Brewing takes the most power
A standard drip coffee maker uses about 1,000 watts while heating the water. The brewing process takes about 10 minutes, which costs very little in terms of electricity.
The hidden cost of the warming plate
After brewing, the machine keeps the glass carafe hot using a warming plate that draws 30 to 60 watts. If you leave it on for several hours every day, the warming plate ends up using more total electricity than the brewing process itself.
A better way to keep coffee hot
To save energy and prevent your coffee from tasting burnt, turn off the machine as soon as it finishes brewing and pour the coffee into an insulated thermal carafe.
Rate source and limits
The default rate is the EIA U.S. residential average for April 2026, retrieved July 16, 2026. It is an average revenue per kilowatt-hour, not a quote for your utility plan. Fixed fees, taxes, tiers, and time-of-use prices can change the bill.
Open the EIA source