Contrary to popular belief, stainless steel isn’t all that stainless. You may have looked inside your coffee pot recently and realized it’s less of a mirror and more of a murky, brown abyss.
So, how do you clean it? We’ll take you through four ways to spruce up your stainless steel coffee pot and other maintenance tips to keep it in peak condition.
How to Clean Stainless Steel Coffee Pots
There are multiple ways to clean your stainless steel coffee pot. We’ll take you through some of the top methods, such as:
- The Baking Soda Method
- The Denture Tablet Method
- The Dishwasher Detergent Method
- The Vinegar and Ice Method
1. The Baking Soda Method
Add a cup of baking soda to your coffee pot, and then add warm water until filled. Use a dish brush to scrub the baking soda and water mixture around the inside and outside of your pot. Rinse out, and it should be as good as new.
2. The Denture Tablet Method
Add two denture cleaning tablets to your coffee pot, and add warm water. Allow to sit for five minutes before scrubbing the inside and outside of the pot clean. If you have a larger coffee pot, you may need to add more denture tablets as needed.
3. The Dishwasher Detergent Method
For a scrub-free way to clean your stainless steel coffee pot, try the dishwasher detergent method. Add either one dishwasher tablet or a ¼ cup of dishwasher powder into the pot, and then fill it to the brim with boiling water. Leave it to sit, and you should see all of the grime rise to the top! You can then empty it and rinse the pot out.
4. The Vinegar and Ice Method
Add around six ice cubes to your coffee pot. Pour in ½ a cup of white vinegar and two tablespoons of kosher salt. Mix around the pot and swirl it up the sides to remove the stains. Once the ice cubes have melted, rinse it out.
How Not to Clean Your Coffee Pot
We've given you four ways to clean your stainless steel coffee pot. But what are some things you should avoid? Here are some big no-nos when it comes to coffee pot maintenance.
- Don’t use general-purpose stainless steel cleaner, as this can be toxic. Look for ones designed for cutlery and other stainless steel cooking utensils instead.
- Don’t be tempted to scrub with wire wool. You could potentially scratch off the coating and taint your pot.
- Don’t use overly perfumed products to clean your pot, as they will affect the flavor of your coffee. If you do use them, remember to rinse thoroughly multiple times to remove any scent residue.
- Don’t use strong chemical cleaners as they can erode the metal and also filter into your coffee.
- Don’t forget to dry your coffee pot thoroughly. This prevents rust, water stains, and bacterial growth.
Importance of Keeping Your Stainless Steel Clean for Making Coffee
Although it might not look too bad when you rinse it out, there are still some compelling reasons why you should try to clean it often and remove stains.
Your Brews Will Taste Better
Even if your coffee pot looks clean enough, simply rinsing it won’t get rid of all of the coffee residue and oils left from previous beverages. If this is left to linger, then the chances are you’ll eventually end up with a rancid brew.
Your Equipment Will Last Longer
If you look after your stainless steel coffee equipment, then it will look after you. Allowing dirt and residue to build up will start to eat away at the life of your stainless steel coffee pot, meaning you need to get a new one once it has passed the point of no return. If you look after them, then they will last you for years.
Your Kitchen Counter Will Look Better
Imagine inviting a guest around to your home and offering to make them a cup of coffee, only to pull out a dull, stained coffee pot. Not great, right? Make a good impression and show the true home barista that you are by preparing coffee with clean, fresh equipment.
How Often Should You Clean Your Stainless Steel Coffee Pot?
For the best-tasting coffee, you should be cleaning your stainless steel coffee pot every day. This doesn’t mean that you have to go all out every time, but cleaning the inside and outside with soap and hot water will prevent buildup.
When it comes to heavy-duty cleaning of your coffee pot, you should use one of the methods we outlined above once a month. But if you use your coffee pot a lot, then you might want to do so every two weeks.
How to Prevent Stainless Steel Coffee Pot Stains
Of course, there are some ways to stop your stainless steel coffee pot from getting in a bad way in the first place. Here are some top tips when it comes to preventing stain buildup on your vessels.
- Don’t leave coffee in the pot — If you're not going to drink it, pour it out or pour it into a different vessel, like a mug, for later.
- Rinse out after every use — It doesn’t have to be with soap every time, but you will make it easier to clean and prevent some of the buildup.
- Wipe down any stains right away — If you have poured your coffee and notice a drip down the side, clean it up as soon as possible with a damp cloth to stop it from ingraining into the metal.
- Stick to your cleaning schedule. Finally, sticking to your daily and monthly cleaning regimen will ensure you remove any stains effectively with little elbow grease.
FAQs: Cleaning Coffee Equipment
We’ll polish up your understanding of cleaning coffee pots and other coffee equipment maintenance with these frequently asked questions.
1. What Does Coffee Do to Stainless Steel?
Coffee itself isn’t damaging to stainless steel. However, stainless steel is slightly porous, so coffee and oils can leech into the metal, affecting the aroma and flavor of future coffees.
2. Can You Store Coffee in Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel containers are actually a perfect place to store your coffee beans. This is because they are opaque and can usually be sealed and made airtight. Just avoid storing brewed coffee in stainless steel to avoid stains developing.
3. How Often Should I Clean My Coffee Machine?
You should clean your coffee machine every month to avoid oil buildup and rogue grounds affecting the performance and taste of your coffee experience.
4. How Do I Remove Water Marks from My Stainless Steel Coffee Pot?
Baking soda and water work well to remove watermarks. Add water to the baking soda to make a paste, then scrub gently on the watermarks to remove them. If you are feeling fancy, using non-ionized water will also prevent watermarks and stains.
5. How Do I Clean My Moka Pot?
As most Moka pots are made of stainless steel, you can follow any of the methods we have listed in this article to clean them. Just remember to separate and clean each part of the pot individually to ensure the best results.
6. What Other Materials Do Coffee Pots Come In?
Stainless steel is the most common and popular choice thanks to its durability, long life, and the non-reactiveness of the material. However, it is possible to find stoneware, aluminum, and ceramic coffee pots, too.
