Equipment and Care

Cleaning Coffee Brewers and Grinders

Remove oils, grounds and residue without damaging equipment.

By Julian R. NorthcottUpdated July 2026

Coffee oils become stale and wet reservoirs can collect residue. Cleaning frequency depends on method and use.

What to evaluate

Keep the decision connected to the actual coffee, brewer and serving goal.

  • Unplug electrical gear
  • Check dishwasher-safe parts
  • Do not immerse powered bases
  • Rinse reusable filters

A repeatable workflow

Use one baseline, then change only what the evidence supports.

  1. Discard grounds
  2. Wash food-contact parts
  3. Dry fully
  4. Deep-clean on schedule

Common mistakes

These errors make comparisons unreliable or create avoidable problems.

  • Scented residue
  • Wet burr reassembly
  • Ignoring valves
  • Mixing cleaners