MOLD in your Coffee Pot?

9/14/2018 (Permalink)

Keep your coffee pot clean and free of mold.

Your clean you wipe and wash your kitchen, keep your dishes done run hot water through your coffee machine from time to time. Could there be mold in my coffee? A study done by National Science Foundation (NSF) found that the largest concentration of germs is located ( no not the bathroom) but in the kitchen. Guess what the top 10 dirtiest items are Kitchen sponges, Kitchen Sink, Toothbrush Holder, Pet Bowl, COFFEE RESERVOIR, Faucet Handles, Pet toys, Counter tops, Stove knobs, and Cutting boards..
  

   A pets bowl is cleaner than  your coffee reservoir? Inside half these reservoirs they found mold and yeast. A staggering 10% have been exposed to Coliform Bacteria.

How is that even possible?
    

     I run hot water through my machine to make the coffee.  I also thought coffee had antibacterial properties to it.  Should those two things be enough to keep the bacteria and mold at bay? Nope not even close for water to work it needs to be boiling NO coffee maker gets water to reach its boiling point. You would sue them for getting burned all the time. The acid in coffee only works on about half of the germs that are found in the pot and filter. If anything the warm moist environment makes it the perfect breeding ground for the bacteria and mold.

    Our bodies are great at adapting. We build up a resistance to these germs that are ingested in small amounts over the course of time. When ingesting a potentially harmful organism  our body does have the ability to filter out some of the infected particles. This is not ideal because the germs too adapt and can slip by your immune system eventually and make you sick.

How to clean your Coffee Maker:

    The frequency is commensurate with how often you use your machine. If you use it for a pot per day I would suggest a through cleaning once a week. If you have a machine that gets more use like a communal one at work a few times a week would be advised. All parts of the coffee machine that can be removed should be for effective cleaning. This includes but is not limited to carafe if there is one, the basket that houses the filter and coffee itself, any parts of the machine that can be removed easily. Make sure you use hot soapy water to eliminate germs, stains, and residue oils left over from making the coffee. Once this is done make sure everything is fully dry before you put your machine all back together.

    Your water no matter how hot or soapy will leave behind elements that can encourage growth because there are minerals in the water. This will have to be removed. Because you drink from this machine it is suggested that you leave the chemicals behind and settle for some natural products. The suggestion is using a vinegar based solution at a minimum of once a month. This will d-calcify the machine and produce a better cup of coffee.

      Here the suggested way to get that done. Fill the water reservoir with half water and half vinegar… Pretend you are going to brew a pot of coffee and put the filter in where you normally would. **DO NOT PUT COFFEE IN IT** Brew this until almost half of the water has emptied into the pot turn off the machine. Walk away and leave everything for about a half an hour. Turn the machine back on and finish the brewing process. Once this is done remove the filter and just run some plain water through the machine. I would advise doing this two times to make sure the vinegar is fully out of the machine. Then do one more rinse of the hot soapy water that is being done once a week. This will ensure the bacteria and mold are not able to grow and make you sick.

   The machine is clean and there is no more mold in your coffee. This should allow you to enjoy that cup of coffee the way it was meant to be enjoyed worry free……. Happy sipping

   You may not need SERVPRO® for your coffee pot, But, if you find any signs of mold in your home or office, CALL US 856-227-7800.
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