Each morning loads of us sleepwalk to the coffee maker and depend on it to fuel our day with one (or many) cups of coffee. While the trendy and seasonal drinks of today are newer, coffee making dates back to ancient times.
An Ethiopian legend goes that a goat herder discovered berries where coffee beans were on the Ethiopian plateau. Their goats ate them and were so energetic that they didn’t sleep at night. Soon after, the berries were consumed by humans, leading to increased alertness.
What we know as coffee now took the world by storm, moving east and rapidly spreading from coffee cultivation and trade in the Arabian Peninsula. In no time, coffee was enjoyed in homes and what we would call cafe-like settings. Popularity continued to grow, and by the 17th-century, coffee became popular in Europe.
Most people favored tea in the eastern hemisphere until 1773 when colonists revolted against the tax of tea (The Boston Teaparty), and from there, coffee became number one. Over time coffee production ramped up, and competition increased, and by the end of the 18th century, coffee was one of the most profitable export crops.
Fast forward to today, where many of us can’t go a day without our Keurig or Ninja coffee maker or the Starbucks drive-through. Whether you’re heavily dependent on your at-home coffee maker or not, they become filthy. A study found the water reservoir of coffee makers is one of the dirtiest parts of the kitchen if not cleaned regularly.
So, buckle up and learn a couple of quick tips to clean your coffee maker back to new.