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How To Clean a Stainless Steel Coffee Pot
The 5 most effective ways to clean your coffee pot at home.
Published November 10, 2021
Susan Rov
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Stainless steel coffee pots are some of the best vessels for your morning caffeine hit. They keep the coffee hot for longer than glass coffee carafes and don't affect the taste in your cup as plastic pots might. Even though the coffee pots constructed from stainless steel are sturdy and durable, they can develop coffee stains that affect the taste of your brew.
And if you are a coffee enthusiast who drinks two cups of coffee per day, or even more, your pot is bound to get dirty over time. The good news is, you don’t have to buy a new coffee pot every couple of years to enjoy the delicate taste of your coffee. You can easily clean your coffee pot at home without the need for any special equipment.
Read on to discover the 5 best ways to clean your stainless steel coffee pot, including a detailed guide on how to do it and what mistakes to avoid.
Do You Really Need to Clean Your Stainless Steel Coffee Pot?
Have you never really paid much attention to the cleanliness of the inside of your stainless steel coffee pot?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
While it can be easy to underestimate how dirty your coffee pot is, there are several factors that can diminish the quality of your coffee. If you’re using hard water for brewing, this will result in mineral deposit build-up in your pot. Or if you tend to leave your coffee pot on the hot plate, the burnt coffee build-up can accumulate inside. And even if you’re doing everything right, the coffee is an organic product that will naturally leave some build-up in your pot over time.
5 Ways How to Clean Inside of a Stainless Steel Coffee Pot
Now that you know that your stainless steel coffee pot has likely gathered some build-up, you’re probably wondering: What is the best way to clean it? You’ll be glad to find out that the best coffee pot cleaner is probably in your pantry already. Cleaning inside of your stainless steel coffee pot can be done with standard household items and here are our top 5 ways of reviving your old coffee pot.
1. How to Clean a Coffee Maker with Baking Soda
Baking soda, a staple pantry item in most households, is one of the most effective natural cleaning agents good for tough stains.
To clean coffee pot with baking soda, follow these simple steps:
- Use ½ to 1 cup of baking soda, depending on the size of your coffee pot.
- Fill it to the top with warm water.
- Let it soak for 5 minutes.
- Scrub with a bottle brush.
- Rinse.
Extra tip: If your coffee pot is still stained, try using hydrogen peroxide alongside two tablespoons of baking soda.
The hydrogen peroxide makes baking soda especially effective while also completely disinfecting your coffee pot.
2. How to Clean Coffee Pot With Vinegar
Because of its acidic properties, vinegar is an effective traditional natural cleaner that is widely used for cleaning various household items, including dishwashers or kettles. Vinegar can be also used to clean your coffee pot and is surprisingly effective at breaking down tough coffee stains.
Obviously, don’t use red wine, apple cider, or balsamic vinegar for cleaning, because they would leave stains behind rather than clean them. Stick to the standard white vinegar for cleaning purposes and combine it with iodized salt for an extra powerful cleaning solution.
Follow these steps when cleaning coffee pot with vinegar:
- Use ½ cup of white vinegar for ⅛ cup salt or 1 part salt for every 15 parts of vinegar.
- Add around 5 ice cubes into the pot.
- Swirl the mixture in the pot until the ice melts completely.
- Wash the pot thoroughly with warm water to get rid of the vinegar taste.
Extra tip: If you want to try cleaning your pot with vinegar without using salt, boil the vinegar on the stove for a few minutes, let it cool, and clean the inside of the pot.
3. Can You Clean Your Coffee Pot with Dishwasher Detergent?
Hand-cleaning your coffee pot every day with dishwasher soap is a good way of preventing the build-up of stains, and allows you to clean hard-to-reach areas of your coffee pot.
If you want to get rid of the coffee stain build-up, use dishwasher tablets or dishwashing detergent. And the good news is, this method doesn’t require any scrubbing.
For an effective way of cleaning your coffee pot without scrubbing, follow this method:
- Put one dishwasher tablet or ¼ cup of dishwasher powder into the pot.
- Fill it completely with boiling water.
- Let it soak for around 30 minutes.
- You’ll be surprised that after a few minutes, the dirt and grime will start rising to the top of the pot.
- Depending on how dirty your pot is, when you pour water out, the water can be completely brown.
- Make sure to rinse the pot thoroughly.
Extra tip: Avoid tablets that are too fragrant or have a formula that is too concentrated. These can leave behind an unpleasant soapy taste.
4. How to Clean Coffee Pot With Denture Tablets
If you don’t want to risk cleaning your coffee pot with aggressive chemicals or you’re worried about vinegar or dishwasher detergent leaving an unpleasant smell in your coffee, use denture tablets to clean coffee maker.
Since they are designed to be used to remove coffee stains and kill bacteria, denture tablets are an effective option for cleaning your coffee equipment.
Using denture cleaner - stainless steel coffee pot:
- Always follow the instructions on your particular product.
- As a general guideline, depending on the size of your pot, use one or two denture balls and put them inside your coffee maker.
- Add warm water and allow it to stand for an hour.
- Rinse well with hot water.
5. Cleaning a Coffee Pot With Stainless Steel Cleaner
In addition to the methods above, there are also commercial products that are designed for cleaning stainless steel surfaces. Are these suitable for cleaning your coffee pot?
If you choose to clean your coffee pot with stainless steel cleaner, select the product that is made for kitchen utensils rather than bathrooms, or heavy appliances, which would be too aggressive to use for your coffee pot. Since the use depends on the particular brand you’re using, follow the instructions for your product.
Which Method Is Best?
If you’re looking for a method that requires no harsh chemicals, no special products, and won’t impact the flavor in your cup, clean your coffee maker with baking soda, which is accessible, cheap, and easy to use. If you’re looking for a product that is made specifically for cleaning coffee equipment, try denture tablets.
Top Tips For Cleaning Your Coffee Pot
- Cleaning your coffee pot after every use will prevent the build-up of stains.
- While using a dishwasher might sound like a convenient option, it won’t do a great job at cleaning your coffee pot. Hand washing is preferred.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals or rough scourers since these could damage and decrease the durability of your coffee pot.
Cleaning your coffee maker is a key step in boosting its longevity and reducing the coffee and mineral build-up.
Clean your coffee maker with standard household items such as baking soda or vinegar or opt for denture tablets for more specialized cleaning.
About the author
Susan Rov
A retired barista who turned into a writer. I love discovering coffee flavors and learning more about the magic bean.
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