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How to Clean a Glass Coffee Pot: Expert Guide

Young woman cleaning coffee pot or machine

The vast majority of automatic drip coffee makers come with a glass coffee pot. Glass is relatively cheap, easy to clean, and does not wear out over time. If you take proper care of your glass coffee pot, it will most likely outlast the coffee machine. However, just because glass is easy to clean doesn’t mean you should neglect regular cleaning. If you only give your glass coffee pot a quick rinse after each use, you’ll find that coffee residue builds up over time and can be quite hard to remove.

In this article, we’re going to teach you how to remove stubborn stains from your glass coffee pot. Even if you regularly wash your coffee pot with soap and water, old coffee stains and mineral deposits can still form, and once they’re settled in, they can be a pain to remove. The tips in this guide will help make removing the most difficult stains easier and make your glass coffee pot stain-free once again.

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Glass Coffee Pots: Everyday Maintenance

If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t clean their coffee pot after each use, we have got some bad news for you. Letting coffee dry on the bottom of the pot will negatively affect the taste of future batches of coffee and facilitate mold and bacteria growth. It is essential that you empty and clean your coffee pot every time you use it.

A simple rinse is better than nothing, but washing your coffee pot with warm soapy water and a sponge is better. Most glass coffee pots can also go in the dishwasher, so you can throw them in the top rack and start it before you leave for work.

After you wash your coffee pot, we recommend only drying the outside with a towel and letting the inside air dry. Using a towel to dry the coffee pot’s interior will leave microfibers and fabric behind to wind up in your next batch of coffee.

Mr. Coffee pouring

Deeper Cleaning

Even with regular maintenance, it’s likely that your coffee pot will develop coffee stains and mineral residue, especially if you live in an area with hard water. These stains can be surprisingly difficult to remove and require a bit more effort than standard cleaning. To tackle these stains, you’ll need to gather a few common household ingredients.

SEE ALSO: How to Clean a Stainless Steel Coffee Pot (Easy Steps)


An Alternative Method

We’ve had great success using the ice-salt mixture, but if you don’t have crushed ice, you can use this vinegar-based method instead.

A little coffee at the bottom of the glass coffee maker
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How to Clean a Glass Coffee Pot

We're going to teach you how to remove stubborn stains from your glass coffee pot. Even if you regularly wash your coffee pot with soap and water, old coffee stains and mineral deposits can still form, and once they're settled in, they can be a pain to remove. The tips in this guide will help make removing the most difficult stains easier and make your glass coffee pot stain-free once again. 
Prep Time2 minutes
Active Time30 minutes
Total Time32 minutes
Yield: 1 clean coffee pot
Cost: $2

Equipment

  • Glass coffee pot
  • Sponge

Materials

Deeper Cleaning

  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 4 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup crushed ice

Alternate Method

  • Equal parts water and vinegar
  • Dish soap

Instructions

Deeper Cleaning

  • Before you can clean your coffee pot, make sure it is at room temperature. We're going to scrub the inside of the coffee pot with an ice-water mixture, and if your glass coffee pot is hot, it could break.
  • Mix the salt, water, and crushed ice in your coffee pot. Using crushed ice is important because it is abrasive and will help loosen any stains caked onto the sides and bottom of the pot.
  • Swirl the mixture in the coffee pot until the stains are removed. You might be surprised at how little time it takes and how effective it is.
  • If your coffee pot doesn't come clean after about one minute of swirling, gently use a sponge or cloth to scrub the problem areas.

An Alternative Method

  • Once again, let the coffee pot cool to room temperature before cleaning.
  • Mix equal parts vinegar and water in your coffee pot until it is full.
  • Let the solution soak for 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Empty the coffee pot and use warm water and dish soap to clean the coffee pot thoroughly. Don't rush this step; otherwise, your next batch of coffee might have an unpleasant vinegar taste.
  • Rinse the coffee pot.

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Conclusion

Cleaning a glass coffee pot is a relatively straightforward process but can sometimes get tricky, especially if you’ve neglected to clean yours for a while. You can make your life easier by cleaning your coffee pot after each use, either by washing with warm soap and water or tossing it in the dishwasher.

Even with regular cleaning, a deep clean every once in a while is a good idea. Stubborn stains will usually yield to the ice and salt cleaning method, but if that doesn’t work for you, the vinegar soak method is sure to do the trick.


Featured Image Credit: Natali Brillianata, Shutterstock

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Sean Brennan

Sean’s obsession with coffee started when he received his first French press as a gift almost ten years ago. Since then, his love of coffee – and the number of coffee gadgets he owns – has grown considerably. A scientist by training, there is no stone he has left unturned in the never-ending quest for the perfect cup of coffee. He has spent many hours tuning his pour-over technique, thinking about how to best compare grind quality, and worrying about whether the Nicaraguan or Kenyan beans will make the best cold brew. These days he favors the Hario V60, and starts each day by hand grinding his coffee before enjoying a cup prepared with care and attention to detail.

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