Put the carafe on the hot plate and seal the lid on the black filter basket. Pour 16 ounces of white vinegar into the reservoir and activate the brewer for 30 seconds. Let it cool down for 30 minutes, then start the brewing cycle for another 30 minutes. Lastly, empty the vinegar out of the carafe and rinse it with water.
Owning a Hamilton Beach coffee maker allows you to drink fresh coffee daily. But what happens when you brew yourself a cup of Joe one morning, and it no longer tastes the same?
Unfortunately, this experience is typical and often occurs to coffee maker owners who don’t clean their appliances properly.
The good news is you can maintain your coffee brewer by deep cleaning it regularly and sterilizing it with a descaling agent. This process helps you remove mold and bacteria that accumulate inside the appliance and affect the taste of your cup of java.
In this guide, we’ll teach you how to clean a Hamilton Beach coffee maker so you never need to go back to drinking poorly flavored coffee again.
How to Clean Your Hamilton Beach Coffee Machine with Vinegar
Vinegar is a simple yet effective cleaning solution for a variety of appliances. It excels at removing mineral deposits on the interior of your coffee maker while eliminating the bacteria that could get in your coffee and make you sick.
What You’ll Need
- White Vinegar
- Cold Water
- Dishwashing detergent
- Microfiber towel
Instructions
Step 1: Detach Filter Basket
Pull out the black-colored plastic filter basket from your appliance. We always recommend removing it when deep cleaning your Brewstation. Some models come equipped with a water filter, so if yours has one, take it out.
Step 2: Pour Vinegar into the Reservoir
Put at least 16 ounces of vinegar so it can sterilize and cleanse your appliance thoroughly.
Step 3: Activate the Brew Cycle
Place the carafe on your coffee maker’s hot plate, so the steaming vinegar goes into it when turned on. Then, flip the brew switch to get the brewing cycle started.
Step 4: Shut off Brew Cycle and Wait for 30 Minutes
Your coffee maker should brew only for 1 to 2 minutes. Then, turn it off by pressing the Brew button and give it time to cool down for 30 minutes, and the vinegar will be doing its job.
Step 5: Start the Brew Cycle Over Again
Once the 30 minutes are up, press the brewing button to turn it on again. Wait for another 2 minutes before turning it off like in the previous step. Then, take the carafe off the hot plate and get rid of the vinegar down the drain.
Step 6: Wash Your Coffee Machine
Start by cleaning the carafe with soap and water while rinsing it completely. Then, put it back on the hot plate and pour water into the reservoir.
Conduct 3 to 4 brewing cycles like you did in the last step, but this time you will use only water to get the scent of vinegar out.
Never forget the importance of letting the coffee machine cool down between brewing cycles. Vinegar has a potent scent and robust flavor, so you have to give your coffee maker a deep cleanse to eliminate any hint of it from your appliance.
Step 7: Clean Removable Accessories
Take the drip tray and the black plastic filter basket out. Clean both parts using dishwashing detergent and warm water with your hands. Rinse the soap off of both and let it dry next to your machine.
Next, take out the coffee tank and flip it, so its bottom faces up. Then, activate the dispensing lever and wash it with water under the sink for 1 minute. This step will help you get all the coffee grounds out of your tank.
Rinse the tank out with cold water and use your microfiber towel to dry it. It will still be a bit wet, but you can let it air dry for 1 to 2 hours on your kitchen counter.
Step 8: Reattach the Parts in Your Coffee Machine
Connect all the parts back to your coffee maker. The water filter is essential and should be put back first if your appliance comes with it. When each piece is reattached, you can return to enjoying the same great-tasting coffee again.
How to Clean Your Hamilton Beach Coffee Maker Without Vinegar
If you don’t have vinegar at home, the section below will teach you how to clean using lemon juice and get the same great results.
What You’ll Need
- Lemon Juice
- Cold Water
- Dishwashing Detergent
- Microfiber towel
Instructions
Step 1: Detach the Filter Basket
Take the plastic filter basket out of your appliance and place it nearby. Do the same with the water filter if you purchased the coffee maker that comes with it.
Step 2: Put Lemon Juice in the Reservoir
Add 16 ounces of lemon juice to the coffee maker’s reservoir. Either freshly squeezed or lemon juice from the supermarket will work.
Step 3: Activate the Brew Cycle
Put the glass jug into your appliance’s hot plate. It must be in this position to capture the heated lemon water as it slowly boils. Turn it on to get started and set it to the “brew” setting.
Step 4: Deactivate the Brew Setting and Give It 30 Minutes
After 1 to 2 minutes, turn off your coffee machine by pressing the same button you pressed in step 3. The appliance will stop brewing. Give it 30 minutes to cool down.
Step 5: Repeat the Brew Cycle Again
Repeat step 3 after waiting 30 minutes by pressing the brew setting button. Let it brew like this for 2 minutes or until you are sure it’s boiling hot, then turn off the coffee maker again. Pour out the lemon water when you finish in the kitchen sink.
Step 6: Wash Your Hamilton Beach Brewstation
Once your coffee machine has cooled down, conduct 2 more brewing cycles but use only water this time. Lemon juice takes less time to clean than vinegar, so you can get back to enjoying your coffee much faster.
Step 7: Sterilize Removable Parts with Soap and Water
Begin by washing the filter basket and drip tray under your kitchen sink with foamy water. Rinse the soap out with cold water and put them to the side so they can air-dry.
Detach the coffee tank and flip it over so that its bottom is facing up. Push the dispensing lever before washing the tank under the sink with water for 1 minute. Next, rinse any remaining soap and dry it with your microfiber towel.
It will still be a little wet, so leave it to air-dry on your kitchen counter for 1 to 2 hours.
Step 8: Reconnect All the Parts to Your Coffee Machine
Once the pieces dry, you can reattach them to your coffee maker. Always reconnect the water filter first if you purchased it since it’s an optional accessory. Now you should be all set and can return to brewing fresh coffee at home.
Extra Tip: If you don’t have lemon juice, vodka is an alternative to consider as a cleaning sterilizer. If you go this route, observe the instructions above, except that you can replace lemon juice with 100% pure vodka.
How to Clean My Coffee Maker’s Hot Plate
What You’ll Need
- Paper Towel
- Cold Water
- Microfiber Cloth
Instructions
Step 1: Let the Hot Plate Cool Down
Ensure the hot plate is at room temperature before you begin the cleaning process. This step is crucial if you have used it recently and it may still be too hot to clean.
Step 2: Dampen Paper Towel
Wet your paper towel with water under the sink and place it over the hot plate.
Step 3: Let the Paper Towel Lay on the Hot Plate
Let the paper towel sit on the hot plate until the stains become removable. It should take 20 to 30 minutes for this to happen.
Step 4: Take Paper Towel Off and Wipe Clean
Take the paper towel off the hot plate and wipe it with a fresh microfiber towel. The stains will come off quickly if you follow step 3.
FAQs on How to Clean A Hamilton Beach Coffee Maker
How often should you clean your coffee maker?
To keep your coffee tasting fresh and your coffee maker in good condition, we recommend you clean it 1 to 2 times per month. Clean the detachable accessories every week if you use your appliance daily.
Is cleaning vinegar the same as white vinegar?
No, because their acidity levels are slightly different. Also, you cannot use cleaning vinegar to cook, so we would stick with white vinegar because you can use it for both.
Does descaler work better than vinegar?
Descaling agents are a must-have if you want your coffee maker to keep running for as long as possible. But white vinegar produces the same result and is more affordable.
