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How to Clean Your Coffee Machine
If you’re a coffee lover, having a coffee machine at home is a must. You can enjoy a high quality coffee at the touch of a button. No more waiting around in coffee shop queues for expensive take away lattes! Most modern coffee machines don’t need much maintenance, however its still important to keep your coffee machine clean.
Regular cleaning can extend the lifespan of your coffee machine, it will also improve the taste of your coffee too! According to Which? 20% of their members have never cleaned or descaled their coffee machine, whilst another 20% do this just once a year. Yikes!
In this short guide, we’ll talk you through how to clean both built in and freestanding coffee machines. We’ll also show you how to descale your coffee machine. If you take yourself seriously as a coffee lover, keeping your coffee machine in tip top condition is essential. So, let’s get started!
Built in coffee machines
Built in coffee machines have several parts that need cleaning on a regular basis. These include:
- Water tank
- Drip Tray
- Milk container
- Milk frother
- Coffee and hot water spout
- Brewing unit or coffee grounds container
How do you clean a built in coffee machine?
Our advice applies as a general rule of thumb for built in coffee machines. Each model will differ slightly and it is always a good idea to check the user manual for the best cleaning advice for your specific machine. To clean your built in coffee machine, you never need to use solvents, abrasive detergents or alcohol as these can damage your appliance.
First things first, always ensure you have unplugged your coffee machine and that it has completely cooled down before you start cleaning it.
Some parts should be cleaned after each use, including the milk frother and the hot water spout. Wipe these down with a damp microfibre cloth after each use to ensure there is no milk residue. Regular up keep of these parts will improve the lifespan of your coffee machine and the quality of your coffee.
Remove parts including the drip tray, milk container and water tank to clean using warm soapy water and a soft washing up brush. While some parts are dishwasher safe, we always advise washing these parts by hand to prolong their lifespan. Drip trays often need a bit of extra cleaning as you’ll often find stubborn stuck on residue here. The best thing to do is to leave the drip tray to soak in warm soapy water for 30 minutes. This should help to lift some of the residue, then you can scrub this with a soft washing up brush. Holes in the drip tray can often get clogged up too. Try using a cocktail stick to push through the holes to loosen any debris.
Most built in coffee machines will have a cleaning programme which you can use to clean the internal parts of the machine. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to complete this process.
Clean the coffee spout regularly with a damp microfibre cloth. Occasionally the coffee spout may get clogged up. If this happens you can release any blockages with a cocktail stick.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll also want to descale your coffee machine. More on that later!
How often should you clean your built in coffee machine parts?
How do you clean a freestanding coffee machine?
Firstly, unplug your freestanding coffee machine, then leave it to completely cool down before you start cleaning. Once cooled down, you can take out the removable parts including the drip tray, water tank and brewing unit. Simply wash them with warm soapy water and a soft bristle washing up brush, leaving them to dry naturally.
To clean the exterior of the machine, use a damp soft microfibre cloth. If your machine has a steam wand you can also clean this with a damp cloth. Afterwards, use the steam setting to flush out the nozzle.
Many fully automatic freestanding coffee machines will alert you when its time to run a cleaning programme. We recommended following the user manual instructions when cleaning your machine for the best results.
It is also important to descale your coffee machine regularly. Find out more about how to descale your coffee machine in the next section.
Descaling your coffee machine
Descaling your coffee machine is an important part of properly maintaining your machine. If you don’t descale, over time, mineral deposits build up which can affect the performance of the machine and change the taste of your coffee. We recommend that you descale your coffee machine once every 3-6 months as a general rule. You may want to descale your machine more often if the water in your area is particularly hard and how much you use your coffee machine. Some machines will automatically prompt you to descale. However if you notice a change in taste, or how long it takes to make a coffee, it is time to descale!
It is important to read your user manual to know which type of descaling product you should use. Some machines use descaling tablets, where others use liquid descaling agent. Always follow the descalers instructions. Using the wrong type may have a damaging impact on your coffee machine. If your manual doesn’t specify which decaling agent to use, you could use a solution of equal parts of white vinegar and water. Add this to the water tank and start a brew cycle.
Conclusion
Now you know the best way to keep your coffee machine clean, why not treat yourself to a new one? Take a look at our extensive collection of coffee machines to find your favourite. If you need some help deciding which type to go for, our Coffee Machine Buying Guide will explain the pros and cons of each style. Our sales team are also on hand with advice on the best coffee machines to suit your needs. Give us a call on 0115 965 1937 to upgrade your coffee machine today!
