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Today I am sharing how to descale your coffee pot with citric acid.

In the past, I have shared how to descale your coffee pots with vinegar which is a great option and easy to use. For those who do NOT like vinegar or want something even easier to use, citric acid is a great option.

There are also several methods you can use for this which I will explain in this post.

If you need to do a good spring or summer cleaning on your coffee pot, this post has great tips!

How To Descale Your Coffee Pot With Citric Acid

What is descaling and why is it important?

Have you ever noticed your coffee tasting a bit off, or your coffee pot taking longer to brew? My coffee pot will start taking twice as long to percolate a cup. This might be caused by hard water buildup, also known as scale. Descaling your coffee pot is a simple process that removes this buildup, which can improve the taste of your coffee, extend the life of your machine, and ensure it keeps brewing efficiently. In short, it’s like giving your coffee pot a tune-up! 

Coffee contains oils that can leave a greasy film on the carafe and brewing components of the coffee pot. Over time, this film builds up and can affect the taste of your coffee. In addition to affecting the taste of your coffee, a dirty coffee pot can also be a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.This is because coffee grounds and leftover coffee provide a perfect food source for these microorganisms. Mold and bacteria can not only make your coffee taste bad, but they can also be harmful to your health.

Ways to Use Citric Acid For Descaling

There are several methods you can use to descale your coffee pots with citric acid. The great thing about using citric acid, you won’t need to run several rounds of water through it like you do with vinegar since it doesn’t have a taste or odor.

You can use a liquid citric acid like this one. I have used this many times, and it works great.

Another option is this ready to go powder. It is premeasured, so you are getting exactly the right amount to properly clean. 

Lastly, you can use regular citric acid. Add a few teaspoons  into  8 cups of water, stir it, then add to a cycle. 

Out of the methods mentioned above, I prefer the pre-measured powder. It makes sure you have exactly the right amount of citric acid, so there is no confusion about getting the correct ratio. The citric acid is also in the anhydrous form, so there is no water in it. This means you are getting very pure citric acid making it work better. It is also super convenient, you just tear the package, add it to the coffee pot, top it with the water and that is it. You will only need to do this every 1-3 months or so. 

How Does Citric Acid Work To Descale a Coffee Pot?

Citric acid is a weak organic acid found naturally in citrus fruits. It works as a descaler by dissolving mineral deposits, commonly referred to as limescale, that accumulate in coffee pots due to hard water. Once dissolved, the citric acid solution circulates through the coffee pot during a brewing cycle. Citric acid molecules contain carboxylic acid groups that can grab onto calcium and magnesium ions, the main ions in limescale. This process is called chelation.

Citric acid will then loosen the ions from the surface of the coffee pot. This weakens the structure of the limescale deposits, causing them to break down.

Citric acid is generally considered a safe and natural alternative to harsher chemical descaling solutions. It’s also readily available and biodegradable. Definitely check out this in-depth post we did on citric acid last year for more information. 

Safety Precautions

When you work with any kind of acid, even things like vinegar, it can be a good idea to wear gloves and eye protection as it can irritate skin and eyes. If you have never worked with citric acid, it might be helpful to use these precautions.

Also, make sure to follow the instructions on the citric acid package or your coffee pot’s manual for proper dilution and usage. Hopefully this post can you use it properly. 

Here is how it looks after running citric acid through the machine:

After running a round of the ready to go citric acid, here is what came out of the machine:

How To Clean Your Coffee Pot Carafe:

While you are at it, don’t forget to clean your glass carafe! One of our most popular posts is this great cleaning hack using ice and salt to clean glass containers, it works so well and makes your glass sparkle! It is also fantastic for the glass carafe on a coffee pot.

Clean the Outside of the Machine:

Lastly, after you have cleaned the inside and the carafe, you can wipe down the outside of them machine removing dirt, dust, or oils. I like to use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe down and clean the coffee machine. 

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