How To Clean Stainless Steel Coffee Pot (Remove The Stains)

by
How To Clean Stainless Steel Coffee Pot

If you enjoy drinking coffee and have noticed that your stainless steel coffee pot is getting stains and build-up, I'm here to help!

Here, I'll provide you with the best ways to clean your stainless steel coffee pot, and even provide you with some tips on how to prevent more stains from happening in the future.

Page Contents show

6 Easy Ways To Clean a Stainless Steel Coffee Pot

If you're looking for the best way to clean stainless steel coffee pot, here are some great ways to get you started.

1. Vinegar and Salt

One of the easiest ways is to simply use a vinegar solution of vinegar and salt.

Vinegar And Salt

Supplies:

  • ½ cup of white vinegar (apple cider vinegar will also do)
  • ⅛ cup of table salt
  • 6 ice cubes

Instructions:

  • Place the ice cubes into your coffee pot.
  • Add the white vinegar before adding the salt.
  • Swirl the mixture around inside of the pot until the table salt dissolves or the stubborn stains disappear.
  • Rinse your coffee pot.

2. Baking Soda

For the baking soda method, you’ll be making a baking soda solution that will help with cleaning out your stainless steel coffee carafe.

baking soda

Supplies:

  • 1 cup of baking soda
  • Water
  • A dish brush
  • Half cup of hydrogen peroxide

Instructions:

  • Place the baking soda within the stainless steel carafe and fill it with warm water.
  • Use your brush to gently scrub the inside area of the pot while your baking soda is inside it.
  • If you've noticed that the stain remains, place the hydrogen peroxide along with a little baking soda (about two tablespoons) within the pot for some deep cleaning.
  • Mix it for about a minute and let it sit for about 30 minutes to get rid of any stubborn coffee stains.
  • After half an hour, empty out the solution and fill it with hot water - allowing it to sit for a while more.

3. Cookware Cleaning Pods

This method is incredibly simple, and all you need is simply one cookware cleaner pod and a dish brush.

Using A Dish Brush In Cookware And Dishes

Instructions:

  • Place the pod into your coffee maker.
  • Fill it with hot water before using a bottle brush to gently swirl around the coffee pot to remove stains and dissolve the pot.
  • Allow it to sit for about 5 to 10 minutes before washing your pot.

4. Vinegar

To remove tough coffee stains, you typically can't go wrong with vinegar. For this method, all you require is 4 ounces of vinegar.

If you don't have vinegar, you can also use lemon juice to clean a stainless steel coffee pot.

Vinegar Stored In A Glass Jar

Instructions:

  • Fill your stainless steel pot halfway with water and the other half with vinegar.
  • Boil this for a few minutes before allowing your metal coffee pot to cool until room temperature.
  • Gently scrub the inside of your coffee maker with a dish brush before pouring out the liquid and rinsing the stainless steel coffee pot with cold water.

5. Denture Tablets

Denture tablets are great as they’re typically used for not just getting rid of stubborn stains but also bacteria!

If you’ve got a dirty pot with hard water stains, mineral deposits and brown stains, denture tablets are exactly what you need.

Dropping Denture Tablets In A Glass Of Water

Supplies:

  • One denture tablet
  • Warm water
  • A bottle brush

Instructions:

  • Place a denture tablet into your coffee maker before you add warm water.
  • Let it sit for awhile while your denture tablet dissolves.
  • Use your bottle brush to scrub away any build-up and stains inside. Make sure that you're doing this for both the inside and the outside to get rid of any mineral buildup.
  • Empty the liquid and rinse the pot thoroughly.

6. Dish Soap

With this particular method, you can either choose to use a pod of dishwashing powder or dishwasher soap - it’s completely up to you!

Dishwashing Soap And Sponge

Instructions:

  • Fill your coffee pot with hot water.
  • Then, dissolve your dishwashing powder or dishwasher detergent soap within the coffee pot.
  • Once the dishwasher pod or dishwashing detergent has been dissolved, let the soapy water sit for a while.
  • Then, use a bottle brush to give it a deep clean before going ahead to rinse the pot.

The Do’s And Don’ts When Cleaning Stainless Steel Carafes

Here are some quick cleaning tips for you to follow when it comes to cleaning your stainless steel coffee pot.

DO

  • If you're unsure what to do, always look at the manufacturer's instructions. There, you'll find everything you need to know, from what you can use for cleaning, what cleaning solution you can use, and more.
  • Make sure you're using safe solutions that use ingredients such as white distilled vinegar liquid soap, coffee pot cleaner, and liquid dishwasher detergent.
  • If you're cleaning the outside of your coffee pots, you can use stainless steel cleaner or stainless steel products but make sure you're using a soft cloth, and read the directions and spot test if needed.
  • If you can, always leave your coffee pot for a few hours to air dry.

Do NOT Do

  • Do not use steel wool or brushes, as they will scratch stainless steel material, making it more susceptible to staining and rusting.
  • Do not use abrasive products such as bleach and ammonia, as they will both scratch and discolor your coffee pot.
  • If your home runs on hard water, consider using distilled water to clean your coffee maker. Why? Well, hard water is more likely to leave stains and streaks.
Coffee Stained Stainless Steel

Benefits Of Using Stainless Steel Coffee Carafes

There are a couple of benefits to using a stainless steel coffee maker versus a glass pot. These include:

Fresh coffee which stays hot: Nobody likes a hot coffee that’s turned cold. With a stainless steel coffee pot, that’s not something you’d need to worry about!

Durability: Having a durable coffee pot that’s sturdy and made with long-lasting material is key. The last thing you’d want is to be constantly changing your coffee pot.[1]

Preserves the aroma and flavor of coffee: There's nothing worse than a morning cup of burnt coffee. With a stainless steel coffee carafe, you can enjoy coffee made in the morning and not have to brew coffee from scratch again.

How To Prevent Stains On Stainless Steel Coffee Pot

Looking to prevent stains on your stainless steel coffee pot? Here are some tips:

  • Even if it says that the coffee makers are dishwasher-friendly, try to clean your coffee pot by hand.
  • To keep it in great shape, try to clean your coffee pot after each use with boiling water and dishwasher detergent.
  • Try not to leave coffee, dirty water, or moisture within your stainless steel thermos coffee pot, as this can help avoid rusting.
  • Remember to never use a cleaning product or commercial cleaners with bleach and steel wool, as they can scratch your coffee pot.[2]
  • If stains remain on your coffee pot, you can use one of the easy methods mentioned earlier, carefully swirl or mix the ingredients and leave it to sit for about an hour.
  • Don't use a paper towel on your clean coffee pot; always use a microfiber cloth to avoid stains and scratches.
four stainless steel coffee carafes in different colors

Cleaning Stainless Steel Coffee Pot Questions

How often should you clean the stainless coffee pot?

When it comes to how often you should clean a stainless steel coffee pot, you should try to do so every use to avoid buildup that makes coffee taste bad. After all, nobody likes tasting coffee that’s bitter!

Is vinegar or baking soda better for cleaning stainless steel coffee pots?

When it comes to whether vinegar or baking soda is better for cleaning stainless steel coffee pots, baking soda is known to be more effective than vinegar. It's also easy - all you need is baking soda and some boiling water!

Can coffee damage stainless steel pots?

Coffee has the potential to damage stainless steel pots over time as the tannins from the coffee can seep into the surface and permeate the material.

How do you remove coffee stains from a stainless steel travel mug?

Removing coffee stains from a stainless steel mug is similar to how you would remove stains from a tea kettle or coffee pot.

Simply add half a cup of hydrogen peroxide and two tablespoons of baking soda before letting the mixture soak for around half an hour. After that, scrub your mug clean, and you're good to go.

Conclusion - Get Cleaning!

Cleaning your coffee pot doesn't have to be a difficult process. Most of the required products are items you'll find in your home and won't take several hours to do.

The most important thing is to ensure you're putting some elbow grease into it and deep cleaning your coffee pot wherever possible.

With that, you can have delicious cold brew or regular coffee every single time!

References:

1. https://www.assda.asn.au/benefits-of-stainless-steel
2. https://caple.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Stainless-steel-sink-%E2%80%93-Maintenance-tips.pdf 

Karmy Widjaja

Author

Karmy Widjaja
Karmy Widjaja, holding a degree in Hospitality Administration, combines her academic background with a profound passion for the world of coffee. Her work is enriched with a wealth of insights, not only about the art of coffee making but also about the broader aspects of the coffee industry. Her quest for coffee perfection is a central theme in her engaging articles, as she continues to explore the vibrant coffee scene in Perth. And when it's time for a coffee break? Karmy's all about a laid-back flat white with almond milk – it's her go-to for a tasty coffee kick.

My favorite drink? I'd go with... flat white with almond milk.

Karmy Widjaja

See Our Editorial Processes

Meet Our Team

Share Feedback

Leave a Comment

Connect With Your Community

Why We Started BHQ

How We Create Content

Meet The Team

Contact Us

Privacy Policy

Affiliate Disclosure

Sitemap

© 2023 BaristaHQ.com - Part of the EV Capital Group

DMCA.com Protection Status