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CNET
a day ago
- General
- CNET
Love Coffee? You Might Be Brewing It in a Bacteria Trap
It's officially iced coffee season, and if your Keurig's still working overtime from your winter caffeine habit, it's probably due for a serious cleaning. You might not think twice about hitting that brew button each morning, but behind the scenes, your coffee maker is quietly collecting mineral buildup, leftover grounds and water gunk. Over time, all that grime can slow down your machine, mess with the flavor of your brew or even cause it to stop working altogether. The fix? Thankfully, it's simple and totally worth doing. A quick maintenance routine can extend the life of your Keurig and keep every cup tasting fresh. That means descaling the brewing system to clear out hidden buildup, scrubbing the drip tray and water reservoir and giving the whole unit a solid wipe-down. It takes just a little effort to make a big difference in both performance and taste. Your coffee will taste better, your Keurig will last longer and you won't have to deal with mid-morning brewing disasters. Ready to give your coffee maker some much-needed love? Here's how to deep clean it from top to bottom. If you're looking for a new coffee maker, you can also check out the best Keurig deals available now. Plus, take a look at our picks for the best coffee makers, best cold-brew coffee makers and best coffee accessories. Enlarge Image Wipe down the outside of your Keurig brewer with a damp cloth. Brian Bennett/CNET 1. Clean the outside of the Keurig Start by wiping down the brewer's exterior. Keurig actually recommends you do this daily. First, make sure the coffee maker is powered off and unplugged. Next use a damp cloth to wipe away dust and other debris from the outside of the machine. Pay close attention to the area on the front, right below the coffee dispenser. This section typically attracts plenty of splashes and drips. Enlarge Image If your Keurig brewer's drip tray looks like this then it's time you clean it. Brian Bennett/CNET 2. Wash the drip tray Another coffee machine part that's prone to grime is the drip tray. Liquid from spills often sits inside it unnoticed. Coffee drips can evaporate here too, leaving stains behind. A quick hand wash in the kitchen sink will clear up this mess in a jiffy. Warm water and dish soap does the trick nicely. Perform this cleaning task daily. After a quick hand wash in the sink the drip tray looks great. Brian Bennett/CNET Pro tip! Save yourself the hassle and just buy a Keurig maintenance kit. This one comes with a 3-month supply of everything you need. Details $15 at Amazon 3. Clean out the water tank Another daily cleaning task is to give the same hand wash treatment to the water tank. Be sure to remove the water filter first if your machine has one. Depending on your brewer, your tank may be safe to throw in the dishwasher. Enlarge Image The pod holder was the dirtiest area on my test K-cup brewer. Brian Bennett/CNET 4. Check the pod holder The dirtiest section of my test Keurig K-Classic brewer was its pod holder. Grounds, dirt and dried coffee had formed a noticeable amount of crud here. To fix this, I removed the pod holder, and separated it into its two main parts. Then I gave them a water rinse and a good scrub with a damp cloth. You may also want to use a paper clip to clear any debris from inside the brewer exit needle. The exit needle sits inside the pod holder. Take care though because that needle is sharp. Be advised that Keurig recommends you clean the pod holder every week. Run a water-only brew cycle to flush out your Keurig coffee machine's brewing system. Brian Bennett/CNET 5. Flush out the whole system Keeping your Keurig machine's brewing system clean is critical. Dirty hardware can lead to unwanted flavors carrying over from the last brew. Tasting pumpkin spice latte in your Sumatra single origin is not ideal. Bits of grounds or other debris could cause clogs too, even a malfunction. To clear everything out, run a daily water-only brew cycle through the machine. Make sure there's enough water in the reservoir and that the pod chamber is empty. You can run any cup size cycle you like, as long as the mug you're brewing into is large enough to accept the liquid. And if you've never descaled your brewer, or it's been three months since you have, consider doing so. According to Keurig, you should perform the procedure quarterly. You can use either vinegar or the company's special descaling product. Keep in mind that it is a lengthy process requiring at least 45 minutes (4 hours with vinegar). Still, descaling will remove any mineral deposits (often found in tap water) that may be clinging to your brewer's internal components. This in turn ensures your coffee maker brews at its optimally designed temperature. Once you've completed all these steps, wipe down the brewer again to remove any excess moisture. It should now be ready to brew in tip top shape. For more household cleaning tips, check out how to clean a cast-iron skillet, how to clean your grill and how to clean a mattress. Watch this: How to clean your Keurig with distilled vinegar 01:31 More must-read cleaning hacks
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
South Africa to play against Zimbabwe ahead of WTC final against Australia
New Delhi [India], May 31 (ANI): South Africa will lock horns with Zimbabwe in a four-day warm-up match from June 3 at the Arundel Castle Cricket Ground in Sussex, England, as per the ICC official website. This will serve as key preparation for the Proteas ahead of their all-important World Test Championship Final at the Oval against Australia starting June 11. South Africa last featured in the longest format in a 2-0 home series win over Pakistan in January 2025, and this warm-up against their neighbours will provide them with a chance to acclimatise to red-ball cricket ahead of the Ultimate Test. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, are coming off in a one-off Test against England at Trent Bridge, their first Test on English soil in two decades, a landmark moment in their cricketing journey. Despite England winning the contest by an innings and 45 runs, Zimbabwe had plenty of moments to remember from the game, especially Brian Bennett's fighting ton in the first innings. Zimbabwe will be without the services of Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, but are otherwise expected to field a strong outfit, with the likes of Sean Williams, Bennett, Victor Nyauchi, Clive Madande, and Craig Ervine in the mix. South Africa Squad for the WTC 2025 Final: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy. Zimbabwe Squad: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Alex Falao, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tanunurwa Makoni, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams. (ANI)
NDTV
3 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
South Africa To Play Zimbabwe As Warm-Up For WTC Final Against Australia
South Africa will play against with Zimbabwe in a four-day warm-up match from June 3 at the Arundel Castle Cricket Ground in Sussex, England, as per the ICC official website. This will serve as key preparation for the Proteas ahead of their all-important World Test Championship Final at the Oval against Australia starting June 11. South Africa last featured in the longest format in a 2-0 home series win over Pakistan in January 2025, and this warm-up against their neighbours will provide them with a chance to acclimatise to red-ball cricket ahead of the Ultimate Test. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, are coming off in a one-off Test against England at Trent Bridge, their first Test on English soil in two decades, a landmark moment in their cricketing journey. Despite England winning the contest by an innings and 45 runs, Zimbabwe had plenty of moments to remember from the game, especially Brian Bennett's fighting ton in the first innings. Zimbabwe will be without the services of Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, but are otherwise expected to field a strong outfit, with the likes of Sean Williams, Bennett, Victor Nyauchi, Clive Madande, and Craig Ervine in the mix. South Africa Squad for the WTC 2025 Final: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy. Zimbabwe Squad: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Alex Falao, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tanunurwa Makoni, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams. Listen to the latest songs, only on
Int'l Cricket Council
3 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Proteas face Zimbabwe before World Test Championship Final
South Africa are all set to take on Zimbabwe in a four-day warm-up match from June 3 in England. The contest will be played at Arundel Castle Cricket Ground in Sussex. This will serve as key preparation for the Proteas ahead of their all-important World Test Championship Final at the Oval against Australia starting June 11. South Africa last featured in the longest format in a 2-0 home series win over Pakistan in January 2025, and this warm-up against their neighbours will provide them with a chance to acclimatise to red-ball cricket ahead of the Ultimate Test. South Africa Squad for the WTC 2025 Final: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, are coming off a historic appearance in a one-off Test against England at Trent Bridge, their first Test on English soil in two decades, a landmark moment in their cricketing journey. Despite England winning the contest by an innings and 45 runs, Zimbabwe had plenty of moments to remember from the game, especially Brian Bennett's fighting ton in the first innings. Zimbabwe will be without the services of Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava, but are otherwise expected to field a strong outfit, with the likes of Sean Williams, Bennett, Victor Nyauchi, Clive Madande, and Craig Ervine in the mix. The warm-up fixture against South Africa marks another significant step for Zimbabwe, serving as a key rehearsal ahead of their two-Test home series against the same opponents in Bulawayo, slated for June and July. Zimbabwe Squad: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Alex Falao, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tanunurwa Makoni, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams. The Chevrons are also slated to host New Zealand for a two-Test series later in the summer. ICC World Test Championship Final, 2025NewsSouth AfricaZimbabwe
Forbes
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Surreal Scenes For Zimbabwe In England Underlines Importance Of Supporting Smaller Test Nations
Zimbabwe had many fans supporting them during the one-off Test against England (Photo by Matthew ...) Zimbabwe's cricketers soaked in the surreal scenes, lapping it up in front of their giddy supporters at Trent Bridge in the aftermath of the one-off Test against England. After finally getting a chance against a powerhouse nation in Test cricket, performing credibly to arrest early nerves, the wide grins from the players matched the expressions from their expat compatriots who had long doubted they would ever get so close to their heroes. The result hardly mattered. For the record, Zimbabwe lost by an innings and 45 runs in the four-day Test against an England team tuning up for a blockbuster, legacy-defining stretch of Test cricket. It was a resumption of bilateral ties between the countries after 21 years and the first Test they've played against each other since 2003. This drought-breaking match had been a decade in the making. While Zimbabwe have played powers India and Australia in white-ball series, they have been given the cold shoulder by them in Test cricket for two decades. While they were outclassed, unsurprisingly given their lack of experience in Test cricket, Zimbabwe worked their way into the match after conceding the most runs on the first day of a Test in England having unwisely opted to bowl. But Zimbabwe showed plenty of resiliency after that and class too with Brian Bennett smashing his country's fastest Test hundred, while Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza - both almost 40 years old who were playing a Test for the first time against a 'big three' nation - showed plenty of fight. Brian Bennett celebrated his century against England (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty ... More Images) Zimbabwe weren't able to seriously threaten England, but they won admirers and showed glimpses of what they are capable of. That's if they can get a good run of Test cricket and start regularly playing the best nations. For a myriad of reasons, from internal woes to political chaos amid dictator Robert Mugabe's reign to reluctance from the bigger nations to play them, Zimbabwe only played 36 Tests from late 2005 - their last against India - to the end of 2024. Zimbabwe are not in the nine-team World Test Championship and have had to mostly resort to playing Afghanistan and Ireland - the other countries not part of the tournament. But Zimbabwe are playing 11 this year - the equal most alongside Australia - to underline their determination of being a good Test nation. However, there are no Test fixtures against England, Australia or India on the horizon. Zimbabwe fans came out in large numbers to support their team (Photo by) It's challenging for Zimbabwe and other smaller nations to host Test cricket. According to Zimbabwe Cricket, it costs $500,000 to host a match - large sums for a nation with a miniscule domestic broadcast deal of $2.5 million per year compared to billion-dollar deals of England, India and Australia. Zimbabwe and other smaller nations also get less funding from the International Cricket Council compared to the power trio. England's governing body might have provided the blueprint after helping provide some tour costs for Zimbabwe, whose administrators have been using this Test match to discuss possible opportunities to host them in the next cycle of 2027-31. Zimbabwe, having become a major destination for cricket, do have plans to entice the power countries. They hope to become a stopover when those countries visit nearby South Africa although no fixtures have been ironed out yet. There have long been fears over the traditional five-day Test cricket and its relevance in a faster-paced modern world, where attention spans are dwindling. There is an ICC committee in the works with a strong focus over this thorny issue, especially with the 'big three' increasingly wanting to play against themselves. But as gleaned at Trent Bridge amid the color and emotion emanating from the terraces, Test cricket needs smaller nations to flourish and emerge beyond India, England and Australia. After two decades in the wilderness, Zimbabwe finally made a step onto the big stage. Let's hope it's not their last.
