Abstract: A device for brewing a beverage, such as for example a coffee machine, has a brewing chamber for receiving a substance to be brewed or a portion pack containing this substance. The device is also provided with an electric pump for passing liquid through the brewing chamber and with a heat-insulated electric flow heater for heating up the liquid. After a predeterminable time following the end of a brewing operation or following the actuation of an operating element has elapsed, the device can be switched over by an electrical switching module into a very energy-efficient standby mode, in which at least the flow heater, and preferably also other loads, do not consume any electrical energy and are turned off.