Cleaning your Bunn coffee maker is an investment in durability. Bunn coffee maker has a long-standing record and performance that depends on maintenance and cleaning routine. Therefore, you should deep clean a Bunn coffee maker than just doing wiping here and there. Sometimes mineral deposits build up in the tubes and require you to unclog a Bunn coffee maker. Here are simple methods to quickly clean your Bunn coffee maker for a quality coffee brew.
What You Require
- Paper towels
- A soft washcloth
- A toothpick
- Warm water
- Dish soap/ dishwasher detergent
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Lemon
- Scrub brush
- Paper filter
There are several ways of cleaning your coffee maker, which includes the following;
Cleaning between Uses
Before using your coffee maker, always clean it remove any oils, coffee grounds, or nasty residues that can quickly build up with time. Clean by soaking in soapy water and use a soft washcloth. Later rinse your maker with clean water, wipe it with a paper towel or leave it to air dry.
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Start by wiping down the outside surface to remove any coffee grounds. Pour any leftover coffee into a decanter. Pour in some warm water and few drops of dish soap and leave it to soak. Using a soft washcloth, scrub any stains and later rinse the apparatus. Allow the maker to drain excess water and wipe it with a paper towel or dishtowel.
Cleaning the thermal carafe requires you to dismantle the valve that is at the center of the carafe. Cleaning helps remove any mildew or coffee ground stuck under the flap. The cleaning process is as follows;
- Add your paper filter to the funnel.
- Take some cold water and add 2-3 teaspoonfuls of dishwasher detergent.
- Fill the reservoir with soapy water and set it through some cycles for all the water to run into the coffee pot.
- Rinse the funnel once it completes the cycle.
- Allow the mixture to soak into the coffee pot for 20 minutes.
- Take a bottle brush and scrub it gently, then rinse with warm water.
- Wipe the carafe with a dish towel or allow it to air dry.
Regularly Clean Removable Parts in a Dishwasher
For the best flavor of your coffee, it’s best to thoroughly and regularly clean each part of the maker. Clean them after every use by running them to the dishwasher for sterilization. Clean all the parts, including the base plate, coffee decanter, filter baskets, to remove any coffee spills. Wipe also the reservoir’s lids to let the air out and prevent any excess moisture build-up.
Always before cleaning, ensure that all the removable parts are dishwasher safe Place the elements like the coffee pot upside down on the top rack of your dishwasher. Then use a mild detergent and wash the parts on a normal cycle.
Cleaning with Soap and Water
- Switch off your coffee maker and soak it in soapy water for at least 30 minutes.
- Scrub the maker using a sponge or soft washcloth on the inside and outside surface.
- Remove the maker from the soap solution and rinse it until no soap residues are remaining.
- Dry it out with a towel or leave it to air dry.
Cleaning with Vinegar
- Create a vinegar-water solution with one part vinegar and 2 parts water
- Add the solution to the coffee maker until its halfway the reservoir and run a brew cycle. The vinegar will lift sediments and deposits from the system in the process
- Repeat the method at least three times to make sure the coffee maker is properly clean.
- After brewing, soak the pot in the vinegar solution for four hours.
- After that, flush the vinegar out with distilled water. You can repeat the flushing several times to get rid of the vinegar scent, as this can ruin your coffee.
- Make sure you clean the pot a couple of times to ensure there is no vinegar residue.
- Later use warm water to scrub the pot to get rid of any stains remaining.
Use Baking Soda to Clean
- Dust baking soda on the stains and spray vinegar. Baking soda is effective in removing any stains on the coffee maker.
- Soak the stains for 5 minutes to allow the reaction between baking soda and vinegar to occur and loosen the stains.
- Using a soft fabric, scrub the stains gently.
- Later rinse the pot with clean water to get rid of the residues and smell.
What is the Best Way to Clean a Bunn Coffee Maker?
The best way to clean the Bunn coffee maker is by using white vinegar. Vinegar is acidic, and this eats away any deposits in your coffee maker, making it clean. It’s best to use vinegar, especially when you want to descale the apparatus. As explained above, clean the machine carefully and rinse it thoroughly to prevent the build-up of residues that can affect your coffee flavor.
How to Clean a Bunn Coffee Maker Without Vinegar?
Some people dislike vinegar due to its strong smell that permeates throughout the room as you clean. Again, it can affect your coffee flavor if you fail to rinse the pot carefully. But not to worry, there are other means you can use to clean your maker without vinegar.
Cleaning with Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is acidic, just like vinegar, but it has a pleasant aroma and is readily available. Run the liquid through the coffee maker as you would do with vinegar. Later run clean water through the machine for several cycles to flush the lemon juice.
Using Grime with Slat and Ice Water
Ice and water are a good combination for descaling the build-up of deposits in the coffee maker. Mix crushed ice with table salt in the carafe. Use a cloth or soon to rub the ice and salt against the interior surface. Wash and rinse the carafe well.
Sanitizing with Borax
Borax is a multipurpose cleaner that you can use to wash kitchen apparatuses like fridges, coffee makers, and more. Mix a few spoons of borax with a few cups of warms water. Run the mixture through a regular cycle or heavy brewing. After, rinse the machine thoroughly by running fresh water through a cycle.
Other unique methods you can use to clean coffee pot include;
- Use of liquid dish soap
- Use of alcohol
- Cleaning with baking soda
- Using hydrogen peroxide
Cleaning agents can be toxic if ingested. Ensure you rinse your coffee maker thoroughly with fresh water before brewing your next cup of coffee
How Do You Clean a Bunn Coffee Maker with a Spring Tool?
Bunn spring tool is ideal for cleaning water delivery pipes. Here is how to use the de-liming spring tool;
- Remove the filter basket and unscrew the sprinkler head
- Push the spring toll into the pipe hole at least 6 inches.
- Quickly push and pull the spring around five times.
- Remove the spring and reassemble the coffee maker.
How to Empty a Bunn Coffee Maker
First, turn off the power connecting to your coffee maker and flush out the hot water by adding cold water. Open the lid, so you start pouring the cold water. Hold the Bunn coffee maker carefully as you turn it upside down over a sink to pour the contents out of the pot. Continue holding the coffee maker upside down until all the water stops flowing from any part of the apparatus. Replace the spray head by screwing it in a clockwise direction.
How to Take Apart a Bunn Coffee Maker?
- Open the top cover of the coffee maker.
- Raise the lever to access the basket holder. You need to tilt the basket back and loosen the screw a few turns. Tilt forward and lift the basket out.
- Later pull the drip tray out and lift the drip tray cover-up.
- Open the front door and slide the bin out.
- The other parts are easy to remove them like the base plate, carafe, coffee decanter.
How to Unclog a Bunn Coffee Maker?
- Fill the coffee maker chamber halfway with white vinegar and the rest with water.
- Set a paper filter in the basket to hold any hard water deposits or other loose debris.
- Brew half of the water and vinegar mixture, then turn off your apparatus.
Check this too: KitchenAid Coffee Maker Troubleshooting & How-to Guide
Conclusion
A coffee maker can significantly improve your coffee brewing experience. But to prolong its performance in brewing, cleaning and maintenance are a must practice. It’s straightforward to clean your Bunn coffee maker, especially if you make it a routine. Again, the items you need to clean are readily available, and most are cheap.