How To Maintain Your Coffee Maker At Home: 5 Useful Tips

Different Means of Maintaining A Coffee Machine

Different people have different needs when it comes to coffee machine cleaning. A big restaurant will have to maintain cleanliness proactively. There are “cleanliness” standards that must be adhered to. However, some people prefer to clean everything but the inside of the coffee pot itself owing to accrued residue over time, and its flavor.

So what’s the best move? Well, in large part, that’s going to depend on you. However, regardless of your preferences, the following suggestions will work as regards coffee machine maintenance. Consider these things as you go about assuring your machine is at its cleanest.

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1. Read The Instructions So You Use It Properly

All coffee machines are different. Some are designed with utmost simplicity, some are innovative.

So your first step in keeping your machine clean is to actually read the manual. Certain machines really don’t require much cleaning; you just want to get the pot squared away every couple months—unless you’re seeking to preserve that taste patina referenced earlier.

2. If You’re Not Using Your Coffee Making Device, Turn It Off

When you leave a coffee machine on perpetually, that’s putting a mild electrical “load” on it at all times. Electricity doesn’t necessarily involve moving parts at the visible level; but the reason electricity works as it does has to do with reactions of particles at the molecular level. Eventually, metal wiring has a propensity to break down if the “load” is never lifted.

A few different things may happen. One day, the machine may simply not work, or one day you might turn it off and not be able to turn it on again. Sometimes if you bang it around a bit that will help, but a better solution is simply turning off your coffee machine when it’s not in use so you don’t incidentally stress internal components.

3. Start Off On The Right Foot With Quality Coffee Equipment

Another wise move is simply finding the right sort of machine from the very beginning. Do a little research and find what coffee equipment best fits your particular situation. Often, that designed by aficionados is going to be engineered for longevity, simplicity, and flavorful excellence. However, you may prefer something simple and straightforward.

Regardless what matches your preferences, quality in design will translate to overall longevity. Exploring reviews and testimonials can be helpful, and paying more up front will save you from paying more on the back-end. That said, you’d be surprised at how affordable quality coffee equipment actually is.

4. Consider Specialized Cleaning Formulas To Clean Your Device

There are actually different formulas which can be used to clean out a coffee maker. Vinegar can be used, as can what’s known as “commercial descaler”. There are also tablets which can be put into a pot, and they’ll effervesce with a chemical that peels layers of coffee residue from inside the pot. Or, you might just leave the pot “as is”.

Also, you might well want to pull out individual components from inside the machines themselves and wash them individually in a sink full of soapy water, or a dishwasher. Just be sure that which you pull out is designed to be removable.

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5. Dust With Canned Air Inside And Outside Of The Machine

If you’re looking to clean your device without losing the flavor from interior residue on the coffee pot, you might use some canned air as a “dusting” agent. Essentially, it’s the same stuff you would use to “dust” a computer. It’ll be a cheap can of air with a nozzle, and you can use that to flush out all the errant grounds from inside the machine, and inside the filter holder.

If you’re going this route, it’s a good idea to let the machine dry out a little first. Once you’ve flushed the dust, then you give the device a wipe down.

Keeping Your Coffee Machine In Top-Tier Shape

Dusting the machine can be a fine alternative to cleaning formulas, cleaning formulas make a lot of sense as well, and some coffee enthusiasts prefer to never clean the inside of their coffee pot.

Regardless where you fall in that area, be sure to get solid coffee equipment from the start, turn off the machine when you don’t use it, and read owner’s manuals for all devices. Follow these steps, and you’ll not only secure the right coffee machine, it will retain long-term functionality.

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