Patent ID: 8701547

Claim:
A coffee maker including: a water reservoir for holding water for brewing coffee, an in-line water heater for heating water from the water reservoir for brewing coffee, a brew basket for receiving ground coffee, a water passage extending from the water reservoir to the brew basket, wherein the water passage passes through the in-line water heater for heating water flowing through the water passage from the water reservoir to the brew basket so that heated water is delivered to the brew basket, a water level sensor located in the water reservoir and producing a water level signal indicating quantity of water in the water reservoir, a water level indicator indicating the quantity of water in the water reservoir sensed by the water level sensor, a coffee bean grinder in communication with the brew basket, an electric motor driving the coffee bean grinder, a user input for selecting between at least two user selectable brewed coffee strengths, and a controller in communication with the water level sensor, the water level indicator, the electric motor, and the user input, wherein the controller activates the water level indicator in response to a signal from the water level sensor, and determines operating time of the electric motor in response to the water level signal received from the water level sensor and the brewed coffee strength selected at and received from the user input.