Tips and Instructions for
CLEANING A COFFEE MAKER

Cleaning a coffee maker is essential in order for the coffee maker to work well. Failure to clean the coffee maker may affect negatively the functionality of the coffee machine and cause the coffee to taste bad.

If your coffee maker brews slowly or your coffee tastes bad, it may be a signal that it is time to clean your coffee maker.

Cleaning is important before your very first brew, after purchasing your new coffeemaker. It is also necessary to clean and decalcify the coffee machine from time to time on a regular basis in order to maintain its performance by removing water mineral deposits and coffee stains of the coffee makers.

For example, the Mr. Coffee® user manual (EH series) suggests decalcifying and cleaning Mr Coffee makers after every 80 (soft water) or 40 (hard water) brew cycles. (For more information on how to clean a Mr. Coffee coffee maker, please refer to and follow instructions of the manufacturer's user manual.)

COFFEE MAKER CLEANER SOLUTION

Cleaning a Coffee Maker Before First Use

As I mentioned above, it is advisable to clean your coffee maker right before its first use in order for the coffee to have a good taste. Many people complain of bad coffee-taste when starting to use their coffee machines, because they fail to perform this simple step.

To clean your coffee maker the first time....

• Wash all the removable parts of the coffee maker, i.e. the carafe (including its lid that you may take apart - if possible - for this purpose, but do it carefully not to break its plastic hinges) and filter basket, in liquid soap and water.
• Rinse well.
• Place all the parts in the coffee maker. Make sure both the filter basket and the carafe are centered well and inserted properly in their places, and that the decanter lid is attached to it.
• Close the coffee maker lid, turn on the machine and brew a cycle of only water. Do not add a filter and coffee grounds as yet.
• When done, turn off the machine, empty the water of the carafe and rinse the a.m. parts again.

Your coffee maker is now clean and ready for brewing a good-tasting cup of coffee (providing that you have got good coffee to begin with!)

Periodical Decalcifying and Cleaning a Coffee maker

Decalcification and cleaning of your coffeemaker periodically - as I have mentioned at the beginning of this page - will ensure better maintenance and performance of your coffee machine.

Here are some tips and instructions for decalcifying and cleaning a coffeemaker and remove accumulated calcium and limestone deposits.

• Add white vinegar to the coffee maker (the a.m. Mr Coffee manual suggests 20 fl. oz of it for cleaning a Mr. Coffee Coffeemaker).
• Insert a filter (paper or permanent, dosen't matter) and close the coffeemaker lid.
• Turn on the machine (make sure the carafe is centered in place) and run a brew-cycle of the vinegar. (The a.m. Mr.Coffee manual suggests 3 cups of its cleaning solution, then turning of the coffeemaker, letting it rest for 30 minutes and then running through the rest of the solution.)
• Turn the machine off. Empty the vinegar and rinse well the carafe.
• Fill the water chamber with clean water and dispose of the the paper filter or rinse well the permanent filter, and run through a fulll brew-cycle of the water only without a filter or coffee grounds. Then repeat this step once more.

Your coffee maker is now clean.

Cleaning a Coffeemaker Regularly

It is also highly recommended to clean your coffee maker regularly, ideally on a daily basis, washing it in hot water with soap.

After a period of time you may notice some coffee stains on the carafe. This is left by the water and stained brown by the coffee.

To remove coffee stains of the carafe, fill it half water, half vinegar and let it stand a few minutes. Then empty, wash and rinse well, and this should remove the coffee staining and render your decanter clean.

Some Safety Tips

When cleaning a coffee maker, keep this guidelines in mind to avoid safety hazards and damage to your coffee maker.

• Always make sure to turn off the coffee maker and let all its parts cool before cleaning the coffee machine.
• Do not place the coffee maker itself in water or liquid or in the dishwasher.
• Do not clean a glass carafe with abrasive material that may scratch it and cause it to break.

Check out also:

Tips for using a coffeemaker

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