Nothing’s better than a freshly brewed coffee to jumpstart your work day. Having another good brew in the afternoon provides that jolt of energy to keep your productivity going. Your office coffee maker is probably the MVP in your office break room.
Like any gadget, your office coffee maker needs to be maintained regularly, including frequent cleaning to make sure your coffee is brewed fresh and tasty each time. In this article, we’ll show you how to keep your coffee maker clean and neat at all times.
How to Clean a Coffee Maker Pot
The longer coffee sits in the communal glass pot or carafe, the more stained it gets. Those unsightly rings around the glass, the hard water stains trailing towards the spout, and the dust and grime building up on the exterior create the perfect environment for mold and dust particles to settle, making people sick when they drink coffee from the dirty pot.
Dump out remaining coffee at the end of the day and thoroughly wash the glass pot with soap and water. For stained pots, swirl around some uncooked rice grains or rock salt in the pot, along with some dish soap and warm water, to gently scrub out the stain without leaving scratches or streaks.
How to Clean Coffee Maker
Cleaning your coffee maker goes beyond just your glass carafe. As water goes through the internal mechanisms of the coffee maker, it leaves behind trace minerals that can form scales around the inner workings of your coffee maker. Mineral build up can shorten your coffee maker’s lifespan, and make the coffee your brew from it bitter-tasting.
How to Clean a Coffee Maker with Vinegar
To clean your coffee maker, you can use plain white vinegar and water. White vinegar is a safe alternative to commercial descaling solutions, and is something you probably already have in your office pantry or at home. It is inexpensive, easy to access, and don’t worry - it won’t leave any odd taste or smell afterwards.
To clean your coffee maker with vinegar, start by placing a paper filter onto the basket as usual. Fill the reservoir with equal amounts of vinegar and water, and let it brew until the liquid is halved. Allow to sit for 15 mins, brew again until the reservoir is completely empty. Empty the pot and run the machine again with water to remove vinegar residue.
Also read: Best Guide to Manage Office Waste
How to Clean a Coffee Maker without Vinegar
For the vinegar-free way, any mild acidic solution would work just as well to descale your coffee maker. Lemons are a great substitute that can make your machine smell fresh too! Fill the reservoir with fresh or bottled lemon juice halfway, and fill with water until the maximum level.
Place a filter into the empty filter basket, and allow your coffee maker to run until the reservoir is halved of liquid. Let the solution sit for 20 minutes, and run again to finish the descaling process. Replace the filter, dump out the contents of the pot, and run the machine again with fresh water in the reservoir. Repeat once a week for best results.
How to Clean a Coffee Maker with Baking Soda
Sodium bicarbonate is another way to clean your coffee maker without vinegar. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive that scrubs away at stains, mineral deposits, and mold spots while cleaning out your machine. To clean your machine, start by creating a solution with ¼ cup baking soda, and lukewarm water.
Fill the water reservoir with the solution and set the machine for a full brew cycle. Make sure you have a new filter put in the machine’s basket. After brewing, allow the solution to sit in the pot for 15 minutes then remove the liquid. Rinse out your machine by running it with clean filtered water, and a new paper filter.
Helpful Tip: Scrub your carafe as needed; you’ll find that this solution lifts stains off your glass carafe, making it easier to clean.
How to Clean an Automatic Coffee Maker
Our list so far has given tips on how to clean drip machines. If your office has an automatic coffee maker, like a Keurig or Nespresso machine, you can clean it using the same ingredients, but with slightly different methods.
Detach any removable parts and non-electric components, and wash with soap and warm water. Alternatively, you can place them in the dishwasher if the manufacturer labels them dishwasher-safe. Scrub out any white spots or crusty buildup from the limescale and allow these components to dry.
To descale the internal workings of your machine, place an empty mug on the tray, and add in your preferred solution: vinegar and water, baking soda solution, or lemon juice solution. Set the machine to brew at the largest cup setting, and continuously dump out the mug when filled. Run the machine again with clean water until the reservoir is empty.
Helpful Tip: Most automatic coffee makers produce their own descaling solution formulated for their specific machine. Contact your provider for more details.
How to Clean Electric Coffee Pot
Electric Moka pots and coffee makers are convenient ways to make a great cup of brew, but coffee residue and mineral buildup in and around your electric coffee pot is not only gross, it increases the possibility of an electric fire. Be sure to clean out your electric pot after each use to minimize staining, and keep your machine ready for the next use.
Similarly, an electric coffee pot can be cleaned with undiluted vinegar, but the smell might make you the office enemy. We suggest using vinegar-free solution instead to clean out your electric pot by filling it with clean water, and adding ¼ of lemon juice or baking soda. Allow the solution to brew and sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing out any loosened stains. Rinse out the pot, and now it is ready to use.
Tips to Keep an Office Coffee Maker Clean
Here are a few tips on cleaning your coffee maker and keeping it at its best performance:
- Clean out the carafe, filter basket, and water reservoir after each use.
- Descale your frequently-used office coffee maker at least once every two weeks.
- Do not put anything but water when brewing coffee.
- Clean out any removable parts daily to prevent mineral buildup.
- Hire an office tea lady for all your refreshment needs.
- Contact a professional cleaning service to sanitize your office kitchen or pantry from top to bottom.
