Brews at high temperature Unique, sleek design Double-wall insulated carafe Simple to use
Negative Product Points
Price
Detailed Commentary
Here's a bit of background on myself. I've been drinking drip coffee since 16 using a Mr. Coffee maker - hey, it works. As I've gotten older and taste buds are weakening, I've learned to appreciate a bolder cup of coffee. Besides making a pot on my handy Mr. Coffee, I would use Bunns and Newcos at the various cafes I've worked, which I believe is drastic improvement over my home drip. So when considering getting a new machine, I figured instead of moving to a Cuisinart or Capresso, why not get the best....even if it is alot higher in price. That's why I turned to the Technivorm. I saw it advertised at a whopping $265 and just had to find out what the rant was over it. I was also impressed it's made in Europe and not a Asian country. I'm not racist, just don't favor paying workers 2 cents an hour.
After some basic research, I purchased it because of temperature. The water consistently heats up to around 200F (I've measured) and without getting into the science of coffee brewing it produces a richer cup of coffee than what i'm accustomed to. This is different from other drips. The second reason I like the machine is the filter. While its build of your typical plastic, it has a built-in switch on the side which allows you to control the output flow between the filter and carafe. The granules get better saturated and you have the ability to control the strengh of the coffee.
The machine itself is built very simple and isn't necessarily of high quality. While the base which contains the plumbing (copper pipes) is made of sturdy aluminum, the water reservoir is made of clear plastic (polycarbonate?) and filter and its cover made of plastic. Hopefully, the reservoir is made of a sturdy polycarbonate like Lexan in case the machine ever falls from my counter. I was hoping it was made of a high-quality glass with the filter and housing made of stainless steel. For $265 clams, it should be.
All in all, I really like the machine. It's sleek design is very "Euro-like" and can draw up conversation among guests. It produces a more bold cup of coffee which was my goal. However, if you're expecting a 10-15lb unit and/or one that you can program to brew in the morning, this isn't it.
Buying Experience
I purchased the red version from Clive. While it was on b/o for 2 months, they kept me informed much of the way. They also compensated my wait by sending a dozen bags of their roasted coffee.
Three Month Followup
Still enjoying machine.
One Year Followup
After having my TV for a year, i'm keeping the Cost/Value to 6, Quality from 8 to 9, and Usability from 8 to 10.
My thoughts/opinions most resemble Charle's Higgins at Click Here (www.coffeegeek.com) Only hangup is the price. For such a simple machine, i feel $200 would qualify as a good price....three bills isn't justfified. I'm giving Aesthetics a high score because of its sturdy base and quality plumbing. I also like the stainless steel carafe.
