How to Clean an Espresso Machine with Vinegar

Anyone who likes to drink espresso knows the convenience of having your very own espresso machine in your home. With a home espresso machine, you can make your favorite coffee drink whenever you like. You may find, however, that after an extend period of use, your espresso may take on an unusual flavor. This is due to the buildup of minerals in your machine. Thankfully you can easily, and inexpensively, remove those mineral deposits with a little bit of water and vinegar.

Things You'll Need

• Vinegar Water Spray bottle Soft washcloth

Instructions

1. Mix 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in your squirt bottle. Shake or mix well.

2. Spray the vinegar mixture directly onto the outside of your espresso machine and wipe with your soft washcloth, using a circular motion.

3. Add 1 part vinegar to 1 part water to your espresso machine and brew as though you were making a regular cup of espresso (with no coffee, of course).

4. Empty out the vinegar mixture and run the espresso machine several times with just water. This will remove all of the vinegar and help to get rid of the bad smell that heated vinegar can produce.

5. Wash the filter basket with warm, soapy water. Dry thoroughly by hand. Your espresso machine is now clean.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use newspaper rather than a hand cloth to wipe away the vinegar mixture. However, newspaper can scratch some surfaces. Test a small area before proceeding.

• While brewing the vinegar and water mixture, your espresso machine may emit an unusual smell. This smell will dissipate after a while.

References

• Espresso Guy.com

Resources

• 1001 Uses for Vinegar