How Hot Does Water In A Coffee Machine Get?

You are wondering how hot water in a coffee machine gets. Maybe you are checking to see if your coffee machine works correctly or if the coffee is hot enough to burn your skin. You may have heard that a coffee machine can boil water and want to know if that's true. If you are making coffee in a french press, you might wonder how hot the water should be. We researched this to get the answer to all of these questions.

The water in a drip coffee machine is about 200 degrees Fahrenheit or 93 degrees Celsius. This is just below the boiling point of water, which is 212 Fahrenheit and 100 degrees Celsius. 

Now that you know the temperature of the water in your coffee machine, you probably have some more questions. This post will discuss whether hotter water is better for making coffee, how hot the coffee hot plate gets and how to tell if your coffee machine water is getting to 200 degrees. We will also give some coffee maker suggestions that use the optimum temperature for hot water coffee extraction and tips for keeping coffee hot. Keep reading to learn more.

Coffeemaker with two cups in interior of modern kitchen closeup, How Hot Does Water In A Coffee Machine Get?

How Hot Does Water In A Coffee Machine Get?

The optimum temperature for brewing coffee is 195 degrees to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Most coffee makers will fall into this range. If the coffee is brewed too hot, then it will lose some flavor and may taste burnt. If coffee is brewed with water cooler than this range, then it will taste weak and watery.

Pouring coffee to a white cup with coffee beans on the side

Some coffee machines also have a hot water tab for convenient access. You can use this hot water to make tea or oatmeal. If you don't have a hot water tab on your coffee machine, you can run the coffee machine through a cycle without any coffee beans or filters in the reservoir. The water temperature from the hot water tab is the same as the water when brewing a pot of coffee.

Cuisinart 12-Cup Coffee Maker With Hot Water Dispenser

Click here to see this Cuisinart 12-cup coffee maker on Amazon.

Which Coffee Maker Has The Hottest Water?

Coffee makers can go through a testing process to get SCAA certified. Any coffee maker with that certification brews at temperatures between 195 and 205 degrees. This is considered the optimum temperature for hot water coffee bean extraction.

Most manufacturers provide a range of temperatures that fall within this range, so there is little variation between the coffee makers that are SCAA certified. Here is one of the hottest water brewing coffee makers with a thermal carafe to keep the coffee hot.

OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker

Click here to buy the OXO brew 8-cup coffee maker on Amazon. 

Does Hotter Water Make Stronger Coffee?

Hotter water increases the level of extraction for the same amount of time. Hotter water makes stronger coffee, but that doesn't mean that hotter is always better. The optimal hot brew coffee should be in the range of 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit.

If the coffee is brewed at higher temperatures, it will lose some of the flavor qualities and become more bitter. Coffee brewed at temperatures above optimum might also impart a burned taste or flavor.

A coffee maker placed on the table with small slice of bread on the side, Is Keurig Coffee Weaker Than Drip Coffee?

What Is The Difference Between Hot And Cold Brew Coffee?

Coffee extracted at high temperatures is stronger and contains more antioxidants. There is a method of cold-brewing coffee that requires a minimum of 14 hours for the cold water extraction to take place. Cold-brew coffee is less acidic than hot coffee and also less bitter.

If you would like to receive more anti-oxidants and a more robust flavor, hot-brewed coffee is the best option. Those who prefer less acidic coffee might like the cold-brew option best.

How Can You Tell If Water Is At 200 Degrees?

When water is at temperatures between 185 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit, this is considered simmering. When water is simmering, there are small bubbles and some movement of these bubbles at the water's surface. At elevations of 8,000 feet, water will be boiling at 200 degrees which involves larger bubbles and more movement.

To test the water temperature of your coffee machine, you should run the machine without any coffee. As the water comes down into the carafe, you can measure the temperature. You can't test the temperature of the water by measuring the coffee temperature. Coffee brewed with 195-205 degree water will settle into the carafe at about 160-170 degrees Fahrenheit.

Should You Put Hot Or Cold Water In A Filter Coffee Machine?

You should put cold water in your coffee machine. Coffee makers are designed to warm up cold water to the perfect brewing temperature for the best-tasting cup of coffee. When you put hot water in the machine, you may end up with hotter water during the brewing process and a more bitter-tasting coffee. Putting hot water in your coffee machine will not speed up the brewing process, so it is best to use cold water.

How Hot Does A Coffee Maker Hot Plate Get?

A coffee maker hot plate is designed to keep the coffee warm after it has been brewed. The temperature should be between 120 degrees and 140 degrees, depending on the machine.

Cooler than this temperature will result in the coffee tasting lukewarm when you come back for your second cup. Hotter than this temperature may cause the coffee to lose flavor over time or taste burnt.

Can You Use A Coffee Maker To Boil Water?

The boiling point of water is 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius. This temperature is based on sea-level elevation. As the altitude gets higher, the boiling temperature decreases. A coffee maker may boil water at elevations of 6000 feet or higher but will fall short of the boiling point at lower elevations.

You can expect the water in a coffee maker to be between 195 degrees and 205 Fahrenheit, whether brewing coffee or dispensing from the hot water tap.

An electric water boiler, tea kettle, or hot plate can also do the job of boiling water. Using one of these might be an alternative to using your coffee maker if you don't have a hot water function.

For more information about using a hot plate to boil water, check out this article: What Are The Best Hot Plates For Boiling Water? [7 Options Explored]

How Hot Should French Press Coffee Be?

If you are heating water for french press coffee, the ideal temperature is the same range as automatic coffee machines. You want the water to be just under the boiling point, around 195 degrees.

If you heat water in a tea kettle, then you can let the water sit for a couple of minutes to cool down. Otherwise, you can use a water heater that is programmable to your temperature of choice.

Click here to check out this electric kettle from Milin from Amazon. 

In Closing

Coffeemaker with two cups in interior of modern kitchen closeup, How Hot Does Water In A Coffee Machine Get?

The best temperature for making coffee is 195 degrees to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. This is just below the boiling point of water. This temperature produces the highest extraction rate, including a strong flavor with the most amount of antioxidants. All coffee makers that are SCAA certified will brew coffee at this temperature.

Coffee that is made with cooler water will taste weak and watered down. If the water is hotter than the ideal temperature range, then the coffee tastes more bitter and less flavorful.

For more information about coffee and brewing methods, check out this post: Do You Need a Special Coffee for a Percolator?

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