Do You Really Need To Clean Your Coffee Pot Daily?
If you are a coffee lover, your coffee pot is likely the most used appliance in your home, but how often do you clean it — or need to clean it?
According to a 2021 survey by Urban Bean Coffee, 64% of adult Americans consume coffee every day with 79% of them making coffee at home. Additionally, the survey found that an average American drinks 3.1 cups of coffee daily. That's a lot of coffee-stained coffee makers, whether single-use, drip, or French press.
Notice that your java is brewing slower? It could be because of mineral buildup. A dirty coffee pot will have coffee residue and buildup from minerals that can negatively affect the machine, according to Consumer Reports, which could impact the flavor of your coffee and cause it to not work as well.
Even scarier? Your coffee machine could make you sick if it's unclean. Coffee pots can be an environment well-suited for bacteria, yeast, and mold due to its warmth and moisture, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
How often should you clean your coffee pot?
If you are a daily coffee drinker and your goal is to drink the best-tasting coffee and to keep unhealthy bacteria, yeast, and mold at bay, the answer is daily, according to Lisa McManus, executive tasting and testing editor at America's Test Kitchen, who spoke to Eat This, Not That! By washing the coffee maker daily, you are removing coffee oils that can make fresh coffee taste bitter, McManus said. She said to simply use soap and water to clean it.
Better Homes & Gardens says that if you are an occasional coffee drinker, then every three to six months is acceptable for cleaning. Using water and vinegar is recommended to return the sparkle to coffee makers, whether that be a traditional drip machine or a single-use maker. In contrast, House Digest advises using mild dish soap for daily cleaning. But for a deeper clean, House Digest recommends using vinegar.
When it comes to your coffee pot, you may be using the best beans on the market for your morning cup of coffee, but if your coffee maker isn't being cleaned properly and regularly, those great beans may not be achieving their full flavor potential.