Our coffee tastes just awful no matter what brand we use. How can I clean it to get that good tasting coffee back?

Inside the water dispenser is an area that has become fouled with mold, mildew and other not so pleasant things.
You will be needing to take the whole thing apart and clean the inside.
I just did this with an Oasis water dispenser.
The Oasis I took apart was really easy to clean, as all the parts came apart without breaking any of them.
I will not begin to promise you that this task is even possible.
If you will look up Culligan in your phone book or computer, perhaps a company representative can tell you if you can do this.
God bless your efforts.

what did you use to clean it??,only use vinegar,rinse by running clear water through machine 3 times,different water each time,

234999fff Sorry to read about your issue.

The brewer should be de-scaled at least every 3-6 months. Scale is harmless, but if left unattended, it can hinder optimal brewer performance. De-scaling your brewer regularly helps maintain the heating element, removable water reservoir and other parts of the brewer that come in contact with water. Better water quality and water heating means a better cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or iced beverage. We recommend de-scaling your brewer at least every 6 months (every 3 months if your water has a high mineral content). The de-scaling process involves using 48 ounces of undiluted white vinegar.

Take 48 oz of white vinegar. place in tank. pretend you are making coffee (Do No Use K Cup). let the water fill you mug. then empty that mug. Do it again until tank is empty. then let sit for 4 hours.
Then fill with fresh water to the top. let that tank of water run thru. towards the end taste the water.
If you taste vinegar..use more clean water, until the taste is ok.

I tried to help you. Please help me and Vote/Rate this response. Thanks and good luck

You need to delime or descale the unit with white vinegar, that will clean it out

Go here to get the manual and it will tell you how to do it....

http://www.retrevo.com/support/Delonghi-EAM3500-Coffee-Makers-manual/id/3878ci577/t/2/

Btw, I’m available to help over the phone in case u need at https://www.6ya.com/expert/sean_54c3a3dc48a7773c

I would check the temperature of water. Sounds like it might be too hot. The temp of the water should be between 192 and 197. Colder and its sour, and hotter and its bitter.

Run 1/4 cup vingar with a pot of water. The coffee is not finishing its cycle and some remains in the works. You may have to do this several times. Washing the carafe with ice and salt by swirling it around a few times until it sparkels clean. Last thing for a good cup of coffee is filtered water which will keep the unit cleaner too. :)

Vinegar/water cleaning is a good idea, but it won't necessarilly solve funny-tasting coffee. First, replace your charcoal water filter - you can get the Cuisinart brand-name replacements at Lowe's, Bed/Bath/Beyond, or Williams-Sonoma in most areas.

To do the vinegar/water cleaning, just pour 1/3 caraffe distilled white vinegar and 2/3 caraffe water into the water reservoir and brew it like it was regular coffee - I would simply bypass the self-clean function if your Cuisinart has one. Repeat up to 3 times, using a fresh batch of vinegar each time.
(if you have the caraffe-less DCC-2000, then just pour in 4 cups vinegar and 6 cups water).

Then run a full cycle of water. Then run a combo of 12 tsp lemon juice and 12 cups water (or 10 tsp and 10 cups water) to improve the taste.

On your next batch of coffee, use bottled water just to rule out any possibility that your local water supply may be contributing to funny-tasting coffee.

Now your coffee should be tasting fine again.

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

If your water tastes ok without the fridge then you'll need to replace or clean the piping inside the fridge.
If your water has the same smell and taste without the fridge then you'll need a better grade filter on the water going into the fridge.
If it's in your fridge piping try going to a plumbing supply and ask them for a cleaner to run through the fridge!
jack

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COFFEE. This has to do with water filter system and most importantly descaling of machine, as over time the metals in side machine and tubing get a mold type build up. Its a chemical reaction from the water and tubing and the coffee and metals. To 100% solve this, descale the machine with water and vinegar mixed. Do this a couple of times and use bottled water to fill water tank if you do not have a good water filter tap system. I have been the espresso business for over 16 years with 4 locations, and it has nothing to do with the coffee. If it was the coffee or poor coffee it would tasted burned or bitter, but NOT tasting like metal.

Please rate my solution as you see helpful, Thanks Mike Espresso Expert

vinegar is not the best it remove calcium in little piece descaler produit melt go buy the descaler produit 1part descaler 1 part water put in water container start the machine after a few second turn it off leave it there for 15 minute repeat untill empty rinse very good after that product is corosif 2 or 3 full rinse thanks for using fixya pierre