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If your coffee maker is brewing slower than it used to, sputtering, or making coffee that tastes flat or bitter, mineral buildup is the most likely cause. Hard water leaves calcium and magnesium deposits (scale) inside the water tank, heating element, and tubes. Plain white vinegar dissolves that scale cheaply and safely in most drip coffee makers. Here is how to do it, how often, and when to use something else.
What you need
- Distilled white vinegar (standard 5% acidity)
- Water
- A paper filter (optional, to catch any flakes of scale)
- Dish soap and a soft sponge for the removable parts
How to clean a drip coffee maker with vinegar, step by step
- Empty and rinse. Throw out any old grounds and filter, and rinse the carafe and brew basket.
- Mix the solution. Fill the water reservoir to its maximum line with equal parts white vinegar and water. For heavy buildup, you can use a stronger mix, up to two parts vinegar to one part water.
- Start a brew cycle. Put the empty carafe in place, add a paper filter if you like, and start brewing.
- Pause halfway and let it soak. When about half the solution has run through, turn the machine off and let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes. This gives the vinegar time to break down scale inside the heating element.
- Finish the cycle. Turn the machine back on and let the rest of the solution run through. Pour it out.
- Rinse with plain water. Fill the reservoir with fresh water and run a full cycle. Repeat two or three times until you can no longer smell vinegar. Let the machine cool for a few minutes between cycles.
- Wash the removable parts. Hand wash the carafe, lid, and brew basket in warm, soapy water, or follow your manual if they are dishwasher safe.
Many coffee makers have a “Clean” button or light that runs a slower descaling cycle for you. If yours does, fill it with the vinegar solution and follow the manual instead of steps 3 to 5.
How often should you clean it?
For most households, descaling every one to three months is about right. Clean more often if you have hard water or brew several pots a day, and less often if you use filtered or softened water. Signs it is overdue include:
- Brewing takes noticeably longer than it used to
- The machine gurgles, sputters, or leaves water in the reservoir
- White or chalky deposits around the shower head or in the reservoir
- Coffee tastes bitter, flat, or not hot enough
- The machine’s clean or descale light comes on
Separately, wash the carafe and brew basket after every use. Old coffee oils turn rancid quickly and can make even fresh coffee taste stale.
When not to use vinegar
Vinegar works well for most standard drip coffee makers, but it is not right for every machine:
- Espresso machines. Many espresso machine makers specify their own descaler. De’Longhi, for example, recommends only its EcoDecalk descaler for its coffee machines, and Breville directs owners to its own descaler and built-in descale cycle. Using something else can risk damage that is not covered by the warranty.
- Machines whose manual says otherwise. Always check your use and care guide first. Some manufacturers recommend a citric acid descaler or their own product, and their instructions take priority.
- Single-serve pod machines. Many have a dedicated descale mode with a specific procedure. Follow the steps in your manual so the solution reaches every part of the system.
If you would rather skip the vinegar smell, a commercial descaler or food-grade citric acid does the same job. Hamilton Beach, for example, sells its own coffee maker descaler, listed in our Hamilton Beach parts guide.
Common questions
Will my coffee taste like vinegar?
Not if you rinse well. Two or three full cycles of plain water clear out the vinegar. If you still smell it, run one more.
Can I use apple cider vinegar?
Stick with distilled white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar works as an acid but can leave a fruity smell and residue behind.
Does vinegar kill mold and bacteria?
Vinegar helps, but it is mainly a descaler. To keep the inside of the machine fresh, leave the lid open between uses so the reservoir and brew area can dry out, and wash removable parts regularly.
My machine is still slow after cleaning. Now what?
Repeat the vinegar cycle with a stronger mix and a longer soak. If it is still slow, sputtering, or not heating, the problem may be a failing pump or heating element, and it may be time for a new machine. Browse our picks for drip coffee makers and single-serve brewers to compare.
Keep scale from coming back
- Use filtered water. Less mineral content means less buildup and better-tasting coffee.
- Replace built-in water filters on schedule if your machine has one.
- Empty the reservoir if you will not be using the machine for a few days.