How to Clean a Cuisinart Coffee Maker
The base, exterior, and heating plate of your coffee machine can be cleaned with nothing more than a damp sponge. Make sure you don’t use any abrasive cleaners or scrub pads on the machine to avoid scratches and damage to the machine itself. Never use harsh cleaning liquids to clean your coffee maker, no matter what.
How to Clean Cuisinart Coffee Makers (Easy Steps)
Whether you brew your coffee with bottled water, filtered water, or you can use water straight from the tap, there’s no way to avoid mineral buildup in your coffee maker. Over time, calcium starts to gather in your Cuisinart coffee maker, making that first cup of fragrant coffee taste bitter.
If you’re an avid coffee lover, the last thing you want is coffee that tastes horrible. The solution to awful tasting coffee and mineral buildup in your Cuisinart coffee maker is descaling the machine, so your coffee is fresh and fragrant once again.
Even with a complete cleanup, your Cuisinart coffee maker needs to be treated with loving care, which means regular rinsing and maintaining your coffee maker the right way. In this article, we’ll tell you how to clean your Cuisinart coffee maker before you make a costly mistake that can’t be undone.
Before You Start
If you own a Cuisinart with a “self-cleaning” feature, the machine itself will tell you when to clean it. A little self-clean light will start flashing on the front of your coffee maker when it’s time for internal cleaning.
For those of you who don’t have a self-cleaning Cuisinart, it’s recommended that you descale your machine every 3-6 months. There are a few caveats to this rule, however. If you have hard water, you’ll need to clean your machine more often. How often you internally clean your Cuisinart should be determined by how often you use it. It stands to reason that if you don’t use your coffee maker but once or twice a week, you’ll need to clean it less than if you use it two to three times a day.
Not cleaning your coffee maker regularly can result in needing to replace the machine sooner. On top of that, coffee reservoirs can contain coliform bacteria, which grows in warm moist environments. You certainly don’t want or need to get sick from drinking a cup of coffee!
Self-Cleaning Coffee Maker Instructions
If you have a self-cleaning coffee maker, it’ll tell you it’s time to clean your machine. Once the flashing light comes on, follow the steps below for success.
1. Remove the Charcoal Filter
Before you do anything else to clean your coffee maker, you should remove the charcoal water filter. The water filter gets filled up with gunk and mineral deposits the same way that your reservoir does.
2. Mix a Vinegar Solution
Mix enough of a vinegar solution to fill your reservoir. It’s best to go with 1/3 parts white vinegar and 2/3 parts water for the best results.
3. Pour Your Vinegar Mixture Into the Reservoir
Once you’ve mixed the vinegar mixture properly, pour the entire thing into the reservoir.
4. Initiate the Self-Clean Process
Locate the self-clean button on your coffee maker, press it, and wait on the button to illuminate. Once it does, you can press the on button on your coffee maker, and the cleaning cycle will begin. You’ll know that the cleaning cycle has begun because the self-clean button will stop blinking and just be a steady color. Once the cleaning cycle is complete, the Cuisinart will beep five times to indicate the completion of the process.
5. Run a Cold-Water Cycle
Once you’ve run your cleaning cycle, fill your reservoir with cold water and run a cold-water cycle to get rid of the vinegar and water solution. You may also want to wipe down all the components of your coffee machine to make sure you don’t get the faint taste of vinegar in your next carafe of coffee.
While the first cleaning cycle might be enough to clean your coffee maker, if the clean machine button lights up again when you switch on your coffee maker, you’ll need to run another cleaning cycle.
How to Clean a Coffee Maker That Isn’t Self-Cleaning
Since some Cuisinart coffee makers don’t feature the self-cleaning button, you’ll need to know how to clean your coffee maker without it. It’s still pretty simple to accomplish, however.
Just mix your vinegar and water solution as you would for a self-cleaning machine, pour the mixture into the reservoir, and run a cycle, just as you would brew a carafe of coffee. Once the brewing cycle is complete, run a cycle of just water so that you have no traces of vinegar or the vinegar smell left in your carafe after the cycle is complete.
How to Clean the Exterior Of Your Coffee Maker
Even though the inside of your Cuisinart coffee maker is the part that needs to be cleaned internally, you still need to make sure the exterior of your coffee machine is clean as well. Instructions for cleaning your carafe, the base, and the coffee machine’s exterior will be discussed below.
Cleaning the Carafe
It’s best to stick to warm, soapy water when cleaning your carafe. You can put the carafe and the lid of the carafe on the top rack of your dishwasher if you prefer to clean it that way or in addition to washing with warm, soapy water.
If your carafe is stained and the warm, soapy water and running it through the dishwasher don’t work, you can try baking soda to get the stains out. Pour a small amount of baking soda or a sponge or cloth and wipe gently. Make sure that you rinse the carafe completely to get any of the remaining baking soda out.
Make sure that you’re rinsing your coffee carafe after each use to prevent staining for the best results.
Cleaning the Base and Exterior of Your Coffee Maker
The base, exterior, and heating plate of your coffee machine can be cleaned with nothing more than a damp sponge. Make sure you don’t use any abrasive cleaners or scrub pads on the machine to avoid scratches and damage to the machine itself. Never use harsh cleaning liquids to clean your coffee maker, no matter what.
These are just a few easy steps to help you clean your Cuisinart coffee maker. It’s not a complicated process, whether you have a self-clean Cuisinart or one of the models that don’t have the self-clean button. Following the steps above will ensure your coffee maker is clean and ready to brew you a fragrant, fresh, great-tasting mug of coffee whenever you’re ready to have one. Cleaning your coffee maker regularly is also healthier for you and keeps you from having to replace your Cuisinart coffee maker long before you should have to.
How to Clean a Cuisinart Coffee Maker
If you have a self-cleaning coffee maker, it’ll tell you when it’s time to clean your machine. Once the flashing light comes on, follow the steps below for success. This is the easiest way to clean Cuisinart coffee makers!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Active Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Keyword: cleaning, how to clean cuisinart coffee makers
Equipment
Materials
Instructions
Remove the charcoal filter. Before you do anything else to clean your coffee maker, you should remove the charcoal water filter. The water filter gets filled up with gunk and mineral deposits the same way that your reservoir does.
Mix enough of a vinegar solution to fill your reservoir. It’s best to go with 1/3 parts white vinegar and 2/3 parts water for the best results.
Once you’ve mixed the vinegar mixture properly, pour the entire thing into the reservoir.
Locate the self-clean button on your coffee maker, press it, and wait on the button to illuminate. Once it does, you can press the on button on your coffee maker, and the cleaning cycle will begin. You’ll know that the cleaning cycle has begun because the self-clean button will stop blinking and just be a steady color. Once the cleaning cycle is complete, the Cuisinart will beep five times to indicate the completion of the process.
Once you’ve run your cleaning cycle, fill your reservoir with cold water and run a cold-water cycle to get rid of the vinegar and water solution. You may also want to wipe down all the components of your coffee machine to make sure you don’t get the faint taste of vinegar in your next carafe of coffee.
Notes
While the first cleaning cycle might be enough to clean your coffee maker, if the clean machine button lights up again when you switch on your coffee maker, you’ll need to run another cleaning cycle.
How to Clean a Cuisinart Coffee Maker
…but first, coffee! Starting the day out right with a delicious cup of your favorite coffee is an essential piece to having a good morning. Every six months or so though, you need to show that hardworking coffee maker some love and give it a thorough cleaning.
One of the best-selling electric coffee makers is a 12-cup model by Cuisinart. While Cuisinart got its start in the late ’70s with food processors, the company has since come to make a myriad of kitchen appliances, endorsed by icons such as Julia Child and James Beard. Since then, Cuisinart’s products have been associated with Universal design principles, making them more accessible to people of all kinds of abilities. It comes as no surprise that many of the brand’s home appliances, including its coffee makers, consistently make it on “best of” lists year after year.
If you have a Cuisinart coffee maker, you might be seeing that little pesky “clean” light turn on to remind you it’s time for it’s biannual cleanse mission. Or, maybe you’re looking for a quick solution to cleaning your electric coffee maker without digging out the old instruction manual. (Let’s be honest, you probably recycled that thing years ago.) Either way, we’ve broken down eight simple steps to get that cleaning light reminder to stop flashing and rid your pot of calcium and bacteria in your automatic drip coffee maker.
Step 1: Empty the Coffee Maker
Once you’re ready to clean that sweet machine that brings you to life each morning, pull out the pot and the filter basket.
Step 2: Make Vinegar and Water Mixture
Using one part vinegar to two parts water, fill the reservoir completely. For example, if you have a 12-cup reservoir, fill the pot with eight cups of water and four cups of vinegar and dump it into the reservoir.
Step 3: Run the Machine
If there is a “clean” button, press it. This process will take longer than a typical brew cycle for a carafe of coffee. The machine will beep a few times after it has finished the cleaning cycle.
If there isn’t a “clean” button, press the “brew” button. For a deeper clean, turn off the coffee maker for about an hour, then turn it back on and allow the cycle to finish.
Step 4: Run a Rinse Cycle
To rinse, simply fill the reservoir with water and brew. Repeat at least once to get rid of any leftover vinegar solution.
Step 5: Allow the Machine to Cool
After getting a good cleaning of the inside of the system, unplug the coffee machine for about half an hour until it is cool to the touch.
Step 6: Wash Carafe, Filter, and Base
Using hot, soapy water and a dishcloth or sponge, clean all of the removable parts of your coffee maker, as well as the base itself. If the warming plate has stains, clean them with dish soap and a rag or gentle sponge. Don’t use harsh scrubbing pads, such as steel wool or SOS pads, on your coffee maker.
Step 7: Allow the Pieces to Fully Dry
Set all of the pieces in a dish drainer or on a towel on the counter to air dry before putting them back together.
Step 8: Reassemble
Once all of the pieces are fully dry, put all of the pieces back together and you’re ready for a fresh (clean!) cup of java.
FAQ
Will this work for any brand of electric coffee maker?
Probably. Though, it’s always good to double-check your instruction manual for any specific guidelines.
I followed all the steps, but my clean light came back on…
This is your machine asking you to repeat the process. It’s likely that your coffee maker has built up quite a bit of calcification and will need to run the cleaning cycle a few times.
How often should I clean my Cuisinart coffee maker?
Depending on the quality of your water and how much coffee you make, this schedule can change. It’s recommended to clean at least every six months. If you make multiple pots of coffee a day, it may require a thorough cleaning monthly.
Why do I need to use vinegar?
Over time, the coffee maker will accumulate a build-up of hard water and minerals. Vinegar is used to decalcify the reservoir.
I don’t have a clean light on my coffee maker, how do I know when it’s time to clean it?
Your coffee will taste as bitter as your significant other sounds before their first cup of coffee in the morning.
What do I do if my coffee tastes funny after I clean it?
Depending on how much build-up you have in your machine, it may take a couple of cycles of running the vinegar solution. If you do run subsequent cycles, allow the machine to fully cool in between.
Can I Clean A Coffee Maker Without Vinegar?
Absolutely! Anything with an acetic constitution can help with the decalcification process and kill any kind of mold that may be hiding in little corners. Just make sure to run a couple of extra cycles through your coffee maker with just water. Here are a few suitable cleaning substitutes for vinegar:
Dish Soap
To use dish soap, you will need to be able to disassemble your whole machine, including hoses. After disassembling and cleaning each individual piece, you can put it back together and run a couple of full brew cycles with just water.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a direct substitute for white vinegar, so you can simply use the same one-to-two ratio listed above. Bonus: Your house will smell amazing as the coffee pot runs through the cycles.
Vodka
Hard alcohol is a great alternative cleanser. Vodka works particularly well. Use a one-to-three ratio of vodka to water. Flush the system three to four times with water afterward (unless you’re into Russian coffee).
Baking Soda
One of the most common household staples, baking soda is a tried and true cleaning product. Clean your coffee maker with baking soda by using a one-to-three ratio of baking soda to warm water, allowing it to dissolve before pouring the mixture into the coffee maker. Otherwise, follow through with the steps above.
While you wait for your Cuisinart coffee maker to complete the cleaning cycle, try making a Whipped coffee!