What’s the best way to clean all my coffee making equipment?

by Jo
(Sutton, QC)

QUESTION:

I know I should be cleaning my coffee maker every once in a while. But how, exactly?

And what about my coffee grinder, and some of the other coffee gear I have, like my French press? I’m guessing it all needs cleaning.

All help appreciated!


ANSWER:

Important question!

Cleaning your coffee making equipment is key to ensuring your coffee tastes great every time.

It's essential to clean your equipment on a regular basis to remove any built-up oils, coffee residue, and minerals that can affect the taste of your coffee.

One of the most important things to clean is your coffee grinder.

Coffee grinders can accumulate a lot of coffee dust and oil over time, which can affect the taste of your coffee. To clean your grinder, first unplug it and remove the burrs or blades. Use a brush or a toothbrush to remove any coffee dust and debris from the burrs or blades. Then, wipe down the exterior of the grinder with a damp cloth.

Another important piece of equipment to clean is your coffee maker itself.

You can clean a coffee maker by running a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar through the machine. This works for regular drip brewers, and single-serve brewers.

Run a full cycle with the solution, then run a full cycle of clean water to remove any remaining vinegar. If you have a detachable carafe, be sure to clean that as well.

For manual brewing methods such as French press, pour-over, or Chemex, it's important to clean the equipment after every use.

For French press, you can clean it by disassembling the press, and washing the glass beaker and metal pieces with warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a cloth. Pour-over cones and Chemex can be cleaned by washing them with warm soapy water and rinsing thoroughly.

In addition, it's important to clean your milk frother if you're making lattes or cappuccinos at home. Clean it by running warm water and a little bit of dish soap through the frother, then rinse it thoroughly.

In summary, cleaning your coffee equipment on a regular basis is crucial for ensuring that your coffee tastes great every time.

And don’t get lazy about it. I’m guilty of this myself sometimes. But a grinder or brewer that hasn’t ben cleaned for a long time can really mess with the quality of your brew.

I hope this answers your question.

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