Believe it or not, as simple a process it is to make coffee, many people still manage to mess it up or just don’t manage to read the manual to figure out how to use a coffee maker.

The invention of home coffee makers marked a new age in the coffee industry. With coffee makers, you can enjoy not only a deliciously hot cup of coffee straight out of your pajamas, but you can also enjoy the aroma of brewing coffee in your own home.

Throughout the years, many different kinds of coffee makers have been introduced in the market, each one of which with its own set of features and benefits. But they all do exactly one thing: they brew coffee.

This quick and easy guide will help you to the proper way of using a coffee maker, regardless of brand or type. This general step-by-step procedure will help you make the cup of coffee you’d want to wake up.

The 5 easy steps of how to use a coffee maker

Step 1. Place the coffee filter in the filter basket

The first step will have many variations depending on the type of coffee maker you have. Different ones require different kinds of filters.

There are basket-shaped filters and cone-shaped filters. You can figure out which one to get by just looking at the shape of your filter basket. Some coffee makers also come with washable and reusable metal filters.

These will not require any paper filters to work. To get started with making coffee, simply place your coffee filter into the filter basket. Make sure your filter is opened and fits correctly to avoid getting bits of coffee grounds into your pot.

Step 2. Measure and put the amount of coffee in your filter and basket

This is the best part of making coffee because you get to decide which coffee to make. You can buy different flavors of coffee at the store; even mix and match coffee grounds. You can buy them already ground up in the texture you like or grind them up at home.

Whichever coffee you have, you then get to decide how strong you want your coffee to be. For bolder flavors, use more coffee grounds.

Step 3. Measure and pour the correct amount of water

This step is very crucial to get a proper cup of coffee. It also coincides with step 2. Some coffee grounds you put into your filter basket will determine the amount of water you will need.

All coffee makers hold a certain amount of water. You don’t need to fill it up all the way if you don’t intend to make a full pot of coffee. You can make just enough for one or two or however much you need. Regardless, make sure you are putting the right amount of water.

There’s a water reservoir in each coffee maker that holds the water before it is heated and siphoned through to the pot. Find out where this reservoir is and pour the water in there. If you find that you’ve put too much water, you can just add more coffee grounds to balance it.

Step 4. Turn the coffee maker on
In a rush, some people completely forget to turn their coffee makers. You can see how important this step is, since, without power, your coffee maker will not run and will not make coffee.

As you turn your coffee maker on, make sure that it plugged in as well. As soon as you turn on your coffee maker, you’ll hear it immediately start heating up the water, ready to brew your coffee.

Step 5. Pour and drink your coffee as soon as possible

While some machines turn off automatically after brewing, it isn’t always the case. Some machines leave the pot warmer on to keep your coffee nice and warm.

However, the longer your coffee sits on this, the more likely it will get burned. Burnt coffee is not pleasant to drink. The sooner you take your coffee after it’s been brewed, the more enjoyable it’ll be.

These steps are all of how to use a coffee maker; you’ll need to get the perfect cup of coffee. As long as you follow these steps, you should be able to work your coffee maker no matter what brand or what kind it is.

Remember to dispose your filters after use and clean out your filter basket and coffee pot. You’ll prolong the life of your coffee maker this way, and you’ll get to enjoy more good cups of coffee in the future.