A stovetop espresso maker with its great features and convenience has become ubiquitous in our lives. But if you are a first-time user, you should learn some proper cleaning methods to maintain the quality of the coffee cup as well as the life of the machine. No worries! The following article will show you how to clean a stovetop espresso maker simply and easily.
How To Clean A Stovetop Espresso Maker?
The user’s usage habits will greatly affect the performance and durability of the stovetop espresso maker as well as maintenance costs incurred during use. Therefore, regularly cleaning the machine will help improve its life and increase its operating capacity.
After a day of continuous operation, the stovetop espresso maker will come into contact with the oil secreted from the coffee beans, causing stagnant coffee powder in the brewing hand, filter, or drain screen.
If this situation occurs for a long time, it will cause components to be easily damaged, affecting the quality of the coffee cup during extraction. That’s the reason why you need to learn to clean a stovetop espresso maker in the right way.
The process is not complicated at all as long as you follow some basic rules to avoid causing damage to the machine. Here is the guide on cleaning a stovetop espresso maker that you should pay attention to.
Cleaning Before The First Use
If it is your first use, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the stovetop espresso maker before using it. This way, you can ensure your coffee is delicious without any metallic taste.
To begin with, you wash the entire machine by rinsing it with hot water. Next, you can take a small amount of coffee to brew it. Then, pour that coffee away, add new coffee to brew, and start enjoying.
By doing so, you will not only get rid of the remaining metallic substances and odors in the new machine but also ensure health and help the coffee taste better.
Cleaning Your Pot With Soap
We do recommend you use soap to clean your pot after every use. Many people think that the residual coffee oil in the machine will add more flavor to the coffee, but this doesn’t seem right.
The coffee machine is made of aluminum, which is a porous metal that retains coffee oil for a long time. That leftover coffee will soon go rancid.
It would be best if you used dish soap because it can remove those rancid oils. Remember to avoid using products with strong, concentrated detergents as they will wear down the machine and stick to the soap smell longer.
To start, you need to disassemble the stovetop espresso maker, then clean each part of it. Fill a sink or a container with hot water and add dishwashing liquid. Next, place the coffee basket and filter in the soapy water mix above. Wash with a sponge or a soft cloth to remove coffee grounds and oil residue.
If the coffee pot has coffee leftover, pour them into another container and wash the coffee pot. After cleaning the machine parts, you need to wipe them with a soft cloth and let them dry.
Descaling Moka Pot
In addition to washing the stovetop espresso maker with soap, descaling the machine is critical, especially in hard water areas. It will aid in the removal of calcium mineral buildup, which prevents clogging on your machine.
You can descale with vinegar, but make sure the manufacturer recommends cleaning with vinegar in your coffee maker’s manual. Some brands don’t recommend it, usually because of the metal parts of their coffee machines.
Mix vinegar and water in a 1:2 ratio, enough to fill the water tank of the coffee machine. For convenience, you can fill ½ jar with vinegar and then add water. If your machine uses a paper filter, place it in the storage basket.
Run the coffee maker to ½ of the brewing process. Press the stop button to allow the vinegar solution to leave in the machine.
After 30 to 60 minutes, you turn on the machine again to continue the process. Pour the vinegar and water solution out of the carafe and replace the paper filter (if using).
Fill the water tank with water and operate the system carefully. Discard the water in the carafe brew and replace the paper filter (if used). Wait a moment for the coffee maker to cool down. Repeat the cycle of vinegar mixed with water.
After you’ve cleaned the machine with vinegar, it is necessary to wash the coffee basket, fixed filter, and carafe with hot soapy water. Then, wash it off with warm water and use a soft cloth to clean the outside of the stovetop espresso maker.
Cleaning a Burned Stovetop Espresso Maker
If your stovetop espresso maker burns due to neglect, the simplest way is to use vinegar to remove burnt coffee residue.
Similar to descaling, you mix vinegar, and water in a 1:2 ratio. Then pour into a Moka jar and soak for a day.
After soaking, use a soft cloth to thoroughly clean the machine. Do not use metal scrubbers to avoid peeling the aluminum oxide layer on the surface of the machine. To clean the inside of the pot, boil it with the vinegar mixture and then rinse it.
Conclusion
There you got it – how to clean a stovetop espresso maker in the right way. The cleaning process might be a little time-consuming, but it’s worth your time and efforts as well. Hopefully, you will find joy in cleaning after each cup of coffee.
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Almost 20 years already spent committed to coffee and more than 3 years of experience as a barista at Starbucks. Madelyn Doyle graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Science from the University of California and finished the Coffee Skills Program at the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).