Cleaning Challenge
So I'm a Senior Psychology major and this semester and interning at a mental health center testing for ADHD, intelligence, PDs, etc. What's the first thing I notice? Naturally it's that they've got one of these guys:
http://www.bunn.com/pages/commercl/1coffee/pourover.html (First set, left picture....subtract about 10 years)
And it's *disgusting. Both burners are nasty, the metal filter at the top where you poor the water is dingy in the outside and god-knows-what on the inside.
To give you an idea: I noticed they had some Republic of Tea (Honey Ginseng) next to the folgers, so I decided to at least try making some hot water with the thing (don't judge, it's about 15 degrees in Michigan). ...The water came out rust colored sooo....
Since I'm a hybrid of a barista, a psychology student and obsessive compulsive, what do I want to spend my lunch hour doing? CLEANING THE %&$# out of that thing. a lot more of a negative reenforcement impulse than an altruistic impulse, but I'm fine with that.
Any ideas?! I want to make it look new by the time I'm done with it.
What cleaning products do I use?? What technique??? Unfortunately burning it isn't an option :(
Only after that will I replace the folgers with some nice fresh Equal Exchange.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Adam Wilson on
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lots of 409 or something similar. maybe some steel wool? and use hot water if you can.
and don't get your hopes up. you're probably better off replacing it with a cheap brewer from walmart.
good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Mike McGinness on
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Wouldn't worry about the outside nearly as much as the entire brew path including inside. First thing I'd do is run a couple tanks of Cleancaf through. Then a couple clear water tanks, then another Cleancaf. If after that one results look good then final rinse flushes. Also soak baskets etc. a few hours in solution of same.
FWIW don't know of any cheap auto-drip brewers that brew at close to proper temp or with decent shower patterns...
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Perrine on
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I would add to give a few minutes between each tank of Cleancaf to give it (Cleancaf) enough time to work. You should be able to find this at the local grocery store. If not, your local shop should be willing to part with some for a good enough tip in the jar.
Urnex is a similar product.
miKe mcKoffee aka Mike McGinness said:Wouldn't worry about the outside nearly as much as the entire brew path including inside. First thing I'd do is run a couple tanks of Cleancaf through. Then a couple clear water tanks, then another Cleancaf. If after that one results look good then final rinse flushes. Also soak baskets etc. a few hours in solution of same.
FWIW don't know of any cheap auto-drip brewers that brew at close to proper temp or with decent shower patterns...
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Permalink Reply by Brady on
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My general cleaning philosophy is to start simple and move up. For general surfaces, try a wet microfiber first, then soap and water, then 409.
Coffee residue will come much cleaner, much quicker with a Cafeiza/Purocaff soak. This stuff works much better in ripping hot water. If you can find a container big enough to immerse the basket (not the handle though) a good soak will do wonders.
The most powerful cleaner I use on stainless is Bon Ami powder... that's a last resort. Green scrubbies and harsher abrasives will screw up the grain on the stainless and make it look like crap.
You are using filtered water too, right? Not DI, not RO, but filtered drinking water?
Good luck. And please stay out of Walmart :).
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Urnex is a brand not a specific product. Agree Cafiza (Urnex brand espresso machine cleaner) works great for soaking non plastic non aluminum items to remove coffee residues. Cafiza is not designed for and should NOT be used in tank pour through type applications. Cleancaf (also a Urnex brand product) is a combined gentler cleaner and mild descaler specifically designed for tank pour through applications.
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I stand corrected. Didn't know the specifics for Cleancaf. Thanks.
miKe mcKoffee aka Mike McGinness said:Urnex is a brand not a specific product. Agree Cafiza (Urnex brand espresso machine cleaner) works great for soaking non plastic non aluminum items to remove coffee residues. Cafiza is not designed for and should NOT be used in tank pour through type applications. Cleancaf (also a Urnex brand product) is a combined gentler cleaner and mild descaler specifically designed for tank pour through applications.
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No prob, and good suggestion letting machine sit between tanks.
Jeremiah Perrine said:I stand corrected. Didn't know the specifics for Cleancaf. Thanks.
miKe mcKoffee aka Mike McGinness said:Urnex is a brand not a specific product. Agree Cafiza (Urnex brand espresso machine cleaner) works great for soaking non plastic non aluminum items to remove coffee residues. Cafiza is not designed for and should NOT be used in tank pour through type applications. Cleancaf (also a Urnex brand product) is a combined gentler cleaner and mild descaler specifically designed for tank pour through applications.
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