How Long Your Drip Coffee Maker Should Last – 7 Techniques to Extend Its Life
Short Answer: Drip coffee makers can last 5 to 10 years if proper care is given.
Whether your morning companion is a drip coffee maker or any other, you want (with a core of heart) just to have this machine for as long as possible, because this is the thing that kick-starts your day with utmost zealousness.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how long your drip coffee maker should last, also walk you through the factors the life expectancy of a drip coffee maker depends upon and crucial bits of techniques that can make longer life of your drip coffee maker.
How Long a Drip Coffee Maker Can Live?
With that said, every piece of equipment has its expiry date or life expectancy influenced by several other factors, but somehow, the longevity can be extended. The same goes for the drip coffee makers. Brand quality, frequency of usage, and maintenance practices are the crucial key factors that play a huge role.
Typically, drip coffee makers last up to 6 years if you give them deserved-maintenance-treatment. The high-end quality drip makers will probably go along with 10 years (that’s quite long, perhaps some fixes would be needed on the journey). Better materials and internal components make them durable.
Whilst, budget models are the ones with cheaper parts and less robust construction. With them, you cannot expect a longer life. And they are made to break.
Now let’s take a deeper look at the aspects that impact the life of a drip coffee maker.
What Factors Affect the Survival of Your Drip Coffee Maker
If you know them, you know your brewer better and how long it can run. Also, these crucial points always will be going to help you if you want to get your hands on the new drip coffee unit. So, the first one is;
Brand & Quality:
Oxo Brew, BUNN, Moccamaster, Keurig, Ninja, and Breville are the well-renowned brands of the coffee industry that bring to the table durable and reliable drip coffee makers that last for longer. the money spent on them justifies when you see the quality. So, they are definitely worth buying.
Cost of Coffee Maker:
We won’t say, that the higher the prices, the more imperishable coffee maker you are going to get. We recommend you invest and spend wisely while considering all the elements you want to see in your coffee maker that can seamlessly meet your daily requirements.
Regular Maintenance:
You cannot ignore the frequent maintenance of your coffee maker. Just like any other appliance in your kitchen, these coffee makers also require serious attention when it comes to descaling, because of daily use, mineral buildup or limescale inside the machine can be the reason for poor or less tasty coffee.
Furthermore, if you do not do regular cleaning, eventually, potential breakdowns can happen with the coffee unit.
Follow these Tips to Prolong the Life of the Drip Coffee Maker
Here are some tips to make the drip coffee maker’s life lengthy.
1- Clean Your Coffee Maker Regularly:
Coffee oils and mineral deposits are the residues that clog the brewer and ultimately affect the machine’s efficiency over time. Thus, the thumb rule is to do regular cleaning every month. This extremely general task will keep your coffee maker healthy and worthy for ages.
Quick Tip: A mixture of water and vinegar (equal parts of both) works really well for cleaning purposes. Mineral deposits or build-up oils will dissolve after minimal effort.
2- Descaling is Important:
If you have been using your coffee maker daily, then remember to add descaling the machine to your to-do list every 3 to 6 months. Descaling solutions are easily accessible and offer great help for deep cleaning. At this point, concentrate on thoroughly cleaning all the removable parts.
3- Relation of Filtered Water and Coffee Maker:
Quality of water not only enhances the taste of coffee but is important for maintaining the coffee maker’s health and longevity. Since hard water has minerals like magnesium and calcium, these cause a high rate of mineral accumulation leading to clogging the inside components of appliance.
Conversely, filtered water contains fewer minerals- hence a slow rate of build-up. Also, this friendly relationship leads to a longer life span for the coffee maker.
4- Never Leave Coffee or Water in the Coffee Maker:
Although you want to leave the coffee in a carafe or water in the tank for later use, doing so, contributes to faster deterioration of your brewer’s components. The mold and bacteria growth are the major cause here. So, for the well-maintained coffee maker, don’t keep the water in the reservoir for long, and also empty the carafe; plus leaving the lid open to air dry is a pro tip.
5- Replacing the Parts:
If you see signs of any damage to parts (over time, it occurs) like the filter basket, heating element, carafe, or even water filter, replace them promptly. This is how you prevent further damage and the machine goes along longer.
6- A Proper Storage:
If you intend not to use the coffee maker for a specific period, tuck it away in the storage area or pantry. But before that, clean it thoroughly, and dry all the parts. Don’t choose places exposed to moisture, dust, and excessive sunlight.
7- Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions:
Always refer to your coffee maker’s manual for specific maintenance and cleaning recommendations. Manufacturers often provide model-specific advice that can help you maintain your machine adequately.
Replace the Machine If You Observe these Signs
Even after the best care, there’s the time that comes when you need to say goodbye to your beloved drip coffee maker after serving years. The machine may show you these 10 signs in this situation and here we have noted them all.
Slow Brewing: If the machine consumes a significantly long time to fill a pot of coffee, there might be something wrong with the internal components.
Coffee Grounds in the Brewed Coffee: It occurs when the coffee maker isn’t able to produce a pot of consistent coffee, and you see coffee grounds in the brewed coffee. This indicates serious attention must be given to the replacement.
When Your Coffee Tastes Strange than Ususal: Next up, strange taste and odors in your coffee, even if the machine is well-maintained (meant to say cleaning). The contaminated internal components are the cause of such bad taste.
Water Leaking Issues: Water leaking and flow issues are common. Somehow they could be fixed as they are related to the water reservoir and pump, in another case, the persistent issue calls out to buy a new coffee maker.
Visible Damages of Coffee Maker: Obviously, a coffee maker with cracks, and broken and rusted parts cannot work appropriately. Hence, discarding the old one and bringing in the new one is the only option.
Temperature Problems and Malfunctioning Warming Plate: Both situations are signs of replacing the coffee maker, because, the failing heating element causes the roast defect. And the inconsistent temperature does not produce the optimal coffee quality.
Frequent Repairs: Never waste money on a machine that needs frequent fixings. Instead, go for the new machine. This would be a cost-effective decision for you.
Eco-Friendly Disposal of Your Drip Coffee Maker?
So, now you have already welcomed the new coffee maker to the home, it is important to consider how responsibly you can dispose of your old drip coffee maker while keeping in mind green practices, environmental impact, and e-waste management. So, here are the points to follow.
- Start by disassembling the parts of the brewer, such as the filter basket, carafe, or any other detachable components.
- Look for the manufacturer’s guidelines for disposal. Some companies offer e-waste recycling programs or accept e-waste.
- If glass, plastic, or metal parts are recyclable, dispose of them in recycling bins. You can easily find local recycling centers in your areas.
- For non-recyclable components, like electrical cords or heating elements, consult with guideline providers of waste management.
These are the mindful steps to responsibly dispose of electronic waste and the way to keep the environment in sound condition.
Related Read: A buying guide for drip coffee maker with grinder for home use
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, the lifespan of a drip coffee maker varies on several factors. Although you invest in good quality makers if proper cleaning after each use is not given, you will probably see signs of damage, and these minor things really impact the overall health, well-being, and life of your drip coffee maker.
