Easy Steps for Cleaning a Cuisinart Coffee Maker.

It doesn't matter if you use filtered water from your tap, bottled water, or water straight from the bottle to brew your coffee; your coffee machine will still accumulate minerals over time. Calcium deposits in your Cuisinart coffee maker can make otherwise aromatic coffee taste unpleasant.

You probably wouldn't want to drink bad coffee if you're a serious coffee drinker. In order to remove the mineral buildup that causes bitter coffee and a stale aroma in your Cuisinart coffee maker, descaling the machine is necessary.

Your Cuisinart coffee maker still requires TLC, in the form of regular rinsing and proper maintenance, even after a thorough cleaning. Before you make an irreparable mistake, we'll show you how to clean your Cuisinart coffee maker here.

First Things First

The "self-cleaning" function of your Cuisinart will alert you when it needs to be cleaned. When it's time to clean the inside of your coffee maker, a self-clean indicator light should begin blinking on the front panel.

Descale your Cuisinart once every three to six months if it doesn't clean itself, which is the recommendation for people who don't have a self-cleaning model. However, there are exceptions to this generalization. Cleaning your appliance more frequently will be necessary if you have hard water. How often you use your Cuisinart should dictate how often you clean it from the inside. If you only use your coffee maker once or twice a week, cleaning it won't be as frequent as if you used it every day.

It's possible that you'll have to replace your coffee maker sooner if you don't keep it clean. Additionally, coliform bacteria, which thrives in warm, damp places, may be present in coffee reservoirs. You don't need or want to get sick because of coffee.

Cleaning Your Coffee Maker Itself

When it's time to clean your coffee maker, a self-cleaning model will notify you. In the event that the warning light activates, the procedures outlined below should be followed.

Taking out the charcoal water filter is the first step in cleaning your coffee maker. Much like your reservoir, the water filter can become clogged with sediment and mineral deposits over time.

Combine enough vinegar to completely fill your water tank. The optimal ratio is one-third white vinegar to two-thirds water.

Once the vinegar solution is properly blended, pour it all into the reservoir.

Seek out the self-cleaning option on your coffee machine, press it, and watch for the indicator light to turn on. If it has, turn it on to start the cleaning cycle for your coffee machine. When the self-cleaning cycle has started, the button will stop blinking and remain a solid color. When the Cuisinart's cleaning cycle is done, you'll hear a five-tone beep.

To remove the vinegar and water solution after the cleaning cycle, fill the reservoir with cold water and repeat the cycle. To avoid a lingering vinegar flavor in your next pot of coffee, you may want to clean your coffee maker as well.

It's possible that a single cleaning cycle is all that's needed to get a dirty coffee machine back in tip-top shape. However, if the clean machine button comes on again after you turn the machine on, it's time to do it again.

Cleaning Methods for a Conventional Coffee Maker

Some Cuisinart coffee makers lack a self-cleaning button, so it's important to know alternative methods for keeping your machine fresh. Still, it's an easy task to complete.

You can clean your coffee maker in the same way you clean a self-cleaning machine: combine equal parts vinegar and water, pour it into the reservoir, and run a cycle. If you don't want any leftover vinegar taste or residue in your carafe after the brewing cycle is done, try running a cycle with just water.

Cleaning the Coffee Maker's Housing

Cleaning the exterior of your Cuisinart coffee maker is just as important as cleaning the interior, which is where most of the grime and residue will be found. How to clean the exterior of your coffee maker, the base, and the carafe are covered below.

Carafe Disinfection

When washing your carafe, use only warm, soapy water. Wash the carafe and lid separately in warm, soapy water, or place them in the top rack of your dishwasher to clean.

Baking soda can be used to remove stubborn stains from a carafe if warm, soapy water and the dishwasher fail to do the trick. Sprinkle a little baking soda on a cloth, or use a damp sponge or rag to wipe down the surface. Don't forget to give the carafe a good scrub down to remove any traces of baking soda.

Rinse your coffee carafe after each use to avoid permanent staining.

How to Clean Your Coffee Maker's Bottom and Case

The coffee maker only requires a damp sponge to clean the bottom, exterior, and heating plate. Avoid scratching or otherwise damaging the machine by cleaning it with abrasive cleaners or scrub pads. When cleaning your coffee machine, never use abrasive cleaning agents.

If you own a Cuisinart coffee machine, you can easily clean it by following these steps. The process is straightforward regardless of whether your Cuisinart is self-cleaning or not. If you follow the above procedures, your coffee maker will always be ready to brew you a cup of fresh, flavorful coffee whenever you are. You can extend the life of your Cuisinart coffee machine by cleaning it regularly, and doing so has health benefits as well.

Image courtesy of Quiet Hut, Flickr, CC 2.0, generic (Cuisinart coffee maker).