Coffee Machine Cleaning with the CoffeeMeister

by Erin Meister, Posted Jul 1st 2009 @ 11:00AM

Brushes, detergent, coffee pot: Partners in grime. Photo: Erin Meister

Erin Meister trains baristas for North Carolina-based Counter Culture Coffee and sporadically maintains the blog Meet the Press Pot from her home in New York City. This is the eighth in a series of tips for the caffeine-addicted.

First storage, now cleanliness? I guess I'm getting a little domestic on y'all.

Coffee machine cleanliness is super important and, sadly, all too easily overlooked in both the café and the kitchen. The coffee oils that become your French press' ring around the collar are incredibly tenacious little suckers -- think of them as the caffeinated cousins to the crust in a skillet after cooking with oil. If left there, they can turn rancid (yuck!) and infiltrate every cup you make.

But don't pop open that vinegar bottle yet, friends: Vinegar's strong flavor and scent can overpower coffee by lingering if you don't rinse and rinse (and rinse and rinse). Not only that, but it probably won't banish all that stubborn residue on its own.

How to get rid of coffee oils after the jump.

Consider investing in some inexpensive, fast-acting, taste- and odor-free coffee machine detergent, like this or this: A few minutes' soaking and a quick scrub should remove the offending goop from your Mr. Coffee, Chemex, press pot -- you name it.

Using the proper cleaning brush for your equipment is important, too: You want to get in every nook and cranny. For home espresso machines, the Coffeetool is super handy, while for larger pots and carafes a simple bottle brush will do the trick. Even basic scouring pads work wonders. (I also always have a regular paint brush around for sweeping runaway grounds off the counter.)

Make cleaning a regular part of your coffee routine, always remember to rinse everything thoroughly afterward, and rinse your coffee making device after each use -- it'll make life much easier and the coffee much tastier.

Filed Under: Drink Recipes, How To
Tags: cleaning, cleaning products, coffee, coffee cleaning

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-02-2009 @8:35AM badfrog101 said... Nonsense. I tried white vinegar, didn't work worth three dead flies. Then I used bleach, about 5% in water for four hours, clean as brand new, aired it out for 24 hours, rinsed it again, made coffee, perfect.

Love my French press.
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7-03-2009 @10:46AM Annoachi said... Why not just put your french press in the dishwasher? Its what I do and it works very well.
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7-03-2009 @11:06AM Meister said... Good question, Annoachi!

One main reason is that many French presses are made of delicate glass and can break in the dishwasher. I've seen many a coffee break ruined by a dishwasher-exploded French press. That doesn't sound like it's happened to you, though, and that's great!

Happy caffeinating,
Meister
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7-03-2009 @11:53AM Aaron said... thanks for sharing this cleaning technique. never knew cleaning could actually produce tastier coffee.

From,
Aaron
http://www.viewmemo.com
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7-06-2009 @11:58AM Uncontrol said... I just hand wash my french press every night ...
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7-13-2009 @7:45PM bevan houston said... Best method I know: Fill your pot with ice and a say a tablespoon of salt, swirl for about 3-5 minutes. You will be amazed at how clean your pot will look after you're done.
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