How To Clean Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker Step By Step

Read this article and learn how to clean Ninja specialty coffee maker with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions.

By far to keep your machine clean internally clean and free from mold, bacteria, coffee oil and sorts of gunk vinegar is the best cleaning product to use.

Keep reading for the details!

How To Clean Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker

Cleaning a Ninja Specialty coffee maker is easy: it is literally a walk in the park, it’s child’s play and is very easy to do.

For hygienic reasons many coffee lovers prefer to use distilled white vinegar as it sanitizes all the internal tubes and pipes of the build up of coffee oil, gunk, grime and more importantly any mold and bacteria that may have built up inside your machine.

Let’s get to it and learn how to clean Ninja specialty coffee maker step by step.

Read: How much vinegar to clean Ninja coffee maker?

Step 1: Clean The External Surfaces Of Your Ninja Coffee Maker

Use a damp soapy cloth and wipe clean all surfaces of your Ninja coffee maker. Clean your surfaces with a damp cloth that you have soaked with distilled white vinegar and let it dry.

This is to sanitize the surfaces and kill all bacteria.

Step 2: Clean All The Removable Parts

Remove all the removable parts of your specialty coffee maker and give your machine proper and good dusting down with a soft bristled brush like a paint brush.

Pay attention to the cleaning of the coffee compartment as this is an area where a lot of coffee grinds get stuck.

All the removable parts, the water reservoir, glass carafe, filter basket (filter basket), can be cleaned using your dishwasher as they are dishwasher-safe.

If you have a thermal carafe, unfortunately it is not dishwasher-safe. You must clean it by hand.

I’ll get to the specific details of cleaning your carafe and water reservoir, and brew basket in detail in a moment, even though they can be cleaned using your dishwasher, sometimes it is best that you clean by hand due to being able to get a better quality clean.

Step 3: Clean Your Brew Basket

More often than not you will find that cleaning your brew basket with your dishwasher is not enough as it is often the part that is the dirtiest with coffee stains, coffee oil and hard to remove coffee grinds that are stuck between the mesh wires.

Start by soaking your coffee filter brew basket in a solution of boiling water and a mild detergent and leaving it overnight to soak and absorb the coffee stains.

Use a mildly abrasive cleaning brush to clean it and remove the coffee grinds that are stuck.

Any hard-to-remove coffee grinds can be removed with a pin and poking them clear.

Once you have it nice and clean, give it a wipe down with distilled white vinegar. This step is to kill bacteria and ensure you have perfectly clean coffee.

Coffee is a food product and treat it as such and use the same sanitation rules.

Read: How to clean Ninja coffee maker filter

Step 4: Clean Your Coffee Pot

Cleaning your coffee pot can be done in the easy way, and it is well worth it to run it through your dishwasher to get it clean and maintain it clean, but it often will not get that high quality sparkle.

Especially if you have not cleaned it in a while.

You will need patience and two different cleaning products, both of which are cheap. A third may be required, that is cheap too and is worth using if the first two are not getting your coffee pot sparkling like it was when you first bought it.

Fill your coffee carafe with a small layer of baking soda, bicarbonate of soda, as deep as the knuckle on your index finger. Add a small amount of water, a teaspoon at a time, and make a paste with your baking soda.

With the paste, use it to clean the hot plate of your coffee machine, scrub well and let it sit there overnight.

Use the rest of your paste to clean both the inside and outside of your coffee carafe. Lightly scrub it and pay attention to the coffee stain or two that may be baked on the bottom.

Like the hot plate, leave the paste on overnight to lift the stains and work its magic.

Rinse the bicarbonate of soda paste by using hot water or, as a matter of convenience, you can run it through your dishwasher to remove the baking soda paste.

More often than not this will get your carafe shining, in the case in which it doesn’t first wipe it down with a wet sponge soaked in vinegar and wipe clean. Then fill with vinegar and leave it overnight to steep.

If this doesn’t get it sparkling, use the method that my Cambodian girlfriend does and fill it with bleach and leave it overnight to steep.

This gets it perfectly shining like new. Rinse well with an abundance of water to remove all scents, taste and traces of vinegar and bleach and let it air dry.

If you have a thermal carafe, clean the exterior with warm water and dish soap. Clean the inside with baking soda paste and rinse well.

Step 5: Deep Internal Cleaning Time

Put all the removable parts back together and fill your water tank to the halfway mark with vinegar and top it up with fresh water.

Run a full complete brew cycle, discard the solution that comes out and repeat.

Now fill your water reservoir with clean water and run a flush cycle by pressing the brew button. Repeat this flushing cycle several times, as many as necessary until the scent and taste of vinegar has been rinsed from your machine.

Read: How to clean ninja coffee maker

Step 6: Brew A Test Cup Of Coffee

Brew a test cup of coffee as you normally would. This is to check that your coffee maker is clean and clear of all traces of vinegar.

How To Clean Ninja Coffee Maker Water Reservoir

Cleaning your water reservoir is easy. Simply remove it and clean it using your dishwasher. Give it a good wipe down both on the inside and outside with vinegar to sanitize and get it hygienically clean.

Flush well and rinse it well to ensure all scents and flavor of vinegar have been removed. Let it air dry.

Ninja Coffee Bar Water Reservoir Mold Removal

You must pay particular attention to cleaning your water reservoir and clean it regularly as it is the perfect environment for mold to grow and mold will grow!

By far the easiest way to prevent it is by cleaning regularly as that mold can form anywhere in your coffee machine where you can’t see it!

This is why you must clean your coffee maker at least every other week with vinegar. Clean your water reservoir at least every day or two.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Clean Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker

How Do You Clean The Parts Of A Ninja Coffee Maker?

Cleaning the removable parts of a ninja coffee maker is easy and these should be the first parts that you clean. Use a mild detergent and warm water and rinse them well.

Alternatively, you can clean them in your dishwasher but first ensure that they are dishwasher-safe beforehand.

The parts to clean include your brew basket, glass carafe and drip tray if your machine has one.

How Do I Clean My Ninja Coffee Maker Without Vinegar?

If you choose not to use white vinegar for whatever reason, you can use citric acid, descaling solution or bicarbonate of soda.

Baking soda is the most commonly used cleaning solution outside of vinegar. Use a 25% baking soda and clean water solution. Mix well and add to your water reservoir.

Run a brewing cycle and discard the solution that comes out of the coffee spout. Fill your water reservoir 5 to 7 times with fresh clean water to rinse your machine of the baking soda.

Unlike vinegar, traces of baking soda will not affect the flavor of your coffee negatively.

What Does It Mean When Your Ninja Coffee Maker Says Clean?

When the cleaning light on your ninja coffee maker is illuminated it is a reminder that you need to run a descaling cycle to clean your machine internally.

How Long Does It Take Ninja Coffee Maker To Clean?

When it comes to giving your ninja coffee maker a good deep clean and full descale it should take you no longer than 20 to 25 minutes at the longest.

Should I Run Straight Vinegar Through My Coffee Maker?

No, you should never run straight vinegar through any coffee maker, regardless of which type, be it a ninja specialty coffee maker, a Keurig single serve coffee machine or a home espresso machine.

Straight vinegar is a fire hazard which is why you must dilute it with water.

Can You Use Anything Other Than Vinegar To Clean Coffee Maker?

Yes, there are many other products that you can use to clean your specialty coffee maker. Baking soda, lemon juice, and citric acid are popular choices.

Why Won t My Ninja Coffee Maker Self Clean?

If your ninja coffee maker will not run a full cleaning cycle, use a more focused concentration of distilled white vinegar and water. Try a 75% solution. Never go above an 80% white vinegar and clean water.

The extra strength may clear up any blockages which may be causing the problem.

What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Coffee Maker?

If you don’t clean your coffee maker and clear the calcium build up and mineral build up the internal tubes and pipes will become blocked. You will also be brewing sub par coffee for a while before your machine is blocked.

Your coffee will start to taste overtly bitter.

Final Thoughts – How To Clean Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker

If you have read this far, you should know exactly how to clean Ninja specialty coffee maker and ensure that it is free from bacteria, mold as well as calcium and mineral build up. 

Keep your coffee gear clean and run a descaling cycle at least every 15 days. 

Join our fun and friendly coffee community and tell us about your own cool “secret” coffee cleaning techniques and methods. Find us on Facebook/Meta. 

Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location