How To Clean Your Cuisinart Coffee Maker

by Scott | Last Updated: July 26, 2022

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Your morning cup of coffee should be a time of peace, calm and tranquility. As you slowly start to wake up it’s wonderful to inhale those delicious aromas, enjoy that rich flavor, and just slowly feel that caffeine buzz spreading throughout your body.

I love everything about my drip coffee machine, even that polite beep it makes when the coffee is ready. It works so hard every day for me, it’s only fair that I give a little back when possible.

Cleaning your coffee maker improves the taste of your coffee by removing old, stale coffee stains from inside the machine. It makes your coffee taste better but it can also extend the life of your coffee maker and keep it in good working order.

For now, we are going to focus on Cuisinart and their popular models of coffee maker. Cuisinart coffee machines are easy to use and brew truly delicious coffee. They have a variety of models to suit every need and these are surprisingly, not very taxing to get clean.

Here are three top picks from Cuisinart followed by detailed instructions on how to clean and descale them and why it’s important to do so.

Cuisinart Coffee Makers

Cuisinart SS-10P1 Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker

Price & Reviews

Cuisinart DCC-3400P1 Programmable Coffeemaker

Price & Reviews

Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind & Brew Coffeemaker

Price & Reviews

Why Should I Clean My Coffee Maker?

As you brew coffee the grounds release oils that buildup on your machine over time. These oils add a delicious flavor to your coffee while they are fresh, as time goes on they become stale and bitter. This leaves a bitter coffee taste and can also impair the workings of the machine.

Tap water contains hard minerals which also build up on the interior of the coffee maker over time. This mineral buildup can end up clogging the water pipes and can even cause your machine to fail if it gets too bad.

Alongside this, the exterior of the coffee maker is prone to gathering dust and grease splashes, especially in a busy kitchen. Cleaning this helps keep your machine looking fresh and new.

How Often Does it Need to be Cleaned?

It’s recommended to run a full cleaning cycle on your machine every six months. You may need to do this more frequently if you use your coffee machine several times a day. For very heavy use, clean your coffee maker monthly. This is also advisable if you live in an area with very hard water as you may find that the mineral deposits build up very quickly. It’s important to clean the coffee pot after each use to keep your coffee tasting as fresh as possible.

Most Cuisinart coffee makers have a clean light that comes on when the machine is needing to be cleaned. This is a handy reminder because we all know that life can get in the way and it’s all too easy to forget about the importance of the cleaning process.

Cleaning vs Descaling

A lot of people get confused about the difference between cleaning and descaling your coffee machine. Cleaning is the process of removing grease, grime, and oils by using dish soap, fresh water, or a specialized cleaning solution.

Descaling is the process of dissolving hard minerals like calcium deposits by the use of an acidic solution. These deposits can become an obstruction over time and in severe cases can cause the failure of the pump.

How to Clean Cuisinart Coffee Maker

The steps you need to take to clean your coffee maker will depend on whether you have a multiple-cup coffee maker with a carafe or whether you have a single-serve brewer.

We will start with The Cuisinart 12 Cup Coffee Maker or The Cuisinart Grind and Brew Coffee Maker.

• Begin by unplugging your machine and allow it to cool completely
• Wipe the heating plate/resting plate with a damp cloth (do not use anything abrasive or any harsh chemicals)
• Remove the filter basket by pressing the release button and removing the cover and gold-tone filter
• Discard used coffee grounds and any paper filters in the compost
• The filter, filter basket, and cover can all be washed in warm soapy water and rinsed thoroughly to remove any suds
• These components are also top rack dishwasher safe
• Dry with a lint-free dishcloth or leave to air dry completely before replacing
• Wash carafe using warm water and dish soap and leave to air dry completely
• It’s recommended to wash the carafe and wipe the pour spout after every use

The Cuisinart Single Serve Coffee Maker

• Start by removing the drip tray taking care to keep it horizontal to prevent spills
• This can be washed by hand or placed in the top rack of the dishwasher
• Remove the HomeBarista filter cup by pressing the finger indent on the right side of the machine
• Disassemble the filter cup using the tab on the front of the filter and pushing up
• Wash in hot water with dish soap and rinse well
• The capsule holder and funnel can be washed in a similar manner and are also top rack dishwasher safe (take care when removing this part as there are sharp needles above and below that can cause injury)
• The exit needle is located at the bottom of the capsule holder and this can occasionally become blocked by coffee grounds
• Insert a paper clip or similar tool into the needle and use this to dislodge any coffee grounds

How to Descale Your Coffee Maker

• Fill the water reservoir to the top with a water-vinegar solution that’s one part white vinegar to two parts water (one cup of vinegar to 2 cups of water)
• Switch the brew cycle on or press the self-clean button if present
• Discard the vinegar water solution and start the regular cleaning routine or flush the machine thoroughly with cold water
• Some models of Cuisinart coffee makers are designed to minimize the frequency of descaling by using a charcoal water filter in the water tank to remove impurities before you start brewing coffee

Final Thoughts

A Cuisinart coffee maker is an easy and practical way to make delicious coffee every morning. Make sure you clean the carafe and filter parts after each use and give the whole machine a thorough wipe down every few months or as much as needed. Descale your machine every 1-6 months and it will appreciate your effort and reward you with years of loyal service.

A well cared for coffee maker delivers a much richer, cleaner tasting cup of coffee and you won’t regret any time spent investing in this. Now it’s time to sit back, grab a delicious cup of joe and enjoy the efforts of your hard work, you deserve it!

Can you guess what keeps me up at night? You guessed it! Copious amounts of coffee beans. What? I brew them first.