Brewing Brilliance: Cleaning Your Way to a Perfect Coffee Brew!

Photo by Jonas Jacobson

For the busy adult, a good coffee machine is a trusty friend to help tide us over the morning rush hour and provide morning fuel for the busy day ahead. However, a tool is good only at its peak form and should be kept in good condition by performing regular cleaning and maintenance. This will not only protect the quality of your brew but also reduce the chance of getting ill from bacteria built up in the sludge and residue from coffee-making.

In a rush, but your coffee is still trickling into your mug? Do you find granules in your cup? Your machine is looking a little sludgy? Perhaps it is time to give your hardworking friend a clean! While cleaning briefly after each use aids in maintaining the coffee machine, we strongly recommend a deep cleaning at least once a month in order to ensure the quality and safety of your brew.

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For the standard coffee single serve machine, here is a rundown of what you need :

Materials

• Cleaning cloth

• White distilled vinegar

• Coffee filters

Gotten your supplies? Time to get cracking!

1. Unplug and open up your machine.

2. Dust any coffee bean granules off from the rim and wipe away any excess sludge.

3. Fill the reservoir with a 1:1 ration of white distilled vinegar and water and let the solution soak for 30 - 60 minutes.

4. After letting the vinegar solution work its magic, pop a paper filter back onto the coffee machine.

5. Plug in the machine and run the vinegar solution through a brewing cycle.

6. Remove the vinegar and add fresh water to the reservoir.

7. Run another cycle.

8. Repeat once more to ensure that none of the vinegar solution remain and that your coffee tastes exactly how it should - not sour.

9. Wet your cleaning cloth and wipe around the machine, ensuring that every little crevice is free from mineral build-up.

10. Wipe dry and get ready to enjoy your next cuppa!

Pro tip! If the stains are stubborn and refuse to budge, let the vinegar solution soak a little longer in the water reservoir. If you fear a strong vinegar taste tainting your coffee after a cleaning, we recommend running clean water through the machine a few times before you prepare a brew to reward your hard efforts.

Photo by Rachel Clair

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For our readers who enjoy a richer and bolder brew of joe, a moka pot is a trusty tool to prepare their morning beverage. This tiny but mighty pot requires a little more dedication in cleaning but the effort will be evident in the next cup you brew!

Materials

• Distilled white vinegar

• Paper towels or a clean dishcloth

It is recommended to clean your Moka Pot daily to ensure that your next cup will not be compromised by any mould growth or stale grounds trapped in the pot.

Daily cleaning

1. Disassemble the pot and empty the grounds into your compost.

2. Use a paper towel to wipe any residue ground in the pot.

3. Rinse each part of the pot thoroughly under hot water

4. Dry thoroughly with a paper towel or cotton dishtowel

5. Reassemble and enjoy!

Monthly Cleaning

While daily cleaning of the moka pot is mandatory, it is strongly encouraged for a deep cleaning of the pot monthly to ensure any mineral buildup is removed.

1. Empty the pot and give the chamber a good wipe to ensure that there are no coffee granules.

2. Fill the lower compartment of the moka pot with water to cover the safety valve that it just touches the bottom of the filter basket.

3. Add 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar to the water.

4. Assemble the pot and let the vinegar solution soak.

5. After letting the vinegar solution soak, pour out a little and turn on the stove.

6. Run a cycle to let the solution go through the pot.

7. Let the pot cool before pouring out the vinegar solution.

8. Disassemble the pot and rinse each part under hot water.

Credits to Vinicius Benedict

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For our experienced home baristas, cleaning an expresso machine is a little more tedious than the aforementioned coffee makers but is similar to the cleaning process. However, for the sake of keeping that liquid gold flowing smoothly, daily cleaning is essential!

Tools required :

• Cleaning cloth

• Brush

• White distilled vinegar

• Coffee filters

Tap the used coffee grounds form the basket after making a shot of expresso.

1. Rinse the basket out ensuring that there are no residue grounds blocking the holes.

2. Dry the basket with a cleaning cloth

3. Attach the portafilter to the group heads and rinse it with fresh water for a few seconds.

Credits to Eric Gilks

However, our work here isn’t over. In order to protect the quality of the drinks, it is important to descale the expresso machine weekly.

1. Remove the portafilters from the group heads.

2. Use a little brush to sweep the coffee grounds and a cloth to wipe the grime away from the group head.

3. Add white distilled vinegar and water at a 1:1 ratio and soak the basket, portafilter and group gasket in it for 40minutes.

4. Rinse and give the parts a good scrub to get any grime out.

5. Add the vinegar solution to the reservoir and run it through the system until the reservoir is empty. (To get the sour taste

6. Remove the blind basket and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

7. Flush the steam arm with hot water and wipe.

8. Remove the drip tray, wipe any residue off with a paper towel and rinse thoroughly.

9. Wipe the exterior with a cloth.

10. Assemble and put the part together for your next brew!

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While these tips may serve you, please consult the instruction manual for machines are created by different manufacturers and may require different cleaning solutions for descaling.

For readers who are not the biggest fans of the vinegar solution, there are descaling products that may serve as a better alternative for cleaning.

Credits to Olena Bohovyk

Please keep in mind that a clean machine isn’t just a recipe for a great cuppa; it’s a testament to your commitment to brewing brilliance. Happy sipping, coffee aficionados!