Empty the grounds, wash every removable coffee-contact part with warm water and mild dish soap, rinse well, and let everything dry fully. Wipe the machine itself with a damp cloth. For descaling, grinder internals, and dishwashers, follow the manual for your exact model. Coffee gear is not one big appliance wearing costumes.
- After each brew
- Discard grounds; rinse brew basket, server, and reusable filter
- Regular wash
- Warm water, mild dish soap, a soft brush, and a full rinse
- When scale appears
- Use the manufacturer’s descaling method and product
- Electric grinder
- Unplug first; brush or vacuum dry; keep water away from burrs and motor
Drip machines and pod brewers
- Unplug the machine and let it cool.
- Remove the carafe, basket, reservoir parts, and reusable filter only where the manual says they are removable.
- Wash approved parts with mild soap and warm water. Clear small openings with a soft brush, not a blade or pin that can damage them.
- Wipe the exterior and warming plate after they are cool.
- Run the maker’s stated rinse or descale program when its manual or indicator calls for it, then complete every fresh-water rinse.
Do not assume vinegar is safe for every brewer. Some manufacturers specify a branded descaler or a particular acid concentration; others warn that household mixtures can damage seals, sensors, or metal. The manual wins this argument.
Pour-over, French press, and AeroPress
These are mostly coffee oils and trapped grounds rather than hidden plumbing. Wash removable parts, work a soft brush into mesh and seams, rinse thoroughly, and air-dry disassembled. Check the maker before putting any plastic, wood, coated metal, seal, or glass in a dishwasher.
A French press needs special attention where the mesh meets its plates. We have a two-minute illustrated guide for that particular sandwich of tiny parts.
Grinders stay dry inside
Unplug an electric grinder before opening anything. Remove only the burrs and parts the manual marks as user-removable. Brush loose coffee away and use a vacuum if the maker permits it. Unless the manufacturer explicitly permits it, do not put water on burrs. Never put water on electrical components or inside the motor housing.
How often?
There is no honest universal calendar. Daily use, hard water, oily coffee, and machine design all change the interval. Rinse coffee-contact parts after use, wash before residue becomes visible or aromatic, and descale on the manufacturer’s schedule or indicator. If clean water run through a clean brewer smells like yesterday, today is cleaning day.
If the equipment is clean and the cup is still wrong, move from housekeeping to brewing: check the water, the grind, and the ratio.
Sources & further reading
- Baratza — Common grinding mythsManufacturer guidance explaining why rice is not a grinder-cleaning shortcut.
- Baratza — Grinder cleaning essentialsManufacturer guidance for safe burr removal, brushing, and dry cleaning.
- AeroPress Help Center — Cleaning AeroPress coffee makersManufacturer instructions; model differences are why this guide defers to manuals.