How to Fix a Slow Coffee Pot

When you first wake up in the morning and need to get your day started, the last thing you want to deal with is a coffee maker that takes its sweet time brewing your morning cup. Coffee makers, like most appliances, are prone to wear and tear and do require regular upkeep and occasional maintenance in order to function properly. If your coffee maker is taking an unusually long time to brew a full pot, it may be overdue for a cleaning. Cleaning a coffee maker is easy, inexpensive and will leave you with great tasting coffee from a machine that's likely to last a long time.

Let's say your Hamilton Beach coffee maker is slow — why is it taking so long and what can you do to get it back up to speed? One of the most common reasons why a coffee maker is taking a long time to brew is mineral deposits built up within the interior of the machine. If you're using tap water to brew your coffee, minerals like calcium and possibly limestone can build up inside of the machine, which can result in a slow brew time, evaporated water and, usually, bad-tasting coffee.

Alternatively, a clogged hose or valve inside of your coffee maker may need to be taken apart and rinsed out, which is done easily with most coffee makers by removing the part, rinsing it and securing it back in place.

If your coffee maker is brewing slowly because it's just in need of a cleaning, you're in luck — cleaning a coffee maker is an easy task that can be done in the amount of time it takes to brew a pot of coffee. There are several items you can use to clean your coffee maker, including citric acid, vinegar or a store-bought descaling solution.

To clean, add your solvent of choice to a pot full of water and pour this solution into the reservoir of your coffee maker. Place a paper filter in the filter basket (but hold off on adding the coffee grounds) and turn on your machine so the mixture runs through all the same parts that the coffee would, which will eliminate mineral residue from inside the coffee maker.

If your coffee maker is taking a long time, brew smarter by taking preventative measures to keep your machine clean and functional. By taking any removable parts out of your machine and washing them after each use, you'll reduce the amount of leftover coffee grounds and residual oil that may cause your machine to run slower over time. A deep clean about once a month with vinegar or citric acid will ensure that the interior parts of your machine, like water hoses and valves, are free of residue, calcium scale and other gunk that may slow things down.

Finally, do your best to use filters made for your coffee maker, like paper filters or a reusable mesh screen, over items like paper towels or toilet paper, to reduce the risk of any pieces tearing off and possibly clogging a water hose — those items will, of course, work in a pinch, but it's best to not rely on them for daily use.