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Cleaning and Maintaining your Utopia Vac Pot
by Lura Lee
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The Utopia vac pot brewing system is made of plastic and has built-in electrical components, so cleaning and maintaining it is not as easy as maintaining other coffee equipment, such as the French Press. And one mistake can cause you to have to spend more time cleaning down the line. This article will walk you step-by-step through the proper cleaning process. Additionally, this article includes tips and tricks for successful Utopia use and enjoyment.
What you need in order to clean
- a soft cloth
- a chopstick
- a bottle brush
or flex-head toothbrush
- baking soda
- 409 (or similar cleaner)
What you should avoid
The biggest mistake that you can make with the Utopia is to use harsh cleaning tools. Do not, under any circumstances, use one of those sponges with the abrasive side. Scrubby sponges scratch the plastic and leave it cloudy. Once the plastic is scratched, more oils will build up and you'll just have to clean it more and more often.
The Name Game
The key to understanding this article is understanding the names of the parts of the Utopia.
- Basket Lid
- Coffee Filter Basket
- Filter
- Arm Rest
- Base
- Heating Element
- Coffee Pot
- Coffee Pot Lid
Step by Step instructions on Cleaning the Utiopia Vac Pot
- Rinse and Begin - Rinse all remaining coffee out of the pot and the coffee filter basket (top chamber). Disassemble the coffee pot lid. Disassemble the arm rest (for the coffee filter basket) on the base. Remove the coffee filter and place it in a bowl with warm water and about a tablespoon of baking soda. Agitate the water occasionally and let it soak while you clean the rest of the equipment.
- Cleaning the Heating Element - At the base of the pot, there is a heating element. The fact that it is connected to the pot is the reason why you can't put the pot in the dishwasher. But the thing gets dirty over time and has burnt coffee on it. How do you get it clean? A thick paste of baking soda and some elbow grease. Mix up a paste of baking soda in a bowl to the side. Then use a bottle brush or a flex-head toothbrush to apply the paste, and use the bristles to scrub the bottom concurrently. If you can't get all of it, just do what you can and let the baking soda break up the rest of the oil by setting the pot to the side.
- Cleaning the Coffee Filter Basket - Shake a little bit of baking soda on your wet cloth. Use the chopstick and the baking-soda-laden cloth to clean the tube. Rinse the cloth, then apply more baking soda. Make sure that the baking soda dissolves on the cloth. Undissolved baking soda will scratch, which is what you want to avoid doing to the plastic. Vigorously wipe the inside of the basket with the cloth. Use the toothbrush to clean between the plastic teeth on the lid.
- Cleaning the Base and Lid - Wipe the base of the Utopia with 409 and a dry cloth. Use the toothbrush and baking soda to clean the arm rest. If the coffee is really caked in there, soak the arm rest in the same bowl as the coffee filter.
- Cleaning the Coffee Pot - Once you've rinsed the baking soda paste from the heating element, use the soft cloth and baking soda to clean the inside of the pot. Use the chopstick to guide the cloth around the sides and clean the pot. The baking soda does an excellent job of cleaning the pot, without the suds and aftertaste associated with soap.
- Run a Water Cycle - Rinse and reassemble all of the pieces. Run a clear water cycle with no coffee. This might produce a few rattling sounds (the filter is usually weighed down by coffee).
Between major cleanings, rinse the Utopia and use only a soft cloth to wipe it down.
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