Four Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Bunn Coffee Maker Parts

A fresh, steaming cup of coffee is a morning staple for millions of Americans. Beyond breakfast hours, people consume coffee throughout the day for that regular shot of caffeine so many crave. This caffeine addiction means big business for restaurants and commercial kitchens. Unfortunately, coffee machines don’t last forever. Parts wear down, seals lose their strength and coffee comes out less than peak — or it doesn’t come out at all. Replacing commercial machines can be expensive, but thankfully there is usually a better option. Replacement parts for your commercial coffee maker are a great alternative to replacing an entire machine. We’ve compiled a few of the common problems incurred with older or soiled Bunn coffee makers. If yours is acting up in any of these ways, it may be time to look into replacement parts.

1. It’s taking forever for my coffee pot to heat up — or there’s no hot water at all.

If this is the case with your coffee maker, your machine may need a new water heater. The heating element can wear down over time, putting out less than optimal heat for brewing or keeping coffee hot. The recommended heat for coffee brewing is roughly 195 to 203 degrees. This temperature allows full flavor to be pulled from the coffee beans while brewing. Anything less and you could end up with weak, sour, stale-tasting coffee. If your coffee maker is taking too long to heat up or is not heating up at all, Bunn coffee maker parts are an excellent option for getting the machine back on its feet. Otherwise, you might need to invest in a brand new coffee maker.

2. My machine is leaking.

Coffee machine leakages are generally an easy-to-spot problem. Do you see pools of water around your coffee maker? Is your machine brewing less than a full cup of coffee with every round? If so, your machine has likely sprung a leak. Leaks can happen due to a variety of reasons. Limescale build-up can cause a malfunction within the machine. Gaskets and seals can go bad, allowing water to seep through. Hoses can come loose or become punctured. Fixing a leaky machine is critical, as having water around electrical parts can cause unintended electrical shock. A quick examination of your machine may easily reveal the problem. If you can spot the leaky component, you can use Bunn replacement parts to fix it.

3. My coffee machine is rarely cleaned — or I’ve never cleaned it.

Every machine needs maintenance, and coffee makers are no exception. They need routine maintenance at varying intervals, but in general, daily, weekly and quarterly maintenance is recommended.

• Daily wipe downs keep the machine looking fantastic and help you stay on top of sanitation.
• Weekly cleaning of the water dispenser and spray head can reduce limescale buildup. This will keep your coffee maker running smoothly and prevent any change in taste due to uncleaned parts.
• Quarterly maintenance includes thoroughly cleaning the inside of the machine to remove limescale buildup that naturally occurs with hard water.

While limescale isn’t necessarily harmful, keeping your machine limescale free is essential, as the buildup can affect not only the taste of the coffee but also the performance of your machine. Citric acid, vinegar or commercial coffee maker cleaners can be used to clean the inside of the machine by running them through a regular cycle, followed by one to two cycles of plain water. Using a water filter before the water goes into your coffee maker can help reduce limescale buildup.

4. My equipment is simply old.

Outdated equipment can hurt your business in a few different ways. Consumer tastes change, making new machines necessary to keep up with newer brewing methods or different coffee roasts. As any machine ages, it is likely to wear down and provide less than stellar service. The water heater may go out, or the hoses may leak. The machine may become too slow, making it hard to keep up with customer demand. While the average coffee maker can put out around four gallons an hour, when your machine is older and slower, production at this level becomes less reliable. Coffee is a booming business and having the right pieces to provide this service is an essential part of doing business. When your machine isn’t performing as it should, replacing components is a great first step. Routine maintenance is also a proven way to prolong the life of your coffee maker. However, while replacing parts is a great option to give extra life to your coffee maker, there are times when a new machine is just much more desirable. A Bunn industrial coffee maker is built to last. These machines come from a company that dates to the 1860s and that has manufactured products for coffee service since the 1950s. The company provides replacement parts including dispensers, grinders, hoses, gaskets, valves and Bunn coffee pot replacements. This trusted partner in coffee production can help you keep your coffee fresh and piping hot.