For me, coffee is life, and my Keurig is the most used home appliance, but I had no idea how much it costs to run.
When my energy bills started to skyrocket last year, it forced me to take a closer look at where I'm spending money.
That meant looking beyond the ground beans and K-cups and actually understanding how much energy my Keurig uses.
In this guide, I'll share what I learned and explain how many volts and watts your Keurig uses. I'll also show you how to estimate the running costs of your coffee machines.
How Many Watts Does A Keurig Use? (Different Stages Explained)
A Keurig coffee maker will consume around 1500 watts at the peak. However, Keurig machines go through different stages, and each stage requires a different energy draw.
Knowing how many watts of power your Keurig consumes in each will help you understand how much it will cost to run.
Here are the 3 cycles for Keurig coffee machines and how much power they use for each:
Turning On The Keurig
When you first turn on your Keurig, it uses around 1,500 Watts. That’s the same as a powerful vacuum cleaner or a small clothes dryer.[1]
The Keurig coffee machine draws the most power here. It immediately starts powering the heating element to warm to hot water and prepares the Keurig for a brewing cycle.
It will usually take 5-10 minutes for the Keurig coffee machine to draw power and heat up before you can brew hot coffee.
When The Keurig Is In Idle
In-between cycles, Keurig coffee machines go into idle mode and only draw about 10-15 Watts. That's roughly the same amount as a laptop or lightbulb will draw.
The Keurig coffee maker draws the least power when idle because it's not actively heating the water or getting ready for a brew; it's just keeping the machine turned on.
A Keurig coffee maker will take 1-2 minutes to make a cup of coffee and usually turn off automatically if left idle.
From Idle To Heating Up
If your Keurig starts a brewing cycle from idle, it will draw 200-400 Watts. That’s the same as a fridge/freezer or large residential dehumidifier.
The Keurig doesn’t need to draw as much power as when it first turns on because the water is partially heated already.
This power activates a heating element within the coffee maker to bring the water up to around 192 degrees, ready for brewing.
It will usually take 60 seconds for your Keurig machine to heat and pump water for a cup of coffee. After the initial brewing cycle, your Keurig coffee maker will return to idle.
How Many Volts Does A Keurig Use?
All Keurig machines operate at 120 volts. Voltage is the push from an electrical circuit that allows Keurig machines to operate.
Unlike watts or amps, it doesn’t change when making coffee, and Keurig machines will always need 120 volts.
The standard voltage for a power strip in the USA is 120 volts, so your machine will run fine.
However, other countries (like the UK and Australia) maintain a standard voltage of 240v in each wall outlet.[2]
If you're using your American Keurig coffeemakers abroad, you need to use a step-down transformer to regulate how much electricity flows into your Keurig brewers.
How Much Will I Spend Each Year Running My Keurig?
On average, a Keurig will cost $50-150 a year to run. However, the exact running costs of your Keurig will depend on two things:
- How much power costs in your area - this is how much you pay per Kilowatt hour (kWh)
- How much coffee you’re making
You pay for watts of power, usually measured in kilowatts per hour. My local rate is $0.21 per KwH, but the national US rate is $0.23 per KwH.
That means if you have an appliance that consumes 1kWh, it would cost you $0.23 per hour.
For this example, let’s use the national average rate of $0.23 per kWh.
You also need to know how many watts of power you use, which is influenced by how many cups of coffee you brew.
For this example, let's say you brew 3 cups of coffee a day, and the Keurig stays idle for 6 hours between brews.
That means a power consumption of 1.5 KW for 0.5 hours (1500 Watts for 15 minutes of brewing) and 0.015 KW for 6 hours (15 Watts for 6 hours on idle).
That equates to 0.75 kWh (1.5 x 0.5) + 0.09 kWh per day (0.015 x 6) = 0.84 kWh a day.
So, now we have the power consumption and energy rate, we can use the following equation:
kWh power consumption per day x average cost per kWh = cost per day
0.84 x 0.23 = $0.19 per day
That translates to $5.70 a month and $69.50 a year.
The example above is based on power usage for 3 cups of coffee and assumes you save power by switching the Keurig machine into idle mode. However, the power draw will vary.
Here’s a table to help estimate your energy consumption:
Coffees Per Day | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
1 | $23 |
2 | $46 |
3 | $69.50 |
4 | $92 |
6 | $139 |
10 | $231 |
Keurig Coffee Maker Power Consumption By Model
Some Keurigs are more energy efficient than others. The power draw is influenced by the size of the internal tank, how much water is being heated, and how long the entire process takes.
Here’s how much energy/how much wattage some of the most popular Keurig brewers use:
What Parts Of A Keurig Machine Draw The Most Power?
Most parts of your Keurig won't draw much power and can run on standby using less power than a 60-watt light bulb.
There are only two components that really draw much power and add to your electricity bill:
- 1The Water Pump
The water pump moves cold water around your Keurig. When you press the power button, the pump will move from the cold water reservoir to a heating chamber, and then through the brew head to brew coffee. - 2The Heating Element
Keurig heating elements warm water in a heating tank and keep it warm. When you start a brew, it will heat the water to the maximum temperature (192 degrees ) for your coffee.[3]
It uses more power when you first turn on the machine because it's heating cold water, but it will maintain the temperature for an extended period.
By keeping the water warm, your Keurig helps you save energy and lets you brew hot beverages at your convenience more quickly.
Do Keurig Coffee Makers Have An Energy-Saving Feature?
Yes, most popular Keurig machines have a feature that moves the coffee maker into standby mode after it’s idle for a certain amount of time.
How many watts Keurig drip coffee makers use varies massively depending on what it’s doing.
Moving the Keurig brewer into standby lowers the energy consumption to around 15 Watts, letting you save energy and a few bucks in running costs.
The auto shut-off timer is different for each model, but you can usually program when it will automatically shut off and go into energy-saving mode.
Here are the default settings for the most popular models:
Keurig Model | Shut Off Timer |
|---|---|
Keurig Mini /Keurig Mini Plus | 1.5 minutes |
Keurig K-Slim | 5 minutes |
Keurig K-Supreme | 5 minutes |
K-Duo / K-Duo Plus | 5 minutes |
Keurig K-Compact | 120 minutes |
Keurig K-Elite | 120 minutes |
Keurig K-Classic | 120 minutes |
Related Keurig Power Consumption Questions
What size inverter do I need to run a Keurig?
You should be able to run most Keurigs from a 2000-Watt inverter.
How many amps does a Keurig coffee maker use?
Most Keurigs require 12.5 amps of electricity.
Can a Keurig be left on all the time?
Yes, Keurigs have an auto-off feature that moves it into standby mode. This acts as a safety feature and decreases the energy consumption.
Can a Keurig catch on fire?
Yes, Keurigs can catch fire, but it’s very unlikely. Fires can be caused by several factors, but it’s usually because the K cups haven’t been properly punctured. The pressure build-up can cause Keurig to explore.
Where can you find your Keurig model's amps and watts?
The watts and amps of your Keurig can be found on the packaging or in the specifications. You can also visit the Keurig support site for more information.[4]
How many watts does it take to run a regular coffee maker?
A regular coffee maker will use 550-1200 watts, depending on how energy efficient it is. That’s less than an espresso machine (1200-1500 watts) or an electric kettle (1200-1500 watts).
Final Words
Energy costs can easily be overlooked, but it’s one of the most important things to know about your home appliances.
Whether you’re using a Keurig, Nespresso machine, or Mr. Coffee brewer - you should have a good idea of how much energy they will use.
How much power does a Keurig machine use? About 1500 watts when you start the machine and 200-400 watts when it's up and running.
Every brewer is different, so you will have to do your own research, but hopefully, this guide has given you a rough idea of how much power your Keurig will use.
References:
- https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/estimating-appliance-and-home-electronic-energy-use
- https://www.scienceabc.com/innovation/in-built-in-stabilizers-smps-switch-mode-power-supply-voltage-india-us-downscale.html
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18226454
- https://support.keurig.com/?kmContentId=10080002&page=shell&shell=knowledge-article
