First, unplug the dispenser—I know, it’s shocking how often we forget this, like putting gas in a car while it’s running. Then, remove the water bottle (the big one on top) and drain out any lingering water from the hot and cold taps. Pro tip: have a towel handy, because water will absolutely run down your arm and into your sleeve, causing that unpleasant, wet-flannel feeling you remember from childhood rainstorms.
Don’t forget the drip tray—that little plastic catcher at the bottom that’s basically a petri dish of forgotten coffee spills and sticky fingerprints. Pop it off, wash it with warm, soapy water, and set it aside to dry. It’s the easiest win of the whole process, like finding a ten-dollar bill in last winter’s coat.
