What size power station for a drip coffee maker?
It needs a station with at least 900 W of continuous output. At the default 85% efficiency it takes about 265 Wh of rated capacity for its typical 15 min a day, and 1,059 Wh for 1 hour of use. 44 of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it. The smallest one that keeps it going for 1 hour of use is the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (1,070 Wh).
Updated
The short answer
900W
Continuous output
None
Surge to start it
265Wh
Capacity for its typical 15 min a day
1,059Wh
Capacity for 1 hour of use
44 of 54
Stations that power it
Watts
Typical figures for this type, from the sources at the foot of this page. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.
- Running, typical
- 900 W
- Running, low to high
- 700 W to 1,200 W
- Starting
- No start surge
- Typical use a day
- 15 minthe calculator starts from this, and you can change it
- Average draw while on
- 900 W
- Voltage
- 120 V
Explained in: Watts vs watt hours, explained and How to read an appliance label for watts.
The math
Worked with the typical figure, as the calculator does it.
- Output900 W running, so the station's continuous output must be at least 900 W.
- SurgeNo start surge: the running figure covers it.
- Average draw900 W: the running watts count for every hour it is on.
- A typical day900 W × 15 min = 225 Wh a day.
- Typical 15 min a day900 W × 15 min = 225 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 265 Wh of rated capacity.
- 1 hour of use900 W × 1 h = 900 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 1,059 Wh of rated capacity.
- On the Jackery Explorer 1000 v21,070 Wh × 0.85 = 910 Wh usable, ÷ 900 W = 1.0 h of use.
Stations that run it
Every power station in the data with this appliance alone plugged in, at 85% efficiency. Type the running watts from your own label and the table works it out again.
What moves the number
Carafe size sets the draw: a 5 cup machine is about 700 W, a 12 cup machine about 900 W, and the highest figure in our sources is 1,200 W. The heater brews at its full rating, then the hot plate under the pot switches on and off to keep the coffee warm.
Pouring the coffee into a thermal carafe and switching the machine off ends the hot plate draw.
Questions
How many watts does a drip coffee maker use?
Can a portable power station run a drip coffee maker?
How long will a power station run a drip coffee maker?
Does a drip coffee maker need extra watts to start?
Sources
Researched from these pages, then checked against them a second time. The check corrected at least one figure.
- Hamilton Beach Use and Care Guide, models 46110, 46111 maker manual, checked
- Hamilton Beach Use and Care Guide, models 49315, 49316, 49318, 49465 maker manual, checked
- Hamilton Beach Use and Care Guide, models 46390, 46391, 46392 maker manual, checked
- Choosing a Generator, Quick Reference Wattage flyer (Champion Power Equipment) generator maker guide, checked
- Generator Wattage Worksheet (Generac, K182637) generator maker guide, checked
- Hamilton Beach FrontFill 14 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker - 46390 maker product page, checked
We read published figures and do the math; we do not measure appliances. The methodology states every formula on this page. Capacities are rated watt hours: 1,000 Wh rated gives 850 Wh usable at the default.