We all know the feeling – we have things in our home that, whether by regular use or the passing of time, slowly get dirty. When we get around to cleaning it, it catches us by surprise every time we walk in the room. Of course, your next thought is “Geez, that was dirty. Why did I wait so long to clean it?”

Believe it or not, the inside of your coffee maker is also one of those household items and there is a few ways this happens.

• Moisture: We fill our coffee pots with water each use. Sometimes, we fill them the night before and set the timer for the morning. We enjoy the coffee but leave the top of the reservoir closed when finished. Open this occasionally to let it air dry.
• Old Grounds: Coffee grounds are small and can get into the nooks and crannies of our
  coffee maker. Perhaps some fell into the water reservoir when we fill the basket, sometimes the basket can overflow and grinds fall back into the reservoir. Occasionally, use a paper towel to wipe grounds out of the inside of the reservoir. PRO TIP: if the reservoir is narrow, put the paper towel on the end of something skinny, like the handle of a wooden spatula.
• Coffee residue: Each time we brew, residual amounts of the brewed coffee can adhere to the inside of the brew basket and coffee pot. As this accumulates, it can lead to hints of old coffee making its way into the next brew. Occasionally remove the brew basket and coffee pot and put them in the dishwasher.
• Hard water (BIGGEST CULPRIT): Many regions have issues with hard water. This will lead to calcium build-up inside the coffee pot. Every few months, fill the coffee maker with 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water (1:2) and run the cleaning cycle on the machine. If your coffee maker does not have a cleaning cycle, then brew the vinegar solution twice. After running the vinegar, run the cleaning cycle two more times with water-only to remove lingering vinegar flavor (believe us, you wouldn’t like the vinegar notes). Then wash the removable components. This cleaning can make a BIG difference in the coffee taste.

If it’s been a while since the coffee maker has been cleaned, you will have that “Geez, why did I wait this long?” feeling with your next cup of coffee!

Disclaimer: this advice is for drip coffee makers. If using an espresso, follow the manufacture recommendations. Bottom line – clean equipment leads to better tasting coffee.