How To Clean A Drip Coffee Pot With Vinegar

How to Clean Your Coffee Pot with Vinegar, Plus, How I Kept My Coffee Maker Working for 36 Years Old

Whether you have a Keurig, Drip Coffee Pot, Nespresso, or some other brand of coffee maker, you will need to clean your coffee pot. This process is called descaling. I consider myself an expert in this field. I have even given myself an honorary coffee pot degree. In some of the photos, you will see my Farberware Coffee Maker that is currently 36+ years old! I had my Keurig last 6-7 years before I sold it for $65. My Nespresso machine is over 5 years old. Maintaining your machines is the easiest way to having a lasting coffee maker.

But not only do you have to descale the machine, what you put inside it is essential to a lasting coffee maker. This article will give you the 411 on how often to clean your machine, what to use, and how to do descale your coffee pot. By caring for your maker in this way, you will ensure that it lasts a long time and it makes a great cup of coffee.

What is Descaling?

Descaling is simply the process of removing hard metals and other elements from the interior components of the coffee maker. This helps your coffee maker work better and last longer.

How Often Should You Descale Your Coffee Maker?

There is no simple answer to this question. First, how often do you use your coffee maker?

When determining how often to clean your coffee pot, you need to look at the use of the machine. We use my drip coffee maker (the one that is 36 years old) 4-5 days a week. I descale that machine once a quarter or every 3 months. Similarly, with my Keurig, I descaled the machine every 3 months. It helps if you get into a routine. January – April – July – October works for me.

If you use your machine for 2-3 pots a day, you should descale your machine more often – consider monthly. If you use your coffee maker less, you can probably get away with descaling the machine once every 4-5 months. However, picking and maintaining a schedule are the best ways to making sure you clean your pot often.

What Should You Use to Clean Your Coffee Pot?

Most coffee makers recommend you do this with white vinegar, but there are descaling agents sold that some brands recommend you use. I use the Nespresso Descaling Agent, but for my drip coffee maker I use the white vinegar method.

The Process of Cleaning Your Coffee Pot by Descaling Your Machine

How to Descale Your Drip Coffee Maker?

After cleaning all parts with hot soapy water, I mix half distilled water and half white vinegar in the glass coffee pot. I insert a filter into the basket and pour the solution in the coffee maker. After brewing, I empty the pot and clean everything (save the vinegar water – see below)

Descaling My Nespresso Machine

My Nespresso Vertuoline Machine has a "descaling" alert, but I have always descaled it before the alert flashes. I usually descale on the same schedule as my Farberware drip-maker which is every 3 months. However, if I notice my coffee tasting bitter, I will descale more often.

Always use the descaling agent available recommended by Nespresso.

If you don't have the owner's manual, you can find descaling instructions online. Most of the instructions say it takes 20 minutes – HaHa!!!!

It will take longer than 20 minutes – it actually takes me 20 minutes to figure out how to start the descaling process because the instructions miss a step and I can never remember which step it misses!

The following steps are to descale your Nespresso VertuoLine Machine:

Turn the Machine "ON" by pushing the button. Blinking Light: Heating Up. Steady Light: Ready
Open the machine head and eject the used capsule.
Close the machine and leave the lever "UNLOCKED": Towards the front of the machine.
Empty the cup machine and the used capsule container.
Fill the water tank with 1 package of Nespresso descaling unit and .8 Liters of distilled water (About 27-28 oz of water – 3 1/2 cups)
Make sure the machine has been "ON" for more than 15 seconds. To enter the Descaling Mode: Hold the button for at least 7 seconds. I find my machine needs to be held for at least 10 seconds. Additionally, the machine needs to be on for more than 15 seconds.
The button will start blinking rapidly. You have 45 seconds to enter descaling. If it does not begin blinking, you may have to redo steps 6 over withholding the button longer. Make sure the water reservoir is in place.
Lock the machine by turning the lever to the left to the lock symbol and then unlock by turning right. Hold the button again for at least 7 seconds in the "Unlocked" position.
Place a container under the coffee outlet. Make sure it will hold at least 4 cups of water. I have 2 containers ready.
Lock the machine by turning the lever left and push the button. The machine will begin descaling. It will stop when the machine is done. Your machine will start and stop in spurts cycling through the descaling mode.
When the machine is done, empty, rinse, and clean the water tank.
Fill the water tank with fresh distilled water and put it back on the machine.
Push the button to rinse the machine. It will stop and start just as it did in the descaling mode. When it is done, empty and refill the tank.
To exit descaling mode, hold the button for at least 7 seconds.
The button will stop blinking and become steady.
Descaling is done. Allow the machine to sit for 10 minutes before using.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliae, I do earn from qualifying purchases.

What to do with a Keurig that Trickles Water or Doesn't Brew a Full Cup?

Help, My Keurig isn't brewing a full cup!

Help, My Keurig is just trickling water!

I extended the life of my Keurig machine to 6 years by the following method:

Burping my Keurig – when you find your coffee maker isn't brewing a full cup, and the water is just trickling out, you most likely have air in the water line. The following steps will help you extend the life of your Keurig:

Unplug your machine
Remove the water tank
Take your Keurig machine to the sink
Turn it upside down and smack the side of it.
This is called burping your Keurig. You may have to smack it several times. Water will drip out.
I hit my machine hard. My hand hurt when I did this. However, it works!

What to Do With the Vinegar Water after Descaling?

You have cleaned your coffee pot, and now you are wondering what to do with the vinegar and water that you used.

Vinegar and Water are used to clean a variety of surfaces, however, this is a 1:1 mixture and has much more vinegar than most other vinegar solutions. This solution is much too harsh for your countertops and many other surfaces. However, it can still be used.

I have done the following things with my descaling water from my drip coffee maker:

If I have any glasses that have film on them, I will soak them in the water.

I have also soaked pots and pans in the vinegar water.

Do you need to descale your shower head? Soak your shower head or other fixtures in this solution.

How to Get Your Coffee Maker to Last For Years?

Always use distilled water.
Read the Above article: How to Clean Your Coffee Pot
Clean Your Coffee Pot!

Clean Your Coffee Pot and extend the life of your device

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