To clean or not to clean?

[chocaloca]

I gave our coffee machine a thorough clean today, as I do about once every couple of weeks and got the usual moan from my husband who insists that the coffee tastes better if you don't clean the jug. I obviously empty and wash the filter every day, but he seems to think that I should leave the coffee stained jug as it is! Does anyone agree? Where did this idea come from anyway?

[Nicky]

My advice to you, as woman to woman - try to wash your coffee machine or buy new )

[Milk no sugar]

Perhaps your husband is just trying to avoid dish washing duties! When I see the stains left in my coffee mug I have to scrub them clean, I can't imagine that they add to the taste. Then again I know of people who say the same thing about fry pans so maybe there is something to letting the grime accumulate.

[Vulcanit]

I've heard this thing about teapots, but coffee machines? I doubt it.

[caffeineneeded]

Yea, I have to do a good cleaning on our coffee machine quite often. I have never noticed a different taste because the carafe wasn't washed.

[Dixie06]

My Uncle insists not washing the coffee machine makes better coffee. I stayed with him and washed the coffee machine without his knowing. When he had, the coffee after it had been washed he thought it was the best cup he had. Now he washes the coffee maker every day.

[LucyCB]

It is very important that you wash your coffee maker pot and filter container thoroughly at least once a week. You should also do a light cleaning after every use. Bitter oils stick to the glass, plastic and metal creating an inferior final product. So you'd better not listen to that husband of yours

[claire]

I wash mine twice a week, so I find mine are always clean!

[MoffeeCoff]

I have experimented this and I didn't observed any changes in the taste. I wash mine every night before going to bed.

[paul77]

I wash mine every day after I made coffee - I don't scrub it that often, of course but not washing it at all sounds as a weird idea to me

[Derek]

I would definitely go for cleaning any kitchen utensils, no dirt has ever made my food taste better. Why would stale grounds improve the quality of your coffee?