Many people are coffee enthusiasts and look forward to that morning cup of Joe every day.
With so many different types of coffee makers on the market, some are more efficient than others with respect to the amount of energy they use.
Something that often gets overlooked is the actual wattage used by a coffee maker and how much it costs to operate.
This article will show you the amount of energy used by various types of coffee makers and the associated costs.
How many watts does a coffee maker use?
On average, a coffee maker will use around 550-1200 watts to operate. This is for the standard drip-style coffee maker. Espresso machines can use up to 1500 watts. As there are so many different types of coffee makers available, the number of watts it will use will vary. It can be difficult to know the exact wattage they will use but these numbers are what you can expect.
What is wattage?
The term watt is used as a unit of measurement for electrical power. An electrical appliance will use power and the amount of power needed to operate is the wattage.
Wattage is easy to calculate by using a simple formula.
Volts x amps = wattage.
For most appliances including coffee makers, you don’t need to use this formula as the wattage is provided by the manufacturer.
Volts x Amps = Wattage
Types of coffee makers and energy used
As mentioned, there are several different types of coffee makers for you to choose from. The most common ones are listed below.
Drip coffee makers
An electric drip coffee maker is the most common type and is used by many people around the world. These machines have a section that holds and heats water to a certain temperature then slowly drips it over a basket filled with coffee grinds and into a carafe.
The drip coffee maker can use between 550-900 watts for smaller machines and 750-1200 watts for larger machines.
A disadvantage of using a drip coffee machine is it will continue to heat the water and keep the coffee in the carafe hot as long as it is plugged in. This can use up to 100 watts every hour.
To save this extra energy use, unplug the coffee machine when not in use.
I recently purchased a Hamilton Beach Brewstation coffee maker. The model is 48463. It’s similar to a drip machine but has the ability to brew 1 cup at a time without the need for a carafe.
It uses 950 watts.
Thermal coffee makers
Thermal coffee makers are very similar to drip machines but they have the advantage of keeping the coffee hot for longer periods of time without burning it.
You may have noticed that if coffee sits for a long period of time in drip coffee makers, it tends to get that burnt coffee taste and smell as it sits on the burner.
This is not a concern with thermal coffee makers.
Thermal coffee makers can use between 750-1000 watts. Larger machines can use up to 1200 watts.
Espresso machines
Espresso machines are generally higher-end machines that cost more than other types of coffee machines.
They brew coffee by forcing hot pressurized water through a puck of coffee and filter system to produce a thick concentrated style of coffee.
If you are an espresso lover, an espresso machine is a must.
A disadvantage of these machines is they use more energy to operate.
Many espresso coffee machines will use between 1000-1500 watts to operate.
Single-cup coffee makers
Single-cup coffee makers are very popular and there are many different brands and types available. Many people are familiar with the Keurig brand of single-cup coffee makers.
These coffee machines have the advantage of brewing a single cup at a time and use a coffee cup or “k cup”.
The single cup coffee makers are energy efficient and only uses around 200-400 watts to operate and keep water warm after the initial warm-up which can use up to 1500 watts.
How many watts does a coffee machine use per hour?
To figure out how much energy is used per hour, you need to use kilowatt-hours which is the amount of energy used over time.
Kwh (kilowatt-hours) can be found by dividing the watts by 1000.
For example, a 1200 watt coffee maker will use 1.2 kWh per hour.
Cost to run a coffee maker each year
Now that you know how many watts a coffee maker uses, let’s look at what that means in terms of cost.
On average, a coffee maker will use around 1.2 kWh (1-hour duration) and 150 kWh of energy every year.
The average cost for energy in the USA is 14 cents per kWh, therefore the cost per hour is around 17 cents.
This is equal to a cost of $21 every year to run a coffee maker. Which is more than the cost to operate a laptop.
Simply multiplying your power cost by the kWh will tell you the cost to operate your coffee maker.
On average, it will cost $21 per year to run a coffee maker.
Tips for saving energy when brewing coffee
To save energy and costs of brewing coffee, there are a few things you can do. The following tips will work for all machine types.
- Unplug the coffee machine when not in use. This will prevent unnecessary energy usage as the machine will use energy to keep water hot when not in use.
- Keep the coffee machine clean. It’s recommended to clean all parts of the machine once each month to keep it operating efficiently and use less energy.
- Use smart plugs. Many people use smart plugs in their homes for a variety of electronic devices. With a smart plug, you can set a timer for when the coffee machine should turn on and off. This will save energy and cost.
- Buy a more energy-efficient machine. If you have a coffee maker that is not energy efficient, consider buying a new one as over time there will be a cost savings that offsets the cost of the new machine.
Will a 1000 watt generator run a coffee maker?
Yes, a 1000 watt generator will run a coffee maker providing it is 1000 watts or less. A 1000 watt generator is suitable for operating several small household appliances including a coffee maker. If you have a power outage and have a 1000 watt generator available, use it to make your favorite cup of coffee.