How long should it take to brew a full pot of coffee?

by David
(Stanley, Va, U.S.A)

QUESTION:

How long should an automatic drip coffee maker take to make a full pot of coffee? The one I have takes 20 minutes or better for a full pot.


ANSWER:

That’s way too long. Your brewer should complete its cycle within four to five minutes maximum. Your coffee is probably tasting a little bitter as a result of that long brew time. The most likely cause is that the tubes and nozzles in the brewer have narrowed due to calcification.

There are a number of ways to descale a brewer, the least expensive being to run some vinegar through the machine a couple of times, and then run cold water through a few more times to rinse it.

If you worry about a lingering vinegar taste, another way is to use a product called Dezcal Cleaner.

And if that doesn’t work, it may be time to retire your old brewer and buy a new one.