Despite minor issues, a fantastic and unique coffee maker for those willing to spend $200+
Positive Product Points
- Very well engineered product - I really like the design / looks of the product - Makes damn good coffee! - Engineered to brew coffee at correct temperature while minimizing air contact - Simple, effective coffee making - Uses cone filters - better than flat baskets in my opinion
Negative Product Points
- Plug is upside down / cord points up when plugged into a standard outlet - Filter basket is plastic, should be stainless steel
Detailed Commentary
I had some time to make my decision on what drip coffee maker to purchase so I did quite a bit of research before deciding on the Technivorm Moccamaster. I was leaning towards a KitcheAid Pro Line model but based on other reviews, there were some reliability issues that I just did not want to deal with. When I saw the Technivorm models, I really liked the unique design. I realize that not everyone likes the looks as this is a personal preference, but I really do think it looks sharp and it stands out. In the short time we have had the coffee maker, most guests in our kitchen have asked about it so it certainly is unique!
With my initial inspection, I could see right away that the product was well made. It is heavier than you expect it to be - to me a sign of good materials being used in the construction. As stated in my negative product points, I was really hoping to find a coffee maker with mostly or completely non-plastic parts in the brewing process. The recent issues with plastic water bottles concerned me (although I realize that the plastic being used for high temperature applications is not know to leach harmful chemicals, I still was hoping to avoid plastic). Because of this, my one quality concern is the plastic drip basket which I would have preferred was made from stainless steel.
Once I was closely considering the Technivorm products, I then had to decide between the thermal carafe models and the glass carafe. Again, the reviews that I read indicated that the thermal carafe, while well made, has a tendency to be difficult to pour from. This, combined with the fact that the carafe does not fit under the coffee maker with the lid on (a safety feature???), resulted in my selection of the glass carafe model. One feature that I really like with the glass carafe is that the lid has a tube that flows the coffee down into the bottom of the carafe. I believe that this design is to minimize the air contact that results when coffee splashes down inside a regular glass carafe.
The one item that is either flawed or poorly designed on this coffee maker is the three prong plug. With the ground prong pointed down (which is the way that electrical outlets in North America are normally installed), the cord comes out at the top of the plug. I can not think of any reason for this other than the manufacturer is a European company and did not realize that this problem would exist. I plan to contact the company that I purchased it from to see if my unit is defective or if this is a product “feature.”
The best thing about the Technivorm Moccamaster is the quality of the coffee that it produces. I have tried to produce a complete review that points out the issues with this coffee maker, but I am really pleased that I purchased this coffee maker. It makes excellent coffee, quickly and at the right (Hot!) temperature. It looks great and should last for many years. There are no doubt, good coffee makers for a fraction of the price, but they definitely will not be as well built or as unique / good looking (depending on perspective).
Buying Experience
I live in Canada and the only dealer I could find here was Transcend Coffee in Edmonton. I called and spoke with them and they were helpful in explaining the differences between the various models and in ultimately deciding which model to buy. Shipping was efficient (2 or 3 days) and the package arrived in good condition. No complaints at all.
