Making Distilled Water Using Your Coffee Maker

Quick answer

• No, you cannot make distilled water with a standard coffee maker.
• Coffee makers are designed to brew coffee, not distill water.
• Distillation requires boiling water and capturing the steam to condense it.
• This process separates impurities from the water.
• Coffee makers don’t have the components for this steam capture and condensation.
• You’ll need a dedicated water distiller for true distilled water.

If you’re serious about obtaining pure distilled water, consider investing in a dedicated water distiller. These appliances are specifically designed to boil water and condense the steam, effectively separating impurities.

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Who this is for

• Anyone curious if their daily coffee brewer can multitask.
• Folks looking for a simple way to get distilled water at home.
• People who want to understand the difference between brewing and distilling.

What to check first

• Brewer type and filter type: Most coffee makers use paper or permanent filters. These are for grounds, not for separating water from dissolved solids. They don’t change the water’s composition beyond adding coffee flavor.

• Water quality and temperature: Your coffee maker heats water, sure. But it doesn’t reach the boiling point needed for steam creation, nor does it have a system to collect and re-condense that steam. The heat is just enough to extract coffee compounds.

• Grind size and coffee freshness: These are key for brewing tasty coffee. For distillation, they are completely irrelevant. Distillation is about the physical state of water, not its dissolved solids or how finely it’s ground.

• Coffee-to-water ratio: This is crucial for coffee extraction. It has zero bearing on whether water becomes distilled. Distilled water is just H₂O, pure and simple.

• Cleanliness/descale status: Keeping your brewer clean is good for coffee taste. It doesn’t, however, turn it into a distillation unit. Scale buildup might affect brewing, but it won’t enable distillation.

Step-by-step (brew workflow)

This section describes a standard coffee brewing workflow, not a distillation process, as coffee makers aren’t designed for distillation.

1. Add fresh, cold water to the reservoir.

• Good looks like: Clean water filling the indicated fill line. No funky smells.
• Common mistake: Using hot water or water from the tap that tastes off. Avoid this by always starting with fresh, filtered cold water.

2. Place a filter in the brew basket.

• Good looks like: The correct filter type (paper or permanent) seated properly.
• Common mistake: Forgetting the filter or using the wrong size. This leads to grounds in your cup, which is not ideal for coffee or water.

3. Add ground coffee to the filter.

• Good looks like: The right amount of coffee for your brew size, evenly distributed.
• Common mistake: Overfilling or underfilling the basket. Too much coffee makes it bitter; too little makes it weak.

4. Place the brew basket into the coffee maker.

• Good looks like: The basket clicks or sits securely in place.
• Common mistake: Not seating the basket fully. This can cause overflow during brewing.

5. Position the carafe on the warming plate.

• Good looks like: The carafe is centered and properly aligned.
• Common mistake: Forgetting the carafe or misplacing it. No coffee will brew into anything, and it’ll likely make a mess.

6. Turn on the coffee maker.

• Good looks like: The machine powers on, and brewing begins shortly.
• Common mistake: Not plugging it in or pressing the correct button. Seems obvious, but it happens after a long night.

7. Water heats and drips through the grounds.

• Good looks like: A steady stream of hot coffee filling the carafe.
• Common mistake: The flow is too fast or too slow. This indicates a potential issue with grind size or the machine itself.

8. Brewing cycle completes.

• Good looks like: The machine stops dripping, and the carafe is full.
• Common mistake: The machine continues to drip or gurgle excessively. Might need cleaning or maintenance.

9. Serve the coffee.

• Good looks like: Pouring hot, fresh coffee into your mug.
• Common mistake: Waiting too long and letting it get cold or burnt on the warmer. Best enjoyed fresh.

Common mistakes (and what happens if you ignore them)

Decision rules (simple if/then)

• If your goal is to brew coffee, then use your coffee maker as intended because that’s what it’s designed for.
• If you need distilled water, then you need a dedicated water distiller because coffee makers cannot produce it.
• If your coffee tastes bitter, then check your grind size and coffee-to-water ratio because these are common culprits.
• If your coffee maker is slow or making strange noises, then it likely needs descaling because mineral buildup is the usual cause.
• If you want the freshest coffee, then grind your beans right before brewing because pre-ground coffee loses flavor quickly.
• If your coffee is weak, then you might be using too little coffee or too coarse a grind because that leads to under-extraction.
• If you’re experiencing overflow, then check your coffee-to-water ratio and grind size because these can cause blockages.
• If you’re looking for a simple brewing method, then a drip coffee maker is a solid choice because they are user-friendly.
• If you’re concerned about water purity for brewing, then start with filtered water because it removes chlorine and some minerals that affect taste.
• If you want to experiment with brewing methods, then consider a pour-over or French press because they offer more control over the process.

FAQ

Can I just boil water in my coffee maker to make it distilled?

No, boiling water is only the first step. Distillation requires capturing the steam and condensing it back into liquid, a process your coffee maker isn’t equipped to do.

What’s the difference between filtered water and distilled water?

Filtered water removes some impurities like chlorine and sediment. Distilled water has virtually all impurities, including minerals and dissolved solids, removed through boiling and condensation.

Why would someone want distilled water for coffee?

Some enthusiasts believe using distilled water allows the coffee’s true flavor profile to shine without interference from minerals in tap or filtered water. However, this is a debated topic.

Does my coffee maker’s filter do anything for water purity?

The filter in your coffee maker is designed to catch coffee grounds, not to purify water by removing dissolved solids or minerals.

Is it safe to drink water that’s been run through a coffee maker multiple times?

While not distilled, running filtered water through your clean coffee maker multiple times won’t harm it. However, it doesn’t purify the water; it just heats it.

What happens if I try to force my coffee maker to “distill” water?

You won’t get distilled water. You’ll likely just end up with hot water, potentially with some residual coffee oils or scale if the machine isn’t clean, and you risk damaging your appliance.

Where can I get distilled water if not from my coffee maker?

You can buy distilled water at most grocery stores, pharmacies, and some big-box retailers. You can also purchase a dedicated home water distiller.

Are there any coffee makers that can make distilled water?

No standard home coffee makers are designed for distillation. You’d need a specialized piece of equipment designed specifically for water distillation.

What this page does NOT cover (and where to go next)

• Specific brand recommendations for coffee makers or water distillers.
• Detailed chemical analysis of water purity.
• The precise science behind steam distillation.
• Next steps: Research dedicated water distillation units. Explore the science of water chemistry in brewing.
• Recipes for brewing coffee using different types of water.
• Next steps: Look into guides on brewing with filtered, spring, or even reverse osmosis water.