How to Get Better-Tasting (and Healthier) Coffee

It just tastes better

Whenever I pack to go on vacation, whether it’s a week at a rental in Ocean City, NJ or a weekend getaway for quiet writing time, I pack my coffee machine. And I’m not talking one of those mini individual cup ones… I mean the full 12-cup Mr. Coffee. Why? Because I’m willing to bet my coffee machine that hotels do not regularly clean the coffee machines in each room. I’m also willing to bet that at least some of the guests which have occupied the room before me have used tap water in the machine.
In my experience, my coffee tastes much better after I clean my coffee machine.
Using bottled water – usually distilled – and a little vinegar, I set the machine to brew. Next, I brew a few cycles with just bottled water. I wipe the machine inside and out with clean paper towels and finally, I clean the carafe with hot water and soap.

Yuck!

Before writing this post, I did a search to see how my methods line up with any expert advice for cleaning my coffee machine. What I found was shocking. I thought that by cleaning my machine regularly I was just getting rid of any mineral deposits, old water and stale taste. I found that not only was I not cleaning my machine thoroughly enough (remember, I just add a little vinegar), but I hadn’t even considered mold and other yuck which might be growing in my machine. I’m glad I found this article on Huffington Post because this is the method I’ll be using going forward.

How to clean your coffee machine

Fill the coffee maker’s water chamber with equal parts white vinegar and water. Using a paper filter, allow to brew until half the chamber is empty.
Turn the coffee maker off and let it sit for 30 minutes, then finish brewing.
Rinse the machine by using a new paper filter to brew a pot of clear water. Do this twice.
Fill the carafe with warm, sudsy water and some rice as a gentle abrasive. Swirl the mixture in the pot, then use a scrubber sponge to remove any gunk. Rinse and dry.
Wipe the outside of the machine with a damp cloth (but remember, this and the previous step should really happen every day).