How To Clean Coffee Maker With Vinegar: Simple Guide to follow !

Who does not like to enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee every morning? Everyone does! Now, running a fresh brew cycle is not only your coffee maker’s duty.

You must also thoroughly clean the coffee machine with white vinegar on time to avoid terrible cups of coffee. But do you know how to clean coffee maker with vinegar? If not, then you have clicked on the right article.

The cleaning process is simple. All you have to do is mix an equal ratio of clean water and vinegar and run the brew cycle to clean a drip coffee maker. However, the process is different for a K-cup coffee maker.

Continue reading the article to learn about the cleaning process of both drip and Keurig coffee makers.

Why Use Vinegar to Clean a Coffee Maker

Vinegar is a powerful, non-toxic, eco-friendly ingredient that helps clean the mineral buildup inside the coffee makers. Most coffee makers tend to grab hard water minerals and coffee oils inside the machine. Those mineral deposits slow the brewing cycle, making the coffee taste awful.

So, it would be best to decalcify the coffee machine with distilled white vinegar for a better-tasting cup. The acidic nature of the vinegar breaks down the hard mineral buildups and disinfects the internal engine.

Moreover, using vinegar to clean a coffee maker is the most inexpensive method that you can try. It ensures your coffee tastes good, and you can start your day with a great cup of coffee.

How To Clean Coffee Maker Without Vinegar?

Things That You Will Need

Below is the list of the things that you will need to clean coffee makers with vinegar-

- White vinegar
- A toothbrush or any small brush
- Water
- Dish soap
- Soft cloth

How To Descale Coffee Maker?

Steps To Rinse A Drip Coffee Machine With Vinegar

Cleaning a drip coffee maker is an easy process. You can quickly deep clean your coffee pot with vinegar and enjoy freshly brewed coffee.

Moreover, cleaning your coffee maker at least thrice a year would be best. If you cause any delay, it will take longer to decalcify the drip coffee machine. Also, you have to go through several cycles to deep-clean it if the coffee maker is not cleansed on time.

Unplug The Coffee Maker

Unplugging the coffee makers is the first and most crucial step before you start cleaning them. So, unplug the coffee maker from the electric socket and start cleaning.

Empty The Filter Basket

The next step is to remove all the residue from the brew or filter basket. Starting the cleaning process without removing the coffee residue will create nothing but a mess.

Note: You can see the coffee maker’s manual to learn how to disassemble the parts.

Disassemble The Removable Parts And Wash Them

Remove the brew basket, permanent filter, and carafe from the coffee maker and wash them with dish soap. First, take a bowl of hot soapy water and soak all the parts. After a few minutes, hand wash them and clean them with fresh water.

Once you clean all the parts, it is time to reassemble them. Also, remember to dry them before reassembling them.

Clean The Base

Before you reassemble the removable parts, clean the base of the coffee maker where you place the reservoir. Sometimes coffee grounds get dripped out on the base and make it dirty.

So, dip a regular toothbrush inside the vinegar and gently scrub the base and surrounding area with that brush.

Mix Water and Vinegar

Add equal parts white vinegar with water to clean a coffee maker or machine with vinegar. Mix them well, and they are good to go!

Now, how much vinegar to mix with water? The calculation is simple. One cup of coffee means 5 ounces for a 12-cup coffee pot.

So, if you have a 12-cup coffee pot, you will need 60 ounces of water-vinegar solution. That means you have to mix 30 ounces of fresh water and 30 ounces to rinse your coffee maker thoroughly.

Again, if you have a 10-cup coffee pot, you will also need 60 ounces of total water-vinegar solution to decalcify it. The reason is that it makes 6 ounces of coffee per cup, so in total, a 10-cup coffee pot holds 60 ounces capacity like a 12-cup pot.

Pour The Cleaning Solution and add a Filter.

Pour the cleaning solution you made by mixing water and vinegar inside the water reservoir. Also, remember to put a paper filter inside the brew basket if you use a coffee maker along with paper filters.

Run The Brew Cycle Until Its Halfway

The next step is to run the brew cycle of the coffee machine. However, do not run the entire cycle. Run half of a drip cycle and then turn off the machine.

Wait And Resume the Brew Cycle

Now, it is time for the water-vinegar solution to sit. So, wait 30 minutes and complete the brewing cycle by resuming the coffee maker.

Next, when the brewing cycle is completed, drain the mixture from the coffee pot and place a new paper filter (if you use any).

Brew The Coffee Machine with Clean Water

Once you drain the solution, fill the reservoir with fresh water. Then brew the water with a complete cycle to clean the remaining residue.

Next, drain the water and wait until the machine is calm down. Then again, pour fresh water and brew a full cycle. Brewing the process twice ensures a clean coffee maker without any residue remaining.

Wash The Brew Basket and The Carafe

Once you finish brewing, it is time to clean the removable parts again. Give a proper cleaning to the filter basket and the carafe with warm water and dish soap.

You can also use lemon juice to clean them to eliminate the vinegar smell. Lastly, clean the exterior part of the coffee machine with a soft wet cloth.

Steps To Clean Keurig Coffee Makers With Vinegar

Not everyone uses a drip coffee maker. You might have an espresso machine or a Keurig coffee maker in your house. Now, the cleaning instructions vary for a Keurig coffee maker or an espresso machine.

There are slight differences in the case of cleaning a K-cup coffee maker. However, you do not have to worry; this article will also provide you with the cleaning instructions for the Keurig coffee maker.

Remember, whether you use coffee pods, coffee grounds, or beans to prepare your coffee, the below-mentioned cleaning instructions with vinegar work for all.

Empty The Water Reservoir

Unplug the coffee machine and clear the water reservoir. They clean off the residue of coffee grounds by wiping off the reservoir. Also, make sure there is nothing in the K-cup container or holder.

Pour White Vinegar

Once you have a clean coffee pot or reservoir, pour 10 ounces of distilled white vinegar into it.

Start The Brewing Process

It is now the time for the magic to happen. Start the brewing cycle to brew the vinegar. It will help remove the mineral buildup inside the coffee machine.

Remember to place a large mug before you start the brewing process. Keep repeating the same process until it takes the vinegar to brew fully. This process will provide a deeper cleaning by breaking all the mineral deposits.

Brew The Coffee Maker with Water

After brewing with vinegar, it is time to wash the coffee machine with water. Pour 10 ounces of clear or fresh water and repeat the brewing cycle until no water remains inside the reservoir.

Isn’t the cleaning process easy? Now that you know how to wash your coffee maker with vinegar, you can have freshly brewed coffee.

FAQ

Can I use baking soda to clean the coffee machine?

Instead of vinegar, you can use baking soda to clean your coffee makers. However, the mixing measurement is different. Mix one-fourth cup of baking soda with warm water and complete an entire brew cycle. Then brew the cycle with normal water twice to clean the baking soda.

Will my coffee taste like vinegar after cleaning?

Run the brewing cycle twice with water to ensure your coffee does not taste like vinegar. Running the cycle twice will remove the smell of the vinegar from your coffee maker.

Which vinegar is best for cleaning?

White distilled vinegar is the one that is considered one of the best cleaning agents. This vinegar has no coloring agent, so it won’t leave any stains on your coffee makers.

Final Words

That is all about how to clean coffee maker with vinegar. The cleaning process is easy, and you can follow the process without anyone’s help. Cleaning the coffee machine with vinegar is important to break down and clean the mineral buildup from the machine.

Remember, if you do not clean your coffee maker at least once every three or four months, it will become the house for bacteria and mold. So never make any delay in cleaning your coffee maker.