Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Brewer with Thermo Carafe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Please get your coffee and sit though this review, it's a bit long. So many people and places rate this as the best drip coffee maker because of the ideal brew temperature and brew drip time. I spent more time on this review because I want to justify the expense of this coffeemaker. The bottom line is that to get the really best tasting coffee out of this expensive coffee maker, you may have to spend just a bit of time fussing with it. This includes finding the right amount of coffee to add, using filtered room temperature water, and I found as some people suggest that if you leave the brew basket top off and stir the coffee grinds during brewing (at least for the first minute when the water has filled the basket and the grinds are swimming in water) , you get even better tasting coffee (better flavor extraction). Also, unless I buy another thermal carafe specifically the Thermos Nissan 51 Ounce Stainless Steel Carafe, I should drink all the brewed coffee within the first hour. The included carafe just does not maintain the coffee at a decent temperature for more than a half hour, especially if you use the brew through lid. If the thermal carafe is to replace the need for a heating pad to keep the coffee warm, then I am disappointed that the carafe can't keep great brewed coffee hot for very long.
Note that the CDT and its original brother the KBT 741 leave ½ cup of water in the heating chamber after brewing. If you dry out your Technivorm (pour out any excess water and dry the reservoir) like I do, then you may wish to add a ½ cup of water to the chamber when brewing to compensate. Otherwise, it's only your first batch of coffee that may be a bit stronger.
The instructions recommend using fresh tap water (I use filtered water from a carbon block system). This does result in a brew temperature of 195-200°F degrees as measured using my Thermapen. As an experiment, I reused the heated water from the carafe to brew coffee (the water has not yet cooled to room temperature). Don't do it. This seems to confuse the Techivorm's heating element's thermostat and the brewing temperature drops to around 180°F degrees instead if the 190 to 200°F degrees if I start with room temperature water. And why did I reuse heated water? Why waste water? The instructions recommend "preheating the thermal carafe", likely so that the temperature of the brewed coffee does not cool below 190°F as it fills the thermal carafe.
What do I like about the CDT?
The coffee brewed from the Technivorm is more palatable so that I do not need to adulterate the coffee with any sweetener or creamer (if you use decent coffee beans). I don't have a connoisseur's palate but I also like to consider that I don't have a dead one either. Even when I brewed carafes of coffee using 10 year old Maxwell House coffee (year 2000 stash) I can tell a difference in taste between it from a CDT and my other coffee maker a Cuisinart DCC-450BK 4-Cup Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Carafe, Black. The coffee from the Cuisinart is harsher and bitter more likely because of the 170°F brew temperature although the brew time is about the same as the CDT (5 minutes). I wouldn't have believed the taste difference had I not brewed using both coffee makers. So if I use filtered water (at room temperature) and fresher quality coffee beans I will get better tasting brewed coffee from the Technivorm.
The very open reservoir design makes adding water into the reservoir a breeze (no one should make a mess pouring water into the reservoir).
The CDT's reservoir`s round shape makes it very easy for me to dry the reservoir with a kitchen towel. I wasn't sure about the KBT's square shape and keeping it as clean. The only difference between the CDT and the KBT 741 is the shape of the reservoir (and the added height of the CDT's reservoir to keep the same capacity as the KBT 741).
The CDT comes with a 4 foot long three prong power cord. I don't have any problems plugging in my CDT anywhere in my kitchen.
What are my disappointments?
The included thermal carafe is my big disappointment. While I know that the carafe is designed to be poured using a lid (whether the included lid or the optional brew through lid, both which work okay), how difficult would it have been to stamp a small V-shaped spout on the carafe? It would help me pour my coffee into my Thermos Nissan 16-Ounce Stainless-Steel Insulated Bottle without spilling hot (and precious) coffee down the side of the thermos (yeah, I did have the carafe's top in place). After I brew my coffee and screw on the top onto the thermal carafe, the outside of the thermal carafe is about ten degrees warmer than my kitchen counter: this carafe is loosing too much heat! The 198-200°F degree coffee drops about 25° degrees after an hour with the regular lid or 10°F loss per half hour with the brew through lid. Oh, and this is where I preheat the carafe with hot water! The carafe just looses too much heat. Maybe Technivorm could have Thermos Nissan make their thermal carafes? I have a travel size Thermos Nissan that I use for nursing my coffee at work. Even up to eight hours after brewing I still enjoy my coffee's hot to warm temperature (without preheating)! The Technivorm carafe has no information on where it is made.
UPDATE: March 8, 2010: I contacted the seller complaining about my carafe's inability to keep the coffee hot. I was sent a replacement carafe under warranty (no charge). BIG DIFFERENCE. The carafe looses about only six to seven degrees per hour instead of the 25° with my original carafe (with the regular lid) and about 12°F when using the brew thru lid. So my coffee is still hot for at least four hours after brewing. So make sure your carafe is not defective by testing it. The box the replacement carafe came in says it's made in "Amerongen-Holland".
PROS:
The coffee brewed from the Technivorm is more palatable so that I do not need to adulterate the coffee with any sweetener or creamer (assuming you use decent coffee beans) and filtered water.
The large reservoir opening is easy to add water without spilling and also make it easy to dry with a kitchen towel.
It comes with a 4 foot power cord so you should be able to plug your CDT nearly anywhere in your kitchen.
Bottom line. Yes, I will keep it. Even with its faults', the Technivorm still makes it easy to make a great tasting cup of coffee, especially if you drink your coffee black (I've become a black coffee convert).
CONS:
The CDT (and KBT 741) leaves ½ cup of water in the heating chamber. You may wish to add a ½ cup of water to compensate if you empty and dry out your Technivorm after each use.
For the cost, it needs to come with a better thermal carafe that can keep coffee hot for a longer time (make sure you test yours: it should only lose about 6-7°F an hour with the regular lid. And can Technivorm at least stamp a pouring beak on the carafe for even easier pouring, especially when pouring into a travel thermos?


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Technivorm is Europe's leading manufacture of quality coffee brewers, sanctioned by the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), and the European Coffee Brewing Centre (ECBC). Technivorm success is based on commitment to research and building, by hand, these superb brewers since 1964. " ... If you must buy an automatic drip machine, this is the one. Though pricey, it's the only drip coffee maker that hit optimal temperatures for brewing and serving in our tests. It's also fast and very simple to operate, and pieces disassemble easily for cleaning." Cook's Illustrated - Sep/Oct 2009.

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Technivorm KBT-741 Moccamaster polished silver Coffee Maker 1.25-L. Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just got this and must say it does the job ( hence the 5 of 5) of delivering the hot water to the coffee and brewing very good coffee, but it has quirks I'm not appreciating in my morning coffee brewing routine. First after its finished brewing there is still 1/2 cup of water in the "plumbing" which requires you to tip the pot over and empty very hot water out, other wise you'll be starting with stale water and perhaps accelerating the scaling,
second the foot plate does not "lock in" as they say so when you lift the pot to move it( or empty it) it does fall off ,
third to my dismay the thermal jug will require a brush to keep clean as the mouth is too narrow to get your hand in there to scrub( this is also a VERY BIG problem with my Capresso thermal),
fourth since the top of the thermal jug does not fitback in under the coffee basket when its on the jug I'm tryig to figure out where to keep everything so not to use up extra counter space nor lose the top
Fifth as I slide it around on the counter top( out to be used and back in when not) the feet are leaving some marks ( which come up with cleaning) on the granite countertop.
and last it seems for few dollars more they could have included a circuit to turn it self off when its done brewing, rather than leaving it to the early morning harried coffee drinker to remember to switch it off. So yes very good coffee, but the quirks are on par with the ones you deal with with a french press ( which is much cheaper)

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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 about 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 h

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

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(More customer reviews)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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Technivorm KBT-741 Moccamaster Polished Silver Coffee Maker 1.25-L.

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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