A device for brewing coffee in an aircraft is disclosed which operates automatically, and is substantially lighter than and brews coffee faster than conventional aircraft coffee makers known in the art, and offers a high degree of safety in its operation. The aircraft coffee maker uses a heater tube assembly having three heater tubes with heating elements therein which are arranged in sequential order to heat water as it flows through the heater tube assembly. The aircraft coffee maker provides an entirely automatic brew cycle, and uses redundant safety mechanisms to monitor the brew operation to ensure that the brewing operation will be carried out both efficiently and safely.