For a coffee lover, a brand-new coffee maker is the best way to start the day. It looks nice! (Or simple). It can make 80 different kinds of coffee! (or just one, hey, we don’t care). You’re happy.
The coffee tastes like plastic after that. It has a plastic smell to it. You feel ripped off, so you go write a bad review. But before you snarl and hiss over your coffee, let’s take a closer look. Why Does My Coffee Taste Like Plastic? You wonder.
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New Coffee Machine, New Issues:
Modern coffee machines are exciting, but like any other new device, they require some adjustment time. Numerous inexpensive or costly coffee machines must undergo the process of “outgassing.”
This is a possible issue for coffee machines with a plastic water reservoir. The outgassing mixes with the water, and voila: coffee made from plastic. If you are utilizing a machine made of glass or stainless steel, you will not encounter this problem.
Yet, the most popular machines, such as the Keurig, are made of plastic, making this a typical problem.
Yes, it can even happen to old ones, which is sad. In this case, it’s usually a sign that the plastic reservoir or plastic pieces are starting to break down, and the plastic is getting into the water. I’m afraid it’s time for a change.
How to Stop Coffee from Tasting Like Plastic?
The good news is that this problem can be fixed on newer machines. And if they are older, you might be able to use these ways to make them live longer. Some of these methods are also just good ways to clean your coffee maker and bring back that fresh coffee taste.
- Vinegar. We often use this method in our percolator pot, and it’s also a good way to get rid of the plastic taste. Vinegar is a great way to clean and get rid of germs. This method is easy and cheap: fill the reservoir with equal parts vinegar and water, clean it with a brush or auto cleaning, pour out the mixture, and clean it with water. We’ve also just put the vinegar and water mixture in the coffee machine and let it run. That worked for our percolator.
- Water and soap. Just put some soap in the water tank, clean everything, and then rinse.
- Baking soda. Use warm water and put a lot of baking soda in it. Let the baking soda dissolve, and then clean the machine. You can do this a few times and then rinse everything.
- Lemon juice. Putting a lot of lemon juice and a little bit of water through the coffee machine can help clear it up. Then clean it with water and soap to get rid of the slimy lemon juice.
- Vodka or isopropyl alcohol. Some people have been able to do this.
Vinegar, baking soda, or soap are probably the cheapest and easiest things to use because you probably already have them on hand.
I can say for sure that vinegar works really well to clean coffee machines and get rid of smells and tastes that aren’t good. Though you might want to run a water cycle to get rid of any vinegar left over.
How to Choose the Right Coffee Maker?
You can also get rid of the plastic taste in your coffee by shopping smart when it comes to your coffee machine. Here are some quick tips to help you find a new machine to replace your old one:
Why Does My Coffee Taste Like Plastic?
Make sure your machine doesn’t contain any BPA. Some plastics and resins are made with a chemical called BPA. BPA is also controversial because of health concerns.
Some people say it can mess up hormones and is linked to health problems like heart disease and diabetes, while others say there’s no real evidence that this happens. But products without BPA don’t have these problems and are often better for the environment.
Look at the ratings! If a lot of people say the food tastes like plastic, it’s likely that you’ll have the same problem.
Spend your money on glass or steel. If you can afford it, a coffee machine with a glass or stainless steel reservoir won’t taste like plastic. But they are more expensive, so you need to think about your budget. Keurig machines don’t come in stainless steel or glass, so you have to balance what you want from your machine with your budget and your needs.
When you first use your machine, make sure to run water through it. This is a good tip for any new coffee maker in general: run water through it. This gets rid of any dust that has built up and might help get rid of any smells.
Bottom Line:
We hope that a good cleaning schedule will be enough to keep the taste and smell of plastic at bay. The vinegar wash is a popular method in my house because we always have vinegar on hand and it’s easy to do, even if the kitchen smells like vinegar for a while afterward.
But no matter which way you choose, we hope you end up with a fresh cup of coffee that tastes like coffee. Even if your coffee doesn’t taste like plastic, you should always clean your coffee pot. This will extend the life of your machine and keep your coffee tasting fresh.
FAQs:
How Can I Make Sure that my Coffee doesn’t Taste Like Plastic?
If you don’t want your coffee to taste like plastic, don’t put it in plastic containers. This includes the water tanks and parts. A coffee pot made of glass and a water tank made of stainless steel will work wonders.
What Makes a Coffee Maker Smell and Taste like Plastic?
The coffee maker probably tastes like plastic because the water temperature is too high. This makes BPA and Phthalates melt into your brew channel. A coffee machine with a BPA-free body won’t do this.
Do the Plastic Components have Chemicals that are Bad and Toxic?
Even if your coffee tastes a little bit chemically bitter, you don’t have to worry about bad chemicals hurting your health. A lot of chemicals are safe.
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