You know you have hit a home run when you find a coffee machine that both looks amazing and makes great coffee. And this is what the Technivorm Moccamaster coffee makers are all about.
These coffee makers have been tested and handmade in the Netherlands since the 60s and are commonly thought to be the frontrunners in the world of drip coffee. The Moccamaster coffee maker is now almost universally associated with build quality and longevity, great coffee, and a timeless design.
In this Moccamaster review, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Technivorm Moccamaster drip coffee makers, so you can determine whether they are a good option for you.
Moccamaster Review
Best Drip Coffee Machine
The Moccamaster by Technivorm has well and truly earned its reputation as one of the best drip coffee makers on the market. While it isn’t cheap, it really is the best of the best when it comes to both build quality and the flavor of the coffee it produces.
Technivorm Moccamaster Review
Specifications
What is to Love About the Moccamaster?
Unbeatable Performance and Taste
Perhaps the most important question to ask when buying a coffee maker is does it make good coffee? Considering the price of the Technivorm Moccamaster, we ought to expect superb-tasting coffee.
The review of countless customers is that Moccamaster well and truly lives up to its reputation on this count. It simply makes some of the best filter coffee out there. In fact, when we lived in the coffee capital of Melbourne, many of the best cafes would use Technivorm Moccamaster batch brewers which surely speaks volumes!
In particular, Technivorm claims that the superb taste of their brewed coffee can be attributed to the ability of the Moccamaster to reach and maintain an optimal water temperature of 92 to 96 °C (195 to 205 °F) throughout the brewing process. This is achieved through a copper heating element that is similar to one that might be found in some espresso machines. As you may well be aware, this is where many other coffee machines fall flat. A key brewing parameter for drip coffee makers is consistent water temperature. With the copper heating element, this parameter is fixed and completely reliable for balanced extraction.
This is one of the reasons that the Technivorm Moccamaster is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), the European Coffee Brewing Centre (ECBC), and the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE).
Another factor in the high quality of coffee extracted is the showerhead utilized. The Moccamaster has a rectangular 9-holed showerhead which helps ensure an even saturation of the grinds bed. This showerhead is part of what sets the Technivorm Moccamaster above many other coffee makers. When you take close up on one of these, there is no doubt that the Dutch manufacturer knew exactly what he was doing.
As part of the extraction process, the Moccamaster coffee maker has both a ‘bloom’ stage before moving to pulse pouring.
The Moccamaster is a coffee maker that is all about simplicity and consistency. And so provided you are using fresh, high-quality beans that are set to the right grind size, this machine will do the rest of the work for you to produce delicious, smooth coffee.
Superb Build Quality
Each Technivorm Moccamaster is rigorously tested and handmade in the Netherlands. The quality and longevity of their coffee machines are part of what they pride themselves in as a company.
This is attributed to the care they take in individually building the products and the quality of the materials used. And on the off chance that there is a fault they come with an impressive 5-year warranty.
Great functionality and Ease of Use
The Technivorm Moccamaster is a no-frills coffee maker that is about consistency and quality. As such if you love experimenting with brewing parameters and playing around with coffee this is probably not the machine for you and we recommend you check out our review of the Breville Precision Brewer.
Technivorm Moccamaster coffee makers are intentionally minimalistic in design, with an on/off switch on the bottom, and a flow-control slide on the filter basket. This makes it an incredibly easy coffee maker to use and hard to stuff up.
You simply place your paper filter into the filter basket, pre-wet the filter, add your ground coffee, fill the water reservoir, and the machine will automatically start and then stop when finished brewing. It takes 4-7 minutes brewing time depending on the volume being brewed, and then you simply dispose of the filter and coffee grounds and rinse the metal or glass carafe and brew basket.
It is also recommended that you descale your Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker after every 100 uses with Urnex.
Timeless Retro Design
And finally, it would be remiss to fail to mention the timeless aesthetics of the Moccamaster machines. The first Technivorm Moccamaster was released in 1968 and every model since then has by and large kept to the same design. The Moccamaster comes with the option of either a stainless steel thermal carafe, a glass carafe and hot plate, or a single-serve option. Each coffee maker is available in an array of different colors.
In fact, my wife told me recently that retro is back in whether clothing, interior design, or coffee machines presumably. So the Moccamaster is not just a near unbeatable coffee maker in performance, it is also ‘in.’
The Technivorm Moccamaster is a statement piece in any kitchen. However, do be aware that it is a fairly large coffee maker and as such does take up a lot of counter space.
What is not to Love about the Moccamaster?
A Hefty Price Tag
There is no avoiding the elephant in the room which is that this is simply a jolly expensive coffee maker. It is well and truly an investment in coffee. Our take on the price is that it is well worth the price for some people but not for others. The reason for the high price is quality and excellence.
And so, if you are looking for the best coffee maker and are willing to pay for it, then we believe a Technivorm Moccamaster won’t let you down. However, if you aren’t made of money and just want good rather than the best then this is not the coffee maker for you.
Lack of programmable Features
Sometimes the greatest strengths of products are also their greatest weaknesses. And in many ways, this is the case with the Technivorm Moccamaster. For the price you are paying you really do get minimal features. There is no LCD interface, no option to turn on at a preset time, no option to change the brewing temperature of the bloom, next to no programmable features. It is just one single brewing process that does exceptionally well. So for some, this will appeal while for others this might be a deal-breaker. If features and customisation are your thing then we would recommend the Breville Precision Brewer.
Different Moccamaster Models Available
There are three main models in the Moccamaster coffee maker series; stainless steel thermal carafe, glass carafe, or single serve.
Technivorm Moccamaster KBT – The Premium Option
The Moccamaster KBT is their classic model complete with a stainless steel thermal carafe. The carafe comes with two lids; one for brewing and the other for retaining heat. The brewing lid has a narrow tube attached to it which facilitates an even mix of coffee throughout the brewing process. The heat retention lid ensures the carafe keeps a pot of coffee hot for up to an hour.
The brewer automatically switches off after brewing. The other unique feature of the Moccamaster KBT is that it has a manual adjust brew basket. The brew basket has three settings controlled by a switch to adjust the rate that which coffee flows into the carafe. This gives the brewer the opportunity to adjust the steeping time, or even close the brew basket off completely to pull the carafe away mid-brew. In answer to how much coffee it brews, the Moccamaster KBT brews a full carafe (40 oz or 10 cups) of coffee in six minutes. It is available in four colors: white, red, black, or polished silver.
Technivorm Moccamaster KBG/ KBGV Select – The Popular Option
The Moccamaster KBG or KBGV select features Technivorm’s iconic original design complete with a glass carafe and hot plate. The hot plate temperature can be set at either 175° or 185° with a simple switch on the front. The hot plate will keep the glass carafe of coffee warm for up to 100 minutes before automatically switching off.
These models have an automatic drip stop allowing you to grab a cup of coffee mid brew. The difference between the Moccamaster KBG and KBGV select is that the select allows you to brew either a half or full carafe. Both these models can brew a 40 oz. (10 cup) pot of coffee in six minutes. These models also come in an impressive array of colors, making them a very popular choice.
Technivorm Moccamaster Cup One – The Single Serve Option
The Moccamaster cup one is the latest coffee maker in the series. This brewer is really aimed at the single-serve crowd. It brews a 10-ounce cup of coffee in just four minutes. The brewer automatically turns off after the brew cycle is complete. This model is all about making a perfect cup of coffee that is repeatable and consistent. The Moccamaster Cup One comes in three different color options: black, white or red. See our full review here.
Who is the Technivorm Moccamaster for?
The Moccamaster coffee maker is designed for excellence and intended for those who take their coffee very seriously. They are well and truly at the upper price limit for a drip coffee maker and so are definitely not the coffee maker for everyone. If you are simply looking for a drip coffee maker to get the job done then this is not for you and we recommend you consider the Bonavita coffee maker.
Instead, the Moccamaster is the coffee maker for the java enthusiast who loves getting the maximum flavor and aroma from different single-origin beans. It is really a commercial-grade batch brewer that is all about one thing; making the best fresh coffee out there. And so if you love drip coffee, are looking for excellence, and are willing to pay for it, then this may well be the coffee maker for you.
While there are now a number of high-quality drip coffee makers on the market, the Technivorm Moccamaster is still widely thought to lead the pack both in terms of quality and performance. It is a no-frills coffee maker with few extra features but a track record of consistency and delicious coffee. Arguably, the Moccamaster is the best coffee maker out there.
Technivorm Moccamaster Takeaway: Worth the Money
So what is the final verdict on the Technivorm Moccamaster? Who is it for and should you buy it? Well, the last word has to be that this simply does come in as the best of the best. This iconic coffee maker is exceptionally well made, can make truly great coffee, and looks stunning.
The Moccamaster is all about simplicity and minimalism. It is a coffee maker that does one thing and does that one thing to an extremely high quality; making coffee that is well-extracted and delicious. So if you are looking for the best and for a coffee machine that may well last you a lifetime, then your search is over!
We believe that this is still THE Drip Coffee brewer for the specialty coffee enthusiast.
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Happy Buying!
