A coffee maker wherein a gravity fed water boiler receives water in a lower portion thereof from a water reservoir having its outlet substantially above the upper portion of said boiler; said boiler having an outlet at its upper portion for delivering hot water to a coffee brewing basket; a boiler heater in said boiler; said boiler heater disposed to create a temperature gradient between the upper and lower portions of the boiler; a thermostatic switch disposed to sense a shut-off temperature substantially below the boiling point of water; said thermostatic switch disposed at an intermediate location between the upper and lower portions of said boiler; said thermostatic switch adapted to respond to said shut-off temperature at said intermediate location and disposed to de-energize said boiler heater when flow of water from said reservoir into said heater is depleted; and a coffee pot heater having means for transferring heat to said boiler to maintain a temperature at said thermostatic switch and to thereby maintain said boiler heater de-energized during the non-brewing portion of the cycle.