You need a clean machine.
Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 quart water and run it through the brew cycle, then follow with plain water.

The purer the water, the tastier the coffee. Use bottled water, or if you use tap, be sure it's cold. Warm water picks up minerals from the pipes. Use two tablespoons of grounds per cup of water.

Preheat the cup by filling it with hot water while the coffee brews, and warm up the milk. To add a hint of flavor, place a cinnamon stick in the milk as you heat it.

SOURCE: TRACY KAMPERDYK ASSUE, EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF AT THE CITY LIMITS DINER IN STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT

Never use distilled water to make coffee, it will not take the flavor of the coffee as well as other waters such as spring water will.

Another way to get that coffee pot CLEAN!

A SIMPLE solution from someone who worked at Wendys:

put ice cubes in the pot, to about 1″ up from bottom. Pour salt (yes, simply TABLE SALT) maybe to equal a tablespoon or more? and vigorously shake it around in the pot. After you have done this for a few minutes, add a little water (maybe 1/2 cup) and stir it around a little more.

Lastly add one small squirt of dishsoap, rinse until clear and put your sunglasses on…..it is THAT sparkly clean!!!!

She is quite proud of this, and has even offered to demonstrate for others to get theirs as clean.