Wash the pot and basket. Fill your sink with hot water and mild dish detergent. This is a great time to thoroughly wash the carafe and the basket to make sure they are free of stains, caked-on coffee grounds, or lime buildup.
  5. Clean the machine with water. This time, you will fill the reservoir with fresh water only and allow the machine to run. Repeat this twice to ensure that you remove all of the vinegar from the inner workings of the machine.
  6. Wipe down the outside of the coffee maker. Don’t forget to wipe down the outside of your coffee maker with a microfiber cloth to remove dust and water spots. You can use a damp rag if you prefer.

How to Clean the Inside of a Coffee Maker Without Vinegar

Some people simply don’t like to use vinegar to clean due to the odor. Others may prefer to use a different ingredient because they don’t have any vinegar on hand. If this is the case, you can still clean the inside of your coffee machine. It will require a few different ingredients and procedures.

How to Clean the Inside of a Coffee Maker with Lemon Juice

how to clean coffee maker with lemon juice

Do you want your home to feel fresh and clean? Instead of opting for the strong aroma of vinegar, you might consider using concentrated lemon juice instead. This will fill your home with a pleasant scent while working hard to remove buildup from the inside of your coffee machine. The procedure is very similar to that of how to clean the inside of a coffee maker with vinegar.

  1. Clean out your coffee pot. Remove all of the grounds from the basket and the leftover coffee from the carafe. Rinse them both out thoroughly to ensure that no grounds get left behind.
  2. Fill the reservoir with lemon juice and water. The two ingredients should be mixed in equal parts inside the reservoir. Keep the machine turned off and allow the lemon juice and water to soak for at least fifteen minutes.
  3. Run the lemon juice and water through the machine. Turn on the machine and allow the lemon juice and water to “brew.” When it is finished, let this liquid remain in the coffee pot for another fifteen minutes to reduce buildup and staining.
  4. Run it through again. Pour the entire mixture back into the reservoir and repeat the brewing process. When finished, dump the mixture down the drain and refill the reservoir with fresh water only.
  5. Run the fresh water through the machine. Empty the pot when it is done, and then refill the reservoir with more water. Run it through the brew cycle one more time before finishing.

When you are done with these steps, you may also want to take this opportunity to clean your coffee pot with warm water and dish detergent. It can be a great idea to ensure that your unit is clean inside and out.

How to Clean the Inside of a Coffee Maker with Baking Soda

Use Baking Soda To Clean a coffee maker

The process of cleaning the inside of a coffee maker with baking soda is fairly straightforward. It is very similar to the procedures for how to use lemon juice to clean the coffee pot.

You will start by removing all of the old coffee grounds and coffee from the machine. Rinse the pot and the basket thoroughly to remove traces of coffee grounds. Add one cup of hot water to the carafe and pour in ¼ cup of baking soda, stirring until it dissolves. Pour this mixture into the reservoir.

Run a full brew cycle with your baking soda mixture. When the cycle is complete, discard the water and thoroughly wash the carafe. Refill the reservoir with fresh water and run another brew cycle.

You may need to repeat this step twice to yield the best results. When you are finished, the water in the carafe should be clear instead of cloudy from the baking soda. Repeat this process as many times as necessary to achieve this.

How to Clean the Inside of a Keurig Coffee Maker

Getting a clean coffee maker is relatively simple with a traditional unit, but what about the newer Keurig models? These one-cup coffee makers are extremely convenient for your morning routine, but they do require a few extra steps to clean inside the machine.

Start by cleaning the exterior of your Keurig unit. Wipe down the surfaces with a damp rag and some mild dish detergent. Don’t forget to clean out the mug holder where your spills are often caught. This is the perfect time to wipe out the coffee grounds from around the needle and the pod holder.

Next, you are going to fill the reservoir halfway with vinegar. Add cold water to the reservoir until it reaches the max fill line.

Press the button for the brew cycle to begin, leaving the coffee pod holder empty. Continue to run brew cycles, emptying your mug after each one, until the reservoir is completely empty. When this occurs, refill the reservoir with water only. Repeat the same process with water only until the reservoir runs out. You may wish to repeat this stage twice to ensure that all of the vinegar has been removed.

Keurig Descaling Solution

If you would prefer not to use vinegar, you can purchase descaling solutions made specifically for Keurig machines. This bottle is completely odorless and offers a quick solution for the buildup in your machine. The instructions are slightly different though:

  • Pour the bottle into the reservoir and then fill it up with water.
  • Add the water to the reservoir.
  • Run the brew cycle and repeat until the reservoir is empty.
  • Let the machine rest for a half hour.
  • Rinse out the reservoir and fill it with fresh water.
  • Run twelve brew cycles to get rid of all traces of the cleaning solution.

Improve the Taste of Your Coffee

Are you ready to finally improve the taste of your morning coffee? Don’t let your machine wait until the coffee tastes bitter and unpleasant. Gather up the products you need right now to strip away the buildup of calcium and minerals on the interior of your coffee maker. It takes only a few minutes to make a major difference in the quality of your coffee.

You deserve to have a cup of coffee that you can enjoy each and every morning. Don’t you owe it to yourself to clean the inside of your coffee maker this week? Set aside a few minutes one evening to run some of these cleaners through the reservoir on your machine. You’ll be surprised and delighted at just how delicious your coffee is the next morning.

Last update on 2024-03-23 at 22:53 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API