Have a K-cup machine. We only use filtered water with it. We use the Keurig descaler per the instructions when the “needs descaling” light comes on. It works well. Amazing how much other stuff comes out when it is cleaned.

Anonymous wrote:We run vinegar through our coffee maker at least once a month.

I bought some citric acid for this purpose. You can also use it to descale the dishwasher.

Anonymous wrote:Clean it? Have a maid clean it?

OP should fire the maid for letting the coffee maker get in this condition. Fire the butler too for good measure.

We run vinegar through our coffee maker at least once a month.

Anonymous wrote:Clean it regularly and air it out.

+1, DH cleans our Gaggia Anaima every Saturday. Takes the all the components out, washes, dries, reassembles. He calc cleans to prevent descaling when the machine says to do it,

Clean it? Have a maid clean it?

Anonymous wrote:Clean it regularly and air it out.

This. I clean some element of the coffee maker most days. Today it was the basket. Tomorrow maybe the housing. I never do the whole thing at once.

Your brewer came with an owner's manual, which told you how to maintain it. Read it, Follow the directions.

Clean it regularly and air it out.

Anonymous wrote:What does your coffee makers owners manual say?

My old Cuisinart drip would have a light come on when time to clean. I just got a new Mochamaster and they recommend cleaning every 3 months, or better yet when I finish a box of 100 coffee filters. I also use spring water vs tap water.

+1

We only use Brita water and run a vinegar rinse every few weeks.

Fwiw, your washing machine nerds a self-clean cycle too, but I digress.

What does your coffee makers owners manual say?

My old Cuisinart drip would have a light come on when time to clean. I just got a new Mochamaster and they recommend cleaning every 3 months, or better yet when I finish a box of 100 coffee filters. I also use spring water vs tap water.

Yikes, I use an el cheapo 5 cup Mr. Coffee. Run vinegar thru it every once in a while. Pick it up and rinse off reservoir and inside top once in a while. Water never stands in it. No sludge.

Anonymous wrote:Use a filter system or french press

I use filtered water. It’s a Breville coffee maker. I have no idea how the coffee sludge makes it into the water reservoir. I’m so grossed out, though. It’s basically been brewing coffee with sludgy water.

Use a filter system or french press

I’m the Cafe Bustelo poster and I was encouraged to descale and clean my coffee maker and holy moly, it was disgusting! I have cleaned it and descaled it in the past but I guess it’s been a while because the entire thing—even the clean water reservoir—was coated in coffee sludge. I’m so grossed out. I spent about an hour cleaning it. How often do I need to descale and take it apart to prevent this happening again? I swear I just cleaned it over the summer.