You will always get a great cup of coffee fom this classy and stylish machine. It's a bit quirky to operate, but the reward is a rich, satisfying brew.
Positive Product Points
Stylish, modern and elegant Simple and ingenious design Most importanly, it really brews a great cup of coffee
Negative Product Points
This product has been discontinued - however it is still available from several sources online. As of this writing, Krups still provdes replacement parts on their website. It is not as user-friendly as most drip coffeemakers; emptying coffee grounds is not as easy as other basket style coffeemakers. A complete brew cycle takes 7-8 minutes. As this is a closed pressurized system, you must wait until the brew cycle is finished. Carafe is a bit small Use of a thermal carafe is highly recommeded after the brew cycle is complete. No automatic OFF switch After the brewing cycle is complete, the heating coils will continue to operate without water in the reservior However, since the current drain of this appliance is about the same as an clothes iron, I would not recommend leaving this appliance ON after the brew cycle is complete.
Detailed Commentary
Background: For several years now I have learned to appreciate the sublime satisfaction of a good cup of coffee from my friendly neighborhood coffeehouse. Unfortunately, in spite of the fact that I began to buy premium grade coffee, I could never duplicate the essence of a professionally brewed coffee. Finally, I decided to get serious about my Java and did some reading online. In my usual style, I jumped into this avocation with gusto. My first purchase was a new burr grinder. That alone made a significant improvement in the taste. of coffee. Next, I threw out my old Mr. Coffee machine and purchased a fully automatic De Longhi Magnifica espresso maker. (I didn't realize at the time of purchase that it had a burr grinder built in). However, I soon realized that this machine does not brew coffee. So, after further research into coffee machines I purchased the Krups Mocha Brew.
Initial Experience: Since my goal is to brew a 'perfect' cup of coffee, I can say that my expectations have been fully realized in this machine. From a product design angle, this appliance is wonderfully engineered as it takes full advantage of the physical principles of heat and pressure of a closed system to heat cold water from the lower reservoir, then transfer that water under pressure to the brewing chamber. Laws of physics dictate the water temperature as it is forced through the ground coffee. Although it is difficult to measure precisely, the temperature is about 205 degrees - a necessary and ideal temperature for brewing coffee. As a result, this machine will extract the full range of complexity from coffee. For regional coffees, you will taste both subtle nuances of flavor as well as the flaws.
I recommend using a grind that is about 2-3 notches larger than espresso. Since this is a slightly pressurized system, you can use a finer grind than a typical drip coffeemaker without clogging the system.
If ease of use, or a quick brew is your goal, I would not recommend this product. But if you are willing to wait 7-8 minutes for the brew cycle to complete, you will be richly rewarded indeed.
Buying Experience
I have owned this for about three months and I still love it. My wife and I use it every day.
Three Month Followup
The unit has held up well through multiple uses. Both my wife and I drink lots of coffee, so we usually make 2 pots per day and it is still holding up well. My only criticism is that the grounds are a little inconvenient to clean. I usually keep a small box of tissues in the kitchen as this is the easiest way to clean out the well. One last point, filters are very expensive.
One Year Followup
I just brewed a pot of coffee and remembered this review. It has been a bit over two years now and the product is holding up nicely. I can easily understand how the carafe can break. I have recently searched for replacements and found this model on Overstock.com and Amazon is still selling this model as well. (Both sites are selling this item in the range of $140-150). One small nit... you need to make sure that the lid is lined up with the coffeemaker or you will have a mess on your hands as the pressurized steam may go all over your counter. I also raised the rating for this product.
