Last Updated on October 22, 2023 by Kevin Chen
Image source Freepik
Planning to buy a coffee maker? One of the f questions that you will ask yourself is the amperes that it uses. Is it ea heavy consumer of electricity or will have minimal impact on my electricity bills?
Averagely, coffee makers are rated 1000 watts and tend to use between 5-9 amps amps of electricity. However, there are cases where the coffee maker can use up to 12amps and we will know why.
How have we arrived at those figures? Can be the consumption be higher or lower? What if my coffee maker consumes too much electricity, is it a sign of a problem?
This article is going to answer all these questions.
We are going to find out the exact amps that a coffee maker uses. We will also give you additional information regarding this subject.
The watts of a coffee maker
If you are wondering how we have come up with the above figures, then here is the answer.
It is all about the watt rating of the coffee maker.
Each coffee maker that you buy comes with a given wattage.
Some are rated 1000 watts, others 600 watts while others are rated 400 watts.
Let’s use the example of a 1000 watt coffee maker.
Remember that the ohms law still applies when calculating the amount of current consumed by the coffee maker.
So, it will be Amps= watts/volts
Since we are using a 1000 watt coffee maker and the power source is 120 volts,
Amps =1000/120= 8.33 amps.
Keep in mind that these are not the universal figures. There are still numerous factors that can make the amps to be higher or lower than the above stated value.
For example, if you are connecting the coffee maker to a 240 volts power source, the current will come down to 4 amps.
Types of coffee makers
Current consumption will also depend on the type of coffee maker that you are using in your application. Some types are known to be heavy-consumers while others are quire conservative when it comes to energy usage.
Let’s look at these different types and their expected consumption.
Drip coffee maker
Probably this is the type of coffee maker that you are using. It is the most popular type in the market.
The simple design and the ease of use are among the top reasons behind the popularity of this coffee maker.
The watt-rating of drip coffee maker ranges between 600 to 1200W. This implies that its current consumption also ranges between 4-10 amps.
Espresso coffee makers
This is another popular class of coffee making machines. They are mainly loved by devout coffee enthusiasts and commercial establishments.
They also come with a number of extra features, something that gives them a sense of luxury.
Their wattage rating ranges between 800-1500W which means that their current consumption is between 9- 12 amps.
Thermal coffee maker?
This is a specially designed coffee maker that is designed to keep your coffee hot without the direct use of a heating element.
Does this mean that it consumes a significant amount electric current?
Thermal coffee makers are rated between 800 to 1200W hence their current consumption is between 6amps to 10 amps.
Percolator
If you prefer to prepare your coffee in a traditional ’coffee pot’, then you know what a percolator is. There is a rich history behind them and some people still hold onto them.
The wattage of percolators ranges between 200 to 1300W, which translates to 1.6-11 amps.
So, which type of coffee maker matches matches your taste. From the above list, you can tell the expected amps that the machine should use.
But again, the ampere consumption still goes beyond the type of the machine.
Does more amps mean better quality coffee?
As we have seen, different coffee makers use different amounts of currents.
Does this mean that coffee machines that use high amperes make better-quality coffee?
No, the amount of amps used by a coffee maker is not directly connected to the quality of beverage that you will get from the machine.
The current only determines the speed of coffee preparation. More power means faster processing speed by the coffee making machine. Higher wattage means faster brewing.
Otherwise, the quality of coffee will depend on the ingredients that you use, the brewing technique and even the nature of water.
So, you should never use power as an excuse for your unsatisfactory quality of coffee.
Which cable size is the best for coffee maker?
Like for most electric appliances you should be careful with the size of cable that you use. It should meet the electric need for the appliance.
The cable size will always depend on the amps that a coffee maker draws from the power source.
Id a coffee making machine uses 10 amps, you will go with a 16 gauge cable. If it uses between 10 amps and 15 amps, you will go with a 14 gauge wire. A 12 gauge wire will be a perfect fit for any coffee maker that uses more than 15 amps.
Apart from these guidelines, you should check out the specifications of the individual coffee maker. Remember that the right cable size will always guarantee safety and efficiency of a coffee maker.
What size of inverter should I use with a coffee maker?
Like in most electronics the size of the inverter should match the power rating of the coffee maker. In fact, the inverter rating should be slightly higher than that of the appliance. If your coffee maker is rated 1000 watts, then the inverter should be at least 1200 watts.
How many watts does a 12 cup coffee maker use?
Most 12 cup coffee makers are rated 750 watts. This is enough power to prepare between 8-12 cups that can be used for both domestic and small commercial use. For the safety reason, you should use a 1000-watt inverter with this coffee making machine.
Conclusion
I hope this guide has give you insights on the amps usage by a coffee maker. Use the information to make the right decision regarding the type and specification of the coffee maker that you should buy.
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