The warm, damp, dark interior of coffee makers can become a haven for mould, yeast and bacteria, which are then swilled down through the pipes and into your coffee cup. The heat may destroy some of the nasties but these are not the kind of added flavourings you want floating in your morning brew. There’s also the issue of limescale, which can build up inside the machine and affect both its workings and the taste of your beverage. (Some coffee machines, like the Sage Bambino espresso maker, have a removable filter in their tank, which helps. But it’ll still need cleaning.) That’s why, if you have a coffee maker at home, you should clean it regularly. If you use your machine every day, a proper clean every two weeks would be ideal. However, if that seems unrealistic, once a month should be enough for hygiene. Set a recurring reminder on your phone and get to it. But when you can’t take the machine apart and see what’s going on inside, how exactly can you clean it effectively? Luckily, there’s a very easy fix. The problems start in the water reservoir, so that’s where to begin.
Do this every week
Every two weeks/ every month (depending on your cleaning tolerance)
This is an effective way to clean any type of coffee maker or machine – pod, ground coffee, drip or bean-to-cup. If your machine is on its last legs and you’re considering buying a new coffee maker, have a look at our round-up of the best coffee machines we’ve tested. Emma is Home Tech Editor at Tech Advisor. She covers everything from kitchen appliances to smart home devices, from floor care to personal care to air care technology. She’s particularly interested in environmentally conscious brands and products that save people time and money.
