Study Says Your Coffee Maker Is One Of The Dirtiest Things In Your Kitchen

You may think that the dirtiest spot in your kitchen lurks inside your garbage can or in a sink full of unwashed dishes, but the truth is, the most bacteria just may be hidden in your cup of morning coffee. The science team at CBS just did a spotlight study testing the bacterial levels in 10 one-cup coffee makers (like Keurig and Nespresso) used by 10 different families across Chicago. The results? Eight of the 10 coffee makers showed high levels of bacteria in the water samples, in the machine, or in both places.

Microbiologist Roman Golash, who works at the lab in Loyola University, where the testing took place, did determine that older coffee maker models were more likely to have bacteria than newer models that had been cleaned out regularly. The most common bacteria samples found were staphylococcus, streptococcus, and bacillus cereus, and — most troubling of all — E. coli. "The latter type of bacteria is definitely something to be concerned about," Golash said.

And it's true. Even though most people are more likely to clean the visual stuff in their kitchens — wiping down the countertops and scrubbing stains from dishes — both Keurig and Nespresso recommend cleaning their products regularly. Descale your one-cup coffee maker every three to six months (cleaning can also be done with vinegar).