How to clean a coffee maker: Keurig, French Press and more

Keurig Deep Clean: Once a month, descale your machine with Keurig descaling solution or white vinegar (as outlined above).

How to clean a French Press

Not only is this portable machine one of the most convenient coffee makers on the market – it’s also one of the easiest to clean. You only need a few pantry clips to give your French Press a thorough clean. That’s how it’s done:

Fill the glass or stainless steel carafe with a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar and water. Leave for 10-15 minutes, then empty. Rinse and scrub with soap and warm water until the vinegar smell is gone. Disassemble the piston, noting how the pieces fit together so you can reassemble it later. (Most French presses have a lid and dipstick, and three layers of filters—a spiral plate, a screen filter, and a cross plate.) Separate the different parts and place them in the sink. In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp. baking soda with 1 tbsp. water and mix into a thick paste. Using a toothbrush or sponge, scrub the piston and filters with the baking soda solution. Rinse thoroughly, then wash with soap and water. Reassemble the piston.

French Press Daily Clean: Dispose of coffee grounds in the trash or compost. Rinse the carafe with warm water, add a few drops of dish soap and dip up and down until the soapy water foams. Rinse again, then scrub the carafe and plunger with a non-abrasive sponge or brush.

French Press Deep Clean: Soak the carafe in vinegar solution and scrub the plunger with baking soda paste once a month.

How to clean an espresso machine

With lots of bits and pieces, espresso machines are a bit more complicated to clean than your standard drip machine. But pros like Adam Keita, co-owner of Daughter Cafe & Wine Bar, swear by one product to get the job done: Cafiza. Widely used by baristas, Cafiza espresso machine cleaning powder is “the most reliable cleaner on the market,” according to Keita.

Cafiza cleaning powder for espresso machines

Cafiza powder removes oily residue from the group heads, valves and lines of an espresso machine. How to use it:

Place a dummy filter in the portafilter and add ½ tsp. Cafiza powder. Insert the portafilter into the brew head and take a shot. This will backwash the machine and remove any coffee particles or mineral buildup. Remove and rinse the portafilter, then replace the portafilter with the dummy filter but without the cleaning powder. Perform a shot to flush the machine. Replace the blind filter with a standard basket. Make a cup of espresso to remove all traces of the cleaner. Discard the espresso (do not drink!). Submerge the tip of the steam nozzle in a small cup of boiling water for 15-30 minutes. Unscrew the tip of the steam wand and use the tool that came with your machine to poke through the holes, making sure there is no caked milk blocking the steam path. To clean other detachable parts on your machine, make a soaking solution by mixing 1¼ tsp. Cafiza powder with 4 cups of hot water. Remove all detachable parts from your machine. (If you are soaking a portafilter, do not submerge the handle.) Soak the parts for 30 minutes, then rinse with clean water. Dry the parts and reassemble the machine.

Remember that every espresso machine is different. Therefore, always consult the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your machine.

You can also use cafiza powder to clean a moka pot – see full instructions here. And if you’re ready to invest in coffee nirvana, here’s our guide to finding the right espresso maker for you.

Daily cleaning of the espresso machine: After drawing a shot, dispose of the used puck coffee grounds immediately – if left, the oily residue will stick to the portafilter basket. Rinse the portafilter and empty the steam nozzle. Wipe the wand with a clean, damp rag, then clean again.

Deep cleaning the espresso machine: Clean the espresso machine weekly with Cafiza (as described above) and soak the steam nozzle.