I have been drinking coffee for more than ten years. After experimenting with a variety of coffee makers, I’ve learned to value the advantages that each model offers, including the ease of use of a Keurig, the barista-level experience of a Nespresso, and the simplicity of a Mr. Coffee. Over the past several years, I’ve seen a lot of devices that put both functionality and style first. One such device is the Technivorm Moccamaster, which gained a devoted following in the coffee industry thanks to its elegant appearance and delicious coffee. The $359 price tag was a little startling because I’ve never been one to spend a lot of money on a coffee maker. In addition, I’ve always preferred pour-over coffee over drip and single-serve coffee makers, in typical coffee snob manner.
I tested the Moccamaster for a month after the firm sent me its KBGV Select variant to see if it lived up to the promise. Here are my frank opinions about the coffee machine, the coffee’s flavor, and how it made me fall in love with drip coffee.
What is the Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker?
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select
Moccamaster KBGV Select
The Dutch coffee firm Technivorm produces the Moccamaster ($359) drip coffee maker. The brand offers a variety of drip coffee models, such as the KBGV Select model I tested, which has a glass carafe and others with stainless steel thermal carafes. According to Technivorm, its thermal carafes automatically keep coffee warm for up to an hour, while its glass carafe brewers feature a hot plate that turns off automatically after 100 minutes.
In order to avoid a mess, the KBGV Select model features an automated drip-stop brew mechanism, which means that when you take out the carafe, the brew basket instantly stops the coffee flow. Compared to the brand’s manual-adjust stop coffee machines, this is the simplest and most approachable option for beginners. In some situations, you will need to use a dial on the brew basket (where the coffee grinds are steeped) to manually adjust or stop the brew pace.
Up to ten cups of coffee can be brewed with the KBGV Select at temperatures ranging from 196 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of water you add to the water tank determines how much you brew. Depending on how much I brew—half a carafe or the full ten cups—the KBGV’s bottom switch allows me to change the hot plate temperature, which ranges from 175 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit.
How I tried the Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker
Two Moccamaster models—theKBGV (with a glass carafe) and theKB (with a thermal carafe)—were supplied to me by the brand to test out. Both were functional, but I liked the glass carafe better since I could keep it hot for over two hours after brewing, I could see how much coffee was left, and it was much simpler to clean after each use. For a month, I brewed 8–10 cups in the morning with the Moccamaster KBGV every day, which was the ideal quantity for my partner and myself.
In my view, utilizing the Moccamaster is a rather simple and beginner-friendly procedure that is comparable to that of the majority of drip coffee makers. What I did was as follows:
My experience with the Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker
Everything about using the Moccamaster has been easy and intuitive, from configuring my device to making a tasty cup.
What I like
Coffee quality
For good reason, the Moccamaster has a devoted following: the coffee is just delicious. Because of the cost, I had extremely high expectations when I first tried this coffee maker, and it really lived up to them in terms of the taste and quality of the coffee. The quality of the coffee beans you use affects the taste a lot, but the Moccamaster really gives me the robust, full-bodied pour-over cup flavor I want.
I’ve found that a lot of drip coffee makers produce a cup that tastes scorched or harsh. According to the company, the Moccamaster, on the other hand, brews coffee at the perfect temperature to prevent burning of the coffee grinds or a loss of bean flavor. (The Specialty Coffee Association, a nonprofit membership-based organization that represents coffee producers, roasters, importers/exporters, and retailers, certifies all Moccamaster brewers to adhere to its guidelines for brewing time and water temperature.)
Temperature and hot plate
Few things annoy me more than coffee that quickly cools down—I even purchased a costly temperature-control cup to help prevent this issue because I prefer my coffee scorching. When it comes to this, the Moccamaster excels: According to Technivorm, it brews the coffee to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, which is just the right temperature for me (mildly too hot to drink).
Until it automatically turns off—a excellent and practical safety feature, in my opinion—the hot plate maintains my coffee at the same heated temperature for the entire 100 minutes. After that, it keeps the coffee reasonably hot for around an hour. Additionally, the Moccamaster features a handy high and low button that allows me to customize the temperature according to how much coffee I brew. For instance, the low setting keeps roughly 2–6 cups hot, while the high option maintains the ideal temperature for 8–10 cups.
Sleek design
For me, the Moccamaster’s stylish appearance is a major selling point. The machine has a sleek, sophisticated appearance overall, is smaller and more compact than some other coffee makers I’ve tried, and looks much nicer on my kitchen table than the typical drip coffee maker, which is frequently big. Additionally, it comes in more than 20 hues. I went with the off-white tone because it was sufficiently neutral to go in with my other kitchen equipment.
Glass carafe
Compared to the KB model’s thermal carafe, which is considerably longer and has a narrower top, I find the glass carafe much easier to clean, even though it does get hot to the touch. Since I brew coffee every day—sometimes many times a day—and clean my carafe after each use, this was a huge benefit for me. In contrast to the thermal carafe, which is completely covered in stainless steel, I appreciate that it is transparent, allowing me to see how much coffee I have left after brewing.
Brew time
It takes roughly six minutes for the coffee maker to brew ten cups. This doesn’t really set it apart from other coffee makers, but it’s a lot quicker than my regular pour-over approach with myChemex, which takes around 7 minutes to produce 8 cups of coffee plus an additional 5 minutes for preparation, which includes heating the water and grinding the coffee beans. Additionally, the Moccamaster takes slightly longer than 30 seconds on average to prepare a cup of coffee—not much longer than a standard single-serve coffee machine like the Keurig. I advise delaying taking out the carafe until the coffee is completely brewed because it has an automated drip-stop to avoid overflowing the filter.
Drawbacks to keep in mind
Price
It is undoubtedly expensive; at $359, it costs more than other premium drip coffee makers such as the Bonavita Connoisseur ($190), Oxo Brew Stainless Steel Coffee Maker ($230), and Breville Precision Brewer ($330). The high-tech and user-friendly features you may anticipate, such as a built-in grinder, programmable settings that brew your coffee automatically at a specific time, or a detachable water reservoir, are not included for the price. Despite being rather beginner-friendly because to its simplicity, the brewer’s convenience isn’t on par with some other more expensive devices.
Hot to the touch
The glass carafe is my favorite, but it gets shot.It has a plastic handle to make pouring simpler, and this is to be anticipated with anything made of glass. However, you will probably be treating yourself to a small burn if you happen to touch the carafe by mistake while pouring your coffee. The brew basket, the metal outlet arm at the top where the hot water passes through, and of course the hot plate itself are among the several other components of the coffee maker that heat up to an equivalent temperature. Thankfully, the machine’s sidewalls, water reservoir, and base don’t hold onto heat.
Water reservoir isn t removable
The machine’s top static water tank was a little irritation. A detachable water reservoir is typically simpler to clean and replenish, particularly if you prefer using sink water or have a larger, nonportable water filter in your refrigerator. However, this is not unusual with drip coffee machines. The majority of them lack a detachable water tank, and I typically see it in single-serve devices like Keurigs and Nespressos. Think about products from companies like Bonavita and Zwilling if you’re searching for a drip coffee maker with detachable reservoirs.
Who is the Technivorm Moccamaster best for?
The Moccamaster is a good option for serious coffee lovers due to its high price and high-quality brew. It doesn’t have the most sophisticated, user-friendly features that some other drip coffee makers have, especially considering the cost, but it does produce a nearly flawless cup of coffee. Beginners who want to go beyond a single-serve machine and enjoy pour-over quality without having to buy additional ingredients or adhere to rigid temperature and ratio guidelines may find the simple technique helpful. The Moccamaster is also a fantastic choice for people who value elegance over the practicality of high-tech functions or a reasonable pricing. Its elegant design and range of colors complement most people’s kitchens and personal preferences.
Why trust NBC Select?
I have been writing about coffee and coffee makers for over three years, and I am currently an updates editor at NBC Select. I tested the Technivorm Moccamaster for a month in order to write this post, taking into account its design, convenience of use, and coffee quality.
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