I’ve worked at both Coffee Bean and Starbucks, and used the best of the best when it comes to coffee machines. For personal use at home, I’ve found the Technivorm Moccamaster to be my favorite - but it’s not cheap.
Given the price point, I made sure to thoroughly research and learn how to take care of my new Moccamaster. My complete guide on how to clean a Moccamaster is below.
Why clean the Moccamaster?
Each time you brew coffee, organic materials and coffee oils will build up in your machine. The build up can change the flavor of your coffee significantly - so if you’ve noticed your coffee just doesn’t taste quite like it used to, it may be time for a cleaning.
Descaling is another important part of the cleaning and maintenance process, but with descaling you are targeting the limescale build up in your machine. See our full guide to descaling your Moccamaster machine here.
How often should you clean your Moccamaster?
Moccamaster says that you can clean the machine as often as you want. I prefer to run a cleaning cycle (using the cleaning powder) once a month. I hand wash my Moccamaster brewing basket, basket lid and glass carafe with dish soap daily.
Materials you’ll need to wash your Moccamaster:
- Cleaning powder
- Pitcher
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
How to clean a Moccamaster
Step 1: Purchase a cleaning product
A good cleaning powder will remove organic materials and oils. Moccamaster recommends the following products from Urnex and Biocaf:
I use the Biocaf descaling powder myself, because all the ingredients are plant-based. I get my powders on Amazon and stock up on a year’s worth at a time. Coffee is a daily staple in my home, so we have a healthy back stock of coffee supplies.
Step 2: Create your cleaning solution
In a separate pitcher, mix the cleaning powder with 32 ounces of warm water. Mix until the powder is completely dissolved. Never add undissolved powder to the machine - you can clog and ruin the copper boiling element.
Tip from Moccamaster: You never want to put hot or boiling water into the Moccamaster water reservoir, so if you are using boiling water to dissolve the cleaning powder, cool it completely before adding it to the water container.
Step 3: Run your cleaning cycle
Add your 32 oz of cleaning solution to the water reservoir and run a brewing cycle. You do not need a filter in the brewing basket.
Once the cycle is complete, discard the cleaning solution.
Step 4: Refill the water reservoir with clean water and run three cycles
Refill your water reservoir and run three additional clean water cycles. This will complete the descaling process!
Step 5: Clean the parts with warm water and soap
The brew basket, brew basket lid and carafe are not dishwasher-safe, so I wash each part by hand and let it air dry.
To wash the coffee pot, put a drop of dishwashing soap in and swirl it around with hot water to let the oils dissolve. Wash it with a soft sponge and rinse clean.
To wash the brew basket, clean with a sponge, drop of dish soap and warm water. Air dry.
To clean the exterior, use a soft moist cloth to wipe down the machine. Make sure the machine is unplugged and the metal elements have cooled down before cleaning.
That’s it! It’s not difficult at all - the Moccamaster cleaning process is simple and straightforward.
Don’t forget to follow up with the descaling process to keep your machine running smoothly. See our step-by-step guide to descaling the Moccamaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to clean the Moccamaster water tank?
Using a cleaning agent and following the cleaning process above should keep your Moccamaster water tank clean and free of slimy build up.
