Last Updated on June 18, 2020 by MakeThingsReal
Making coffee at home is a very rewarding activity and caring for your coffee maker does not have to be a difficult task. For any coffee lover, a coffee maker is a precious household item used daily, so you do not want to run the risk of your coffee maker packing up unexpectedly. A simple maintenance routine is all you need to keep it running efficiently, and proper will also ensure that this appliance lasts for a long time.
There are some ways you can maintain your coffeemaker, here are some options;
Unplug after making coffee at home
There are certain brands of coffee makers that shut off automatically a few minutes after brewing your coffee, but your coffee maker may be a simpler model. If it is, you should always remember to shut it off when you have finished using the machine. Sometimes when we’re making coffee at home we tend to be so casual, and this might lead to unnecessary wear on the machine.
Try not to overfill the appliance
Your coffee machine will most likely come with an instruction manual, and it is in your best interest to follow the instructions set out in the manual. Usually, you will be instructed not to overfill your coffeemaker with water as it could spill and destroy the appliance.
Wash thoroughly every month
A well-known way to preserve the shelf life of your coffee-maker is to wash it as often as possible and to wash it thoroughly whenever you can. Thorough washing involves a lot more than a wipe down or cleaning the coffee filter after each use. Making coffee at home does stain parts of our machine, and that’s where vinegar comes in.
If you use your machine daily or even twice a day, there’s a chance that oil and grime will build up in the machine over time, the ingredients in the vinegar are perfect for breaking down this oil residue. If you neglect it, there is a chance that it will start to affect the flavor of your coffee and it may even make you sick.
To clean the appliance, pour two cups of white vinegar into the water reservoir and turn on the coffee maker, when you finish washing it, rinse the appliance as many times as possible so that your coffee does not retain the taste of vinegar.
Don’t leave coffee in your coffee machine
Coffee has the tendency to stain things, leaving coffee in your appliance may not only spoil the apparatus, but it may also discolor it. When you have leftover coffee, either drink it or pour it away and rinse the carafe afterwards especially if you plan to make a fresh pot of coffee. Always remember this when making coffee at home.
Wash the coffee pot
When we’re making coffee at home, we sometimes forget to wash the pot after using them. Your coffee ends up in the coffee pot after the brewing process, and we may have the habit of leaving the coffee to sit for hours or even days after use. Your carafe should be washed as often as possible, you may not be able to clean it after every use if you are always busy and constantly drinking coffee, but you can rinse it. Just fill it with water and leave it in the sink. This way you can prevent the build-up of stains and discoloration and avoid funky tasting coffee each time you make a fresh pot.
Keep your accessories in good shape
A lot of coffee makers often come with accessories like espresso shot glasses or wands for steaming milk. These accessories are often neglected especially if they are not used very often but when you use and neglect to wash them, they can turn pretty nasty. Milk on the wand may curdle and stink while the espresso will most likely stain the shot glass if left for too long without washing.
Frequently remove limescale
Apart from your monthly vinegar wash, it is crucial to remove limescale and water deposit at least once every few months. You can purchase a cleaning solution specially made for coffee makers, or you can stick with your vinegar solution.Another option for getting rid of limescale and water deposits is use filtered water to brew your coffee.
Check your coffee maker for signs of wear
A routine inspection of your appliance is another method of ensuring it works properly as you can anticipate any malfunction or severe damage. Check your coffee filter regularly as well as the cord on the appliance. You can check for cracks on the carafe or marks on the body of the coffee maker. These checks are not just for maintaining your coffee maker but for your overall safety. After making coffee at home for a period of time, it is vital to do these steps to ensure your device is efficiently working.
With these steps, keeping your coffee maker in working order should not be difficult, If you are busy, you can schedule your inspection for when you perform the routine maintenance for all your other household appliances.