Technivorm Moccamaster KBTS Coffee Maker Review

I have had this unit for four years and it is still going strong.The water temperature and shutoff on the filter housing make this the Ferarri of coffee makers.There is no timer, so you actually have to make the coffee.I like to let the filter fill with hot water with the flow restrictor shut.This allows me to stir the coffee and wet the entire contents, allowing it to absorb the water fully.I then allow the coffee to flow on the first setting (slow).If you don't mind a little labor and you like stick shifts, this is an amazing machine.

Update:Still use this machine daily, but there are cones now available (Clever Coffee Dripper) with the flow restrictor that do similar work (cheaper) if you don't need the carafe, don't mind heating your own water, or like to brew one or two cups at a time. Still best machine IMO.

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Product Description:
There are hundreds of options out there for a coffeemaker. From high end machines that cost $500 to cheap throwaway models that can be had for $25, there's a machine to suit everybody. But there's only one machine that suits us, and that's the Technivorm Moccamaster. The reason is simple. Most machines out there have too many plastic parts, unnecessary electronic gadgetry, and they simply make bad coffee. This solid, simple, and mechanically perfect coffee maker has been designed and manufactured in the Netherlands since 1964. With good reason it is only one of two coffeemakers that are certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). The Moccamaster does not come equipped with flashing lights, programmable software, or a built-in grinder. It boasts a simple on/off switch that starts the brewing cycle and a three-position switch on the filter basket that controls the flow of coffee into the carafe. The Technivorm makes rich, flavorful coffee and is built to last decades. See for yourself why the Technivorm is such a great coffee maker!

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Presto Scandinavian Design Coffee Maker Review

I give this machine an easy 5 stars, because it is, in fact, THE FIRST American mass-market drip coffee maker that brews coffee properly, and stores it well on a variable-wattage burner, instead of destroying it with a conventional hotplate. Basically does what a Scandinavian-made Technivorm machine does, at 1/3 the price.

I agree with the previous reviewer that the timer is dinky, but I don't use it much anyway. My other small complaint is that it would be fabulous if Presto included a permanent metal mesh filter basket, but that would probably tack $10 onto the price, and Swissgold baskets are readily available. I don't particularly dig the taste of paper.

I roast coffee for a living, and I feel that I can trust this drip machine to give me an accurate picture of what my beans taste like. Buy it, buy an add-on filter, and you'll own the best automatic coffee rig you've ever had, for well under a c-note!

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Product Description:
Three heating elements assure water temperature is maintained for extracting rich, robust flavor from coffee. Coffee brews up a fuller, smoother taste and no bitterness. Brews up to 10 cups of full flavored coffee in about 8 minutes. Elegant and contemporary styling successfully combine in this Scandinavian Design coffee maker. Sleek profile saves counterspace. Cone-shaped filter basket for richer coffee. No-drip "pause and serve" feature temporarily halts the brewing process when the carafe is removed. Programmable digitial clock/timer.

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Espressione CM-475 Digital-Filter 10-Cup Coffeemaker, Stainless Steel Review

Am very happy with this machine! Brews fast and coffee tastes GOOD!
Looks very nice on the counter, easy to operate.

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Product Description:
The Espressione Digital Filter Coffee Machine is a slick and sophisticated coffee maker that will turn heads and bring smiles, not just for its looks, but for its great quality brew. Advanced features, such as the amazing AccuFlavor Selector, allow you to choose the strength and type of brewing, producing your favorite coffee the way you want and at the time you need it, in fact keeping a step ahead of you, thanks to its Electronic Programmable Timer which will have coffee ready for you before you wake up. Beautiful back lit display, De-scale warning indicator, 1.5 liter capacity glass carafe, removable water tank with handle for easy filling, Aroma control for perfect tasting coffee, Integral water filter to reduce chlorine and improve quality of taste, Powerful 1000 Watt heating element for commercial quality performance. Easy to operate and clean up. Brushed Stainless Steel body.

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Technivorm KBT-741 Moccamaster Polished Silver Coffee Maker 1.25-L. Review

I love coffee.For the past year, I've been immersed in the technical and chemical artistry (and it truly is) of home roasting my own coffee and perfecting the brewing process to take advantage of total control and total freshness.Up to now, I've made my single cups using a thermostatically controlled water kettle and a cone drip device which allows me to control the "steep" time of the water at the proper temperature.But what to do when guests come over?

The overwhelming consensus is that the TechniVorm (TV) is the Rolls Royce of batch coffee makers.I got one as a gift and I agree.

We all know that cheap coffee makers cannot supply brewing temperature water at the desired 203F.My Mr. Coffee, for example, was 169F at the brewhead.More on this in a minute.

The coffee maker comes assembled and requires only that the brewhead wand, filter basket and covers be installed.The water chamber is clear plastic with cup level markings on the side.I have not measured the "cup" volumes yet but I suspect they are consistent with a 6 oz. cup size.The coffee measure with the TV is said to make two cups per scoop, which is fairly accurate as a starting point.The filter basket, basket cover and water chamber cover are black plastic.The brewhead wand is stainless steel.

The TV is simple enough to use.Placing the filter basket on a plastic support is a no-brainer except that it helps to notice that the handle should go in front facing you, not to either side.This is because the basket is wedge shaped at the bottom to accommodate the #4 cone filters used, and the brewhead wand is designed to distribute water along the length of the bottom wedge.There are nine holes in the brewhead which distribute water effectively onto the coffee.

Taking a closer look at the TV, it is obvious that one of the reasons it achieves the proper high brewing temperature is that the siphon from the heating chamber passes through an outer plastic tube which effectively insulates the heated water from the cold unheated water in the water chamber.This is the main design flaw with cheaper coffee makers.The TV also has two heating coils rather than one to help maintain a high enough water temperature.

Additional control is provided with a three-position switch on the side of the filter basket.The positions are full flow (although the hole is quite small), partial flow and closed.My brewing so far has been to leave the switch open, as I'm brewing 10-cup batches and use a rather fine grind which extends the drip time.I have not yet made 2-cup batches, but I will plan to close the switch completely to enable a 4-minute steep time before releasing the coffee into the carafe.Note that the grind is a major variable here since fine grind will slow the water considerably over a coarser grind.I use a burr grinder which can be controlled easily.If you use a blade grinder, plan on a very fine grind and longer brew times.

Since I use home roasted coffee, my coffee is extremely fresh after a customary 4-day rest period.Very fresh coffee will give off CO2 which causes some foaming on the surface.This could be a problem if you are brewing 10-cup batches with a full filter and you restrict the flow with the second position on the filter basket switch, so beware.Commercial coffee, especially pre-ground, will not usually foam as it has already begun to stale.I would recommend brewing with the filter basket cover removed until you get a feel for how the water flows through your coffee.Overflow is certainly possible but not likely with the switch fully open, and my 10-cup batches with very fresh coffee came only to 1/2" of the top of the filter basket.If you get an overflow, then, you either have ground the coffee too finely and/or you are using filters that are too restrictive.I use Filtropia and Melitta, preferring the former.

The power is controlled by a single switch.The light on the switch stays on following brewing, but the coils shut off automatically at the end of a brewing cycle and the brew light goes out.There is no timer, which is often a complaint if you're too lazy to grind and brew when you wake up.I always grind fresh and brew with fresh water and it takes only 60 seconds to fill the chamber, grind a couple of scoops of coffee and press the button.I prefer this to having a chamber full of stale water overnight.

The stainless steel carafe is a vacuum carafe and is perhaps the weakest link.I cannot imagine using a glass carafe with this machine, as coffee temperature is the whole purpose of the design, and an uninsulated glass carafe is good only to keep the coffee from spilling on the counter!This carafe keeps coffee hot for hours.Pouring is the only issue I might have here.The pour lip has no dimple and if you pour with the screw-in lid, it can spread a bit along the lip and cause some spilling.On the other hand, if you loosen the lid, turn it to the proper 1/4 positions and pour slowly, the coffee comes out leaving a nice ring of fresh-coffee bubbles inside the rim of the cup.This may well have been intended, as everything else on this device is well engineered.Just don't get in a real hurry to pour with the lid on.You can, of course remove the lid to pour.

Overall, the best of the best with the vacuum carafe.

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Product Description:
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBT-741 Clubline brewer is a simple, precise and elegant electric drip brewer. No gadgets here. This is a handmade coffeemaker built in Holland. The main asset of the Moccamaster is its ability to maintain perfect brewing temperature throughout the entire brewing cycle, an attribute that has earned it certification from at least two coffee trade associations. This is a quality product, done simply.It uses an independent energy-efficient heat exchanger that brews directly into the stainless-steel-lined ThermoJug server. That means your coffee maintains an optimal temperature between 194 and 204??F. A consistent temperature is key to preservingthe flavors and aromas of coffee, and this machine does just that.It also brews a full pot in 5-6 minutes.The Technivorm Thermal takes an exceptional machine ??? the Technivorm Clubline KB 741 ??? and improves upon it by replacing a hot plate with a thermal carafe. There???s a reason that Technivorm has created 1 of only 2 machines that meet the Specialty Coffee Association of America???s (SCAA) certification standards, and that???s because its design preserves the entire spectrum of flavors in every cup. Water is heated and passes through the coffee consistently, brewing quickly and quietly. It is also approved by the European Coffee Brewing Centre (ECBC) and Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE). Only a handful

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DeLonghi DCF210TTC Complete Frontal Access 10-Cup Drip Coffeemaker with Thermal Carafe Review

Here is a well-made intelligently-designed coffee maker that works well, has some outstanding features, but has some significant differences from common automatic drip machines. Brewing into a thermal carafe with no burner or warming plate below the carafe means the coffee will not get the bitter taste of being kept hot by continuing to cook it. But, it also will probably not be quite as hot as some people would find ideal. It's a compromise and involves personal preference. For me, the coffee is plenty hot and remains at a pleasant drinking temperature for well over an hour.

The way the carafe and its lid have to be designed to keep the steam from escaping and thus keep the coffee warm means it will pour into your cup a bit more slowly than from an ordinary carafe. To me, that's not a big deal.

Some have reported not getting the carafe properly seated, thus allowing the freshly brewed coffee to spill all over the place. I have trouble imagining how that could happen and even more trouble imagining how anyone could let it happen more than once. I would expect any rational person, after having such a mess to clean up once, would make certain to seat the carafe correctly in the future. It's not rocket science.

There have been some comments by others that rating this as a 10-cup coffee maker is misleading. All manufacturers rate coffee maker capacity in terms of 5-ounce cups, demi tasse cups, if you will. I ordinarily use a 10-ounce mug. So being aware of this, I govern myself accordingly. No big deal, and nothing different from any other manufacturer. Frankly, I don't know of any normal person who actually uses demi tasse cups any more. That was a standard serving 100 years ago, but not today.

The instructions provided by DeLonghi are somewhat lacking and it doesn't help that they combine the instructions for several different models with different features into a single booklet, printed in several languages. Not as helpful as it could be. That said, most of the operation is fairly intuitive. It is a little bizarre that the clock shows the hour from midnight to 10:00 a.m. as "0." I guess that's a European standard, but find it strange on a clock that displays a.m. and p.m. rather than a 24-hour clock. That's just a little wierd to me, but does not diminish my enjoyment of this coffee maker.

Operation is reasonably easy and the quality of the brewed coffee is outstanding. I am well satisfied and do recommend this machine.

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Product Description:
Brew up to 10 cups (50 ounces) of great-tasting coffee with this easy-to-use drip coffeemaker. Designed with the user in mind, the appliance offers complete frontal access to the water tank and ground-coffee filter for easy filling and cleanup. Without having to move the unit, simply open the door using the handle, pour water in the channel, and put grounds in the coffee filter. The unit also provides a 24-hour programmable digital timer with automatic shut-off, which makes it possible to have coffee ready and waiting first thing in the morning or after dinner to serve with dessert. Or for those in a hurry, its pause-and-serve function pauses the brewing cycle and allows for pouring a quick cup. The included double-walled thermal carafe features a unique vacuum-sealed design that retains heat to keep coffee hot and fresh-tasting for hours. The coffeemaker also provides an aroma button that activates a unique brewing process to achieve a full-bodied flavor. The coffeemaker advances through several continuous cycles where water gets released into the filter basket in 30-second intervals. This special time-released process saturates grounds a little at a time to extract the best flavor and aroma from coffee. Other highlights include a water-level indicator, a permanent gold-tone filter designed to keep even the finest grounds out of coffee, a cup warmer, a non-stick warming plate for easy cleanup, and cord storage to help keep counters looking tidy. The 900-watt drip coffeemaker measures 10-3/7 by 9-1/4 by 12-1/3 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Krups KT4065 10-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker Review

We have used Krups thermal carafe coffee makers for years, needing to replace them every few years because of hard water problems.We bought a Zojirushi BD-15 and it leaked water from the reservoir like a sieve, from the base of the unit.We then bought this Krups and were disappointed as soon as we started to use it.First, the lid of the coffee maker pops open to expose the basket and the fill chamber, which is a small opening in the back right corner.This isn't so bad by itself, except that you can't fill the reservoir with the carafe because the lid sufficiently obstructs the fill opening, particularly if you use the carafe which needs to be almost fully inverted because of its design.We had to use a separate container for this step.The opening of the carafe is so narrow (2.5") you can't put a hand through it to clean it.

The clincher was that the coffee maker overflowed onto the counter as it was brewing (not from the top of the basket, but from the top of the carafe).Even with careful positioning of the carafe, the coffee would not enter the carafe without some cajoling. This was a hit or miss proposition and required us to watch carefully.We are going to send this model back.They should bring back the Model 229, which was a much better design.

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Product Description:
Attractively housed in brushed stainless steel, this 12-cup coffeemaker not only looks great on the counter, but it also provides an array of convenient features. Enjoy easy reading and programming thanks to its uniquely angled upward-facing control panel and LCD screen with a high-contrast black-on-white display. In addition, dual auto-on presets make it possible to wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee before work in the morning, as well as at a later time when sleeping in on the weekends. A sturdy 12-cup double-wall thermal carafe comes included, complete with a stay-cool handle and drip-free spout for graceful serving. Other highlights include an aroma selection for brewing smaller batches; an oversized showerhead for improved extraction; a push-button, soft-open lid and auto-lift brew basket; DuoFilter water filtration, and automatic shut-off for safety. The coffeemaker measures 9 by 8 by 12-4/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Capresso MT600 10-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Thermal Carafe Review

The Capresso MT-600 was introduced to replace the older MT-500 model. Both models have essentially the same functions and features, but there are two differences:

* The MT-500 has an aluminum die-cast housing. The MT-600 has a milled steel housing.
* The MT-500 was made in Portugal. The MT-600 is made in China.

I recently purchased the MT-600 to replace a Mr. Coffee automatic drip that served me well for over 15 years. I decided on the MT-600 because I wanted a thermal carafe and a built-in water filter. I also had faith in the Capresso brand because both my sisters have owned the Capresso CoffeeTEC model for many years, and their machines make absolutely fantastic drip coffee.

So I was very disappointed when I found that the Capresso MT-600 makes weak and lukewarm coffee. I read the directions carefully to make sure I was using the machine precisely as designed. I tried different beans and grinds to strengthen the coffee. I pre-heated the carafe prior to brewing to increase the temperature. But no matter what adjustments I made, the coffee always turned out weak and tepid.

I called Capresso to ask why the coffee comes out weak even when I double the standard amount of grounds. They told me that it has to do with how the water is dispersed (or rather, not dispersed) over the grounds during brewing. I went back and looked at the filter after brewing a pot, and sure enough, there was a deep divot right in the center of the grounds. So the problem seems to be that the water is driven down the middle of the filter rather than dispersed evenly over the grounds, leaving the grounds along the perimeter largely unbrewed.

I also measured the temperature of the coffee immediately after brewing, and as another reviewer mentioned, the coffee hits the carafe at 180 degrees. But even when the carafe has been pre-heated with boiling water, it loses its heat FAST. The other problem with the carafe is that even when you line up the dots exactly as directed, the coffee flow is more of a heat-depleting trickle than a pour. So while the coffee brews at 180 degrees, the temperature is much lower by the time it hits even your first cup.

I've been thinking about why my experience has been so different from that of veteran Capresso owners, and I can only conclude that the newer machines are not of the same quality as the older machines. Take a read through the user reviews posted for the MT-500 model and you'll notice that it's those people who have had their Capressos for more than 2 years who love and rave about their coffee makers. The same is true for the Capresso owners in my own family. My sisters' machines are going strong after 5+ years of heavy use, whereas my brand new Capresso has been a non-starter.

So sadly I will be returning the Capresso MT-600 in favor of a better machine. I doubt I'll find anything more beautiful in appearance, but there has to be a machine that makes better coffee, especially at this price!

(One final point... there seems to be some confusion about the materials used to build the MT-600. The heating block is lined with stainless steel to prevent water from coming in contact with the machine's aluminum components. So if you have aluminum concerns, the MT-600 has you covered. But like almost every drip coffee maker on the market, the water reservoir and filter holder are made of plastic. If you want to avoid plastic altogether, a French press or standard percolator may be your only options.)

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Product Description:
Brew up to 10 cups of delicious, full-flavored coffee in under eight minutes with this programmable coffeemaker. The machine provides an illuminated, 24-hour, LCD digital clock and timer with soft-touch controls for easy operation. Set the timer so that fresh, hot coffee awaits dinner guests when it's time to serve dessert or so that the aroma of a freshly brewed pot fills the house a few minutes before the alarm goes off in the morning. The coffeemaker supplies a 10-cup stainless-steel thermal carafe with an ergonomic stay-cool handle, brew-through lid, and drip-free pouring spout. Removing the carafe from the coffeemaker stops the flow of coffee and allows for sneaking a quick cup before the end of the brewing process. Simply replace the carafe to restart the flow of coffee. Another thoughtful detail includes its special smaller-amount setting, which ensures maximum aroma when brewing just 3 to 5 cups at a time. For added convenience, the coffeemaker features a stainless-steel-lined heating system that eliminates contact with aluminum and reduces the need for decalcifying, the ability to retain programming during short power outages, and automatic shut-off after two hours for safety and peace of mind. Other highlights include a handy water-level indicator, a washable gold-tone filter (no need for disposable paper filters), a charcoal water filter that removes up to 82-percent of chlorine and other impurities from tap water, and an electronic indicator that shows when to replace the charcoal filter, as well as milled steel housing for superior strength and style and concealed cord storage to keep countertops looking tidy. The coffeemaker measures approximately 9 by 8 by 14 inches.

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Cuisinart Compact Coffee Maker 10-Cup Thermal Carafe Review

I normally buy only items that have many reviews and 4 or 5 stars.This coffee maker had only two reviews but I decided to take a chance especially since it could be returned within 30 days.Even though most thermal coffee makers had many good reviews, there were too many negatives for each.I am very happy with this on so far.I have not had any of the problems as with other types--coffee is hot, stays hot for quite some time, doesn't leak, easy pouring and cleaning, the coffee is good with not plastice taste, carafe fits properly.It does beep when the coffee is done brewing.Compact size is nice.I have not used the timer and probably never will.The best part is that there is a 3 year warranty --I hope it lasts that long!

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Product Description:
Brew up to 10 cups of flavorful coffee with this sleek-looking countertop appliance. Its 10-cup (5 ounces each) double-wall insulated thermal carafe keeps the last cup as hot and fresh-tasting as the first for hours, plus it provides a generous stay-cool handle and a drip-free spout for graceful serving. Even more, the fully automatic appliance offers 24-hour programmability, which makes it possible to wake up to the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee or to have a pot ready and waiting to serve with dessert--no need to get up from the table half way through dinner. For those less than leisurely mornings or for those just a little less patient when it comes to enjoying that first sip, the coffeemaker's Brew Pause function suspends the brewing cycle to allow for pouring a quick cup midbrew. Other thoughtful details include a gold-tone filter and a charcoal water filter, self-clean and 1- to 4-cup settings, and a 60-second reset setting that "remembers" where it was in the brewing process in case the power source gets interrupted. The coffeemaker measures 10-1/2 by 6-2/3 by 12-1/2 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.

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