An Aeropress is a piece of marvel. It is a small, easy-to-carry piece of equipment that can help brew you a great cup of coffee. However, with everything you own, you will need to maintain and clean it. How do you deep clean an Aeropress?

You deep clean an Aeropress by soaking it in vinegar or denture tablet solutions overnight. You can then brush the surfaces of your Aeropress with scrub and dishwasher or baking soda. When cleaning, please pay attention to the rubber gasket as they tend to get sticky over time.

This article explores how to deep clean an Aeropress and some common questions about clearing your Aeropress. 

ALSO READ: How To Use An Aeropress

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Why Should You Clean Your Aeropress?

You should clean your Aeropress to ensure your coffee tastes fresh. Removing oil stains and mineral deposits also allows your Aeropress to function well. A good clearing regime will also ensure your Aeropress lasts longer. 

There are several reasons why you should clean your Aeropress:

Safe And Enjoyable Coffee

The first is ensuring your coffee tastes good. Old coffee oils and grounds can build up in the chamber, the plunger, and the filter cap, making your coffee taste bad.

Cleaning your Aeropress often removes these oils and grounds, so your coffee will always taste as fresh and good as it should. A clean Aeropress will also produce safe coffee and will not give you a stomach ache later.

Smooth & Good Functionality

Another reason to keep your Aeropress clean is to keep it working. Over time, coffee oils and grounds can build up in the seal on the plunger and the mesh screen on the filter cap, making it hard for the Aeropress to work right.

Suppose you use tap water to brew your coffee. In that case, you may also introduce minerals to the Aeropress, which may cake up on the walls and gaskets of your Aeropress. By keeping these parts clean, you can make sure that the Aeropress keeps running smoothly and well.

Make It Last Longer

Cleaning your Aeropress is another way to make it last longer. If you do not clean your Aeropress, coffee oils and grounds can build up and rust the metal parts and break down the plastic parts.

Keeping your Aeropress clean will help stop this corrosion and wear, ensuring it lasts as long as possible.

How Do You Clean Your Aeropress?

Many users perform regular basic cleaning on the Aeropress, with occasional deep cleaning done periodically for more thorough maintenance. There are many ways to perform basic and also deep cleaning. 

Generally, Aeropress users perform cleaning on their coffee frequently. This is because Aeropress is not cheap equipment, so you really want to take care of it. You may consider these frequent cleaning as basic cleaning. 

Basic cleaning can be done simply by rinsing the Aeropress every time after using it with warm tap water. Some users may do more, such as disassembling it and then scrubbing them down with some warm water and dishwater soap. 

Most basic cleaning regimes tend to follow the frequency of usage. If the Aeropress is used frequently, the clearing may be simpler. Some may only clean their Aeropress once daily, usually in the morning before the first brew. 

Aside from these basic cleaning, many Aeropress users also have a habit of performing a scheduled deep cleaning to ensure a better, more complete result. 

Deep cleaning is more thorough and takes more steps and more time. As a result, they are not done frequently. However, they may be able to clean your Aeropress to the level basic cleaning cannot.

How To Deep Clean An Aeropress?

There are several ways to deep clean an Aeropress. You can disassemble and then soak your Aeropress in vinegar or denture tablet solution overnight. You can then scrub the surface with baking soda or a dishwasher. You can also use a dishwasher and hot water to replace hand scrubbing. 

Deep cleaning your Aeropress involves a more thorough cleaning process than regular cleaning and is typically done less frequently, such as once a month or as needed. There are several ways to deep clean an Aeropress. 

You can do it manually or use an automated method, such as a dishwasher. 

However, for the best result, you may want to consider using the manual method. This is because it ensures you can reach into the folds, nooks, and crannies of your Aeropress and clean it.

To deep clean your Aeropress, follow the steps below:

  1. Disassemble your Aeropress. Remove the plunger and the filter cap. 
  2. Rinse the chamber, plunger, and filter cap with warm water to remove loose coffee grounds or oils. 
  3. Then, make a cleaning solution by mixing one part of vinegar with 4 parts of warm water. You may also use a denture cleaning tablet.
  4. Soak the parts in the solution for at least a few hours. This should allow the solution to break down any stubborn buildup of coffee oils and grounds. If required, soak overnight. 
  5. Next, use a brush or scrub to scrub the chamber and the filter cap. A bottle brush may be great here.
  6. If needed, use dishwasher soap or baking soda to help the scrubbing process.
  7. When scrubbing, pay special attention to the seal on the plunger and the mesh screen on the filter cap, as these parts can be particularly prone to buildup.
  8. Use a toothbrush to scrub the filter cap mesh screen. The toothbrush’s small bristles can get into the small crevices and clean them effectively.
  9. Rinse the parts thoroughly to remove any residue. You do not want your coffee to taste vinegary.
  10. Dry all the parts with a clean towel or leave them out to air dry. Once everything is dry, reassemble the Aeropress.

Additionally, If the buildup is particularly stubborn, you can use a more concentrated vinegar solution with water. Mix warm water and white vinegar on a 1:1 ratio, then soak the parts in the solution for several hours, overnight if required.

Then, scrub and rinse the parts thoroughly before drying and reassembling the Aeropress.

Is Aeropress Dishwasher Safe?

Aeropress is safe on the top shelf of your dishwasher, as confirmed by Aeropress itself. However, a dishwasher may not be the best way to deep clean your dishwasher. Deep clean your Aeropress manually, with your hand, for a perfect result.

When looking at Aeropress, you will see mostly plastic and silicone parts. As a result, you may feel a little unsure if your Aeropress can survive the hot water wash and high heat drying common in dishwashers. 

Checks on the FAQ section on the Aeropress website reveal that your Aeropress is safe on the upper deck of your dishwasher. This may be because the upper deck of the dishwasher is less exposed to strong water sprays, which means your Aeropress will get a gentler cleaning. 

However, the gentle clearing may not be good enough if you intend to perform a deep clean. This is because the hot water sprays from your dishwasher may not be enough to dislodge coffee oil residue or the minerals caked on the mesh and plunger. 

For a more satisfactory cleaning, you may still want to perform a manual hand scrubbing on your Aeropress parts.

Aside from being able to reach into all the nooks and crannies of your Aeropress, you also get to visually confirm that your Aeropress is clean before starting to rinse it. 

How To Store Your Aeropress After It’s Cleaned?

To store your Aeropress well, ensure everything is dry before reassembling it. Ensure you secure the filter cap before keeping your Aeropress in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. Also, keep the paper filters in a dry, airtight container. 

Once you have finished cleaning your Aeropress, you want to store it well to ensure that it stays in good working condition and is ready for use when you need it. 

Consider several of these tips when storing your Aeropress: 

Keep It Dry

Ensure the Aeropress is completely dry before storing it. Any moisture left on the parts can cause mold or mildew to form, which can negatively affect the taste of your coffee. These molds and mildew may also be hard to remove. 

Reassemble Before Storing

Once the Aeropress is dry, reassemble it by putting the plunger back into the chamber and attaching the filter cap. This will help protect the parts from dust and debris and ensure that the Aeropress is ready for use when needed.

Secure The Filter Cap

Always ensure the filter cap is securely attached to the chamber before putting your Aeropress away. This will prevent any dust or debris from getting into your Aeropress.

Keep In a Cool, Dry Place:

The Aeropress should be in a cool, dry place. Also, keep it out of direct sunlight. High temperatures and humidity can cause the plastic parts to warp or break down, making it harder for the plunger to seal and affecting the performance of your Aeropress.

Store Paper Filters Separately

If you use paper filters with your Aeropress, keep the paper filters in a container that keeps out air. Throw in some silica gel crystals to absorb moisture. Do not store them with your Aeropress because they can soak up moisture from the air, which can change the way your coffee tastes.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning your Aeropress regularly is crucial for maintaining the quality of your coffee and the longevity of your brewing equipment.

While regular cleaning with soap and water is sufficient for general maintenance, deep cleaning is recommended every few months to remove stubborn buildup and stains. Soaking in vinegar or denture tablet solutions, using baking soda, or scrubbing with a brush are all effective methods for deep cleaning your Aeropress.

And don’t forget to check and clean the rubber gasket as well, as it can become sticky and affect the brewing process. By following these tips, you can enjoy a delicious cup of coffee from a well-maintained Aeropress for years to come.