Coffeemakers can be ‘breeding grounds’ for Java-loving germs

I hate being the bearer of bad news. Especially when it involves something as sacred as…coffee.

But it turns out there’s quite likely more than coffee in that cup you’re holding. A lot more!

Because your coffeemaker could be home to millions of bacteria, microbes and mold that are loving that morning cup of Joe just as much as you do!

And a new study out of Spain found that the very process of making coffee — including high temperatures, those pod-type machines, and even the brew itself — creates the perfect breeding ground for those grinds to get contaminated.

But before you start to rethink your daily coffee habit, there are some simple steps you can take to keep the bugs out of your brew.

Bad to the last dropWhen a group of Spanish researchers decided to take a look at two types of “pod” coffeemakers, they found so many varieties of bacteria they could probably colonize Mars with them! And while some were fairly harmless, other turned out to be pathogenic strains — the kind that can make you sick.

The researchers analyzed several different Nespresso machines as well as their own office’s Krups. And they found bacteria from top to bottom — from the used capsules to the drip tray and everywhere in-between. The germs appear to start in the spent pods. And it didn’t matter what kind of coffee was being brewed, or how often the machines were being used, either.

Finding so much bacteria in the spent coffee pods must have been a surprise to the researchers, as caffeine is naturally antibacterial. And interestingly, one of the most common visitors to the machines tested is a bacteria called Pseudomonas — one that gobbles up caffeine! (Does that mean that bacteria burn the midnight oil, too?)

Well maybe you’re thinking you’re in the clear because you haven’t jumped on the “pod” bandwagon. So…what about other kinds of coffeemakers, such as drip machines?

Previous studies have found some pretty nasty results from them as well. Half of the basket and carafe kind analyzed were found to have yeast and mold in the reservoirs. And one out of 10 were growing coliform bacteria — the kind that inhabit your intestinal tract.

But whatever way you brew your cuppa Joe, there are some easy ways to keep the mold and bacteria party at bay, such as:

• Throw out spent coffee grounds (or used pods) right away.
• Clean all the removable parts of your coffeemaker, including the carafe, lid and basket, after each use.
• If you have a machine with a drip tray, be sure to wash it out regularly. That was one of the primo locations bacteria flourished in the recent study.
• Vinegar is still your best bet for cleaning. It decalcifies as well as sanitizes, and will also remove the mineral buildup from tap water.
• For a drip style machine, at least once a month, use the vinegar/water “brew” to clean it out. Stop the coffeemaker halfway through and let the vinegar mix sit in the reservoir for around 30 minutes, then let the cycle finish. Keurigs (and similar machines) can also be given the vinegar treatment.

Until drip, and then those pod pots came into popularity, the way coffee was brewed at home was with the trusty percolator. While they’re not as popular as they were in the old days, an electric percolator, one made out of stainless steel, may prove to be the easiest to wash and keep clean. (Plus that, plastic units could still contain the harmful chemical BPA.)

And if you’re going on vacation, or even away for the weekend, make sure you’ve dumped the grinds and dried off your coffeemaker in all the locations you can easily reach. Otherwise, they could have colonized your coffeemaker and be partying away in it by the time you get home.

Sources:
“Home coffee makers found to be full of potentially harmful bacteria” December 7, 2015, Huffington Post, huffingtonpost.ca