Coffee Maker Cleaning

Wake up to espresso

The average coffeemaker requires very little thought to operate. This is a good thing: precoffee mornings are not the best time to tax the brain. Still, mornings are mornings and not the best time to mess around with potentially scalding hot liquids. Luckily, the catch-22 of needing coffee to make coffee has been addressed by the inclusion of automatic timers on many coffeemakers. This solves the issue quite nicely; after one has been properly caffeinated the machine can be set up again for the next day. But sometimes something stronger is needed.

Giving coffee-lovers another option in the morning (or really any time of day), the Miele CM5100 Espresso Machine from Williams-Sonoma features automatic operation from bean to brew. The 15-bar espresso maker comes complete with an electronic steam valve and 16.9-ounce milk flask for finishing cappuccinos or lattes. The built-in conical grinder starts the process, and a removable brew unit for easy cleaning makes post-caffeine cleanup a breeze.

Espresso drinks require more attention to prepare than their drip-coffee counterparts. With the important inclusion of a programmable timer, this machine comes full circle, letting users rest assured that they won't have to struggle with espresso in the morning. Along those same lines, the dual stainless-steel spouts can be raised or lowered to accommodate different sizes of cups and mugs--an important consideration when trying to figure out how to pour a cup of coffee in the morning.

Having transformed the den and the living room, technology is about to revolutionize the kitchen and even the laundry room. Manufacturers are increasingly cramming silicon into everything from refrigerators to spoons, and you can count on CNET's technology experience to follow and explain these trends. In this blog, you'll find the good, the bad, the priceless, the useless, and everything that fits in between, brought to you by a team of culinary professionals and technology experts from CNET and its network of bloggers.

How To Clean a Coffee Maker – household acids, soaps and detergents

‘Good coffee starts with good beans’ – that’s what so many coffee companies are saying these days. But if you have a dirty coffee maker, then it doesn’t matter how good your beans are, or how perfect your grind, or how great the seal or valve on your coffee can or bag. Coffee makers have a lot of things working against them and the taste of your coffee. Minerals in the water (even bottled water) build up on the inside of the maker and then are released into the coffee. Mold tries to sneak in by building up in the piping and the filter basket. There are products that will clean your coffee maker and if you choose to go this route, then make sure you follow the directions provided for safe use. These products are usually a form of acid that has been packaged for what is believed to be convenience. Household acids (such as lemon juice and vinegar) can be used in the same manner just as effectively for a fraction of the cost, making these products a waste of money.  Never use any type of soap to clean your coffee maker. Many soaps will suds when going through the cycle, causing a huge mess. Beyond that, soaps and detergents will leave a residue behind that can cause damage to your coffee maker and make your coffee taste horrible. As for using soap on your coffee pot (the glass portion that collects the coffee), this is an effective cleaning method As long as you rinse it well (washing the pot and the filter basket in hot soapy water is recommended).  Clean your coffee maker with safe, inexpensive products for great tasting coffee.  

Step 1

Remove the parts that can be removed and wash them in hot soapy water. For most coffee makers this will include the filter basket and the pot. Some will also have built-in filters which should also be washed. This should be done after each pot of coffee.

While it seems easy to do, leaving the old filter and grinds in the filter basket is a bad habit. It can grow mold in a short time and isn’t something you want in your coffee. Step 2

Use a damp sponge to wipe down all surfaces. You will want to wipe down the top where dust often accumulates (which can and does get into your maker and then your coffee). Wipe down the back, the sides, the front, and the heating element (the coffee pot should be turned off and cool and preferably unplugged as well). If there is any burnt coffee on the heating element, take a little vinegar on your rag or sponge and gently scrub it clean (this often happens when you take coffee from the pot before it is done brewing even if you have a stopper).

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