When brewing coffee, two types of impurities settle in the coffee machine. The first is , formed from minerals present in water. The second are coffee oils that accumulate in the pipes, brewer and nozzles. They are responsible for the bitter taste of coffee and its unpleasant smell.
Neglected coffee machine:
- brews coffee with a worse aroma,
- works louder and slower,
- consumes more energy,
- it is more susceptible to heater and pump failure.
Importantly, deposits inside the device also constitute a favorable environment for the development of bacteria and microorganisms. Even the best grains cannot compensate for the lack of hygiene of the equipment.
You may be surprised, but I don’t buy products for cleaning my coffee machine in a store or drugstore, but in… a pharmacy. Following the advice of my friends, I reach for denture cleaning tablets. They are designed to remove and organic depositswithout damaging delicate surfaces. These are the exact same problems that occur inside a coffee machine.
Their operation is based on:
- dissolving the stone,
- neutralizing odors,
- breaking down fat deposits,
- antibacterial effect.
Importantly, these tablets are gentler than aggressive descaling agents, and at the same time more effective than random home remedies such as vinegar or baking soda, which may leave an odor or damage the seals.
For the method to be safe and effective, certain proportions must be adhered to. A solution that is too concentrated will not improve the effect and may burden the device’s components. Do it like this and you will get what you need, which is clean, .
- I pour 1 liter of warm water into the tank,
- I add 2 denture cleaning tablets,
- I wait until they dissolve completely.
Then I run the cleaning program or a full brewing cycle without coffee. If the coffee machine does not have a dedicated program, simply pass the solution through the system in portions, taking short breaks. After completing the process, I rinse the tank thoroughly and I run clean water through the coffee machine at least twice.
This step is the most important – it removes any remaining detergent and makes the coffee machine ready for use again.
The frequency of cleaning depends mainly on the hardness of the water and the intensity of use. At home, the method with denture tablets works best when used regularly, but not excessively.
Recommended practice:
- once every 3-4 weeks on a daily basis,
- more often if the water is very hard,
- less often if filtered water is used.
Regularity prevents the build-up of thick layers of scale, which later require more invasive methods.
Cleaning the internal system is one thing, but elements that come into direct contact with coffee and milk are equally important. Denture tablets also work great when washing the drip tray, coffee grounds container, and coffee spout nozzles.
The milk frothing nozzle should be cleaned separately, preferably after each use, because milk residues spoil very quickly and are difficult to remove once they dry.
