While I use my Nespresso machine daily, I don’t clean it as regularly as I should. Whether you use a traditional drip coffee machine or a high-end Breville, cleaning it can be daunting, so I asked experts how to clean a coffee maker the right way. Mekayla Bramlett, the owner and head barista of Charlotte Mobile Coffee, said you should be regularly wiping down the exterior and cleaning removable parts by hand. “Water reservoirs, drip trays, and brew baskets should be removed weekly and washed with warm water and mild soap,” Bramlett said. “Let all parts fully air-dry before reinstalling to prevent mold or bacteria growth.”
However, cleaning the inside of your machine may require some help. I asked a couple of coffee experts what you’ll need to thoroughly clean your machine. Here are the three coffee maker cleaning tools they recommended, starting at just $1 apiece.
Expert-Recommended Coffee Maker Cleaning Essentials
Hoemxcel Microfiber Cleaning Cloth,12-Pack
Amazon
To clean the exterior of your coffee maker, Bramlett recommends having some microfiber cloths on hand to wipe away all of the “coffee oils, dust, and residue” that can build up on the outside of the machine. Make sure you get the controls, drip tray, and brew head to “maintain functionality of any screens and buttons by removing oil buildup.”
This 12-pack of microfiber cloths is a bestseller at Amazon, with more than 33,100 perfect ratings and 20,000 packs purchased in the past month alone. At less than $1 apiece, the soft, reusable cloths will easily pick up dust and absorb spilled coffee as you wipe down your appliance.
Nespresso Descaling Kit Solution
Amazon
A coffee maker descaler will tackle any mineral buildup within your machine, which is the “main cause of machine issues,” according to Bramlett. She recommends using the descaling solution that is specific to your machine, like this one for Nespresso machines.
The kit comes with two individually packaged portions of descaling solution that you add to the water tank to run through your machine. Then, fill the water tank with fresh water and run it through the coffee maker until the water runs clear. You can find descaling solutions for Breville espresso machines, OXO coffee makers, and Keurig machines at Amazon.
The store-bought options can cost anywhere from $3 to $5 per use, but Bramlett says you can also create an at-home solution using equal parts water and vinegar. “Run half of the brew cycle, pause the machine, and let the solution sit for 30 to 60 minutes to break down scale,” she said. “Then complete the cycle, discard the solution, and run two full cycles of clean water to remove any remaining solution or residue.”
Urnex Grindz Professional Coffee Grinder Cleaning Tablets
Amazon
If your machine has a built-in coffee grinder, it will need its own cleaning regimen. Heather Perry, the CEO of Klatch Coffee, a 2-time US Barista Champion, and the former president of the Specialty Coffee Association, likes the Urnex Grindz cleaning tablets for burr grinders specifically. You grind the tablets through the machine to dislodge particles and absorb oils, then grind coffee beans to flush away the leftover cleaner. Perry adds that you can use old or expired beans for this step because you won’t be consuming them.
