It can be quite disappointing to struggle with a coffee maker that’s taking too long to prepare a cup of coffee when preparing to go to work or when hosting guests. Coffee machines, like most home appliances, can fail to function as required due to daily tear and wear or other issues. These appliances require occasional maintenance and regular upkeep to function efficiently.
If your precious coffee machine is taking longer than usual to brew coffee, it’s probably having a buildup of mineral deposits or it’s clogged and needs a thorough cleaning. It’s relatively easy and inexpensive to clean your coffee maker. Keeping it clean will ensure it brews tasty coffee within the shortest time possible. Besides, cleaning it regularly will make it last longer.
What Makes A Coffee Maker Brew Slowly?
If you’re wondering why your coffee maker has slowed down when brewing coffee, it’s probably being slowed down by the buildup of mineral deposits. When mineral deposits build up in the interior components of a coffee machine, its brewing process will slow down. Luckily, it’s possible to fix this problem.
Essentially, brewing coffee with tap water is likely to cause the buildup of minerals such as limestone and calcium. These mineral deposits slow down the brewing time. Also, they cause water to evaporate more than necessary. To make matters worse, the deposits introduce bad taste to the coffee brews.
The problem may also result from a clogged valve or hose within the coffee machine. In this case, you’ll need to take it apart and rinse it. It’s relatively easy to remove various coffee machine parts in most coffee maker brands. Upon rinsing the parts, install them back and enjoy using a more efficient coffee maker.
Cleaning a Slow Coffee Maker
When you notice that your coffee machine is slow, it probably needs cleaning to get it functioning normally. It’s easy to clean any type of household coffee maker. It also takes little time to clean it. There’re several items that can be used to clean a coffee machine, including vinegar, citric acid, or commercial descaling solutions. These items are easy to find from local household stores.
To clean your coffee machine, mix water and your preferred solvent in a pot. Pour the mixture into the coffee maker reservoir. Place a coffee paper filter on the machine’s filter basket. Don’t add any coffee grounds. Run the machine like you normally do when brewing coffee. That way, the mixture will run through the interior components and eliminate any mineral residue in the machine.
How to Prevent Slow Brewing
Rather than waiting for your coffee machine to slow down, take preventive measures that’ll keep it functional and clean at all times. For instance, take out any removable components and clean them after brewing coffee. Doing so will reduce the buildup of residual oil and coffee grounds that may slow it down.
Also, clean the coffee maker once every month with citric acid or vinegar. Doing so will keep the interior components free of mineral deposits and other residues that may cause it to slow down when brewing coffee.
It’s also recommended to use coffee filters that are designed for use with your specific coffee maker, be it a reusable metal filter or paper filter. Avoid using toilet paper or paper towels as coffee filters as they might tear off and clog the interior water hose. Although paper towels might help in an emergency, it’s not recommended to use them as your regular coffee filters.
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