How to Remove Oily Residue From Coffee Makers

Keeping a clean coffee maker ensures fresh coffee every time.

Coffee makers should be cleaned once every month for light users or every 24 brewing processes if you use the coffee maker for commercial use or simply use it heavily. Proper cleaning of a coffee maker is necessary because calcium deposits build up from water and the natural oils in coffee beans coat the coffee maker, giving your coffee a bitter, more acidic taste than it should have if made in a clean coffee maker.

Things You'll Need

• Distilled water
• White vinegar
• 4 tbsp. baking soda
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Remove the reusable filter from the filter basket. If you use a paper filter, discard the filter and coffee grounds if still inside the basket.

2. Fill the coffee pot with a mixture that is half distilled water and half white vinegar. Gently agitate the pot to combine the water and vinegar. Pour the mixture into the water reservoir.

3. Turn the coffee maker on and let it run until the coffee pot is half full. Stop the brewing process and allow the machine to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Continue running the coffee maker until all of the water has gone through the coffee maker and is in the pot.

5. Discard the water and vinegar mixture in the coffee pot. Refill the pot with distilled water.

6. Pour the distilled water in the pot in the reservoir. Run the coffee maker until all the water has passed through the machine and is in the pot.

7. Allow the coffee maker to rest and repeat the rinsing process with distilled water once more.

8. Fill the coffee pot with distilled water and add 4 tbsp. baking soda.

9. Gently wipe, with a clean sponge, the inside and outside of the carafe and plastic parts of the carafe to remove calcium deposits.

10. Rinse the coffee maker with distilled water and dry it with a clean towel before use.

Tips & Warnings

• If you haven't cleaned your coffee maker in a long time or if you purchased a used or vintage coffee maker, you may need to purchase commercial decalcifying tablets to use in the cleaning process. These tablets are available through many hardware stores, restaurant supply stores and through numerous online retailers.

• Don't wash your coffee carafe with a rough sponge or steel wool pad. You may scratch the carafe.

References

• The Mad Coffee Maker: How to Clean a Coffee Maker

Resources

• Good Housekeeping: Cleaning Coffeepots