How To Clean a Cuisinart Coffee Maker

With so many types of coffee makers on the market, there is a need for special step by step by step instructions on how to clean each of them. Today, we are crossing one of the many off the list: a Cuisinart coffee maker. So how do you clean a Cuisinart coffee maker? Great question. 

Luckily, the process is not too far off from other coffee machines, so if you’re familiar with the process, you already have a one up. The most important note with any coffee machine is regular maintenance, so if you are here learning, then you are on the right track!

Step by Step

To keep things as clear and simple as possible, we have made a quick step by step process to follow when learning the Cuisinart coffee maker clean cycle: 

1. Grab your Supplies

It’s always important to be prepared, so before you start cleaning, make sure you have all of your supplies on hand. You are going to need some cleaning solution, soap, water, and a sponge or dishrag. As far as cleaning solution goes, the best option is white vinegar, but you can use apple cider vinegar or other cleaning options if you don’t have white vinegar on hand. 

2. Clear the Machine

To prevent a large mess and not-so-tasty cup of joe, check that there are no grounds left in the machine or any other leftover coffee ingredients. It’s always safe to double-check. Morning rushing can often lean to an unattended coffee maker that hasn’t been cleaned. 

3. Water Reservoir

Water calcifies if left alone for too long, so it is imperative to do regular cleanings of the water reservoir every few months. The amount of maintenance should vary on how often you use the machine. The longer a machine is left idle, there is a higher possibility that it has already begun calcifying. Empty out the water reservoir fully. We’re going to replace this with our solution to work its way through the machine in the next step. 

4. Mix your Solution

For white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, you will use two parts water and one part vinegar to dilute your cleaning solution. We recommend mixing them in a bowl before you pour them into the water reservoir to ensure that they are mixed evenly. If you’re a measurements-only type of person, use 4 cups of vinegar and 8 cups of water for a standard-sized Cuisinart coffee maker. 

5. Clean

If your machine has a clean button, this is the time to click that and let the solution work its way through the machine. This is going to take longer than a normal brewing cycle, so you have time to finish a task or two while you’re waiting. Typical machines will beep 5 times when the clean cycle is complete to let you know it’s time to move to the next step.

If you do not have a clean button, you will need to run manual brewing cycles at least 2 or 3 times to get a thorough clean. If you can shut the brew cycle off, run a half-cycle first and let the solution sit in the machine for around an hour to break up any stuck debris or calcified particles. Then, run a full cycle or two to get a full cleaning. Continue running cycles until you no longer see debris in the pot. Be sure to empty the pot after each cycle to prevent an overflow of dirty vinegar water. 

6. Wipe it Down

Now that we have salvaged the interior of the machine, we can focus on the exterior. Grab your sponge or dishrag. Add some warm soapy water and wipe down the entire machine, focusing on any areas with stuck on coffee or build-up debris. This should be a normal practice after you use the machine to prevent build-up in the future. Give the extra minute to your machine. We want mint condition, remember? 

As we said, this same concept can transfer to all coffee machines, but unique features such as the clean button and the measurements help to make your cleaning experience customized to your beloved Cuisinart coffee maker. Having a clean machine is not only better for your health, but it will make your coffee taste better. 

After all, stage stuck on coffee grounds has never been a requested side with anyone’s cup of joe, so do yourself a favor and keep up with your cleaning routine for tasty, healthy coffee each morning. Your tired and cranky morning self will thank you.