If you’re a caffeine lover, your coffee machine is likely one of the most frequently used appliances in your home – but have you ever inspected its water tank closely? You might want to after hearing this story.
Alex Hazen, a 30 year old content creator, was left wanting to be sick after discovering what appeared to be mould or algae in her espresso machine. Captioning the video on TikTok, she said: “Why does it look like a fish tank?”
She explained that she hadn’t been using the espresso machine as much since switching to matcha, but insisted she still cleaned it “often”. She confessed: “I’m so embarrassed.”
In the video, shared on her @alexandracolleen account, the American TikToker can be seen covering her mouth in shock, repeatedly muttering “no, this is not happening”. Overlaid text reads: “Finding mould in our espresso machine,” accompanied by several vomiting emojis.
She said: “Let me just preface this my saying, I am a very clean person. I clean my small appliances once a week. I don’t know when this happened.”
The clip then shows Alex removing the water tank from the coffee machine, revealing green specks at the bottom. “My health anxiety is skyrocketing right now,” she said.
Many followers were quick to suggest that the substance might be algae rather than mould. Algae, a diverse group of aquatic plant organisms found in both fresh and saltwater, use photosynthesis to generate energy from sunlight, much like plants.
One viewer warned: “My husband sells water for a living. It’s algae. You have to clean at least once a month and ONLY use filtered water in appliances.”
Another said: “Mine did this because our coffee maker is in direct sunlight. I have to make sure it’s emptied of water and dried out between every use. Can’t leave water in it.
“I dump and refill the water in mine every day,” another user said.
While another person said: “Not mould, any ‘container’ of water that is exposed to sunlight will get algae at some point. Just refresh the water regularly and clean the container with a bottle brush.”
Responding to the comments, Alex said: “Still not on the ingredient list for my morning coffee.”
If water left standing is exposed to bright light, it can lead to the growth of algae. This means maintaining cleanliness of your coffee machine is crucial.
While many types of algae are harmless, some can pose a risk to human health. Ingesting a small quantity of green algae from a coffee water reservoir is generally not considered dangerous, but it could trigger allergic reactions.
If concerned, consult your GP. You should also read the manual of your coffee machine to see best advice on cleaning the appliance. This should be done regularly to keep everything as hygienic as possible.
