Your coffee maker could be killing you. Well, it is if your morning cup of coffee is a matter of life and death and you have a dirty coffee machine. When was the last time you cleaned your coffee maker? Washing the coffee maker is important but cleaning the internal components of a coffee maker is a task that should not be overlooked. Did you even know you were supposed to clean it? A clean coffee pot can be the difference between a good cup of coffee and a nasty cup of sludge.
A clean coffee pot really makes a big difference in the taste of your coffee. Oil residues from coffee can accumulate inside the coffee maker and become rancid. And mineral deposits can also form, especially in areas with hard water. These deposits are called “flakes.” There are two types of scale, lime scale and mineral scale, and you don’t want either. Scale can affect your coffeemaker’s heating unit and water flow, reducing its efficiency. The speed with which scale forms depends on the quality of the drinking water. If you use bottled water to make your coffee, scale will likely not form as quickly, but you still need to worry about built up coffee oils. It is better to play it safe and clean your coffee maker regularly.
Cleaning your coffee maker is not a difficult task to accomplish. At least once a month for a mixture of half vinegar and half water in your coffee pot. It goes without saying that white vinegar should be used. Stay away from red wine or apple cider vinegar varieties. Run the entire preparation process. Your kitchen will likely have a nice salad smell as it prepares, which you may even like. However, if you’re not a fan of salads, remember that it’s a small price to pay for a good cup of coffee.
Repeat the process again using just water this time to rinse. Do this one more time if there is still a vinegar smell.
Another easy way to keep your coffee maker clean is to put a glass marble in the water chamber. Any mineral deposits that would normally build up inside the coffee pot will build up on the marble. From time to time just remove the marble, wash it, and then put it back in the chamber. How much easier could that be?
The best solution would be to clean your coffee pot with vinegar monthly and at the same time use the marble method. Change the marble once a week and your coffee maker will be in great shape.
If you have an old coffee maker and you are not satisfied with the taste of your brew, why not try cleaning it? A clean coffee pot will make better tasting coffee.
