Cleaning Mr. Coffee maker pot

[Greg44]

I am not a coffee drinker. Once a month at work I am in charge of getting the
lunch room ready for the local motorcycle club meeting.

The inside of the stainless steel coffee pot is black - smells like burnt coffee.
How should I clean this? I would think it would effect the way the coffee tastes.

How can I clean this gunk out and what is the best way to keep the pot clean?

[Fawn]

Is this a drip coffee maker? Usually they recommend running a full pot of white vinegar through to take out the lime and other build-up. Then you have to run a couple pots of just water (no coffee) through to get the vinegar smell out.

If the coffee pot is used daily, this process should be done once a month or so.

[CathyA]

Ditto.

[SteveinMN]

If it were me (and at one time it was, being responsible for coffee on a rotating basis for our church group) and knowing it was a stainless-steel pot, I would take a steel-wool pad or a heavy-duty "scrubbie" and dish soap and go after the inside of the pot. Cathy and Fawn are correct that white vinegar will get rid of lime buildup, but lime buildup is whiteish, not black. What you've got there is almost a shellac of coffee oils and white vinegar really won't do much for that.

[CathyA]

Sorry I missed the black pot thing.
I've seen CLR advertised as being a great cleaner of things (like coffee pots), and supposedly "endorsed by the EPA".........whatever that means!
The only thing about steel wool is that it makes fine grooves in things and then makes it more likely to hold stains.........but I'd give that a try too if more gentler things don't work.

[Mrs-M]

I would take an SOS Pad to the inside of the pot. Well-dampened pad with a little hot water, and all should peel right off.

[Greg44]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I will do some scrubbing and run some vinegar also...

[Tussiemussies]

I used CLR once in my bathroom, they say it is safe for the environment and you have to use gloves with it but I didn't put gloves on. My one finger from that point on was very numb, just to let you know my experience...

I would do just as Mrs. M says use a brillo pad and then do a few runs of just water to get the Brillo pad taste out. I have noticed an after taste with things I have used with Brillo and were rinsed but still had the aftertaste. :)

P.S. Just to clarify my finger was numb for that day only...

[Mrs-M]

Originally posted by Tussiemussies.
I have noticed an after taste with things I have used with Brillo and were rinsed but still had the aftertaste.I've never tried the Brillo brand, so can't speak on that, but I'm into my SOS, a few times a week, and never a problem with residual scent/taste.

[befree]

dissolving denture-cleaner tablet, left in coffee-pot of water overnight. Then vinegar/water.