When was the last time you cleaned your coffeemaker?
Like anything else, coffee makers require cleaning from time to time. Over time, lime deposits and "gunk" build inside your coffee equipment. Coffee oils can accumulate inside the coffee machine and become rancid. This will damage the taste of coffee. Mineral deposits can form inside the coffee maker as either lime scale or mineral scale. In general, scale reduces the efficiency of the coffee maker's heating unit as well as the water flow. The coffee aftertaste changes to somewhat bitter and dirty. If this is happening to you, it is time to make your coffeepot clean again!
Coffee Pot
Coffee equipment should be cleaned at least once a month. Clean your coffee machine more often than that to ensure the best tasting coffee if you are a heavy coffee drinker. Other factors, such as the type and quality of water you use in your coffee machine also influence the cleaning frequency to use.
Most coffee makers have cleaning instructions included in the owner manual that you can follow. However, most people misplace or do not keep the owner's manual for small and mid size appliances. You can spend money on a cleaning kit or you can use a very effective and inexpensive home made cleaning solution. The following cleaning method works very well.
Steps to cleaning your coffee pot,
Put a filter into the filter basket unless your coffee equipment does not use paper filters. Pour an entire jar of white vinegar into the pour spot where you usually pour the water. Some people will add lemon juice to the vinegar which is fine. Others prefer to use a combination of half water and half white vinegar. Any of these combinations work. The decision is based on how dirty the coffee maker is and how often it has been cleaned. Turn your coffee maker "on" or use the "clean setting" if your equipment has one. Make sure all the vinegar drops down into the coffee pot recipient. When finished, discard it. The vinegar will deodorize your kitchen sink drain, which is a nice side benefit. Run two full pots of water through to make sure you flush out all traces of vinegar before brewing coffee again. Let the coffee equipment cool each time for about 10 minutes. Remember to wipe down the outside and all around the coffee maker very well to give it a shiny clean look and remove any traces of dirt. One area that is usually very dirty and sticky is where the coffee drips out of the machine into the pot. It's similar to cleaning the inside ceiling of your microwave. Cleaning every single crevice of the coffee machine is essential to preventing mold build up in the piping and the filter basket. Wash the coffee carafe (glass container) inside and out very well with soapy hot water. Lime deposits form inside the carafe and can affect the coffee taste. If you have stains or burned coffee spots on the carafe, pour some table salt on them and let them stand for at least a half hour or overnight. You can add some water with vinegar and soak overnight. Depending upon how stubborn and crusty the stains or burn marks are, this step may need repetition. It will remove any "coffee film" inside. Check the coffee equipment to see if the smell of vinegar persists in the equipment. If it does, run more water through the coffee maker. Vinegar cleans the coffee pot and flushes out any buildup in the tank and tubes.
Good coffee starts with good beans and with a clean coffee maker. A coffee maker is easy to clean. On a daily basis, after each coffee brewing, you should remove all the parts that can be removed and wash them in hot soapy water. Use a damp soft towel or sponge all surfaces of the coffee equipment.
A clean coffee machine will make better tasting coffee. Your reward will be a delicious, clean, aromatic and great cup. What can be better than that for a coffee lover?
Let's drink some Papua New Guinea AA Estate!
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Black & Decker DLX1050W 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe, White Feature
- 12-cup coffeemaker with soft-touch digital control panel
- Programmable clock/timer; auto-brew option; "on" indicator light
- Brew-pause function; nonstick warming plate; 2-hour auto shut-off for safety
- Water-level indicator; glass carafe and removable filter basket included
- Measures approximately 11-3/5 by 9 by 13-8/9 inches; 2-year limited warranty
Black & Decker DLX1050W 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe, White Overview
This contemporary coffeemaker offers a Sneak-A-Cup Interrupt Feature that lets you grab a cup before brewing is done - when you just can't wait for that first cup of coffee.Available In Stock. |
