Tried the "no rinse" method for my automatic coffee machine. Big mistake.

Six months of running just water through the cycle. Thought I was saving time. Opened it up last week and found a slime monster living in the reservoir. Has anyone else fallen for that shortcut trick?

3 comments

3 Comments

miles_garcia25d ago

Peek under the lid every few months even if you run descaling solution through it. That slime is a biofilm from bacteria feeding on leftover coffee oils and minerals, not just plain gunk. I use a little denture tablet in the reservoir once a month to break it down before it gets thick. Make sure to pull the rubber gaskets out and scrub those too because that's where it hides the worst. You can soak those parts in a vinegar solution overnight if you don't want to buy specialty cleaners.

tara79326d ago

Bet my coffee machine had a whole ecosystem thriving in there too.

burns.jenny26d ago

Nah, coffee machines are actually pretty inhospitable. The heat cycles kill most stuff and the acidic environment makes it hard for anything to survive long term. You might get some mineral buildup from hard water but that's not really a living ecosystem.