Kitchen · West
Cost to run a coffee maker in Alaska
At Alaska’s average residential rate of 28.23¢ per kWh, a coffee maker drawing 900W for 0.5 hours a day costs about $3.87 a month. Change the numbers below to match how you actually use yours.
Quick answer
Based on 900W and 28.23¢/kWh, the Alaska average for May 2026.
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— per year
Why the cost differs in Alaska
Alaska has the 45th cheapest residential electricity of the 51 US states and territories we track, at 28.23¢ per kWh against a national average of 18.44¢. That is +53.1% compared with the national figure. Alaska is not one grid but many. The Railbelt system serves Anchorage and Fairbanks, while remote communities run isolated diesel microgrids where fuel arrives by barge or plane. That logistics cost, not generation efficiency, is what puts Alaska well above mainland rates. Heating demand runs most of the year, and lighting load is unusually seasonal given the extreme daylight swing.
For this appliance specifically, the difference works out to an extra $16.08 a year over what the same coffee maker would cost at the national average rate. Run the identical appliance in Hawaii and it would cost $85.41 a year; in Idaho it would cost $20.28. That spread of $65.13 is entirely down to location.
That works out to roughly 1.6% of a typical Alaska household's annual electricity bill - modest individually, though appliances in this range add up.
Because Alaska is among the most expensive states for electricity, efficiency upgrades pay back faster here than almost anywhere. A more efficient coffee maker that saves a given number of kilowatt-hours saves noticeably more money in Alaska than the same upgrade would in a cheap-power state.
Retail service in Alaska is regulated, so most households pay a tariff set through state rate cases rather than a shopped rate. The state average is a reasonable proxy, though your utility's specific tariff still varies.
| Location | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska this page | 28.23¢ | $3.87 | $46.37 |
| US average | 18.44¢ | $2.53 | $30.29 |
| Idaho cheapest state | 12.35¢ | $1.69 | $20.28 |
| Hawaii most expensive | 52.00¢ | $7.12 | $85.41 |
Alaska electricity rate trend
Rates in Alaska have moved from 26.87¢ to 28.23¢ per kWh over the last twelve months of published data. Nationally, residential rates rose about 6.2% year over year.
2025-06 to 2026-05 · cents per kWh
About running a coffee maker
Brewing costs pennies. The hidden cost is the warming plate, which can draw 60 to 100 watts for hours - often more energy than the brew itself. A thermal carafe removes that load entirely, and single-serve pod machines have no warming plate at all.
What actually changes the cost
- Models vary widely, from about 600W to 1500W. Check the nameplate on your own unit rather than assuming an average, because the spread is more than 2x.
- If your utility offers time-of-use pricing, shifting this load off-peak can cut its cost substantially without using any less energy.
How we worked this out
The arithmetic is simple and we would rather show it than hide it. Divide watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by hours of use and by the duty cycle to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your rate:
900W ÷ 1000 × 0.5h = 0.450 kWh/day × 28.23¢ = $0.127 per day
One honest caveat: Alaska’s figure is a state average published by the EIA. Your own utility’s tariff, any time-of-use pricing, fixed monthly service charges and local taxes all shift the real number. Put your actual per-kWh rate into the calculator above for a figure that reflects your bill.
Questions about coffee maker running costs
How many watts does a coffee maker use?
A typical coffee maker draws about 900 watts while running, with most models falling between 600W and 1500W. Check the nameplate label or manual for your specific unit - the range is wide enough that averages can mislead.
How much electricity does a coffee maker use per day?
At around 0.5 hours of use a day and a 100% duty cycle, that works out to roughly 0.45 kWh per day, or about 14 kWh a month. Your actual figure depends on your usage and model.
Why does the cost differ so much between states?
Residential electricity rates across the US range from about 12.35 cents per kWh in North Dakota to 46.62 cents in Hawaii - nearly a fourfold difference. The same coffee maker, used identically, therefore costs almost four times as much to run in the most expensive state as in the cheapest.
Is it cheaper to run a coffee maker at night?
Only if you are on a time-of-use or variable tariff. On a flat rate, the time of day makes no difference to cost. If you are on time-of-use pricing, off-peak hours are typically materially cheaper, and shifting this load can reduce its cost without reducing usage.