If you're looking for a new drip machine, this one should definitely be a consideration. Few things any more are "worth the money". This is one of them.
Positive Product Points
Right brew temp, small footprint, open/halfway open/closed toggle on brew basket, no buzzers/beeps - very quiet brewer, 9-hole disperser is now standard, easy to clean and maintain (except carafe).
Negative Product Points
Opening in carafe is too small for cleaning - cannot fit hand or bottle brush into it; no built in timer but this can be overcome, see details below.
Detailed Commentary
After a month of use, I'm a happy convert to Technivorm's KBTS model. (The Clubline model with a thermal carafe and no warming plate, which is the one that's pictured.) For the past several years, Cuisinart's Brewcentral did a great job but it was starting to decline in cup quality.
I'll try not to dwell on the points everyone else has made on the Technivorm. It is an excellent drip coffee maker: water temp is correct, brew time is correct (and can be adjusted somewhat with the basket's closed/half-open/all open switch). It's a simple machine with enough "wiggle room" for us geeks.
The brew basket has a manual toggle to stop the flow of coffee. It can also be toggled half-way open for "half flow", or all the way open for full flow. Although any difference between the "half" and "full" settings is lost on me.
BUT, the ability to stop the flow is nice. You can let the grounds bloom for a minute or so, then switch it open. Or, you can switch it off and grab a quick cup. If you pull the carafe away from the body of the machine, it stops the water heating cycle and water will stop dripping on the grounds. There's a small button in the base that the carafe pushes in to engage the heating cycle. (My carafe seemed a little off-center of the drip when pressed against the button. So I took the rubber gasket from an old pressurized portafilter and use that to "fill the gap" between the button and the carafe.)
I've found this routine to work really well: fill the carafe with hot water, fill the reservoir with cold water, grind the beans, and start brewing. After enough hot water has covered the grounds, pull the carafe away (to stop the heating and dripping), stir the grounds a little, and let them bloom. While they're blooming, dump the hot water out of the carafe and replace it. Then, open the toggle switch in the brew basket and restart the brew cycle.
There is a solution to the "lack of a timer" problem. I bought a grounded appliance/lamp timer (an electronic version, not the kind with the pins), set it on "Auto" to come on for 10 minutes before waking up, then prepare everything and make sure the KBT's switch is "on" and the toggle on the brew basket is open (very important, unless you like waking up to coffee grounds all over the place). This lets me wake up to freshly brewed coffee.
Setup was easy and quick. The manual is short, sweet, and direct. Packaging is neat, clean, and recyclable. Cone-shaped drip basket that is the perfect size for a #4 SwissGold filter. Tthe carafe does a great job of keeping the coffee hot, even over several hours.
Buying Experience
Sweet Maria's is always great to do business with. Helpful and informative staff.
