The Right Way to Clean Your Moccamaster, According to the Experts Who Make It This method will ensure you enjoy the perfect brew for years to come. Close Credit: dit:brizmaker / Getty Images Key Points Regular cleaning and descaling keep your Moccamaster coffee tasting fresh and help protect the machine’s copper heating element.Wash the carafe and brew basket daily by hand to prevent old coffee oils from affecting your next brew’s flavor.Use only Moccamaster-approved descaling powders every 3 months—or more often with hard water—to avoid damaging the copper element. If you have a Moccamaster coffee maker, you know how exceptional the coffee tastes. To maintain that flavor and performance, the machine must be cleaned and descaled regularly. Over time, coffee oils, mineral deposits, and residue can build up in the water reservoir, spray arm, brew basket, and carafe, affecting both taste and efficiency of the machine. Regular cleaning not only preserves the rich flavor and freshness of your coffee each morning but also extends the life of your Moccamaster, protecting your prized investment. Below, you'll find a Moccamaster-approved method and tips for cleaning and descaling your machine, to keep it brewing great-tasting coffee for years to come. Will Etherington, director of sales and marketing at Moccamaster USA 40 Beautiful Coffee Bar Ideas for the Perfect Morning Routine How to Give Your Moccamaster Coffee Machine a Daily Cleaning After enjoying your daily cup of coffee, cleaning your brewer's carafe and brew basket is essential. Etherington recommends hand-washing the removable carafe and brew basket in the sink after each use, so that no residual coffee will affect the flavor of your next brew. The other removable parts of the coffee machine can be cleaned less often, says Etherington. Don't Miss 8 Reasons Your Coffee Tastes Bitter—and How to Brew It Right, According to Experts How to Make Your Favorite Coffee Shop Drinks at Home—No Espresso Machine or Milk Foamer Required How to Descale a Moccamaster Coffee Machine When descaling your Moccamaster brewer, follow these simple steps, and use the right descaling solution at the proper frequency. Materials Needed Coffee machine descaling solutionPitcherWaterOwners manual Descaling Solution The experts at Moccamaster USA recommend descaling your brewer with Dezcal Descaling Powder or Biocaf Descaling Powder, both by URNEX. These products are specifically designed for household use and are mostly made of citric acid. "We do not recommend using a descaler like vinegar, as it is a harsh-tasting and smelling substance," says Etherington. "Despite rinsing thoroughly, vinegar can still leave a lingering smell or taste in your coffee." Descaling Instructions Fill a pitcher with 40 ounces of cold water.Open the descaling solution and pour it into the water pitcher, and mix until it dissolves.After your solution has dissolved, pour the mixture into the brewer’s water reservoir and turn the brewer on.Once the solution has run through the brewer, repeat the brewing step two to three times, but only with water to flush out any of the remaining descaling solution. How Often to Descale Your Machine Descaling your brewer every 100 brew cycles or every 3 months is recommended. However, if the water is hard in your area, Etherington suggests descaling your brewer every 50 brew cycles or once every 1 1/2 months. Common Mistakes to Avoid All of the Moccamaster coffee machines are built with a copper boiling element that provides superior heat conductivity. Due to this high-end component, using the right descaling solution is crucial. Using another descaling solution that is not Dezcal Descaling Powder or Biocaf Descaling Powder by Urnex can potentially damage the copper and affect the performance or longevity of your coffee machine. Since the removable parts of the brewer are not in the warranty, Etherington recommends hand-washing to ensure the longevity of each item. Explore more: Cleaning & Organizing Kitchen Cleaning Tips