Tips on How to Clean a Drip Coffee Maker

Of all your kitchen appliances, which ones do you clean the most? Many people wipe out their microwaves once in a while when it becomes visibly dirty. Or the refrigerator when the shelves are due for a good scrub. However, our prized possession as coffee enthusiasts, our coffee makers, are most often forgotten. Instead, learn how to clean drip coffee makers to take care of your machine and ensure the consistent, so every cup is as delicious as the next, try these cleaning tips below for the best brew yet:

Don't Use Harsh Soap
While you lather up your regular dishes and silverware with scented soap, this practice isn't encouraged for your coffee making cleaning because the soapy taste may linger and distract you from the richness and delicious taste of a fresh drip coffee brew. Instead, purchase a coffee maker cleaner solution, mild unscented soap or use white vinegar. Like an oven has an automatic clean setting, coffee makers should run a similar process.

How to Clean Coffee Maker with Vinegar
Add several cups of white vinegar to the water reservoir in your Mr. Coffee® Simple Brew 5-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker and run it like you would for a normal pot of coffee. Then, once the brew process is complete, let the cleaner or vinegar sit in the carafe where it will continue cleaning. After a half an hour, run a full pot of water through the machine to rinse out the system. Repeat this process once more to ensure the cleaner is fully flushed out and your next cup will taste delicious.

Those daily cups of coffee can take a toll on your coffee maker so be sure to clean it monthly.

Clean Coffee Makers Every 90 Cycles
Are you wondering how often to clean coffee maker? If you're a true coffee lover, you likely enjoy a pot every day. But to make sure your drip coffee maker is in top condition, clean after every 90 brews. This will ensure you're getting that flavor you love every time. If you live in a home that has hard water, you may notice calcium deposits in the form of rings around your carafe. This may be a sign to bump up your cleaning schedule to twice a month, or to use filtered water for your coffee. Many Mr. Coffee coffee makers feature water filtration to eliminate chlorine in the water and overall improve the taste of the brew, so keep that in mind the next time you are in the market!

Don't Let Coffee Sit Forever
We've all been busy with conference calls and other tasks and forgotten about the coffee maker. In the past this may have meant the addition of a new ring around the carafe. The Mr. Coffee® Thermal Carafe can keep your brew hot for hours, so it's understandable that you might forget it once in a while! Just empty the pot and give it a rinse to prevent buildup and keep your coffee pot cleaner. Grab a scrubby with a handle to wipe down the inside every night before readying the machine for your next day's coffee brewing.

Always read the manufacturer's instructions before cleaning your coffee maker or carafe. There may even be a simple clean button that lights up to indicate the need to run an automatic cleaning function. This makes keeping your coffee tasting rich and consistent even easier than ever.

Maintaining a clean and well-functioning drip coffee maker is the key to enjoying the full flavor of your favorite brew. As for how to clean a drip coffee maker, remember to avoid harsh soaps that can leave an unwanted residue and opt for drip coffee maker cleaning solutions like mild unscented soap or white vinegar instead. Running a cleaning cycle with vinegar and rinsing thoroughly with water will ensure your next cup tastes delicious.

To keep your coffee maker in top condition, aim to clean it every 90 brews or more frequently if you have hard water. Look out for signs of calcium deposits and consider using filtered water to enhance the taste of each coffee recipe you whip up at home like our fun-filled Birthday Cake Frappe Recipe. Additionally, don't forget to empty and rinse your coffee pot regularly to prevent buildup.

Always consult the manufacturer's instructions for specific cleaning guidelines, as some coffee makers may have convenient automatic cleaning functions. By following these coffee tips and maintaining a clean coffee maker, you'll continue to savor the richness and consistency of your daily cup of joe with every brew.