How Do I Clean My Bunn Coffee Maker

If you own one of these BUNN Speed Brew coffee makers you should be giving it a good deep cleaning at least every three months to get rid of mineral deposits. I’m going to show you how to do that. Empty your carafe you can turn off your machine of course you can turn it off while it’s brewing and then unplug it.

The items you’ll need are vinegar, dish soap, and a toothpick. Now to start you’re going to take four cups of vinegar which I have pre-measured here and pour them into the top. There are two cups, this is also equivalent to one quart. Go ahead and pour your vinegar into the top, make sure this is in place and close the top.

Basically what you’ve done is you have poured vinegar into your brewer which has gone down into your water tank and the water that was in there has been pushed out and that’s what we just flushed. So now you’re going to have vinegar sitting in your water tank and it’s going to work its magic. So you wait for two hours.

Okay, now that your two hours are up you’re going to want to remove your spray head. The reason you don’t want to do this earlier is that this spray head will be hot. And then you can look inside and see if you have any mineral deposits in there, that’s where your toothpick would come in handy you could go in there and poke at it. I’ll insert a picture here.

As always, put it in place and then go ahead and close the lid. And we will just wait for this to flush out. So you’re going to be getting a lot of the vinegar that was inside of your hot water tank. You’re going to want to do this process about four times or until you don’t smell the vinegar anymore. So that’s going pretty quickly and you might even see some little flakes of hard deposits that build up inside the machine.

That’s okay just go ahead and dump them out. So you go ahead and empty this out. Now once you’ve done that four or five, however many times, you know until you stop smelling the vinegar, go ahead and replace your spray head. Put your brew funnel back in place, plug in your machine, turn it on, that’s all you have to do. Just wait about 15 minutes until your water gets hot and it’s ready to go.

How to Clean a Bunn Coffee Maker

It’s wise to wash the coffee pot and empty the coffee grounds out of the basket each time you use it. It’s recommended that you do a deep descaling coffee maker cleanse every three months. However, this depends on how much you use it and how much mineral content is in the water you’re using.

Standard Cleaning Method

Below are the required steps in cleaning your Bunn coffee maker through the standard method. This process should be done daily or whenever you use your machine.

Step 1: Turn the Machine Off

Don’t start cleaning until you unplug the machine. This is an important step, as you don’t want to risk electrocution. You’ll be using water during the cleaning process, and there may be water still in the carafe or machine.

Step 2: Remove Coffee Grounds and Coffee Filter

Dump the coffee grounds and filter (if you have one) into the trash and rinse out the basket to eliminate any remaining grounds.

Step 3: Wipe Down the Exterior

Take a soft cloth and dip it into some warm water mixed with a tiny amount of unscented or mildly scented dish detergent. Wipe down the exterior of your machine. Then, take another damp cloth without soap and wipe your device to get rid of any soap residue.

Step 4: Clean and Soak the Carafe

Sometimes you’ll see brown rings inside the carafe. This is normal and can be removed with a good soak in some soapy water. Take a washcloth and wipe around the inside of the carafe and fill it with warm soapy water. Let it sit for a few hours, rinse, and allow it to dry.

Note: You can also run the carafe through your dishwasher, wash with baking soda, or clean with a vinegar solution.

Step 5: Clean the Spray Nozzle

Coffee makers usually come with a spray nozzle where the water trickles out. Disassemble the spray head and examine it for any obstructions. You can use a small object such as a toothpick to remove the mineral deposit or coffee grounds. Then, use a cloth to wipe down the nozzle with mild dish soap and rinse it off with some warm water.

Step 6: Clean the Spray Tube

Some Bunn models come with a metal or plastic device designed to clean the spray tube. Simply remove the brew funnel and the spray nozzle first. After this, insert the cleaning tool into the tube and push it up and down while slowly rotating it. Once you’ve removed all deposits, reassemble the brew funnel and reattach the spray nozzle.

Helpful Tips to Prevent Coffee Maker Germs

  • Clean out the coffee grounds, trash the filter after each use, and dry with a paper towel or clean cloth.
  • Rinse and soak the carafe in warm soapy water overnight for a clean brew in the morning.
  • Open the top cover of your coffee maker to air it out and dry the moisture that could cause mold.
  • Throw your carafe and basket in the dishwasher after each use for a more thorough clean.
  • Disinfect the handle after each use either with a disinfectant or warm soapy water.

Why You Should Clean Your Coffee Maker

There are plenty of reasons why you should clean your coffee maker on a regular basis. From a shorter brew to fewer bacteria, you can significantly benefit from a purified machine. Here are a few:

Faster Brew Time

When mineral deposits and scaling builds up within your coffee maker, it can back up the water flow. This leads to a slower drip and a longer wait time for your coffee. However, a clean machine will allow a steady flow of water and give you a quick cup of coffee to start your day.

Proper Function

As previously mentioned, the scaling buildup can hinder the flow of water necessary to brew your coffee. When the water can’t flow, it leads to problems with the machinery. A clean coffee maker will perform nicely and function correctly.

Better Tasting Coffee

No one likes a bitter cup of coffee, and filthy coffee makers are often the culprits. Sometimes dirty machines can damage the internal thermometer. When the temperature isn’t hot enough, it can leave you with a less than flavorful experience.

Longer Lifespan

Cleaning your Bunn coffee maker will ultimately protect the machinery, which will allow you the opportunity to enjoy it for years to come!

Lower Risk of Bacteria

Your coffee maker utilizes both heat and moisture when it brews your coffee. This makes your machine a prime spot for germs, yeast, and bacterial growth (sometimes even mold). This can cause allergic reactions to those with allergies and can even cause infections.