How to Clean a French Press Coffee Maker

There’s no doubt about it—Americans love their coffee! But why settle for an ordinary cup of Joe from a drip coffeemaker when you can brew a pot of coffee worthy of a king? That’s what you get with a French press—finely flavored espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes without paying top dollar for a barista to whip up your drink at a coffee shop. Yes, with a French press, a more sophisticated cup of coffee is just a few minutes away.

So, you’ve done your research, bought a high-quality French press coffee maker, and learned how to brew the perfect cup. Now, the time has come to clean this small appliance. You read over the instruction manual, but it offers very little help. Fortunately, cleaning your French press is just as easy as brewing a cup of coffee in one. Simply follow these step-by-step instructions from Molly Maid to ensure you get many years of use from your French press.

Cleaning Your French Press Daily

Ongoing maintenance is critical to keep your French press clean and sanitary. Here’s how to wash it daily:

• Finish your coffee, and let the French press cool down.
• Empty the grounds from the carafe using either your hands or a spatula. Avoid using a metal spoon, which might break the glass. Alternately, you can fill the carafe about halfway with water and dump the contents into a fine-mesh strainer held over the sink. This allows the water to run down the drain while catching the coffee grounds.
• Dispose of the grounds in your compost heap or the trashcan, not down the sink. Don’t panic if a few grounds wash down the drain, but dumping in too many could cause a clog.
• Add lukewarm water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Then, pump the plunger up and down until the water gets foamy. This cleans the inside effectively and removes residual coffee oils.
• Dump out the soapy water, rinse with clean water, and work the plunger again. Scrub the inside of the carafe with a sponge or bottle brush. Then, rinse again until the water runs clear.
• Dry out the inside with a clean paper towel, and set the French press aside. It’s now ready to brew some more great coffee the next day.

Cleaning Your French Press

Daily cleaning is the ideal way to keep your French press coffee maker in good condition, but you should also thoroughly clean it once a week. Don't worry—thoroughly cleaning your coffee maker is simple.

• Start by completing the daily cleaning process. Then, disassemble the plunger and set all the pieces on the counter.
• Clean each part individually with a thin paste made from baking soda and water. Scrub the pieces using a sponge or bottle brush.
• Rid the coffee maker of hard water buildup with a solution made of equal parts vinegar and water.
• Let all the pieces of your coffee maker air dry. Then, reassemble the French press. Now, you’re ready to brew more coffee!

Molly Maid Can Clean Your Entire Kitchen

You may enjoy making delicious drinks and cooking tasty food in your kitchen, but cleaning up isn’t nearly as fun as putting your creations together. Molly Maid offers kitchen cleaning services to keep your entire kitchen neat and tidy. From wiping counters and appliance surfaces to sweeping and mopping the floor, we’ll leave your kitchen looking spotless without any effort on your part.

To speak with us about arranging house-cleaning services on a schedule that works for you, please contact your local Molly Maid today.