Does a Coffee Maker Boil Water?

Every time you get a steaming cup of coffee from your coffee machine, you probably think that your coffee maker boils water. Hence, we are tempted to use our coffee makers to boil water for other purposes as well. However, the boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit, and the coffee maker does not let the water reach that point.

A coffee maker does not boil water. It brews the coffee at a temperature close to the boiling point but does not boil it because boiling produces steam, and the coffee makers cannot resist steam. Therefore, most coffee makers can heat water up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit as opposed to the boiling point of water which is 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

What Is The Boiling Point Of Water?

At one atmospheric pressure, water has a boiling point of 212 degrees Fahrenheit) when it is at sea level. The value, however, is not consistent everywhere and changes as air pressure and purity levels change.

If you live in a location above sea level, then water will boil at a higher temperature. If you live at a location below sea level, then water will boil at a lower temperature.

The level of impurities in the water can also alter the boiling point of water; contaminants or impurities (such as water with minerals and salts) cause it to boil at a temperature higher than pure water.

Does A Coffee Maker Boil Water?

Coffee makers cannot boil water. The average temperature that coffee makers can achieve is between 180 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range is considered the best range for brewing coffee. At this temperature range, the maximum flavor is extracted from the coffee grounds, so the coffee is flavourful.

Why Is Boiling Water Bad For Your Brew?

When manually making coffee, we often use boiling water to brew it. For example, when we are using coffee capsules without a machine, we extract the components and put them in a pot or saucepan of hot water. Sometimes we use boiling water to quicken the process, but that only hurts the brew.

When boiling water is used to brew, the coffee is extracted from the grounds earlier than it should, and so there is a bitter taste in your cup. Bubbling boiling water is also very harmful to brewing as it leads to uneven brewing.

Which Coffee Equipment Can Boil Water?

The only coffee makers that boil water are Moka pots and percolators because they are placed directly on a stove, and there is no way to control their boiling.

Moka pots and percolators work by moving the pressurized boiling water between their upper and lower chambers. The entire concept of Moka pots and percolators is based on pressure and the steam from boiling water, so it is obvious that they boil water.

How To Boil Water In A Moka Pot Or Percolator?

You can boil water in a Moka pot in pretty much the same way as you can make coffee in the pot. The only step different here is that we will remove the ground coffee on the sieve plate and make sure there are no traces of coffee inside the percolator or Moka pot.

Requirements

• Water (as required).
• A moka pot or percolator.

Instructions

Step 1

Open the lower chamber of the Moka pot and remove the sieve plate on top. Wipe the sieve plate and clean both the chambers to ensure there are no traces of ground coffee in them.

Step 2

Fill the lower portion with cold water and put the sieve plate back on. Also, attach the upper chamber to the pot, close the lid, and put the pot on the stove. Turn on the stove or fire as well.

Step 3

Wait for 4-5 minutes. Turn off the stove when all the water rushes into the upper chamber. Pour the water into the mug. It will be boiling at this stage.

Does a Keurig Boil Water?

Like all coffee machines, the Keurig does not boil water but only warms it to 192 degrees Fahrenheit.

Using Hot Water From Coffee Machines

If you are living away from and do not have access to a stove, the chances are that your dorm’s kitchen or any hotel room has a coffee maker around. You can use boiling water from the coffee maker to cook instant meals such as ramen or oatmeal.

How Does A Coffee Machine Heat Water?

A coffee machine supplies hot water in seconds. How does this happen so quickly? Well, it is all thanks to the heating elements. In most coffee machines, coiled wire serves as the heating element.

When we fill the water reservoir with water, it passes through an aluminum tube and is heated to around 192 degrees Fahrenheit by the heating coil. The hot water will produce a bubble that will go up a tube to a showerhead-like component. The coffee grounds will be sprayed with hot coffee from this spray.

When the water is near boiling and the pipe has collected enough liquid, the water will travel from the aluminum tube to your coffee grinds. The heating element determines how quickly your coffee maker can heat water. Higher wattage heaters inherently heat water quicker than lesser wattage heaters.

Does A Coffee Maker Purify Water?

To some extent, yes. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), most forms of bacteria cannot survive in temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, when a coffee maker heats water to around 190 degrees Fahrenheit, most of the bacteria is killed.

However, according to Insider, some forms of bacteria can grow in hot temperatures of 250 degrees Fahrenheit. While it is not common to find these hyperthermophilic bacteria in your coffee machines, heated water does not necessarily mean that all germs will be killed.

Heating and boiling water may kill bacteria and viruses, but it does not remove every kind of impurity. So we cannot say that coffee makers completely purify water.

Conclusion

Even though your coffee maker may not be able to boil water, that does not mean that the water cannot be used for anything else! The water from your coffee machine is very close to its boiling point and therefore can be used for multiple things, from making ramen to making hot tea. The heating elements do not completely purify water but still manage to kill a large amount of the bacteria. Your coffee maker is truly a multi-purpose machine!