14
votes
Accepted
Should I thoroughly clean the portafilter basket between shots?
There's a trade-off here. If you're working in a fast-paced coffee shop, you're likely to favour the faster option (knock out the coffee) over cleaning. Generally knocking out the coffee will get rid ...
- 6,995
13
votes
Accepted
What are these spots on the inside of my moka pot? Do I need to remove them?
Short story: They are probably aluminum oxide, but almost certainly some kind of metal oxide. You don't need to take any action unless they're affecting the taste of your coffee, and it shouldn't be. ...
- 8,497
13
votes
Accepted
Coffee stain in coffee cups
Baking soda. I use a standard dish sponge/scrubbie with baking soda and a little water and it comes completely out. I've actually tried it with just a damp paper towel and baking soda and it's almost ...
- 290
12
votes
Should I thoroughly clean the portafilter basket between shots?
To Expand on @Tom Medley's Answer; the pivotal questions are:
How much time is lapsing between pulls of espresso?
Are you pulling the same espresso?
The portafilter should be rinsed with the ...
- 1,681
9
votes
Accepted
How do I keep slime from collecting in my drip tray?
If what you're seeing is mold or algae you may want to add a few table spoons of salt to the drip pan.
I'm guessing that your slime is probably a fungus of some kind, rather than an algae. It has ...
- 1,695
8
votes
Accepted
Is soap/water enough to get safely clean coffee mold from my mug?
I would feel confident drinking out of a ceramic mug after a good scrubbing with soap and water. Smooth (glazed) ceramic surfaces are more easily cleaned than rough ones, so perhaps the rough ones ...
- 1,039
8
votes
Used Keurig smells and tastes like cigarettes
First of all, note that the smell of the machine itself is unlikely to come from the interior of the parts that heat and transport water -- after all, they are regularly cleaned with hot water and ...
- 763
7
votes
Accepted
How do I effectively clean a metal Chemex filter?
This problem seems quite normal. Over time, the little holes are filled up with small coffee grounds and stuck there by the help of gluing force of grease. This grease is extracted during brewing ...
- 7,583
6
votes
Accepted
Home roaster cleaning and/or seasoning
The roasting chamber of your Gene Cafe is made of Pyrex (heat-resistant tempered glass), and leaving the old oils to accumulate and burn will cause the the inside of the drum to turn black. The darker ...
- 875
6
votes
Accepted
Consequences of wrongly cleaning espresso machine with vinegar?
I'll answer as a chemist and not as a coffee expert, but occasional exposure to vinegar won't substantially damage a piece of aluminum. Also ingesting traces of aluminum isn't toxic.
- 218
6
votes
Aluminium moka pot put through dishwasher and then polished - would it alter taste?
As you suggest and note in your question, and it deserves repeating:
Aluminum of any kind is generally not recommended for the dishwasher: it is likely to corrode / oxidize like your pot did.
Keeping ...
- 8,497
6
votes
Accepted
Espresso machine fish tank smell
You've got colonies (of bacteria, and perhaps algae.)
I'd be looking for something a bit stronger than vinegar or citric acid in the sanitizing line, though either of those might be a good place to ...
- 841
5
votes
Accepted
homemade cleaner for basic drip coffee maker
Ordinary white vinegar works just fine, but the smell bothers some people. If so, use citric acid. You can either pick some up at your local grocer, or order it by the pound. I use about a tablespoon ...
- 306
5
votes
How do I keep slime from collecting in my drip tray?
You really just need to empty the drip tray more often. The slime is algae or bacteria living and breeding in the nutrient-rich and warm tray water.
It sounds like you're interpreting the large drip ...
- 151
5
votes
Accepted
Keurig Coffee Maker gets clogged and slow
Due to the age and usage of your Keurig machine, I would say that you are experiencing two possible problems - one at a time or perhaps both.
The Problems:
The motor in the pump in your Keurig ...
- 2,148
5
votes
How should I clean a stainless coffee carafe?
Tannin is a chemical contained in coffee and this is what normally stains your coffee making / drinking equipment.
When using an espresso machine it is advised to 'backflush' your machine with ...
- 596
5
votes
Coffee stain in coffee cups
Another possibility for residual stains: Try soaking in powdered dishwasher detergent (i.e., stuff for automatic dish machines, not dish soap) and boiling water.
The process: put a small amount (~ 1 ...
- 8,497
5
votes
What can I use to clean my machine as a substitute for original cleaners?
In case you're still searching for alternative cleaning materials, I would recommend citric acid. You can easily find it pretty cheap on Amazon. Its the same concept as vinegar, but without the smell -...
- 190
5
votes
It is possible to completely dissolve coffee grounds while cleaning a metal filter?
I'm not a chemist, but I'm confident that you won't be able to dissolve coffee dust using conventional cleaning methods. I think the chemical solutions you describe are primarily aimed at dissolving ...
JJJ♦
- 1,193
4
votes
How should I clean my burr grinder?
There are two options.
Get yourself some grinder cleaner (Grindz, Urnex and probably other brands), that you just grind through. You can buy it online. It cleans the burrs, removes oils and other ...
- 2,139
4
votes
How should I clean my burr grinder?
There are products on the market that are made for just this purpose, two examples are:
Grindz Coffee Grinder Cleaning Tablets White
Capresso "Clean Grind" Grinder Cleaner
But neither seem to have ...
- 609
4
votes
How should I clean my burr grinder?
Hand grinders are usually very simple to disassemble. Read the instructions on this but most are fairly straightforward.
Rice can be good but the starchy powder can get into places you can't clean.
...
- 691
4
votes
What can I use to clean my machine as a substitute for original cleaners?
I have had multiple Breville products, and according to their recommendations, a good substitute is half white vinegar and half water. I've been using my current espresso machine for 2+ years, and ...
- 41
4
votes
What can I use to clean my machine as a substitute for original cleaners?
After a while, I have managed to receive the products themselves. Therefore, it is better to mention what sits inside these products, directly reading from the packages.
The descaler is mostly citric ...
- 7,583
4
votes
How do I effectively clean a metal Chemex filter?
I would advise against using soap to clean anything coffee related. As a simple measure, just use boiling water to loosen the oils. You can also use citric acid (the recommended cleaner for coffee ...
- 190
4
votes
Accepted
Tap water or bottled water?
Just think that your drink, coffee, is around 97-98% water so you need quality water to make a quality cup of coffee due the following:
Tap water, beside the calcium, will have additional components ...
- 411
3
votes
Coffee stain in coffee cups
All the tips above are good and might help, but in my opinion a good coffee cup shouldn't get any stains what so ever, in case it does I suggest you to throw it away and buy a new one.
Why not using ...
- 77
3
votes
Coffee stain in coffee cups
Puro Caff
This stuff cleans stains from all my presses, thermoses, and cups...makes all like new again.
- 141
3
votes
Keurig Coffee Maker gets clogged and slow
I used white vinegar also, but ran two cups of vinegar solution (about half water and half vinegar) through to a large cup, then left the solution in the machine overnight. In the morning I ran a ...
- 41
3
votes
How should I clean a stainless coffee carafe?
I have a Bunn coffee brewer with a stainless steel thermal carafe. I have cleaned it, following the instructions in the owner’s manual and the results were surprisingly good.
Place a paper filter in ...
- 73
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