Better Tasting Coffee
Coffeemakers are nothing short of modern marvels. For many of us, they create the fuel that gets us through each day.
But it can be easy to forget that our coffeemakers require regular TLC to eliminate that foul taste that happens over time. Whether you use an economical drip coffeemaker, a gourmet French press, or a fancy espresso maker, deep cleaning these devices is critical to maximizing flavor, performance, and longevity.
The following are some issues caused by a dirty coffeemaker and some tips on how to solve them.
The most obvious result that comes from a poorly-maintained coffeemaker is bad tasting coffee. Because these machines are automatic, it’s easy to think that somehow they automatically clean themselves as well. But in reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
When coffee beans are roasted, flavorful oils are produced and exposed, especially so with dark roasted, flavorful coffees. And each time you brew coffee with a drip machine, these oils and other flavor compounds are pulled out of the coffee grinds. While most of these oils end up in your cup of coffee, the plastic in your machine will also slowly develop a build-up of residual flavor. For flavored coffees, this is especially true.
Eventually, this buildup will result in strange, foreign flavors in your morning cup of joe. French presses and espresso machines are also susceptible to oil buildup. If you’ve spent a significant amount of money on a beautiful espresso machine and you aren’t cleaning it regularly, you aren’t using the machine to its full potential.
Another area of focus should be your coffeemaker’s filter basket. Stagnant water can accumulate in and around the filter basket and sit for up to 24 hours if you use your coffeemaker just once a day. If your coffeemaker has a filter basket and it’s not cleaned regularly, you can expect it to be chock full of potentially harmful bacteria.
Lastly, cleaning your coffeemaker will extend its lifespan and shorten the overall brewing time of the machine. With tap water, hard water deposits accumulate throughout your coffeemaker. These deposits can slow the performance of your system, while also affecting the flavor of your coffee.
If you take apart your coffee machine, you’ll likely find large amounts of a chalky, white substance that has hardened onto the machine’s internal components. This substance will both restrict the water flow in your machine, as well as slowly seep into your coffee.
Cleaning Solutions
So, what’s the best way to clean your coffee maker and avoid these would-be pitfalls?
Many people suggest a vinegar solution, but using vinegar can impart a permanent sour taste in your coffee. Vinegar can also be pretty tough on delicate appliances. Finally, vinegar as a cleaning agent for coffeemakers sometimes simply doesn’t work.
Plink Drinkware Descaler and Cleaning Tablets are a Made in the USA effective cleaning option that provides both heavy-duty cleaning and easy-to-use convenience. These handy tablets are specially designed to eliminate tough stains and mineral buildup in drinkware and coffeemakers. They require no scrubbing, take just minutes to use, and restore your coffeemaker to tip-top condition in just minutes. In addition, regular use of Plink Drinkware Descaler and Cleaning Tablets can increase the overall lifespan of your machine.
Empty your coffeemaker and remove the water filter if you have one. (Pro Tip: This is an excellent time to give the filter a good cleaning as well.) Fill the water reservoir with warm water, but leave room at the top for effervescent bubbles. Drop in the tablets (two is suitable for most coffeemakers) while making sure not to cover the water reservoir until the tablets are dissolved.
Then, brew a full reservoir without any coffee. Discard the cleaning solution and rinse the coffeemaker’s components. From there, brew another full reservoir with fresh, clean water to flush out any leftover Plink.
And, in the time it takes to brew two batches of coffee, you’re all set. With Plink’s powerful cleaning solution, this only needs to be done about once every three months.
One final tip: remember that your thermoses and travel mugs also need to be cleaned. Just like your coffeemaker is susceptible to buildup and mineral deposits, so is your drinkware. Fill your dirty container with warm water, drop a Plink tablet in, and let it do the work for you. No scrubbing required.
Recognizing the benefits of cleaning your coffeemaker regularly with a product like Plink Drinkware Descaler and Cleaning Tablets will result in better-tasting coffee and a higher-performing coffeemaker for years to come.
