Archive for the ‘Coffee Maker’ Category
How Energy Efficient is Your Coffee Maker?
When it comes to coffee makers, the amount of energy one uses may surprise you. While EnergyStar and Consumer Reports do not show the energy consumption of coffee makers, there is another way to know their consumption of electricity. Look at their wattage use before you buy. Energy consumption is based on the amount of watts it uses per hour.
Low wattage drip coffee makers use between 650 watts 975 watts per hour. This equates to 20 watts and 32.5 watts per two-minute brewing time. Many of these are one cup size makers that brew into a mug or thermal container.
Medium wattage coffee makers include programmable ones that use between 1,000 and 1,200 watts per hour. This equates to 34 watts and 40 watts per two-minute brewing time. The programmable clock itself uses an additional 10 watts per hour continuously; this adds an extra 240 watts of usage per day. Some of these coffee makers also have warmers to keep the coffee warm for up to two hours when it shuts off automatically. These warmers whether a plate or a self-contained coffee warmer use between 20 and 25 watts per hour. At 25 watts per hour, the utilization is 50 watts of energy each time the warmers are used for a two hour period.
An electric super automatic grind espresso machine that maintains a stable brew temperature uses up to 5,850 watts per hour. A two minute espresso made on this machine uses 195 watts in two minutes time. From a simple 800 watt pump machine to the super automatic grind espresso there are great differences in the amount of watts used per hour. These differences in energy consumption are not necessarily different because of the type of espresso machine. French presses use boiling water with ground coffee to make a darker and more intense brew. A
French press may seem energy-efficient, but an electric tea kettle when used to boil water utilizes from 1000 to 1800 watts. This is far more wattage use than most regular coffee makers. At 1800 watts it may be fast, but for the two minutes of run time it will use 60 watts while an 800 watts simple coffee maker uses about 27 watts for the same length of time. When using an electric stove top tea kettle the energy utilization is greater than the coffee maker, but less than the electric tea kettle. A modern electric stove top burner utilizes 1400 watts per hour and takes about two minutes for fully boiling water. This means the burner utilizes about 47 watts in two-minutes.
Tips on How to Fix a Broken Coffee Maker
Before trying to fix a broken drip coffee maker, check to see if your warranty is still valid. If it is no longer valid, check the light switch to see if the light turns on and off. This lets you know whether or not electricity is going through the power cord. This also means that if the light works there is a problem further on in the coffee maker. If it is not heating these first steps are most important. Make sure your coffee maker is unplugged, is on a dry surface, in a place where there is good lighting, the reservoir is empty and the spent grounds have been removed.
The next thing to do after this simple check is to consider what tools may be needed. This would include an appropriate sized flat bladed screwdriver, a circuit probe or multi-meter on the ohm setting and the owner’s manual.
Depending on whether the coffee maker is made of metal or plastic will make a difference on how you get the bottom off. A metal one will require removing screws from the bottom plate. For a plastic one, you will need to put the screwdriver in a crack and wedge it with force until the back wall and the bottom come apart. Turn the coffee maker upside down and look at the wiring.
Now you can follow the electrical cords from the two power switch terminal ends. Using a circuit probe or multi-meter, you can find out whether there is a continual flow, which is a closed circuit. If the circuit has a broken connection, known as an open circuit, then the following parts may need replacing. This includes the terminal where the off-on switch is located and the wires that connect to the thermostat and heating element.
You need to also check to see if there is a problem in the thermostat or in the heating element. Using the circuit probe or multi-meter, check for connectivity through the thermostat. If the problem was with the coffee not getting hot enough or if the coffee warmer did not keep the coffee hot, the probe or multi-meter will show only slight connectivity; this means that the thermostat definitely needs to be replaced. To change the thermostat, remove the connectors and replace the new thermostat by reconnecting the connectors.
Before you begin to take the coffee maker apart, check for coffee and mineral deposit buildup. If you have not been cleaning your coffee maker on a regular basis, you could have a lime buildup in the water-line. This can cause the unit to stop working. Use white vinegar to clean your coffee maker on a regular basis. When you begin to clean your coffee maker check for loose fitting tube connections and make sure they are fully connected. Next, put white vinegar equal to the amount of water you normally put in for a full amount of coffee. Run the brewing process without a filter in the filter basket. Rinse the carafe if you are using one. Then, run the brew cycle again with clean water. Dry the filter basket and carafe and any place you can see that is wet. Now you are ready to brew a much better tasting cup of coffee. You will be surprised by how much better your coffeemaker runs as well as how great the coffee tastes.
Melitta Ten Cup Thermal Coffee Maker
Last week was the final Christmas drive for Christmas. Presents customers wanted to get as their gifts before Christmas. So, what was popular? The Melitta Ten cup thermal coffee maker. It was out of stock just before the start of the final week. It was Melitta unique style and polished stainless steel finish that brought customers looking without success. The Melitta ten cup thermal coffee maker will be back after January 3, 2011.
If you are still interested in this Melitta ten cup, don’t be late as I don’t know how many we will be getting yet.
This Melitta Thermal Ten cup may be a part of our New Year’s sale as well.
Tips when Buying a New Coffee Maker
The traditional stove-top percolators and stove-top drip style coffee makers have now given way to electric percolators and the more advanced automatic drip coffee machines and programmable brewers. With all the styles, colors and price ranges available however, there is bound to be a best coffee maker for you. Check out the consumer ratings on the one you are interested in at your local library, if you don’t take their magazine. Also, if the coffee maker brand and model have been on the market for some time and seem popular, it is probably a good coffee maker or percolator.
12 cup Programmable Coffee Maker with Glass Carafe
This Hamilton Beach Black Ice™ Metal Collection Model 43255 is a programmable 12 cup coffee maker with a clock timer. In fact, this Shiny Black Metal coffee maker has all the features you want. A true drip-free carafe for easy pouring, auto pause and serve and a two hour shut-off. The nonstick keep-hot plate is easy to clean. This coffee maker is on sale at CoffeeMakersShop.com. This coffee maker is on sale at: CoffeeMakersShop.com.
Features:
- Drip-free carafe for easy pouring
- Programmable clock / timer
- 2 hour auto shutoff
- Auto pause & serve
- Nonstick keep-hot plate
Specifications:
- Weight: 8 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year limited warranty from date of purchase for Model 43255.
Hamilton Beach Model 47214 Black 12 Cup BrewStation Coffeemaker with 3.5+ Star Rating
This well-loved coffee maker is on sale at CoffeeMakersShop.com. This BrewStation coffee maker has been on the market for quite a while. The two features that owners liked best was the insulated thermal tank and the no spill one hand dispensing.
Features:
- Brews from 2 to 12 cups
- One-hand dispensing
- No carafe, No pouring, No spills
- Enclosed brewing system
- Double-walled insulation acts as a thermal container of your coffee
- Gentle warming heater to keep at drinking temperature for up to 2 hours
- No hot plate to scorch coffee flavor
- Digital Clock with Programmable Timer
- Two hour shut-off of coffeemaker
- Uses standard filter and coffee for drip coffee
Specifications:
- Size: 15.56″ High by 11.5:” Wide by 11.8″ Deep
- One year limited warranty for model 47214 from date of purchase.
Hamilton Beach BrewStation® 6 Cup Coffee Maker 48275
This coffee maker is great for a couple on the go. Fill your mugs for breakfast and have enough hot coffee to refill them for on the go. Easy care coffee maker that you can program to your time. Forget to turn off the coffeemaker before you leave. Don’t it will automatically turn off in two hours or before the tank goes dry. This 6 cup model is over 10% off at CoffeeMakersShop.com.
Features:
- One-hand dispensing -no carafe – no pouring – no spills
- Programmable digital clock with automatic shutoff
- Coffee stays fresh longer with insulated tank
- Use your favorite ground coffee
- Never break another glass carafe
- Mug not included – Choose your own mug or thermal container
Specifications:
• Shipping Weight: 9 lbs.
• Limited Warranty on the 6 Cup Coffee Maker 48275: One year free from defeats in materials and workmanship from date of purchase
Hamilton Beach BrewStation® 12 Cup Dispensing Coffeemaker 77000
This Forget the Carafe™ Hamilton Beach 12 cup dispensing coffeemaker is on sale at over 10% off at CoffeeMakersShop.com.
Features:
- Brews a full 12 cups and dispenses one fresh cup at a time
- Coffee stays fresh longer
- Water filter included
- One-hand dispensing
- Versatile brewing options
- Gentle warming heater
- Convenient brew basket handle
- Programmable digital clock
- 2 hour automatic shutoff of coffeemaker
Specifications:
- Hamilton Beach model 77000 Limited Warranty: One year free from defeats in materials and workmanship from date of purchase.
Check Out the New Face of CoffeeMakersShop.com
Toastess 15 oz. Personal Mug Coffee Maker
The Toastess Personal Coffee Maker includes a 15 ounce stainless steel thermal travel mug with non-slip grip. It fits most car cup holders and is comfortable to hold onto. No paper filters are required with this coffee maker as it has a permanent nylon coffee filter. The lid on the mug is tight fitting and the open/close tab prevents spills. This Toastess Personal Coffee Maker has a removable drip tray for easy cleaning. It will also heat hot water for tea, hot chocolate, and soups, etc. It is also great for making one or two servings of Cappuccinos, Lattes and Mochas. Note Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays blog for recipes.
This pleasant looking coffee maker uses 800 watts, yet quickly brews a 15 ounce mug. The coffee maker itself has a convenient “on/off” indicator light and measures 7 inches by 6.5 inches by 12 inches. This model TFC-25T one cup coffee maker comes with a 2 year limited warranty.
New Face for CoffeeMakersShop.com
CoffeeMakersShop.com is changing the color of the pages and new tabs for easier navigation. Click on Household and there is a picture to click for each household product. Click on Commercial and then click on the picture for what you are looking for from Brewers to Warmers and Accessories. Click on LavAzza Coffee and it will take you directly there.
To celebrate, our Toastess Black Coffee Tea & Hot Chocolate 1 Cup Maker with mug is a great for this new easy recipe from Millstone Coffee and Smucker’s Syrups.
Brazilian Coffee
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 5 cups water
- 1 1/3 cups strong brewed Millstone® French Roast Coffee
- Combine cocoa, salt and cinnamon in 3-quart saucepan. Add sweetened condensed milk; mix well.
- Slowly stir in water and coffee over medium heat; heat thoroughly but do not boil.
- Brazilian coffee may be stored in refrigerator up to 5 days. Mix well and reheat before serving.
The Toastess Coffee Tea and Hot Chocolate one cup coffee maker makes just the right amount of coffee for this Brazilian Coffee drink. Just add unsweetened cocoa, cinnamon and sweetened condensed milk to 5 cups water and 11/3 cup strong coffee.