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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Coffee Maker (Drip) in California? (2026)
A drip coffee maker draws around 1,000 watts while brewing, then the hot plate draws 50 to 100 watts for as long as it stays on. Leaving the plate on all morning often costs more than the brew itself.
A typical coffee maker (drip) (1,000 W) costs $0.35 per hour, or about $5.25 per month at 0.5 hours a day in California. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (600 W) | $0.21 | $0.10 | $3.15 | $38.32 |
| Typical (1,000 W) | $0.35 | $0.17 | $5.25 | $63.87 |
| High (1,500 W) | $0.52 | $0.26 | $7.87 | $95.81 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 0.5 h/day ≈ 182 kWh per year.
In California, with electricity at $0.35 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical coffee maker (drip) costs $0.35 per hour and about $63.87 per year at 0.5 hours a day. That is about 94% more than the US national average of $2.70 per month, because electricity in California costs $0.35 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 2.9 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a coffee maker (drip)
- Turn the hot plate off and use a thermal carafe.
- Brew only what you will drink.
- Descale regularly so the heating element does not have to work through limescale.
In standby it draws about 2 W, which adds roughly 18 kWh ($6.13) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to make a pot of coffee?
Brewing takes about 0.1 to 0.15 kWh, a fraction of a cent in most regions.
Does a coffee maker use electricity when off?
Models with a clock draw 1 to 3 watts continuously.
Are pod coffee machines cheaper to run?
Per cup they use similar energy, but many keep water hot on standby, which adds up.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India