How to Descale Your Coffee Maker Properly

Descale your coffee maker monthly using white vinegar or commercial descaler to remove mineral buildup that affects taste and machine performance.

1. Clear out the machine completely. Remove any coffee grounds, filters, and water from your machine. Take out the carafe and any removable parts like the filter basket. Rinse these components with warm water and set aside to dry.
2. Mix your descaling solution. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water to fill your coffee maker's water reservoir. For a 12-cup machine, use about 6 cups of vinegar and 6 cups of water. Commercial descaling solutions work too - follow the package directions for mixing ratios.
3. Run the descaling cycle halfway. Pour the vinegar solution into the water reservoir. Place the empty carafe on the warming plate and start a brew cycle. Let the machine run until about half the solution has brewed through, then pause or turn off the machine.
4. Let the acid do its work. Allow the vinegar solution to sit in the machine for 15-30 minutes. This gives the acid time to break down mineral deposits throughout the internal components and heating elements.
5. Finish the full brew cycle. Turn the machine back on and let it finish brewing the remaining solution. The vinegar will continue working on buildup as it passes through the system. Empty the carafe when the cycle finishes.
6. Flush out every trace of vinegar. Run 2-3 cycles of plain water through the machine to flush out all vinegar residue. Use fresh water for each cycle and empty the carafe between runs. Taste a small amount from the final rinse - if you detect any vinegar flavor, run another water cycle.
7. Finish with a thorough wipe-down. Wipe down the outside of the machine with a damp cloth. Clean the carafe, filter basket, and any other removable parts with warm soapy water. Dry everything thoroughly before reassembling.