Common coffee mistake that's costing you £40 a year - and it's not trips to Starbucks

Daily Record

05-06-2025

If you're a big fan of a cuppa then you might want to rethink your habits as one simple change could save you nearly £40 a year
Many of us enjoy a cuppa several times a day as a great way to relax. However, there's a way to trim the cost of your brew - and it doesn't involve switching brands or drinking less.
Justin Nielsen, an energy consultant at Wolf River Electric, an electrical and solar installations firm, suggests that overfilling your kettle, a habit many of us are guilty of, is unnecessarily inflating your energy bill. But a simple adjustment in how much water you boil could save you nearly £40 every year.
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Making a cup of tea or coffee is a daily ritual for millions of Brits. The Tea Census estimates that around 10 million cups of the beverage are made across the UK each day.
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And for those who fancy a change, coffee is the order of the day adding to the massive total of brews consumed. But with so many of the hot beverages being enjoyed, it's hardly surprising that many people don't think twice about how much water they pour into the kettle, reports Yorkshire Live.
Yet overfilling when boiling water for a cuppa can lead to significant energy waste. For those who drink five to six cups a day, the extra water quickly adds up.
If you're overfilling the kettle by just half a cup each time, it could add £39.62 to the typical £84 a year spent on boiling the kettle. That's a £40 increase on an annual energy bill for a habit that's easy to change.
Taking a moment to assess how much water you truly need could make a world of difference, and not just for your energy bills. It can help the planet too.
But it's not just the quantity of water you're boiling that impacts energy usage, as proper kettle maintenance can also lead to savings. Justin points out, "even small appliances like kettles contribute to overall energy use," emphasising the importance of keeping them in good condition for efficient operation.
He continues, "Using kettles with low minimum-fill lines and promptly descaling them can result in noticeable energy savings."
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Kettles tend to accumulate limescale, necessitating extra effort to boil water. Descaling regularly is essential to maintain them at optimal performance, ensuring they consume less power for the same amount of water boiled.
The issue of wasting electricity extends beyond kettles. Habits such as overloading the washing machine, operating a half-empty tumble dryer, and leaving lights on unnecessarily can increase your energy bills by hundreds of pounds each year.
Luckily, altering these energy-intensive habits is relatively straightforward. Making minor tweaks, from boiling just the needed amount of water to utilising eco settings on devices, can significantly cut costs.
Justin adds: "We've all been guilty at times of leaving the lights on or overfilling the kettle, but it's important to remember that these habits can all add hundreds of pounds a year to our bills."