At-home percolators and drip coffee makers are among the most popular types of coffee machines out there.
While they are most used in homes, only a handful of people know how to clean Bunn coffee makers.
If you’ve only had it for a couple of days or weeks, you might still not know how to keep it spotless. And that’s okay.
To help you out, we will walk you through some easy at-home methods for taking care of your Bunn coffee maker.
How to Clean Bunn Coffee Maker
While this brand offers different types of coffee makers in various models, the process of cleaning Bunn coffee makers is similar from one to another.
Keeping it clean is very important regardless of the model, so you should ensure that you make time to do this every few weeks.
When you do, you can guarantee that no grime buildup would affect the taste and aroma of your brew.
Step 1: Clean the Carafe, Water Reservoir, and Filter Basket
The first thing that you need to incorporate into your Bunn coffee maker cleaning routine is regularly cleaning the removable parts.
For most models, this will just be the filter basket and the carafe. Some models also have a removable water reservoir that can be hand-washed.
All of these pieces can easily be cleaned in your sink with warm, soapy water.
If there seems to be a lot of grime or oil built up on these removable pieces, allow them to soak in the warm water for a few minutes before you start to clean them.
Once they have been washed, rinse the soap off. Then, dry these items with a towel or all of them to air dry completely.
Do not reassemble your Bunn coffee maker until the pieces are completely dry.
Assembling anything while things are still wet could cause damage to the electricals used in the machine.
How Frequently Should This Be Done?
The filter basket and carafe should be, at a minimum, rinsed between uses.
It is best to give all of the removable pieces a thorough soapy wash every week if you use your coffee maker daily.
If you don’t use your coffee maker daily, you should still wash it frequently so that nothing sits on the machine and builds up over time.
Step 2: Wipe Down the Outside of the Machine
Have you noticed that the outside of your machine has any dust, grime, coffee oils, or something else on it?
Even though the outside is not going to be touched by the coffee as it is brewing, it can still get dirty!
After all, appliances can get dirty just from being in the kitchen where food (and the accompanying messes) is often prepared.
To wipe down the machine, you first need to choose what cleaning liquid to use.
In most cases, dipping a washcloth in warm, soapy water is the perfect way to clean the outside.
If you find that your coffee maker has more stubborn stains on it, you may want to opt for an all-purpose cleaning product instead.
Once your washcloth has been dipped in your cleaning liquid, wring it out so that the washcloth is not dripping.
Then, use the washcloth to gently wipe down the outer parts of your Bunn brewer.
Lastly, you would want to let the brewer air dry, or use a soft towel to dry everything off.
Be Careful While Cleaning
The base of your brewer is powered by electricity, so you need to be careful while cleaning it.
First, make sure that you unplug your brewer from the socket.
Like any other electrical appliance, it could be dangerous to clean it while the brewer is plugged in.
Second, make sure that your cleaning rag is not overly saturated while you are cleaning.
Bunn brewers have many electrical components, so you don’t want the water to leak into those areas.
As long as your washcloth has been thoroughly wrung out, this should not be a problem.
Finally, make sure that you do not reassemble or plug the brewer back in until all of the pieces are completely dry.
Step 3: Descale The Machine
The final part of cleaning your Bunn brewer that needs to be done regularly is descaling the machine.
As your coffee machine heats up the water to brew your coffee, minerals from the water may get left behind, causing buildup.
When these minerals build up inside the coffee maker, they can lead to problems down the line if not regularly removed.
The process of removing this buildup is called descaling.
Descaling your coffee maker is quite simple; here’s how you do it:
Step 1: Fill the water reservoir with a descaling solution or with a mixture of one part white vinegar for every two parts water.
Step 2: Let this solution rest in the compartment for 20 to 30 minutes.
Step 3: Set the coffee maker to brew, and let the brew run completely.
Step 4: Repeat the process one more time if the buildup was severe.
Step 5: Rinse the carafe and filter.
Step 6: Fill the water reservoir with tap water.
Step 7: Run a brewing cycle to rinse out the vinegar or descaling solution.
Step 8: Repeat the process with tap water for one additional flush before using the coffee maker regularly.
Bunn Coffee Maker Cleaning Button
Some of the more advanced Bunn brewers may have a Clean light or Clean button that can be used to let you know when you need to clean the machine.
Learning how to clean a Bunn coffee maker to get rid of mineral buildup is even easier with these buttons.
If your model has a Clean button, you can easily activate it when you want to descale your machine.
First, fill the water reservoir with white vinegar or descaling solution as described above. Then, press the “Clean” button.
This will start the cleaning mode, which is basically a slower brewing process.
Once it is complete, you will want to flush the system with tap water two times to ensure all of the cleaning liquid has been removed.
Is Cleaning Bunn A Coffee Maker Difficult?
Now that you know more about how to clean Bunn coffee makers, you might be wondering if it is difficult to actually start cleaning.
Really, cleaning Bunn coffee makers and other similar coffee makers is not difficult!
The key is that you need to clean it and all of its accessories on a regular basis, which would also depend on how much you use the machined.
If you wait for germs and grime to build up on the machine, it will be much more difficult to remove them.
By ensuring that you are cleaning the removable pieces weekly and doing a descaling every few months, you can help the process be much easier each time you do it.
As they always say: practice makes perfect! The same can be said with cleaning your coffee maker. It will become easier each time that you do ti!
Cleaning Your Bunn Coffee Maker Regularly
Once you’ve learned how to clean a Bunn coffee maker, you must ensure that you do it regularly.
Just as you wipe out your microwave, deep clean your oven, and clean your sink, your coffee maker also needs some cleaning attention.
If neglected for too long, mold and other buildup can occur. Plus, it’s always better to be brewing coffee in a clean environment for the taste factor!
Keep in mind the best methods of cleaning your Bunn coffee maker, and you’ll find that you have much better coffee for years to come.
