How to clean a coffee maker and descale it with vinegar

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-clean-a-coffee-maker-and-descale-it-with-vinegar/ · Checked October 2026

3 of 6 steps with our drawings · 1 source below

Step pictures

3 of 6 steps, our drawings

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1, linked below

Step by step

1. Rinse the brew basket after each use

   Rinse the brew basket after each use and wash it thoroughly in warm, soapy water. That removes the oily residue that makes coffee taste bitter.

   Done

2. Wipe the hotplate

   When it has cooled, wipe off any spilled coffee. For burnt-on stains, scrub the plate with a damp sponge and a little baking soda.

   Done

3. Clear carafe stains

   For stubborn stains, fill the carafe with a solution of one part baking soda and two parts hot water and let it stand overnight. Then rinse thoroughly.

   Done

4. Descale every three to six months

   Run a mixture of water and white vinegar through the machine. Check your instruction manual for the proper ratio, because a solution that is too concentrated can damage some metals and plastics.

   Done

5. Rinse with water

   Always run the brew cycle with water a couple of times to get rid of the vinegar taste before brewing coffee.

   Done

6. Pod and capsule machines

   Some makers, including Keurig and Nespresso, recommend using their own descaling solutions. Empty the drip tray regularly and clean it with soap and warm water.

   Done

About this guide

This follows Consumer Reports (updated 26 March 2026). It does not give one vinegar ratio for all machines: a solution that is too concentrated can damage some metals and plastics, so the manual decides.

Good to know

The pictures on this page are our own drawings of each step, not photos. Every instruction comes from the source below.

In short: Basket rinsed after each use and washed in warm soapy water. Carafe stains: one part baking soda, two parts hot water, overnight. Descale every three to six months with water and white vinegar in the ratio from the manual, then water cycles.

📷 Camera Lab: the same 6 scenes photographed with 11 phones, side by side.