Some of the best coffee projects we know of got their start on Kickstarter. From...
If you kick around on the coffee fan sites, you’ve heard about the Technovorm Moccamaster coffee maker. The pricey European import has been rated tops by consumers on nearly all of the major coffee sites, and taken top ratings from Cooks Illustrated, the popular magazine published by the makers of America’s Test Kitchen. The Moccamaster has also achieved something no other coffee maker has ever done – it’s been certified by both the American Specialty Coffee Association and the European Coffee Brewing Centre for consistently brewing coffee at the recommended temperature. The only caveat that anyone has about the Moccamaster is the price tag. It retails for about $240 in the U.S.
Why are people willing to pay $240 for a drip coffee maker when you can get a coffee maker for – well – $10 at your local Target? There’s one very good reason, according to Cook’s Illustrated – taste. In their tests, the Technivorm coffee maker (they tested Model KBT741) was, in their words, a standout. It was the only machine that rated three stars in all three categories – Brewing, Flavor and User Friendliness.
Cook’s did something that other testers – notably Consumer Reports – haven’t done. They tested the brewing temperature for each machine, and found that only the Moccamaster consistently brewed coffee at the recommended temperature of 195-205 F. In their tests, the Moccamaster brought the water to the brewing temperature within seconds and kept it there througout the brewing process. It also consistently finished brewing in six minutes, the optimal brewing time for an 8-10 cup coffee maker. The coffee produced was so good that it actually outdid coffee brewed in a Bodum French press in taste tests. None of the other machines came close.
So what makes the Technivorm so good? In a word – quality parts. Most coffee makers use aluminum heating elements to heat the water and maintain the temperature for brewing. Aluminum is cheap, so the manufacturers keep costs low by skimping on the most expensive part of the works. Technivorm makes their heating elements from copper, which has far better heat conductivity than aluminum. That means that the water gets hot faster and maintains its temperature longer. In addition, the Technivorm operates at 1400 watts of electrical power. Most other coffee makers only operate at 900 watts, so the Moccamaster heats water faster and makes coffee more efficiently than other machines.
Aside from that, the Technivorm is completely handmade and each coffee maker is checked for quality before it leaves the factory. It’s also a very pretty, unique machine, with the water reservoir sitting on top of the heating element to give it a long, lean, retro-modern look. The KBT741 is available in a range of bright colors so that it fits right into your kitchen color scheme.
So is it worth $240? I guess that depends on just how important your coffee is to you. If you’re looking for the top of the line for your home coffee needs, this just might be it.
Some posts on our site may contain amazon affiliate links. We may earn affiliate commission from amazon when you purchase through those links.
mitch says
you need to ad more coffee tablespoon of coffee for each cup
Anna says
I got this coffeemaker about 2 months ago…I really don’t see what the big deal is. Honestly, I thought my Cuisinart coffeemaker made better coffee. I feel the coffee tastes weak, watery and flat–none of that rich deep coffee flavor that I like. I buy good quality beans ($9/pound), grind them at home right before using, and I use filtered water out of the Brita. What am I doing wrong??? I am ready to buy another Cuisinart!
mark says
My wife and I bought one about 2 years ago, we love it. It makes the best coffee and the pot keeps it hot for many hours, still as fresh as it was the minute it was made.
If it ever breaks we will buy another one.
Cam Sawzin says
Hi- Vinegar and water are fine to clean it, always empty it out if you will be gone for more than a week or so- there is water that stays in the tank after each pot.Great coffee maker!
Andreas says
Hi,
I grew up with the Moccamaster, (Norway) and there is a Coffemachine cleaner, you pour it into the water reservoir and let it run, then clean water 1 or 2 times. It helped for me. I don’t know what’s available for cleaners here in the US, but I’m sure that it’s possible to find. Try some of the Fine food stores. Unfortunately I don’t have a Moccamaster her in the US, might have to get one!
Hope this helped.
Cam Sawzin says
HI I have a techivorm mocca master which I love, but lately the coffee is tasting sour and flat. I tried a commercial coffee pot cleaner and it’s not much better- any ideas?
Mark Gumbinere says
I need to know how to maintain/clean my Technivorm–flush out with out?