A lack of cleaning supplies in your pantry can complicate cleaning your coffee maker. Here, apple cider vinegar comes in handy. It’s a common household product that is extremely effective for cleaning coffee makers. Learning how to clean a coffee maker with apple cider vinegar is a piece of cake.
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How to Clean a Coffee Maker With Apple Cider Vinegar
When used alone, apple cider vinegar can effectively clean coffee makers. ACV’s acidic properties remove sticky gunk, mineral residues, and coffee marks while cleaning coffee tools.
Mixing ACV with baking soda creates a solution that, with a few scrubs, can make your coffee maker look new. Since it’s great to remove stains, it also works wonders on mesh filters.
Using ACV to clean your coffee machine is as simple as following these steps:
You will need:
● Apple Cider Vinegar
● Water (tap water works fine)
● Paper towels or napkins (to catch spills)
● A container for water and ACV mix-up (must be airtight)
1. Empty the Coffee Machine
Make sure to empty your coffee brewer of any remaining items, including the water from your reservoir and carafe. Remove any reusable filter in your machine regardless of whether it is still usable.
After completing all these steps, lay out your machine parts in preparation for a thorough wash with ACV.
2. Mix ACV and Water Together
Fill the empty reservoir halfway with vinegar. Then, fill the remainder with water.
The vinegar is diluted a little by the water, which is then mixed with the vinegar. It is not recommended to use undiluted vinegar in coffee, as it alters the taste.
3. Turn On Your Coffee Machine and Brew for Half a Cycle
After you’ve closed your coffee brewer and turned it off, give it a half brewing cycle. This will heat and activate the compounds that dissolve grime and tough stains in the ACV solution.
After the half-brew cycle ends, allow the mixture to remain in the coffee brewer for an hour.
If you’re using a drip machine, press “stop” halfway through its cycle if it doesn’t have a half-brewing option; alternatively, use its regular cleaning cycle if possible.
5. Run a Full Brew Cycle
After waiting an hour, turn on your coffee maker and let it complete a full brew cycle. This cleaning process is the most effective technique to remove any persistent germs or stains.
After the cycle is over, you should wipe clean or scrub your carafe, the inside of the machine, and any other areas where limescale collects before starting a fresh brew cycle with only water.
Doing this ensures you’ve removed traces of dirt or filth before moving on to the next step.
6. Drain the Water and Vinegar Mixture
Gather the solution in the carafe to discard it and allow the mixture to remain inside the coffee maker for a couple of hours.
You can dump the liquid down the drain after you’re done cleaning.
7. Run Four to Five Cyclings of Hot Water
After cleaning everything, you should fill the reservoir with filtered water and run a few coffee cycles.
By flushing away any remaining ACV from the coffee brewer, the water will help eliminate the odd flavor and smell that the vinegar leaves behind.
9. Clean the Water Filter and Carafe
Carefully wash the water filter and carafe in hot, soapy water. Pat them dry and do a final rinse with cold water. Or soak them for 15-20 minutes in a water bath before washing them with cold water and patting them dry.
Only clean out the carafe if you have completed two full water cycles.
10. Reassemble Your Coffee Maker
Put your coffee brewer together once it is dry. Run one more complete brew cycle to ensure your brewer is thoroughly clean.
Depending on how thoroughly you cleaned it, you may not need to do this step.
Benefits of Cleaning Your Coffee Maker With ACV
Cleaning your coffee maker with ACV is a great way to remove any lingering flavors and odors and improve the taste of your coffee. It has been used as an alternative to harsh chemical abrasives since the early 1900s.
The numerous benefits of cleaning your coffee maker with ACV are:
It’s All Natural
Most of the cleaning products on the market today contain harsh chemicals that can damage any surface they come into contact with.
ACV is an all-natural product that has been used without any harmful effects on surfaces or people’s health.
It’s Easy to Use
No complicated steps are involved in using ACV to clean your coffee brewer.
Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a bowl and clean away! You won’t need harmful tools or products for your appliances—just a little patience and elbow grease!
It’s Environmentally Friendly
ACV isn’t just safer for you than other cleaning products; it also helps protect the planet by not creating as much waste when it breaks down.
This means less plastic going into landfills or oceans!
How to Take Good Care of Your Coffee Maker
Recent reports with alarming warnings about dirty single-cup brewers that might sicken people have caused fresh consumer concerns. To keep your coffee brewer in good working order, you must clean it regularly.
Doing so will help eliminate any buildup of minerals that can affect the taste of your coffee.
Clean the Filter
One of the most important things you must do is clean the filter regularly. The filter should be cleaned at least once every two weeks or after each use if there is a lot of sediment inside it.
The easiest way to do this is to add a few drops of vinegar to the water reservoir and let it sit for about an hour before using it again. It will help remove any bacteria or other particles from your machine’s filter so that they don’t cause any problems later down the line.
Use Soft Water
It is estimated that about 2 million Americans do not have access to clean water. If your water supply exceeds the acceptable mineral range, your coffee will lose some flavor and quality. Bad water results in muted tastes, murky acidity, and a lack of sweetness.
To avoid this problem, use filtered water instead of tap or bottled water when making coffee.
You can even buy special filters for your coffee machine that will remove minerals from your brew!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Apple Cider Vinegar Work as Well as White Vinegar for Cleaning?
Yes, your ACV works as well as white vinegar to clean your coffee machine. This option will work for various coffee machines: drip, stovetop, and pour-over.
How Do I Deep Clean My Coffee Maker With Vinegar?
To deep clean, your auto-drip coffee maker, fill a large bowl with white vinegar and add about 1/4 cup baking soda. Add some vinegar water and let it soak for about 20 minutes. Then use a soft cloth or paper towel to wipe out the sides and bottom of the machine. Put your coffee brewer through a cycle of 30 seconds of warm water and 30 seconds of high pressure. Run another hot water cycle and rinse as normal afterward.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good for Cleaning Electric Kettles?
ACV is a great ingredient to use when cleaning your electric kettle. Apple cider vinegar can help you clean your electric kettle by removing any lingering mineral buildup or gunk that may have formed over time.
Conclusion
If you love brewing coffee, you probably came here to learn how to clean a coffee maker with apple vinegar. Why? To keep the smells at bay and enjoy better-tasting coffee! The easiest way to do this is by cleaning the brewing chamber with ACV each time you finish brewing.
