How to Clean Commercial Coffee Brewers

Commercial coffee makers run from pod brewers to airpot and shuttle brewers to large urns. Each group has to be cleaned a certain way both daily and weekly or bi-weekly depending on its use. All cleaning should be done with the hottest water possible, which brings a word of caution for possible burns and a note this job should be done by professionals.

A prime example of this is the pod brewer. If a pod brewer is used more than twice a day, then it needs to be descaled once every three months. Regular descaling of not only the pod brewer but all commercial brewers will prolong the life of a brewer; it will also guarantee optimal brewing results for a long time.

Step one to clean a pod brewer: Fill one-fourth of the water reservoir with white vinegar, then fill with clean tap water up to the maximum line. Step 2: Place a 32 ounce container on the cup grate to catch the vinegar/water cleaning solution.  Step 3: Activate the manual prime feature. Press and hold down the Brew button until about 9 ounces have been dispensed from the brewer. Step 4: Repeat this set two more times, making sure there is enough solution in the reservoir each time. Step 5: The unit will then heat up normally and the brew button will turn green, indicating that the water has reached brew temperature. One minute later the button will turn yellow. Step 6: Wait ten minutes, this allows the solution to sit in the tank at brew temperature. Step 7: Refill the water reservoir with cool, clean, tap water to the maximum line. Step 8: Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 using the water that you add in step 7, to purge the cleaning solution from the system. Step 9: Refill the water reservoir to the maximum indicator line and the unit will be ready to brew coffee or tea.

Grind and Brew coffee systems require daily cleaning of the cabinet and the warmers. The outside of the machine can be cleaned with a damp cloth, a household dusting spray or a stainless steel cleaner depending on the exterior of your grind and brew system. Do not ever use any abrasive as it will mar the finish. The warmer plate will maintain its appearance if cleaned regularly with a damp cloth for coffee stains. A detergent or sanitizer may be used for heavy deposits. For weekly cleaning, the slide valve under the cabinet hood should be wiped off with a clean dry cloth. Using finger tab open the slide valve with wipe the ground coffee from the inside of the spout, seal and slide valve. Use commercial grade urn cleaner as directed by manufacturer to clean the brew basket, airpots and decanters.

Commercial brewers that brew into a decanter or airpot should wash the brew funnel, decanter or decanters by hand. Never use a dishwasher as it may cause breakage of the decanter or brew funnel. Clean all plastic and stainless steel surfaces whenever necessary with a damp cloth and mild soap. Rinse the items thoroughly and wipe dry. Be sure to avoid any strong cleaners which my adversely affect the plastic parts. Remove stains on stainless steel parts with a Scotchbrite pad. Never use steel wool as it will mar the finish. Remove the sprayhead with a nut or the sprayhead itself once a week to prevent lime build-up and clogging of the holes in the sprayhead. If the sprayhead has extra build-up, use a soft brush like a soft toothbrush to clean if needed.

Shuttle brewers need to be cleaned weekly or bi-weekly depending on there use. To clean, fill the shuttle with a gallon of hot water. Pour the recommended concentration of urn cleaner into the shuttle liners. Do not overload as this will attack the stainless steel. DIP-IT and Oxylite are most recommended. Scrub the liner interior with a plastic bristle brush. Remove the knurled nut at the top of the gauge glass and clean the glass with a small bottle brush. Pour out the contents of the shuttle. Remove the handle assembly of the shuttle faucet by unscrewing the plastic bonnet. Gently wash the faucet shank with a bottle brush. Clean the warmer and bottom of the shuttle surfaces. These surfaces must be clean for proper heat transfer. Polish the exterior of the brewer with a stainless steel cleaner. Use the appropriate cleaner for brass, copper or vinyl if the optional finishes are present.