Some drip coffee makers require periodic cleansing with a solution of water and vinegar.

If you have a coffee/teapot, the inside of which is stained with oily brown residues - also plastic/metal coffee filters, tea strainers, and stainless steel sinks in caffeine-o-phile houses - they can be restored to a shining, brand-spanking-new state by washing in hot washing powder (detergent).

Get a large plastic jug, add 2..3 heaped tablespoons of Daz Automatic or Bold or whatever, and about a pint of hot water - just off the boil is the best.

Swill the jug around until the detergent is dissolved, and then pour into tea/coffeepot, and let it stand for 5 minutes, swilling the pot around occasionally, just to keep the detergent moving. Put the lid on and shake it a few times (care: slippery + hot)

Repeat as necessary. Keep it hot with a little boiling water if needed. If you have a cafetiere, dissemble it, and soak the parts in the mixture for a few minutes, agitating occasionally.

In both cases, the residue just falls off with almost no scrubbing. It does great things with over-used filter machine filters, too.

Important: Rinse off all detergent afterwards, use lots of fresh water.

How to store coffee?

One should always store coffee beans in a glass, air tight container. Air is coffee's principle enemy. Glass is best because it doesn't retain the odors of the beans or the oils, which could contaminate future beans stored in the same container. However, if you use glass, make sure the container is not exposed to light, as sunlight is believed to reduce freshness.

For consumption within:

1 week room temperature is fine 2 weeks to a month refridgerate freeze them This prevents the chemical reactions that produce stale beans and lifeless coffee.

What is a French Press/Cafetiere/Bodum

French presses are usually glass containers with a wire mesh attached to a plunger. To make coffee, you first boil water, then pour water into the container which should contain one or two spoons of coffee per cup. You let it rest for 2-3 minutes and then plunge the wire mesh. This filters the coffee.