I must say, I've had my Aroma Control for a few years now, and I really don't agree with the other reviews here. I have very much enjoyed this machine, and it shows no signs of failing any time soon.
To be fair, I can say that the unit is a little tall, and it some folks might have a hard time fitting it under a cabinet, however it depends on your kitchen, mine for example fits just fine, but in our old apartment, it was about 1/8" from the bottom, a very tight fit. You should definately look at the specs, and measure your counter space before making a purchase (of ANY coffee maker).
The build quality on this machine is solid, however I would have liked to see Krups take a cue from KitchenAid, or Cuisinart and use some metal instead of all plastic. That said, there isn't any part of this machine that I feel is going to break. All of the parts are assembled well, and stay where they're supposed to stay.
Brew time is about 2-3 minutes for a full 10-cup pot (If you don't clean your machine regularly, and de-calcify it can take longer to brew because the deposits of calcium on the inside can clog, making the process slower). I clean my machine pretty regulary, and the brew time has stayed the same.
My Aroma Control came with a plastic carafe, but I know that some come with a stainless steel. My father-in-law has the stainless steel, and his seems to lose heat faster. I would recommend that you get the plastic carafe if at all possible, my coffee stays hot for about 5-6 hours.
Another reviewer said "Don't waste your money, A $20 drip does just as well", and I have to say I completely disagree! I actually went from a low end Mr. Coffee, and I noticed a difference immediately! I only buy imported Guatemala beans, and I always follow the same process in preparing it, and I got so much more flavor from the Aroma Control, I actually had to start using less coffee! My point is that the Aroma Control's extended steeping process really brings the best out of your coffee, and that feature is worth every penny.
The Aroma Control also comes with an "automatic" feature that I really like, and most machines have this these days. I find it really useful, and pretty easy to use. You just turn the dial to "program" use the buttons to change the time on the digital display, and then turn it back to "auto". On this note I would like to say that I found the controls to be pretty easy to use (I did read the manual beforehand) and operation was pretty straightforward.
Another thing to comment on is the lid. I've read some reviews where people find the lid cumbersome, and I don't think this is true at all. If you're used to a "snap on/off" type lid, then you'll need to get used to a lid with a thread, however it's not that difficult, you merely screw it on, or off. The lid is something Krups calls a "brew-through, pour-through" lid, which means that you can screw the lid on, and it will brew right into it, and when your coffee is ready, you can pour it right out. In my experience you should unscrew the lid anyways when pouring, it just tends to work better that way.
There is also no "warming plate" if you have a thermal machine. Krups uses a fitted plastic base to allow the carafe to lock into it's position, but no heat eminates from this base. The benefit of a thermal carafe is that you're not constantly heating your coffee, which keeps it from becoming bitter, and keeps it hotter, longer.
Lastly, I really like that this machine is easy to clean. My hands fit inside the carafe (and my hands are rather large) so that I scrub it out when I need to. Also, on the plastic carafe, the entire assembly comes apart so that you put just glass part in your dishwasher. All of the other parts can be washed as well, and Krups has had the consideration to make the cup that holds your coffee grounds removable, very easy, and a very nice touch. |
