PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

Stainless steel is an ideal material for a coffee pot because it’s difficult to break, durable, and easy to clean. But if you don’t clean your coffee pot after each use, it is possible for coffee stains to build up on the metal, and these can be difficult to remove. The good news is that those coffee stains will come out. All you need is quality cleaner and the right technique.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Getting the Stain Out

PDF download Download Article
  1. There are a few different products you can use to remove stains from your coffee pot. Whichever one you choose, simply pour the cleaner into the bottom of the pot. Don’t use bleach, as it can corrode the metal. [1] Ideal cleaners to use include:
    • ½ cup (118 ml) of vinegar and ⅛ cup (38 g) of coarse salt
    • ½ cup (118 ml) of vinegar and ¼ cup (55 g) of baking soda
    • ½ cup (118 ml) of hydrogen peroxide and ¼ cup (55 g) of baking soda
    • ½ cup (110 g) of baking soda
    • Four denture cleaning tablets (these are designed to dissolve food particles and stains)
    • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of liquid dishwasher detergent or powdered detergent
    • One dishwasher detergent pod
  2. Fill a kettle with water from the tap. Turn on the kettle and boil the water. When the water is boiling, add enough water to the pot to fill it. The boiling water will mix with the cleaning solution and help lift the stain from the metal. [2]
    Advertisement
  3. Coffee stains on the inside of the coffee pot are most common, but it’s also possible to get stains on the outside of the pot. To clean these, place a tablespoon (14 g) of baking soda into a small bowl. Add boiling water a few drops at a time until you have a smooth paste. Use the tip of a butter knife to apply the paste to any stains on the outside of the pot. [3]
  4. Set the coffee pot aside somewhere safe where there's no risk of somebody knocking it over or spilling the water inside. In the sink is a good place. Let the cleaning solution inside and the baking soda paste soak for 30 minutes. [4]
    • Letting the cleaning solution and paste soak will give them time to attack the stain, which will make it easier to scrub away.
  5. After 30 minutes of soaking, it’s time to scrub away the stains. Put on a pair of kitchen gloves to protect your hands from the hot water. Use a cloth, brush, or non-abrasive scrubber to scrub away coffee stains on the inside and outside of the pot. [5]
  6. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Cleaning the Pot

PDF download Download Article
  1. Pour out the dirty cleaning water from the coffee pot. Rinse the inside and outside with fresh water to remove excess cleaner. When the pot has been rinsed, inspect the inside and outside to ensure that all the stains are gone. [6]
    • If there are any stains left, try a different cleaning solution. Add the cleaner of your choice to the pot, fill it with boiling water, and let it sit for another 30 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.
  2. Pour a teaspoon (5 ml) of liquid dish soap into the coffee pot. Fill the pot the rest of the way with hot water from the tap. Use a clean cloth or brush to scrub the inside and outside of the pot with the soapy water. [7]
    • This is an important step in the cleaning process because it will remove any leftover traces of the original cleaning solution, which could give your coffee a funny flavor.
  3. When the stain is gone and the coffee pot has been cleaned, rinse the pot thoroughly with warm running water. Once all the traces of soap have been rinse away, use a clean lint-free cloth to dry the coffee pot.
  4. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Preventing Stains

PDF download Download Article
  1. Coffee contains oils, and it’s these oils that can stain your pot, especially if you leave coffee sitting in the pot for extended periods. [9] To prevent stains from forming, don’t leave coffee sitting in the pot for more than 30 minutes.
    • This is especially important if there's only a small amount of coffee left in the pot, because the burner can make the coffee evaporate faster, and this will leave baked-on stains in the bottom of the pot.
    • To avoid having leftover coffee in the pot, make only enough coffee to serve each person one to two cups at a time.
  2. Trace amounts of coffee left in the bottom of the pot can dry and bake on, and this will leave those annoying and hard-to-clean stains in the bottom of the pot. As soon as the coffee pot is empty, rinse it out with hot water to remove leftover coffee traces.
    • Rinse the inside and outside of the pot so that spilled drips don’t stain the exterior of the pot.
  3. When you pour a coffee, there are often a few dribbles that spill down the side of the spout and onto the outside and bottom of the coffee pot. Over time, these can cause stains if they aren't addressed immediately. To prevent stains on the outside and exterior bottom of the pot, use a damp cloth to wipe drips from the outside of the pot after you pour each cup.
  4. Cleaning the coffee pot every day with soap and water will help to prevent difficult stains that can build up over time. Each morning, after you've made your final cup of coffee for the day, clean the inside and outside of the pot with hot soapy water and a cloth or brush.
    • When the pot is clean, rinse it with clean water and towel dry it to prevent water and mineral stains. [10]
    • If you don’t have time to clean the pot in the morning, just rinse it out and clean it when you get home from work or school in the afternoon or evening.
  5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can you polish a stainless steel pot?
    Susan Stocker
    Professional Cleaner
    Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
    Professional Cleaner
    Expert Answer
    Wipe it clean with deionized water and dry it by hand. Then, mix olive oil with a few drops of lemon essential oil and work it into the stainless steel with a clean cloth. This should leave your stainless steel shining like new!
  • Question
    How do I clean stains from the white plastic parts of a carafe?
    Community Answer
    There will always be some staining. That's the "beauty" of plastic. But, for the heavy stuff, a spoon spun toward you and used lightly as a scraper does the best job. After that, isopropyl alcohol can be used to remove the remaining residue. That's the best and closest to new again that you'll ever get it.
  • Question
    How do I clean coffee stains from a coffee pot's exterior?
    Community Answer
    Dawn dish soap should work, with a lot of scrubbing. If not, you might want to try Goo Gone to lift the coffee stains.
Ask a Question
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 301,262 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Linda Jenkins

        May 5, 2016

        "My pots were awful. So, first I used the Peroxide with baking soda for 15 minutes or so and added Vinegar, with ..." more
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement