Does flavored coffee add flavor to the next pot of coffee?

by Janet Barletta
(Baltimore, MD)

QUESTION:

Several of my co-workers (who do not like flavored coffee) have asked me to stop using it because they assume that the flavor of the grounds in my coffee will be retained by the coffee maker which they also use to make coffee. We use separate filters and nothing is unusual about this filter coffee maker in any other way. I realize the aroma may be very strong for flavored coffees, but this does not necessarily mean the coffee-maker retains the flavor.

I do not want to inflict my coffee flavor on their filtered coffee, so I would really like to know if any 'scientific' studies have been performed to either support or negate this hypothesis. We are all serious scientists, so I'm sure we would all support the findings from actual tests which have determined whether this is a possibility or not.

Hope you can answer this question.

ANSWER:

Janet, hi

Thanks for the question.

I don't imagine any scientific research has been done on this topic. However, I do know that some coffee tasters and roasters would agree that a very small amount of coffee flavoring can remain on surfaces in the brewer.

However, as the filter basket is the last stop in the process between with water reservoir and the carafe, cleaning the filter and the part of the brewer that supports it should solve your problem. Rinsing with water between brews should do the trick. If you want to be absolutely certain, wash it with a little vinegar and water and then rinse thoroughly.

As a scientist you may also want to actually test your colleagues and see if they really can taste any flavor residue.

Make some regular coffee in the brewer. Then separately just pour some hot water onto some flavored coffee grinds, to get a little aroma in the air.

Now wait for them to make their own coffee and see just how "honest" or accurate their claims are.

If they claim to be able to taste the flavoring, you'll know that the culprit is the aroma and not the taste.

If all else fails, get yourself a separate coffee maker.