How to Clean Espresso Machine with Vinegar: Who doesn’t like a fresh cup of coffee in the morning? However, in a busy schedule, one may find it hard or avoid going through the hassle of making or buying a cup of coffee. Thus, many homes have invested in an espresso machine which makes the whole process of making coffee much easier.
Now imagine that you’re drinking coffee and you get a weird smell and taste in the drink. This is usually because limescale gets accumulated in the espresso machine. Several machines use hard water to make coffee. Due to high pressure and heat; mineral gets deposited in the tubes and at the bottom of the machine. If this is the case, this means that the coffee maker requires some cleaning up. The cleaning process is known as Descaling or Decalcifying and vinegar is the best way to clean an espresso machine. Experts recommend that you should clean the coffee maker with vinegar at least every month.
Hence in this article, we will provide you with everything you need to know about how to clean the espresso machine with vinegar.
Let’s get started!
Contents
Five Simple Steps to Clean the Espresso Machine with Vinegar
1) Which Kind of Vinegar Should be Used?
There are several brands and types of vinegar in the market. They include white vinegar, red vinegar, apple cider, balsamic, and the list goes on. Thus it can be difficult to decide which vinegar is best for cleaning the espresso machine. Truth be told there is no hard or fast rule to use a specific type of vinegar. The easiest one is using white vinegar because it’s found in almost every home.
2) How Much Vinegar is Required?
To make the solution, you’ll require water and vinegar. The quantity usually depends on how frequently you clean the espresso machine. If it’s been a while then you’ll require more vinegar. Hence fill the reservoir with 50% vinegar and 50% water; both of them should have the same measurement. If you own a cafe and have an espresso machine, then we recommend that you always use this ratio as coffee is made in large quantities so this means more mineral deposits at the bottom. Here are some recommended best cafe espresso machines which would produce the best coffee.
However, if you clean the coffee maker frequently then the water to vinegar ratio should be 2:1.
3) How to Descale the Espresso Machine with vinegar?
This involves the actual pouring of the solution into the coffee maker.
- First, filter paper would need to be placed in the machine’s basket.
- Add the solution of the vinegar and water to the pot.
- Turn the machine on and brew the solution, but only halfway.
- Turn off the machine and let the solution remain there for 20-30 minutes.
- Turn the machine back on and finish the brewing process.
- The limescale residuals would have vanished. However, the smell of the vinegar remains so you must rinse the whole machine with water now.
4) How to Rinse the Espresso Machine with Clean Water?
Now you’ll want to use clean distilled water to get rid of the horrible stench of vinegar. To do that first place a new filter paper. Next, fill the reservoir with just water and run it through the machine. You can repeat the process several times to be sure that the smell of the vinegar is gone.
5) How to be Sure that the Espresso Machine is Clean?
There is no exact way to be 100% sure! However, to find out, you can make yourself a cup of coffee. Once you taste it, you’ll know if the flavor of the hot drink is to your liking. If it is, then the machine is descaled. To get the perfectly brewed coffee, we advise that you invest in one of these espresso machines.
There are several other methods through which one can clean the espresso machine. Such as using citric acid, lemon juice or even washing all the parts of the coffee maker after every use. However, vinegar is the best treatment for descaling the espresso machine because of several benefits.
Why Should Vinegar be Used to Clean the Espresso Machine?
1) It is cheap.
2) White vinegar is found in almost every household so you won’t have trouble looking for this ingredient.
3) You won’t have to clean all the parts manually. The solution can be ready in less than a minute, you pour it in and the machine does all the work. So no hard work is required!
Final Verdict to Clean Espresso Machine with Vinegar!
Regularly tending to the espresso machine and descaling it using vinegar will not only ensure the good running of the coffee maker but you will also be rewarded with a freshly brewed cup of coffee every day!