Most of America loves their coffee. In fact, coffee is low in calories and has many health benefits. Personally, I love the taste and most of the country (and world) agrees. So we all should know how to clean a reusable coffee filter properly.
When it comes to cleaning a permanent metal coffee filter there are certain things you should do to keep the filter in great condition for a better tasting cup of coffee. It’s also worth noting that these steps and tips work with the metal baskets for your auto drip coffee maker and your single serve coffee baskets like a Keurig.
The Steps For How To Clean A Reusable Coffee Filter Properly
Step 1: Empty Coffee Grounds Into The Garbage
I’m sure most of you assumed that emptying the old grounds would be the first step on how to clean a reusable coffee filter. And that would make most of you absolutely correct! However, there are a couple of things you should know.
We live in a time where a lot of people throw their coffee grinds down the garbage disposal. Don’t do that! Over time, your local plumber will become your best friend if you run your old coffee grounds through the garbage disposal. They will clog up and break your disposal along with possibly building up deep in your pipes and causing blockages.
So do the right thing and empty them in the trash. If you have a garden you can also dispose of your old coffee grounds there. After all, coffee goes through a chemical change during the brew process and the end result can benefit your garden. This will slowly release nitrogen over time which will help your garden grow.
Tip 1: DO NOT empty coffee grounds down the garbage disposal.
Tip 2: If you have a garden you can empty your coffee grounds there for a slow release of nitrogen which will help your garden grow.
Step 2: Wipe The Filter Clean With A Towel, Paper Towel, Or Sponge
After you empty the coffee grounds I always like to wipe the reusable coffee filter clean. You can use a paper towel, sponge, or reusable towel for this part. I do this because there always seems to be excess coffee beans in the basket.
If the filter has been sitting a while with coffee grounds in it the grounds tend to harden. This sometimes makes it easier to clean, although, I recommend to clean the filter right away. Another reason I do this instead of rinsing it first is I still want to prevent coffee grounds from going down the drain.
Tip: If you want to be more environmentally friendly you can use a dish towel or reusable towel that you can wash repeatedly.
Step 3: Rinse With Warm Water
With almost all of the coffee grounds gone now I do like to give the reusable coffee filter a rinse with warm water. It’ll help to break up all of the small and fine grounds that are in the metal basket. This step might be more of me being anal than a necessity. But I do want the filter to be as clean as possible before proceeding to step 4.
Tip: If you have one of the faucets that has the high pressure spray than use that to dislodge more of the fine grounds from the basket.
Step 4: Soak In Vinegar And Water
Have you tried to use dish soap already, but the filter didn’t turn out as clean as you wanted it to be? Now this is the really important step you need to know on how to clean a reusable coffee filter. Since coffee is made from organic compounds it’s actually easier to dissolve them instead of trying to wash them away. This leads us to something that is more acidic.
Place your permanent coffee filter in a bowl filled with two parts water to one part white vinegar. Allow the filter to sit in the solution for 30 minutes. After the half hour is up you could remove the filter and run it under warm water.
And you’re done!
Tip: Since something acidic will work you can even use lemon juice if you do not have white vinegar available.
Also, if you also have an espresso machine you can also clean and flush out your espresso machine with vinegar.
Why You Should Clean Your Permanent Coffee Filter Regularly
Humans are normally beings that are considered to be clean. We use a dish and then wash it. We have milk or coffee creamer past it’s expiration date and we throw it away. But we don’t clean our coffee makers or coffee filters the same way we do other dishes.
Believe it or not the coffee filters are a breeding ground for mold and yeast. Whether you use a paper filter or not the fact is in most homes and offices the coffee grounds stay in the filter long after the brew cycle ends. In many cases it remains there overnight and into the next morning when the next pot is brewed.
The moist environment of the filter combined with the warm temperatures from the brew cycle give a great environment for mold and yeast to grow. If you use a paper filter this can even accelerate the likelihood of mold and yeast growth if the filter and grounds are not disposed of right away.
To prevent mold or yeast growth you should be cleaning your reusable coffee filter frequently
Final Thoughts
The process on how to clean a reusable coffee filter is quite simple. The benefits you’ll gain to do this often will have an impact on how your coffee tastes. I believe most of us have seen coffee machines where the permanent baskets look disgusting because they’re never cleaned. By following these simple steps we’re not only getting coffee that tastes better, but we’re also sanitizing and removing any bacteria growth.