How to Use a Bunn Coffee Maker for Perfect Coffee

The Bunn coffee maker is perfect for brewing multiple styles of coffee at home. Here's how to use it properly.

January 24, 2025
Drip coffee maker brewing coffee into a glass pot

Drip coffee makers are perfect for making many cups to fuel an entire household’s coffee habit. One of the top brands in this space is Bunn, offering 10 cups or more at a time. 

Keep reading, and we'll take you through how to set up and use a Bunn coffee maker. 

How to Set Up Your Bunn Coffee Maker

If you have just purchased your Bunn coffee maker, there are a few things you’ll need to do before you get going. Before you even plug in and turn on the machine, you’ll need to complete a few simple tasks. 

Follow these steps to prime your Bunn coffee maker for caffeine-fuelled action: 

  1. Insert the brew funnel above the coffee pot — you don’t need a filter for now.
  2. Add cold water to the coffee pot to the fill line, then use it to fill the water tank with cold water. Allow it to settle into the internal tank — this should take a few minutes. 
  3. Repeat this process until the tank is completely full. You may get some overspill into the pot, but this isn’t a problem.
  4. Throw away the excess water in the coffee pot, and turn your Bunn coffee maker on. Once it heats up, you are good to go. 

How To Use a Bunn Coffee Maker

Once the initial setup is complete, you’re ready to start making your first cup of coffee. You'll also need to learn how to use coffee makers effectively to prolong their lifespan, including their care and maintenance. Thankfully, the Bunn coffee maker is pretty easy to use, meaning you’ll have a steaming hot cuppa in no time. 

There are three different types of Bunn coffee makers — the Axiom series, the CDBC and CDBF series, and the VPR and VPS series. We’ll run you through how to use and operate each one. 

Axiom Series Instructions

  1. Add a Bunn filter to a clean funnel.
  2. Pour your coffee grounds into the filter and shake slightly to make it level.
  3. Slide the funnel into the machine.
  4. Place a fresh coffee pot or carafe under the funnel.
  5. Check that the “Enable Brew” indicator is on, and then press the “Brew” button.
  6. If everything has been set up correctly, the display will read "Now Brewing," along with the time left to complete the process. 
  7. Once the brew timer has elapsed, the screen will change to show the “Dripping” time as it fills the carafe.
  8. Once complete, throw away the filter and enjoy your coffee.

CDBC & CBDF Series Instructions

  1. Add a filter to the funnel. 
  2. Pour the coffee grounds into the Bunn filter and shake to make it level. 
  3. Slowly slide in the funnel. 
  4. Place a coffee pot underneath.
  5. Turn the machine on and then press the “Brew” button. 
  6. Once brewing has finished, throw away the filter and drink up.

VPR & VPS Series Instructions

  1. Add a filter to the brew funnel. 
  2. Add ground coffee to the filter and shake to make it level.
  3. Slide the funnel into position on the machine. 
  4. Put a coffee pot under the funnel and turn on the lower warmer switch. 
  5. Open the lid and pour in the water. Brewing should start automatically. 
  6. Once finished, remove the filter and pour a fresh cup. 

How Many Cups Can You Get From a Bunn Coffee Maker?

Stacked cream-colored coffee cups with spilled coffee

Bunn coffee makers are designed for heavy usage in workplaces and commercial settings, so they can make a decent amount of cups from one brewing sequence. 

Depending on the coffee maker that you have, you should be able to get between 10 and 12 cups of coffee from your Bunn coffee pot. If there aren't enough people to get through it all in one go, buy a model with a warming plate like the VPR and VPS series. Just remember — the fresher the coffee the better!

Best Coffee for Bunn Coffee Makers

Bunn coffee makers don’t have a built-in grinder, much like many other pour-over or drip coffee setups. This means that you will either need a separate grinder or should purchase pre-ground coffee.

A medium grind is the best type to use for drip coffee machines, as it's not too fine that the coffee becomes over-extracted but not so coarse that the water runs through too quickly and provides a weak, underdeveloped coffee. 

When it comes to the type of coffee to use, a medium to dark roast is ideal. You will lose some of the complexity provided by lighter roasts, which may be more suited to pour-over and French press setups. 

The bold notes and flavors of robusta coffee are ideal for larger brew sizes like those of Bunn coffee makers. 

Try three of our recommended coffee blends for your Bunn coffee maker:

  1. Sai Gon OG — a mix of robusta and arabica beans makes our signature bend a real crowd-pleaser. 
  2. Ban Me — our workhorse coffee with 100% pure peaberry robusta for a potent, caffeinated punch. 
  3. Da Lat — a pure Vietnamese arabica blend for a smooth, inviting cup. 

How Much Coffee Should I Use?

Bunn recommends using 1 tablespoon of ground coffee for every 5 oz of water that you put into the machine for best results. With a tank holding up to 70 oz of water, this may seem like a lot of coffee to put in, but it will yield a great-tasting brew. 

Bunn Coffee Maker Maintenance

To get the best out of your Bunn coffee maker, you’ll want to keep it in tip-top condition. 

Here are some general cleaning and maintenance tips for your machine: 

  1. Clean the funnel regularly — this is especially needed if you have an Axiom series machine, where it should ideally be cleaned after every use. 
  2. Remove the carafe from the warming plate — avoid sitting the carafe on a switched-on warming plate for significant periods of time. 
  3. Give the carafe a deep clean every month — make sure to give the carafe a thorough cleaning every month or even more frequently if it sees heavy use. 
  4. Run through a dish cleaning detergent — add a small amount on a brew cycle to help clean the inner workings of the machine. Bunn recommends the Cascade brand. 
  5. Descale the machine regularly — to descale the coffee maker, add a mixture of 1:3 parts white vinegar and water to the reservoir, and run this through the machine.

Following these steps will not only improve the longevity of your machine but also ensure a great-tasting brew every time. Regular cleaning removes residue buildup from both hard water and coffee oil and grounds that may linger in the machine, affecting its performance.

FAQs: Bunn Coffee Makers

Modern black and silver coffee maker with a glass carafe filled with coffee

Here are some more things you might want to know about Bunn coffee makers. 

1. How Long Does it Take For a Bunn Coffee Maker to Heat Up?

Bunn machines are pretty quick to heat up, meaning you won’t be waiting a long time for a good cup of coffee. Your machine should be ready to go within 15 minutes. 

2. Should You Leave Your Bunn Coffee Maker on All the Time?

For the best results, the heating element in the reservoir should always be on unless you are going to be away for a few days. However, you should only use the warming plate when you need it.

3. How Much Coffee Should I Put in a Bunn?

You should aim for a 1:5 ratio of coffee to water for the best results, according to Bunn. In other words, for every 5 oz of water, add a tablespoon of coffee grounds to the filter. 

4. Can You Make Tea in a Bunn Coffee Maker?

Yes, you can! Either add a tea bag or two to the funnel, or for loose-leaf tea, add it directly to the filter. 

5. How Long Will My Bunn Coffee Machine Last?

If you take good care of it, your Bunn machine will last you many years. But its longevity will be affected by how much you use it, so if it is making multiple pots a day, it will wear out quicker.

6. How Much Does it Cost to Run a Bunn Coffee Maker?

Despite being switched on for the majority of the time, you won’t see much of an increase in your household bills by having a Bunn coffee maker. On Average, it costs around $5 a month to keep running, which, when compared to the price of take-out coffee, makes it a great investment.