Coffee Tips From A Coffee Lover. How Do You Clean & Remove Coffee Stains?

W hy is distilled white vinegar an effective and popular household cleanser?

Because it is inexpensive, readily available in most supermarkets and consumer stores, it is environmentally friendly and it kills a very large percentage of mold and bacteria.

Vinegar is natural and free of toxic residues.
This explains why vinegar is marketed as a so calledgreen solution for everyday household cleaning problems.
Vinegar has good acidic properties that get rid of lime scale, oils, grease and dissolve mineral deposits from glass, coffee makers, and other household surfaces.
Cleaning your coffee maker with vinegar removes all these impurities and deposits that taint the taste of coffee every time you brew a new pot.
The cleaning process with vinegar is easy.

Following are some recommended steps:

1. Discard any leftover coffee in the filter and old coffee in the pot. Rinse the pot well. Clean the outside of the coffee maker and the heating element at the base.
2. Fill the reservoir with a mixture of one part vinegar and three parts water. Make sure the reservoir is full.
3. Run the coffee maker as if you were brewing coffee.
4. Turn off the coffee maker and let it cool, about 15 minutes or so.
5. Run fresh water and vinegar mixture 1 to 2 more times repeating steps 2, 3 and 4. Each time use a fresh mixture for best results.
6. Run plain water through your coffee maker 1 to 2 times. Each time, allow a cooling period in between.
7. Have some soapy warm water ready and wash the coffee pot and filter basket once.
8. Rinse the coffee pot and filter basket thoroughly and dry them with a clean fresh cotton kitchen towel. If the smell of vinegar is still present, repeat steps 6, 7 & 8.



Some people go one step further as a last cleaning cycle.

They repeat the process one more time and use pure, de-ionized water. Why? Because this step ensures getting rid of any vinegar odor traces. De-ionized water is cheaper than distilled water since more impurities are removed through distillation than de-ionization.
Another alternative is to use bottled water. The point is to go the extra step in giving your coffee maker a really good cleaning.
Overall, this cleaning process may take close to one hour.
This excellent maintenance routine will extend the life of your coffee maker. More importantly, the extra care will help you prepare better tasting coffee. As a coffee lover, that's what it's all about, right?



During some of the cooling periods, why not take the time to do some extra cleaning to your good glassware and ceramic cups?
1. For example, if your glassware shows etching by mineral residue, use full-strength white distilled vinegar.
2. Rinse the glassware with hot water before letting it dry. If you decide to dry glassware with a towel, use a clean, cotton towel for best results.
3. If your glassware is cloudy, take a couple of paper towels or a cloth if preferred. Soak the paper towels or cloth in full-strength white distilled vinegar.
4. Wrap the glassware items in the soaked towels and let them sit for about 15 minutes. Unwrap the glassware; rinse it with warm water before drying.

Vinegar and Baking Soda, great solutions for coffee stains!

Have you had the unfortunate experience of spilling coffee onto a new outfit, a white shirt or work clothes?

It is simply not possible to prevent getting coffee stains onto clothing and there is no point crying over spills. They happen and the best thing to do is to know how to fix them.
Never let a coffee stain set.
Acting quickly to remove the stain will ensure success.
Letting the stain dry will almost surely mean that your chances to get the stain off the clothing will diminish greatly.

In a "pinch" when you are away from home, at a restaurant or away from your own laundry room, the following three methods work well:
1. Vinegar: mix one teaspoon of white vinegar in one quart of cold water. Sponge on stain and wipe clean.
Repeat if necessary. Very effective way to remove coffee and chocolate stains.
2. Egg Yolk: yes, egg yolk can work wonders for cleaning too. This is an old fashioned technique.
Mix the yolk of an egg and a few drops of alcohol with a small amount of warm water. The water temperature is important, not too hot and not too cold. Just warm. Rub the mixture on the stain with a sponge.
Afterwards, sponge with a clean towel or soft sponge and water.
3. Baking Soda: this product is a must in any kitchen! Sprinkle a little baking soda on a wet and clean dishcloth.
Quickly remove coffee and tea stains.

What if you are at home when the coffee stain accident happens?

In this case, for the most effective method, use a commercial stain remover.
It will do the best job and it makes sense when you have access to laundry supplies.
Saturate the dirty area on your clothes with pretreatment laundry stain remover.
Wait a minute or two. This is a good time to read the product's instructions as sometimes they may require less or more time to work well.
After the pre-treatment penetrates the stain, launder immediately.

Obviously, in case of doubt about using quick cleaning tips that do not intend to offer any guarantee for removal of stains of any kind, by all means contact a professional cleaning service. Or, if applicable, contact the manufacturer. However, for many people, quick tips work well and provide helpful solutions to normal problems such as coffee stains.

Now that the emergency is over, relax and take time to be grateful for being alive. Drinking a great cup of fresh Italian Espresso and listening to Vivaldi will relax the nerves and energize you for a wonderful day on Planet Earth!

Click here for Espresso Coffee

How do you clean coffee stains off surfaces?

For example, surfaces such as carpet, acrylic, aluminum, vinyl clothing, vinyl tile, zinc, pewter, Plexiglas, ceramic, bronze, brass, glass tile, copper, grout, tin, asphalt or acrylic plastic. Each requires a slightly different approach so let's focus on one for now.

For example, how do you clean the coffee mess right up and off the carpet?
1. Blot the carpet area with a clean, white cloth that will absorb all the liquid you possibly can collect right away. It is important to blot from the outside of the stain into the center of the stain to avoid spreading it further.
2. Mix one teaspoon of clear, mild liquid dish washing detergent with one cup of lukewarm water. The water should be lukewarm, not hot or cold, this is an important detail to remember.
3. Sponge the area with the detergent solution using a clean, white cloth. Obviously, do not use a cloth or even a sponge that is dirty, greasy or has other food stains because they will transfer to the carpet making the situation worse.
4. Next, mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of lukewarm water. Again, the warmth of the water is important. Use only white vinegar.
5. Sponge the area with the vinegar solution and refer to point # 3 above again.
6. Sponge the area with clean water one more time. Preferably, blot with a clean, white cloth.

Once you finish steps 1 through 6, the carpet should be much cleaner.
If dissatisfied, simply repeat the steps and remember that prompt and patient cleaning will achieve better results than quick wiping or no cleaning at all.

There are, of course, other ways to clean and blot coffee stains from carpeting.
Many people have success using the above approach. However, there are people who use club soda instead as an instant and effective stain remover.
Another technique is to mix a solution of 1 tablespoon ammonia and 2 cups of water. Using a paper towel, blot the solution onto the spot until it is removed.

Obviously, in case of doubt about using quick cleaning tips that do not intend to offer any guarantee for removal of stains of any kind, by all means contact a professional cleaning service. Or, if applicable, contact the manufacturer. However, for many people, quick tips work well and provide helpful solutions to normal problems such as coffee stains.

Coffee stains on suede and leather can be difficult to remove because traditional stain removal methods can damage these materials.

As with any stains from beverages such as coffee, tea or chocolate, the best practice is to clean the stained surfaces as quickly as possible before the stains "get set." When in doubt or if the value of the suede and leather is great, by all means request the assistance of a professional.

However, there are some basic steps to follow if you choose remove the coffee stains from leather and suede yourself:

First, carefully blot up excess liquid from the stain using a clean soft cloth.
Then mix a solution of mild soap in lukewarm water.
Go ahead and create a large volume of suds by swishing the water.
Apply only the foam with a sponge: do not apply any water to suede or leather as this will stain.
Take your time and patiently apply the foam only.
Wipe dry with a clean dry cloth.
Look at the results and decide whether to continue cleaning or not.

If you decide to remove an additional stain such as an "oily residue,"
Apply a small amount of cornmeal, a good absorbent, as a powder on the stain
Give this absorbent sufficient time to work. Be patient.
Gently brush off the powder and repeat if necessary.

On leather only, it is a good idea to condition the leather with a special soap or conditioner.
It is very important to apply the right conditioning for your leather furniture.
Some saddle soaps can work well and many consumers love them while others find them messy. In general, however, anyone with leather furniture, for example, agrees that conditioning is an excellent and necessary part of general maintenance.

Consulting your manufacturer is highly recommended. Home remedies and old fashioned cleaning tips do not offer guarantees for removal of stains. However, they are time tested and effective for many people who choose to use them.

It is always a good idea to test any cleaning techniques for suede and leather, for example, in an inconspicuous place, such as the back of a sofa that remains out of sight. This is what is called a test for colorfastness and basic personal common sense.

Stains happen and they should not spoil your day. Remember to enjoy your coffee.

Coffee stains on wood are typically coffee cup rings, food or water stains left on wood tables, for example, as a result of not using coasters when drinking coffee. Depending upon the quality of the wood or the type of furniture stained, the stains can become unsightly and a concern for the long term condition of the wood.

Anytime surfaces are stained, it is always a good idea to clean as quickly as possible so the stains do not become set.

The following steps illustrate a way to remove coffee stains from wood:

Wipe the surface gently with a clean white cloth so you can see easily the dirt removed.
Dip this cloth in the suds of a mild detergent and cool water.
Wipe the surface gently, rinse the cloth well and apply the dampened cloth onto the wood surface.
It is important not to use a soaking cloth as this could leave water stains on the wood.
Dry the surface with a different dry clean cloth.
Polish or wax the wood as soon as possible with the correct professional product for the type of wood cleaned.
This is not the only way to remove coffee stains but it is a method that has worked for friends and others we know.

1. Use the gentlest cleanser possible instead of harsh and abrasive products that can really tarnish your thermos and even change the flavor of your coffee.
Start with a gentle all-purpose cleanser or soap first. Use only abrasive pads made out of plastic so you do not scrape the inside of the container.
If you must, brush lightly.

2. Clean your thermos containers after every use. This is going to make keeping a clean thermos much easier for the long run.
Soak the container for a few minutes before cleaning to remove any stubborn stains that you cannot remove with a washcloth.
A soft toothbrush is a great and inexpensive cleaning helper to clean certain stains that are otherwise hard to reach.
Dip the brush in a little bit of detergent and scrub very gently. Easy does it. That is the best thing to remember.
Sometimes, people will use baby's shampoo because it is so gentle and effective in cleaning. A few drops are all you need.

3. Most smudges come out by using slightly damp paper towers or a soft sponge.
For very stubborn stains, soak the thermos container in warm water with detergent or shampoo for a while longer.
Then rinse again with water and vinegar.

Coffee tastes better when prepared and served in clean containers.

The world of coffee desserts, tasty coffee drinks and flavored coffee beverages offers many new opportunities for memorable tastes, aromas and experiences.
There is no need to limit the tasty coffee beverage adventures to restaurants and parties. Drinking tasty coffee drinks, hot or cold, right in the comfort of your own home is a fun and rewarding activity.
What should you remember before turning regular coffee into a tasty drink? For starters, the basics about brewing great tasting coffee:

Use good quality, Specialty coffee. Freshly roasted and freshly ground.
Use fresh, clean, cold water. Use filtered or bottled water but do avoid softened or distilled water.
Make sure you choose the right grind for your beans.
The coffee pot needs to be clean. Use the right quantity of coffee and water.
For sure, do not boil brewed coffee.

Ready to try some ideas for tasty coffee drinks?

After brewing your coffee, consider adding to your cup spices such as pumpkin pie spice, ginger, nutmeg, cocoa or cinnamon to taste.
For an extra special taste, add whipped cream, your favorite food flavoring, dark or white chocolate, caramel or milk.
The list of ideas for tasty coffee drinks is endless. There are many excellent coffee recipe books available and many other resources to consult.
However, the most important thing to remember is that the secret to success in preparing "tasty" coffee drinks is always using quality, Specialty Coffee beans!

Preparing tasty coffee drinks is fun!

www.ourgourmetcoffee.com

Check out my gourmet coffee club & enjoy delicious coffee delivered right to your home!

Specialty Gourmet Coffee Club invites you to join today!

Membership is open to anyone who loves really good coffee and sees the value in having it delivered directly each month for one low price and no shipping charges ("free shipping").

Members like the wide selection of 34 specialty coffee varietals and blends, including espresso and decaffeinated gourmet coffee, plus the more than 65 flavored coffees available.

To enroll in the OurGourmetCoffee.Com Club or to order specialty, gourmet coffee click on the link below,

www.ourgourmetcoffee.com

Follow my writings published in eZine Articles