When you see steam rising from the piping hot cup of coffee you just poured from your coffee maker.
You might think, can I also boil water in my coffee maker?
Well, coffee makers generally do not boil water.
However, they bring water to somewhere between 180°F to 205°F, depending upon the coffee maker.
The boiling point of water is 212°F which is quite close to the highest temperature a coffee maker can provide.
But if you have a stovetop coffee maker, it can boil water.
How hot can a coffee maker go?
Coffee makers make coffee for obvious, but they have some other uses too.
While coffee makers do not boil water, they can get water temperatures near it.
The average water temperature in a coffee maker is between 180 and 205 °F.
This means you can make those foods in a coffee maker, which requires near boiling temperatures, such as boiled eggs or ramen.
A coffee maker can heat water to almost the boiling point, which means you can also brew tea in it just as well.
Rinse out the brew basket in between tea and coffee to keep the flavors separated the way they are intended.
Related Reading: Which Coffee Maker Makes The Hottest Coffee – Click Here To Find Out.
How is the water heated in a coffee maker?
Coffee makers have a metallic tube that the water has to pass through before it reaches the basket.
This usually contains the filter and coffee grounds.
If you leave this basket empty, you will only have hot water.
The water gets heated through the metal tube and enters the carafe.
Because the tube has a small diameter, the water gets quickly heated up in the coffee maker.
How does altitude affect boiling?
Water has a boiling point of 212°F.
In locations where the air pressure is low, water boils at a lower temperature, such as in Denver, Colorado, where it can boil at 202°F.
When the atmospheric pressure decreases, the boiling temperature of the water also decreases.
So at high altitudes, the water in your coffee machine might boil before mixing into your coffee.
Does heating water in a coffee maker kill bacteria?
Since coffee makers do not produce enough heat to boil water, they also don’t get hot enough to kill bacteria.
Water must be heated to its boiling point of 212°F to kill the germs.
Viruses that might be present in the water also get inactive due to boiling.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), boiling water at high altitudes can destroy bacteria and viruses below the boiling point.
Does it mean it would be enough for decontamination if you heat water in a coffee maker at high altitudes?
The key phrase used by WHO is that the water is brought to a rolling boil and, in some situations, kept boiling for a full minute.
This is certainly not what happens inside a coffee machine.
Where water gets brought to a fixed temperature and then immediately passes through the system, where it starts losing heat.
So it would be best if you did not trust your coffee machine to purify your water.
How long should you leave hot water in the coffee maker?
Many people leave water sitting in their coffee maker overnight, setting a timer for the following day, so it is ready to be turned on automatically.
This is convenient and saves time.
Leaving water overnight should be fine; be aware that bacteria might be forming and that it is a risk you are taking.
So water should not be left in your coffee maker for more than twelve hours.
Some alternative ways of boiling water
If you need to boil water but are somewhere without a pot or stove to do it on, consider using the microwave.
You have to boil water in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes.
If your microwave is 1,000 watts, it takes about 2 minutes to boil one cup of water.
A 1,200 watts microwave takes one and a half minutes to boil a cup of water.
Another way of boiling water is using a kettle or an electric kettle.
A pot works well on your stovetop, too.
It takes about 2 minutes per cup of water to boil water on the stove.
This works to be 8 to 10 minutes for 4 cups of water.
Related Reading: For How, Long Does A Coffee Maker Last – Click Here.
Does the coffee maker boil water – FAQs
1. How long does it take a coffee maker to boil water?
It can take a drip coffee maker from 2 to 10 minutes to heat water up to near-boiling temperature.
Because a drip coffee maker typically brews coffee in a carafe.
It takes much longer to heat the water since they heat significantly more than single-cup machines.
2. Does the coffee maker also purify water?
A coffee maker would not purify water as it is incapable of steaming or boiling it.
3. Can I make tea in a coffee maker?
A countertop coffee maker can brew your tea in much the same way as you brew your coffee.
Simply add loose leaf or tea bag to the coffee filter in place of coffee grounds.
Add water to the reservoir, put the carafe on the warmer, and wait for your tea to brew.
4. Can you boil eggs in a coffee maker?
Yes, eggs can be boiled in a coffee maker.
Just fill the tank of the coffee maker with water, put your eggs in the carafe letting the hot water run over them.
Be sure to entirely covers the eggs with water, then let them heat for another 5 to 10 minutes until they are cooked to the desired level.
Related Reading: Coffee Maker vs French Press – Click Here To Read More.
Conclusion
A coffee maker does not boil water.
It brings the temperature anywhere between 180°F to 205°F.
This is not hot enough to get rid of bacteria.
But the good news is that, although it does not boil water.
A coffee maker can still get hot enough to brew tea, cook eggs, make instant soup, or even make instant coffee,
If, for some reason, you fancy that.
