Your trusty Bonavita coffee maker brews up batch after batch of delicious java with relatively little assistance from you. It doesn't have a lot of moving parts, so it's easy to overlook regular care and maintenance when it just simply works, right? Implementing a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule will result in both increased equipment longevity and improved flavor in the cup. Certain components -- like the carafe -- will show their wear and tear, but other, more internal parts can't give you a visual cue. Accordingly, it's a great idea to come up with a schedule that you follow on a regular basis, descaling and cleaning the machine's components at least a few times each year. Here's what we recommend:
- Weekly - Each week, wash the carafe and filter basket with warm soapy water. Using a food-friendly cleaning solution, wipe down the machine, paying special attention to the hot plate if your model has one.
- Monthly - Every fourth external cleaning, wipe out the water reservoir to limit any residue build-up. If you're using water with a higher mineral content, you should also descale at this time.
- Quarterly - For softer water, a quarterly descale using a descaled and detergent combo like Cleancaf will improve your coffee maker's performance.