Pod Brewer Cleaning & Descaling

Pod brewers, just like regular coffee makers, require periodic maintenance and cleaning to perform at their best and to extend the life of your brewer.  Scale buildup from hard water is the #1 enemy of your brewer.  With some simple white vinegar and a little time, you can keep your pod brewer running like new.

Here are the recommended cleaning procedures from Bunn for their My Cafe line of pod brewers.  The general cleaning and descaling instructions will work for any pod brewer, so adapt to you own brewer like a Senseo or Grindmaster as needed, but the specific instructions on cleaning and assembly of the sprayhead/seal are specific to the Bunn pod brewers.

Basic Cleaning
Before beginning any cleaning procedure, unplug the brewer to avoid the accidental start of a brew cycle. Clean the pod holder, drip tray and drip tray grate after each use, using a damp cloth and mild detergent and rinse. With the pod holder and drip tray removed, use a damp cloth with mild detergent to wipe the area below the pod holder and into the drip tray area. Occasionally, wipe the outside of the brewer with a damp cloth.
Periodic Cleaning/Descaling
Periodically (every 3 months is ideal), you should clean and descale the brewer to clear any mineral deposits that may have accumulated due to impurities in the water source. If these deposits are not removed, they can impair the operation of the brewer and reduce the product life. There are several commercial products available specifically for descaling such as URNEX®.  White vinegar is a natural and effective product that is safe to use and contains no chemicals.  We think vinegar is an ideal choice for descaling.

1. Fill the reservoir with undiluted white vinegar. If you are using a powdered descaling mix, do not add the powder directly to the reservoir. (Descaling product must be mixed into a solution before it is added to the reservoir).
2. Place an empty pod holder into the brewer. Be sure the holder is locked into place, and set the your brew volume to the maximum position (if adjustable).
3. Place an empty cup or bowl on the drip tray grate that will hold at least 14 oz. of liquid, and press the COFFEE BREW BUTTON to start a brew cycle.
4. Once the brew cycle has finished, empty the cup and set it back onto the drip tray grate. Press the COFFEE BREW BUTTON again to start a second brew cycle.
5. Once the brew cycle has finished, allow your pod brewer to sit for 2 to 4 hours to let the vinegar really work on the scale deposits inside your brewer.  If your brewer has a reservoir, empty the remaining solution, or vinegar from the reservoir. Remove the Pod Holder; clean the reservoir and pod holder thoroughly using a mild detergent, then rinse. 
6. Fill the reservoir to the maximum line with fresh clean cold water and place the pod holder back into the brewer.
7. Place the empty cup or bowl back onto the drip tray grate and press the COFFEE BREW BUTTON to begin a brew cycle.
8. When the cycle has finished, empty the cup. Repeat step 7 at least two more times to remove the vinegar or descaling solution from the tank.
9. Clean the pod holder with a mild detergent and rinse thoroughly.
10. Proceed to the Cleaning The Sprayhead/Seal section.

Cleaning the Sprayhead / Seal
Press the Power Switch into the off position.

1. Unplug the brewer and allow it to cool down. (Minimum of 1 hour.)
2. After the unit has been allowed to cool, remove the pod holder and set aside.
3. Using your fingers, rotate the sprayhead/seal assembly clockwise until the sprayhead and seal are removed. NOTE: If the sprayhead and seal are separated, they must be reassembled as they were when removed from the brewer. CAUTION: Improper reassembly could result in personal injury from scalding water. NOTE: See Assembling Sprayhead/Seal and Inspecting Sprayhead Seal located further down page for more information.
4.  Clean the sprayhead and seal with a mild detergent and rinse thoroughly.
5. Using your fingers, rotate the sprayhead/seal assembly counter-clockwise until it is finger tight.
6. Replace the pod holder.
7. Plug in the brewer and press the POWER SWITCH to restore power to the brewer.

Assembling the Sprayhead / Seal
If the sprayhead and seal are separated during removal or cleaning, they must be reassembled properly.

1. Identify the top of the seal. The top of the seal that seats against the roof of the sprayhead ramp has a rough ridge that can be felt by running your fingers across the surface of the seal. The bottom is smooth.
2. Identify the top of the sprayhead. The top of the sprayhead has a star pattern and a threaded hole where the sprayhead attaches to the brewer.
3. While carefully stretching the seal, guide the sprayhead into the channel of the seal. Make sure it is completely in the channel.

When properly assembled, the sprayhead will slide easily into the channel of the seal and will not cause any buckles in the surface of the seal. If the sprayhead seems to be difficult to seat, and you must stretch the seal more than a slight tug, the assembly is not together correctly.  CAUTION: Improper reassembly could result in personal injury from scalding water.

Inspecting the Sprayhead / Seal
When disassembling your brewer for cleaning, inspect the sprayhead seal for cracks, tears and holes. Although the seal should last for an extended period of time, damage can occur through handling.CAUTION: The seal confines the hot liquid to the pod holder.Replace the seal if it becomes damaged. This part is available to order online.

Cleaning the pod holder
To prevent residue build up, it is a good idea to periodically disassemble the pod holder/screen assembly and clean it with a mild detergent.

1. Press and hold the POD RELEASE BUTTON while sliding the pod holder out.
2. Flip the POD HOLDER upside down and place the holder cavity over the palm of your hand.
3. Using a small object, press the tab of the POD HOLDER INSERT through the hole in the bottom of the pod holder to remove.
4. Clean the screen and holder using a mild detergent and rinse. (Dishwasher Safe)
5. Press the insert back through the hole in the bottom of the POD HOLDER.

Cycling the brewer
If the brewer has not been used for an extended period of time, it is a good idea to cycle your brewer before brewing a cup of coffee or tea.

1. Remove the reservoir and pod holder from the brewer, clean with a mild detergent and rinse.
2. Refill the reservoir to the maximum line.
3. Insert an empty pod holder into the brewer.
4. Set the volume control lever to the maximum setting.
5. Place a bowl or cup on the drip tray grate that will hold at least 14 oz.
6. Press the coffee brew button.
7. When the brew cycle has ended and water drip out has stopped, carefully remove the pod holder and remove any excess water.

CAUTION: Water is hot! You are now ready to brew.

Storing the brewer
Unplug the brewer and wait for it to cool. If your Pod brewer has been used, it must be stored above 32ºF / 0ºC to prevent damage to the internal water tank. Empty and dry the water reservoir before storing.  NOTE: Water will remain in the internal tank. If stored for an extended period of time, refer to Cycling The Brewer section above before using.

Black Friday Sale and Giveaway

The Coffee Artisan would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! We're getting the party started early this year with great specials starting before Thanksgiving and going all weekend long through Cyber Monday.

To celebrate the holiday this year, we're offering a double savings opportunity. Not only will you receive 10% off your order total using coupon code BLACKFRIDAY, but you'll also earn DOUBLE Artisan Club Rewards Points throughout the sale. Don't forget that with the Artisan Club Rewards program you earn 1 point for every dollar you spend and those points can be cashed in for $$$ off your future purchases.

 

We're also giving away $20 gift certificates to five lucky customers.  To be eligible for the random drawing, simply place an order using our BLACKFRIDAY coupon code between Wednesday, November 23rd and Monday, November 28th. Each order placed counts as one entry in the drawing. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 29th on our Facebook page.  Winners will also be contacted directly by e-mail. 

     

It's time to start saving and winning!  The sale and giveaway starts now and ends Monday, November 28th @ Midnight EST. 

Stock up for the holidays and share some great coffee with the friends and family you're thankful for!

Sincerely,

Chad Elliott

The Coffee Artisan

San Francisco Bay OneCups - The K-Cup® Alternative

Rogers Family Company just recently turned the single serve coffee world upside down with the launch of their new line of coffee pods called San Francisco Bay "OneCups".  Rogers Family Company is a family owned coffee roaster known for their coffee brands like San Francisco Bay, Black Mountain Gold, The Organic Coffee Co., Fairwinds Coffee Co. and others.

Having already been in the single serve coffee market with their own Black Mountain Gold coffee pods, Rogers Family spent the last 4 years developing a new single serve coffee pod designed for use in single cup brewers that brew K-Cups^®.  Unlike traditional K-Cups^®, Rogers Family's new SF Bay OneCups are designed with an exposed filter bottom instead of a plastic cup so there's less waste.  OneCups are packed immediately after roasting and like traditional roasted coffee are packaged in one-way valve bags for freshness.  Each bag holds 12 cups, so the typical coffee drinker can easily finish a box in a week to make sure the coffee stays as fresh as possible.

San Francisco Bay OneCups are made with the highest quality 100% arabica coffees, freshly roasted and ground moments before packaging.  Don't be fooled with other K-Cup^® alternatives that are actually just instant coffee in disguise.  OneCups are the real deal and they smell and taste great.

Rogers currently offers 4 varieties of their popular San Francisco Bay coffees in OneCups including:

• French Roast
• Fog Chaser
• Organic Rainforest Blend
• Decaf French Roast

Priced at just $6.99 per box of 12, SF Bay OneCups are very competitively priced when compared with typical 12 packs of K-Cups^® at your local grocer priced between $7.99 and $9.99.  When purchased with our 5% off everyday discount using coupon code SSCIS4ME or our 10% off discount for first time orders using coupon code NEWCUSTOMER and then combined with our FREE UPS Ground shipping for orders $75 or more, SF Bay OneCups can be purchased for less than $0.53 per cup.

Here are a few quotes from test consumers who were able to preview the OneCups:

“The flavor was full and rich, the coffee aromatic, and the overall taste as good or better as most K cups.”

“I like how good they smell before and during brewing and I really liked the flavor and taste of the coffee, it was rich and flavorful. I also liked the filtered bottom of the cup, it seemed more appropriate for coffee brewing.”

“It saves the environment while at the same time reducing trash and making a great cup of coffee.”

“I was very impressed with the fact that they are more environmentally sound. I was, honestly, rather skeptical of how they would work in a Keurig brewer, but was convinced they work very well after brewing the first cup.”

Try some for yourself and taste the Rogers Family difference today!

"Keurig"® and "K-Cup"® are registered trademarks of Keurig Incorporated.

Top 25 Pods for Sept 2011

Here's the list of our top 25 coffee pods for September 2011.

1. The Coffee Artisan 100% Hawaiian Kona Extra Fancy
2. The Coffee Artisan Dark Side *EXTRA BOLD*
3. Fratello French Saigon Dark
4. Cafejo Espresso Italiano GOLD
5. Black Mountain Gold Hawaiian Kona
6. Reunion Island *EXTRA BOLD* French Roast FTO
7. Fratello Organic Dixie Voodoo
8. Fratello Burundi Kinyovu
9. The Coffee Artisan Ethiopian Harrar *EXTRA BOLD*
10. Community Coffee Dark Roast
11. The Coffee Artisan Artisan Blend
12. The Coffee Artisan Papua New Guinea *EXTRA BOLD*
13. Reunion Island French Roast FTO
14. Fratello Dixie Voodoo Natural Decaf
15. Cafejo Colombian GOLD
16. Baronet 100% Colombian
17. Baronet 100% Colombian *12 GRAM*
18. Black Mountain Gold Costa Rican
19. Reunion Island Kona Blend
20. The Coffee Artisan Dark Side
21. The Coffee Artisan Dark Side Decaf
22. Cafejo Kona Blend
23. Cafejo Costa Rica
24. Cafejo Vienna Roast
25. Cafejo Signature Blend 

New Fratello Pods are Coming Soon!

Our friends at Fratello Coffee Roasters are always searching for incredible coffees and earlier this year Russ Prefontaine went on a coffee sourcing trip to countries including Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.  We always enjoy reading about these coffee buying trips on Fratello's blog because Russ is fanatic about not just finding great coffee, but the whole direct trade experience.  Fratello develops lasting relationships with farmers and Cooperatives and they can directly see the programs and farming practices these farms have in place to insure the coffee quality and also provide healthcare, education and other services to the farm employees.

We are fortunate to be the exclusive supplier of Fratello's Direct Trade coffees in pod format.  This year, we have selected 3 new coffees which are being roasted as I type and will arrive in a few weeks after being made into pods and shipped to us in the USA.  The coffees we have selected are:

Nicaraguan Limoncillo Red Pacamara
This coffee is from the Limoncillo Estate which is run by the Meirsch family.  Fratello has sourced some amazing coffees from this family's 4 estates over the past several years.  Their estates include Don Esteban, Finca Limoncillo, Mama Mina and Loa Placeres.  One of our most popular coffee pods of all time was the Nicaraguan Limoncillo Pacamara Peaberry, so we were very excited when Fratello chose the fully washed Red Pacamara as one of the lots they would be sourcing.  Fratello's cupping notes say you should expect a dark maple syrup aroma with spiced tobacco flavors. Mouthfeel is thick and complex with a mild lime rind acidity.

Costa Rican La Cabana
Last year Fratello partnered with the Rio Jorco Micro-Mill to deliver an excellent Costa Rican coffee that we sold out of a few months ago.  This year, they met with Exclusive Coffees and decided on two excellent coffees to source.  The one we have selected for our pods is from the farm San Pablo & La Cabana Micro-Mill.  It is located in a micro region of Leon Cortes of the Tarrazu Valley.   The coffee producer, Javier Meza, grows his 100% Caturra coffee at 1550 meters (5100 feet).  Only 3 people work at this mill and produce 250 sacks of coffee a year (38,000-42,000 lbs / year).  The lot Fratello purchased is fully washed and sundried on raised African beds.  Javier takes great care in slow drying his coffee in hopes of achieving an above average consistency of moisture content and density of green beans.  Fratello's cupping notes say this fully washed, 100% Caturra has honeyed melon and brown sugar aromas, milk chocolate flavors that are notably clean-with a soft creamy body.

Ethiopian Sidamo Ardi
Fratello has sourced some of the most incredible Ethiopian coffees we have ever tasted over the past several years.  Their Ethiopian Idido Misty Valley and their Ethiopian Special Prep were both wildly popular coffee pods so we were excited when Fratello found a new Ethipian coffee to source this year.  Sidamo coffee is grown in the Guji region of the Sidamo province of Ethiopia, where coffee was first discovered over a thousand years ago. Girma Edema, the owner of the Guji Mill excels at using only the ripest cherries, which are spread to sun dry, still in its red fruit. Their top coffee, nicknamed “Ardi” is the winner of multiple awards including 1st place in the 2010 East African Fine Coffee Associations “Taste of the Harvest” Competition.  Fratello's cupping notes say  to expect chocolate peach aromas that compliment a creamy mouth feel with a winey-cranberry acidity. Sweet milk chocolate-apricot flavors are followed by a mild strawberry finish. Lingering flavors and uniquely balanced.  This Ethiopian is not as "wild" as the past two offerings which had intense blueberry/strawberry notes, but has a more clean and balanced cup profile.

In addition to these terrific new coffees, we are also bringing Fratello's first 12 Gram Extra Bold pod to market.  Over the past year, sales of our 12 gram pods from roasters like Reunion Island, Baronet and our own recently launched Coffee Artisan Extra Bold pods have grown substantially.  The new Bunn My Cafe MC along with the original Bunn My Cafe and Grindmaster OPOD can all handle a 12 gram pod which allows you to brew a bolder 8 oz. cup of coffee or to increase your brew size compared to traditional 9 to 10 gram pods.  Our best selling pod month after month continues to be Fratello's French Saigon Dark.  We thought this pod would be perfectly suited to a 12 gram Exta Bold size.  We hope you agree!

Top 25 Pods for June 2011

Here's a list of our top 25 pods by sales volume for the month of June 2011.  Our expanding line of 12-gram Extra Bold pods is clearly increasing in popularity!

1. Fratello French Saigon Dark
2. Fratello Organic Dixie Voodoo
3. Fratello Sumatra Aceh Organic
4. Baronet Sumatra Kuda Mas Dark *12 GRAM*
5. The Coffee Artisan Artisan Blend
6. Baronet French Roast *12 GRAM*
7. Reunion Island Donut Shop
8. The Coffee Artisan Rwanda Ingoboka
9. The Coffee Artisan Dark Side *EXTRA BOLD*
10. Reunion Island *EXTRA BOLD* French Roast FTO
11. Fratello Dixie Voodoo Natural Decaf
12. Fratello Godfather Espresso
13. Baronet Mocha Java *12 GRAM*
14. Fratello Brazil Sete Cachoeiras Estate
15. Fratello Panama Diamond Mountain
16. The Coffee Artisan 100% Hawaiian Kona Extra Fancy
17. The Coffee Artisan Ethiopian Harrar *EXTRA BOLD*
18. The Coffee Artisan Dark Side Decaf
19. Baronet Decaf French Roast
20. Baronet Breakfast Blend
21. Black Mountain Gold Hawaiian Kona
22. Black Mountain Gold Kenya AA
23. Reunion Island *EXTRA BOLD* Privateer Dark FTO
24. The Coffee Artisan Brazil Dark
25. The Coffee Artisan Artisan Blend *EXTRA BOLD*

New Pods are on the Way

We hope to have the following 33 new varieties in stock by the end of next week.  Hope you enjoy them!

1. Barnie's® 58000 Barnie's Blend® Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
2. Barnie's® 58001 Decaffeinated Barnie's Blend® Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
3. Barnie's® 58002 Special Blend Coffee Pods, 18-count
4. Barnie's® 58003 Santa's White Christmas® Coffee Pods, 18-count
5. Barnie's® 58004 Decaf Santa's White Christmas® Coffee Pods, 18-count
6. Barnie's® 58005 Cool Cafe Blues® Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
7. Barnie's® 58006 Hazelnut Flavored Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
8. Barnie's® 58007 Full City Roast Coffee Pods, 18-count
9. Barnie's® 58008 Sumatra Mandheling Coffee Pods, 18-count
10. Barnie's® 58009 Global Blend Fair Trade Coffee Pods, 18-count
11. City Steam® 17500 Breakfast Blend Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
12. City Steam® 17505 City Roast Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
13. City Steam® 17510 100% Colombian Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
14. City Steam® 17515 Naturally Decaffeinated Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
15. City Steam® 17520 European Roast Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
16. City Steam® 17525 Decaffeinated European Roast Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
17. City Steam® 17530 French Roast Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
18. City Steam® 17535 House Blend Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
19. City Steam® 17590 Variety Pack Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
20. City Steam® 17603 Caramel Vanilla Cream Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
21. City Steam® 17606 Butter Toffee Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
22. City Steam® 17612 French Vanilla Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
23. City Steam® 17618 Hazelnut Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
24. City Steam® 17621 Cinnamon Roll Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
25. Community Coffee® 16215 Dark Roast Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
26. Community Coffee® 16216 Café Special® Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
27. Community Coffee® 16217 Breakfast Blend Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
28. Wolfgang Puck® WP79101 Breakfast in Bed™ Medium Roast Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
29. Wolfgang Puck® WP79106 Chef's Reserve™ Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
30. Wolfgang Puck® WP79108 Rodeo Dr. Blend Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
31. Wolfgang Puck® WP79109 Caramel Cream Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
32. Wolfgang Puck® WP79110 French Vanilla Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count
33. Wolfgang Puck® WP79112 Jamaica Me Crazy Single Cup Coffee Pods, 18-count