Coffee has been part of life for thousands of years (and a daily part of ours for longer than we’d like to admit!). Fifty percent of the American population consumes what Thomas Jefferson once referred to as “the favorite drink of the civilized world.” In fact, each year, the United States imports over $4 billion worth of this product. With an average price for a brewed cup of coffee at $2.38 and an espresso-based drink at $3.45, a cup of Joe each morning would cost you about $869 each year. That’s a lot!

It’s no wonder, then, that the popularity of Keurig and other pod-based coffee machines has skyrocketed in the past few years. It’s like having your very own barista. However, to increase your Keurig’s or coffee pot’s lifespan, as well as produce a fresh-tasting brew each time, the machine must be properly maintained. That’s why we are going to teach you how to clean a Keurig and a Coffee Pot efficiently and effectively.

Why is cleaning your Keurig important?

As you use your Keurig brewer, calcium deposits accumulate inside of the coffee maker. While non-toxic, calcium build-up can negatively impact your brewer’s performance if left unattended. Keurig suggests removing build up (descaling) every three to six months. Here’s how:

1. Prepare the brewer by emptying water from the Reservoir and setting aside the Keurig Water Filter, if applicable.
2. Disable the “auto off” feature, and turn off coffee brewer.
3. Pour the entire bottle of Keurig Descaling Solution into the water reservoir. Fill the bottle with fresh water and pour into the reservoir as well.
4. Power the brewer back on.
5. Place a large cup on the drip tray. Lift and lower the handle and select a ten-ounce brew size. Press brew. Be sure that the beverage pod holder is empty.
6. Dump the contents of the mug into the sink, and repeat the cleansing process until the display indicates “more water please.” Let the brewer stand for 30 minutes while still on.
7. After 30 minutes, discard any remaining solution and thoroughly rinse the water reservoir.
8. Fill the reservoir with clean water once again, and repeat the cleaning process at least 12 times. Note that you may need to refill the water reservoir at least once during this process.

You can purchase the recommended descaling solution from Keurig’s website, Amazon, or most places Keurig brewers are sold. You can also make your own solution by filling the water reservoir with white vinegar and water using a 1:2 ratio.

Cleaning a traditional coffee pot

Even if you prefer a more traditional way of brewing coffee, it is just as important to keep your coffee maker and coffee pot clean. Each brew leaves a bit of coffee grounds, oils, and hard water residue on your machine. Not only do these affect the taste, but drinking coffee from a heavily-stained glass pot is just not appealing. Here’s how you can clean yours:

1. Empty your coffee pot of any leftover coffee and used grounds.
2. Fill the coffee pot with three cups of white vinegar and six cups of cold water. Empty the solution into the coffee pot’s reservoir. If need be, you can adjust the amount of white vinegar and water using that same 1:2 ratio.
3. Brew a pot of the vinegar-water mixture, and allow it to sit in the coffee pot for 15 minutes.
4. After 15 minutes, pour out the vinegar-water mixture from the coffee pot and brew two water-only cycles. This will get rid of any excess residue and vinegary taste. Turn off the coffee maker for 15 minutes between each brewing cycle.