Easiest Way to Clean a Coffee Maker with Vinegar

The acetic acid in vinegar makes it an excellent choice for descaling and deodorizing coffee makers. Whether you have a standard drip coffee maker or Keurig, we’ll walk you through cleaning your coffee pot with vinegar.

Clean coffee maker with vinegar

How to Clean a Drip Coffee Maker with Vinegar

Here’s a step-by-step overview of how to clean a drip coffee maker with vinegar. You can use this method for any brand of standard drip coffee maker, including Bunn and Braun.

Step 1: Empty the Coffee Grounds and Filter

Empty your coffee grounds in the trash, toss out the disposable filter, and pour any remaining coffee out of the pot.

Step 2: Fill the Reservoir with Half Water and Half Vinegar

Fill your coffee pot with half-white distilled vinegar and half water. Dump the mix into your coffee maker’s reservoir tank and run the regular brewing cycle. During this process, your kitchen will smell like vinegar, but don’t worry; the scent will dissipate.

Step 3: Wash the Coffee Pot 

After the brew cycle, turn the coffee maker off, and allow the vinegar to sit in the coffee pot for 10-20 minutes or until it’s cooled a little. Then dump the vinegar down the sink drain and wash the coffee pot using warm water and dish soap. The vinegar will help remove some of the build-up in the carafe, and you should be able to get the rest with regular washing.

Step 4: Run the Brew Cycle with Water Only Three More Times

To rinse the vinegar from your coffee maker, run it three more times using water only. 

If the coffee maker still has a lot of residue, you can repeat the entire process.

How to Clean a Keurig with Vinegar

Before cleaning your Keurig with vinegar, remove the K-cup.

Step 1: Add Equal Parts Vinegar and Water to the Reservoir

Add equal parts of white distilled vinegar and water to the Keurig’s reservoir tank. Place a cup under the Keurig drip to catch the liquid, then start the coffee maker.

Step 2: Repeat if Needed

If your Keurig has a lot of build-up, consider running vinegar and water through it 2-3 more times or until you no longer see white chunks in your cup.

Step 3: Rinse with Water

Add water only to the reservoir tank and run the Keurig. Rinse three times to eliminate the vinegar taste and smell from the machine.

How Often to Clean a Coffee Maker with Vinegar

Preventing mineral deposits in your coffee maker is easier and more effective than trying to remove large amounts of residue. Because of this, you should clean your coffee maker with vinegar every 1-2 weeks.


Discover more ways to clean with vinegar: 18 Household Items You Can Clean with Vinegar