A very widespread myth is that the coffee makers (and also the teapots) should not be cleaned, only rinse with water because the ‘patina’ that is formed with the use improves the taste of coffee. In this case, myth is not only false, but has the opposite effect: a dirty coffee maker makes coffee with a horrible flavor.
The reason is that coffee beans, and therefore ground coffee, contain natural oils that are deposited on the walls and pieces of our coffee makers. Like all vegetable oils exposed to air and heat, they are rooted. That ‘patina’ is a mixture of rancid oils and that is the taste they will give to our coffee. Cleaning is, therefore, essential.
How to clean the Italian coffee maker or moka
The most common coffee maker in the households in Spain and Italy is traditionally manufactured with aluminum, and this makes cleaning need special instructions. He Bialetti manufacturerinventor of this coffee maker, explains it on its website: “We immediately disassemble the myth that Moka does not need to wash. Although it is not necessary to clean it too often, the coffee maker is still subject to accumulate dirt over time. Therefore, from time to time it is necessary to hygienize it. ”
The most important thing is to remember that the coffee maker (and any aluminum utensil) should never be washed in the dishwasher. The dishwasher detergent is much more aggressive than dishwasher liquid, and high temperatures can corrode the aluminum surface and leave stains and difficult areas to clean in the future.
Bialetti advise us to use soap and aggressive scousts for the same reason. In daily use, the coffee maker can be cleaned with hot water and drying conscientiously with a clean cloth. If there is accumulation of dirt, a soft brush and three simple ingredients can be used: sodium bicarbonate, white vinegar and lemon juice.
Even so, there are two elements of the coffee maker that must also be cleaned and that are often overlooked. The filter plate can be obtained with coffee remains that are also rooted and give bad taste. It can be cleaned with a delicate bristle toothbrush or with the tip of a needle.
In the case of the lower chamber where the water is put there is a simple solution: fill it with water, add two tablespoons of white vinegar, reassemble the coffee maker and put it to the fire without coffee so that the water with vinegar circulates through all the pieces .
How to clean the piston coffee filter
The French Coffee Press or French press usually has a glass glass that we can clean in the dishwasher or conscientiously scrubbing with soap like any other container. The metallic filter that is attached to the plunger is a little more delicate. These filters are usually made of fine steel mesh, so we can clean it without difficulty in the dishwasher. Even so, coffee remains can accumulate in the filter, so it is recommended to do a thorough cleaning every two weeks.
A simple way is to mix in a water bowl with a jet of speech soap, half squeezed lemon and two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, and soak the filter for four hours before washing in the dishwasher. A solution of a white vinegar part for every three parts of water can also be used in the same way.
How to clean the express coffee machine
Express coffee machines should be thoroughly cleaned at least every month. The most expensive automatic coffee makers have a cleaning cycle that we can use periodically to leave them as new. Although these cycles work only with water, a cleaning solution or a mixture of water and white vinegar can be circulated to remove waste. Capsules coffee makers also offer this possibility, with a solution that is placed in the water tank and circulates through the coffee maker, without capsule, until it is emptied.
If the machine does not have an automatic cleaning option, the procedure is similar. A solution of a part of white vinegar and three parts of water is put in the tank, the portfilter is placed without coffee, and this solution is passed two or three times by the coffee maker. Next, it is important to fill the tank only with water and circulate it another three times to eliminate any possible rest of vinegar.
The problem of lime in coffee makers
The tap water with a high calm content affects both the useful life of coffee makers and the taste of coffee. If we want a coffee with good flavor, it is essential to use filtered or bottled water.
If there are already lime deposits in our coffee maker, there are decalcifying commercial solutions that are mostly composed of citric acid, in which the pieces can be left soaked, or in the case of express machines, circulate through the coffee maker Eliminate lime remains. Failing that, a solution of a part of white vinegar and three parts of water will provide similar results.
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