A decent cup of coffee in the morning always sets the fresh tone for the rest of your day.
However, when the espresso shops are closed, you may have to think of making a cup of coffee all by yourself at home.
If that is the case, then you must have a good quality coffee maker at your home.
Today, in this article, I am going to talk about the side effects of the steam that comes out of your coffee maker.
Table of Contents
- Importance of Protecting Kitchen Cabinets from Coffee Machine Steam
- 2 Main Factors That Cause the Damage to Your Cabinets
- Can You Put Coffee Maker in a Kitchen Cabinet Safely?
- Does Steam from Coffee Maker Damage Kitchen Cabinets?
- 5 Efficient Methods to Protect Kitchen Cabinets from Coffee Maker Steam
- What is the Best Steam Diverter for Coffee Maker?
- Does Under Cabinet Heat Shield Help in the Protection Against Coffee Maker Steam?
- Conclusion
Importance of Protecting Kitchen Cabinets from Coffee Machine Steam
If you haven’t noticed it yet, then let me tell you that the steam coming out of your coffee machine may damage your kitchen cabinets.
In such situation, how can you safeguard your kitchen cupboards from the coffee machine steam?
The hot steam from the coffee machine can affect your furniture badly in the long run.
Whenever your cupboard is exposed to heat, it degrades and deteriorates over time.
Normal steam should not be used on wooden cabinets.
The hot liquid coming out of this steam usually evaporates as vapor and then it rests on the hardwood cabinet.
Over the period, constant exposure of such a steam causes the cabinet surface to deteriorate.
However, you don’t have to give up your gorgeous cabinet to appreciate your cup of coffee.
You can keep your cabinet safe even while preparing your coffee in the morning.
There are some basic precautions you may have to take in order to preserve your cabinet.
It’s indeed simpler to safeguard your kitchen cupboard than it is to repair and replace it after it is affected.
It is also less expensive.
If you do not cover your kitchen cabinet properly, then it may begin to appear messy and may even weaken from the inside due to constant steam exposure.
This is why it is utmost important to protect your kitchen cabinets from the steam that comes out of your coffee machine.
I am going to discuss various methods that can help you safeguard your kitchen cabinets from the hot steam.
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2 Main Factors That Cause the Damage to Your Cabinets
1. Material Quality of the Cabinet
The materials used to construct your kitchen cabinetry might have an impact on the coffee maker’s performance.
High-quality wood can withstand some humidity and moisture.
But prolonged contact can cause the wood to expand and distort.
A thick finish on your wood will protect it from the dampness and steam produced by most of the coffee makers.
If your kitchen cabinet is properly laminated, then the steam from the coffee machine may cause the glue that holds the covering in place to get separated from the cabinet.
Plastics may also melt if exposed to high temperatures for an extended period of time.
2. Lack of Regular Cleaning of the Cabinets
If you notice extra moisture building up on the cabinet’s surface, this could be a symptom of too much warmth and vapor.
If you don’t clean the kitchen cabinets on a regular basis, then this warmth and vapor could affect the furniture badly later on.
In order to avoid the cabinet absorbing the liquid, wipe it clean with a soft cloth on a regular basis.
You may also preserve the surface by washing it down with a dry towel and oil soap once it has been cooled.
Wiping away the steam guarantees that it will not remain on the board for long enough to do significant harm.
Cleanup of furnishings is also a smart method to safeguard it since it will disclose areas that need to be fixed before any more harm is done to the cabinet.
The ideal place to store your coffee maker in order to avoid damage to your cabinets would be a side counter or a countertop.
You can also store your coffee machine in a separate shelf where the steam coming from your machine will not affect the kitchen furniture.
For more information about proper storage tips for your coffee maker, I recommend to check out the article from Coffeelifious.com.
Can You Put Coffee Maker in a Kitchen Cabinet Safely?
If you brew espresso daily, there seems to be no safer place to keep your coffee machine either on your countertop or on a side counter in the kitchen.
Countertop is the best place for establishing a coffee zone.
It entails collecting everything that you need to brew coffee and placing it near the outer counter where your coffee machine is located.
The best thing to do is to avoid putting the coffee maker on the counters that are immediately below the cabinets.
This way, you won’t have to deal with the pressure of cleaning the cabinets on a regular basis.
Usually, it is tough to prevent steam and water in the kitchen.
But, the impact they have on the cabinet can be minimized by simply consulting with your kitchen furniture builders.
They know how to take good care of your furniture and will also provide you some good tips for proper maintenance of your cabinets for long term.
Does Steam from Coffee Maker Damage Kitchen Cabinets?
Coffee maker when placed just below your kitchen cabinets, may generate a significant amount of water vapors and affect the hardwood material in the long run.
Water vapors will flow across the doors, causing steam burns or possibly melting your cabinets.
It is advised that you move steam-dispensing equipment forward, preferably over your upper cabinets.
You can also store your machine in the side counter or in a separate shelf as recommended above.
Once you keep the coffee machine on the side counter or away from the kitchen cabinets, them the steam and water vapors will not affect your furniture.
And This will ensure that your cabinets last for several years.
5 Efficient Methods to Protect Kitchen Cabinets from Coffee Maker Steam
1. Keep Proper Kitchen Ventilation
If your kitchen is not adequately ventilated, steam may easily build and sit just on the hardwood of the kitchen cupboard.
An open kitchen ensures that the heat escapes out from the vents rather than resting on the wood and causing serious harm to it.
In this case, both transverse and direct ventilation would be effective.
Synthetic ways of bringing air into the kitchen, such as ceiling fans, air conditioning, would also be extremely beneficial.
Make your kitchen well-lit and open.
A gloomy and stuffy kitchen is ideal for steam to collect on cabinets and slowly eat the finishing of your furniture.
2. Install Heat Shields
Heat shields are a modern invention that was designed to divert heat and steam from devices including coffee makers, ovens, microwaves, etc.
These might shield the cabinet from harm by diverting steam that otherwise would collect on it.
3. Laminate External Parts
You may preserve the plywood by laminating the cabinet’s exterior edge.
The lamination is beneficial to all kinds of plywood furniture.
The steam and water would be kept away from the cabinet due to lamination.
So, I would highly recommend you to laminate at least the exterior of your kitchen cabinets.
4. Clean with Microfiber Cloth
Cleaning your exterior of cabinets with soft microfiber towels will do the trick too.
Try to wipe the cabinets with a soft, dry towel at least once in a day.
This will help in preserving the woodwork from water vapors and heat coming out of your coffee machine.
5. Use Water Resistant or Waterproof Plywood
This is actually the most important step that you must follow if you want to enhance the overall life span of your kitchen cabinets.
By using waterproof or at least water resistant plywood for your kitchen furniture, you can surely improve its durability.
Such types of plywood cabinets are better prepared to withstand the extreme exposure of hot water vapors and steam that comes out of your coffee maker.
What is the Best Steam Diverter for Coffee Maker?
Steam diverters are very useful in diverting the smoke and hot water vapors coming out of your coffee machines.
There are few good quality silicone made steam diverters available in the market that you can try to install for your coffee maker.
I have provided 3 best steam diverters available online that you can try at your home.
1. Steam Boss Steam Release Diverter
2. Sicheer Steam Diverter with Pressure Release Valve
3. PotHeadz Steam Diverter
Does Under Cabinet Heat Shield Help in the Protection Against Coffee Maker Steam?
By now, you have already known that you can use different methods to protect your kitchen cabinets.
Some of those methods include the use of a thermofoil, using waterproof plywood, a heat shield, and adequate ventilation in the kitchen, etc.
These are all less expensive than rebuilding the kitchen cabinet or compensating for the dangers and tragedies that it could create when it is broken.
The most cost-effective option is to protect the cabinet by following the above mentioned methods.
One more cost effective method is to use a heat shield below the coffee maker.
As the name indicates, this product aids in the deflection of heat and steam from a stove, oven, coffee machine and so on.
Thermal shield sheets and fillers are available from companies such as KraftMaid® Cabinetry, Maple Craft USA, and Toaster Shield and may be obtained at local shops.
3 of most reliable heat shields that you can use in your kitchen are as follows.
1. Newtex High Temperature Resistant Heat Shield
2. Thermo-Tec 13575 Aluminized Heat Shield
3. Homchek 10mm Heat Shield
Conclusion
This article is all about helping you to protect your valuable kitchen furniture from the heat and steam coming out of your coffee machine.
You can surely use the above mentioned 5 proven methods to safeguard your cabinets against the constant exposure of steam and vapors of coffee maker.
By using heat shield and steam diverter you can doubly make sure that no steam is affecting your kitchen cabinets.
Also, remember to store your coffee maker either in the side cabinet or in a separate shelf to avoid future problems with the furniture.
References:
https://homesteady.com/info-7955979-can-coffee-pot-harm-cabinets.html
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5580665/coffee-maker-steam-and-kitchen-cabinets