Braun Aromaster KF400

[justjunque]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone else has this coffee maker.
I've had this one for so long, I don't even remember exactly when I got it.
I'm convinced that it was in the 1980s.

My aunt and uncle who, at the time, lived upstairs from me and my parents, bought it new.
They used it once or twice, and my aunt didn't like it.
I was putting out the trash one day, and there was the Braun, sitting in the recycling bin.
Initially, I took it out because I didn't think they would take it for recycling.
Then, when I found out that there was nothing wrong with it, I decided to keep it.
For the first few years, it just sat in a box in my bedroom.
My parents already had a coffee maker.
When I got my own place, I tried it out, and it seemed fine to me.

When I got married, this became our every day machine; and has remained such for the past 16 years or so.
Everyone who has had coffee from it has complimented it.
And I think it was a pretty low-priced machine when it was new.
I like it so much, when I saw a NOS one on Craigslist for a decent price, I bought it, just to have on hand, should this one ever eventually die.
I have been through more than a couple of carafes over the years, which are now getting harder to find...and more expensive when you can find them.

I'm just really impressed with it, and was just curious if anyone else has one, and what you think of it.

Barry

 

[joeekaitis]

Steve Jobs probably owned a few . . .

 

He said German kitchen appliances, specifically Braun, were an influence on him and what he asked of Apple designers.  The team that designed the Macintosh was named FROG because most came from the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).

 

We had a few.  Braun should never have discontinued it.  It was the most affordable model they made and the quality didn't seem to suffer when they shifted production from Germany to Mexico.

 

[ea56]

Barry,

I have one of these Braun Aromasters, and it has been my daily driver since August. I just love this coffeemaker! Over the past 48 years I have owned and used just about every type of coffeemaker ever made, but the simplicity of this Braun and the excellent coffee that it brews has impressed me. And I especially like the small footprint this machine has on my countertop and the fill gauge inside the tank. Using this gauge the finished brew is always exactly number of cups you measured.

For a spare carafe I bought a Medelco that is the same design, and I keep it on hand in the event that I should ever need it.

I also bought a great digital timer that allows me to program both my morning and evening coffee brewing times. Something that can’t be done with most, if any programable coffeemakers.

I’ve posted links for both the Medelco replacement carafe and the digital timer.

Eddie

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Medelco-On...nt-for-Krups-10-Cup-Coffee-Drip-/273483805196

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[jmm63]

That was one of the best coffee makers every made! I had a fire engine red one for many years!

 

[wayupnorth]

I have one also. It makes great coffee but having to buy those stupid Braun filters is a pain trying to find them. It is in my storage room with a cracked carafe. Replacement carafes costs more than I originally paid for the stupid thing.

 

[justjunque]

Tim;
We've been using Melitta brand filters in ours for years.
They're an unbleached brown paper.
I can't remember what they cost, but they seem pretty reasonable for a box of 100.
The last ones the wife picked up are actually bamboo.
We haven't tried those yet.
And you're right about the cost of the carafes! They've really gone up in price, when I can even find them. I'm just extra careful with it!
I believe I still have one spare.
Of course, I'm talking new, in original box.
I do see used ones on eBay pretty regularly.

Eddie;
Thanks for the tip!
I didn't know there was any other brand of carafe that would fit it.
It works fine with the pause switch?
I think both the side of the carafe, as well as the lid need to work together to activate the switch, if I'm not mistaken.

Barry

 

[ea56]

Yep Barry, the Medelco replacement carafe does indeed work with the pause function. I took the photo of them next to each other so you could see that they are the same size and height.

And as for the filters, there is always the option to use a gold mesh reusable filter, but I personally like the paper filters better, coffee is clearer and less mess and washing to do. There are other number 4 filters that are available and work just as well as the Melitta filters.

Eddie

 

[justjunque]

Eddie,
That's really good to know. Thanks!
I know eventually, I won't be able to find NOS Braun carafes any more.

We're really happy with the Melitta filters, and have no trouble finding them affordably priced at the local grocery store or Walmart.
I do have the gold mesh filter, but I agree. I like the clearer coffee from the paper filters.

Barry

 

[fan-of-fans]

I have one of those I got at Habitat a few years ago. I don't drink coffee, but I liked the look of it. I figured I could use it for hot cocoa or something. I ended up giving it to my mother to use when her coffee maker had broken. She liked the machine, said it made great coffee.

I've seen used ones on eBay and most seem to be very expensive. I saw another similar one in a thrift store a few months ago, it was a 12 cup model in black, and was programmable. Plus it had the gold tone filter.

One trivia tidbit about that coffee maker, was Hyacinth Bouquet had one on Keeping Up Appearances. Later she had the 12 cup model. She was always making coffee for Elizabeth with it.

 

[justjunque]

Cole,

If you're interested, I believe they made an adapter to brew tea, that goes on in place of the filter basket.
I could be wrong. It seems like I remember seeing them show up on eBay.
It's too bad you don't like coffee. It does a great job of it!

Barry

 

[countryguy]

I had a similiar model to the one in this ebay ad but with the built in clock/timer. It worked great. I gave it to a friend that was without a coffeemaker when he moved into a new house.

Gary

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Braun-Arom...h=item1eec458081:g:wKsAAOSwFXdbrXpk:rk:1:pf:0

 

[rp2813]

We had one of these for many years.  Ina Garten, aka "The Barefoot Contessa" has one on her (TV?) kitchen counter.  As has been stated above, they deliver a good brew.

 

In the early '90s (I think) I saw an infomercial for the Braun FlavorSelect and got one of those.  It didn't take up much more room, and I liked that it was black and didn't show the brown stains like white does.  It did indeed produce an improved brew compared to the Aromaster.

 

The Aromaster became our camping/RV coffeemaker.  Once we stopped camping, I let the Aromaster go.  I had replaced the FlavorSelect with a Capresso grind & brew machine, so the Flavorselect became the spare. 

 

Dollar stores carry #4 filters.  There's no need to purchase the Braun brand.  Carafes show up in thrift stores.

 

 

[this post was last edited: 10/23/2018-02:08]

 

[thomasortega]

I had the Electrolux version of this coffee maker (also made by Braun).

It was a great coffee maker until my sister dropped it from the kitchen window on the 18th floor.

I loved how fast the brewing was and how it was great for the Brazilian coffee (really hot and really bold), not like that warm dirty water they sell at Starsucks.

 

[foraloysius]

I used to love Braun appliances, I have/had quite a few. Unfortunately Braun nowadays belongs to Delonghi and that didn't do Braun any good. The sleek and functional design has gone and I bet they are not as good as they used to be.

Braun US | Home

www.braunhousehold.com

 

[dermacie]

According to my research it was produced around 1991 until 2004.

 

[rp2813]

My only complaint about the Aromaster's design was that it was easy to turn it on by accident if it got bumped by something on a busy or crowded counter.   Our machine burned out early due to this, and we had it repaired (when there were still businesses that repaired small appliances).

 

My current Bonavita machine is similar.  The switch is positioned a little higher on the base, but still has the potential to be activated by accident.  The switch toggles up and down as opposed to side-to-side on the Braun.   When off, the lower portion of the switch protrudes.  This makes unintentional activation easier.  I wish they had turned the switch around so the bottom of it would be in the pushed position when off.  That makes more sense to me.

 

[petek]

The new Braun stuff is shite.. look at that ugly blender on their website.. At one time, particular in the 60's and early 70's they were some of the sleekest most modern appliances out there.. The previous generation Aromaster was beautiful. I'm still waiting for one to show up.

 

[foraloysius]

After that Aromaster the Traditional was introduced. I bought it in 1984, loved the design back then, although the Aromaster is prettier I think.

 

[funktionalart]

I've many of the KF400 units here stashed away. Many spare carafes as well as the snap-in acrylic lip pieces. I believe I also have a tea brewing component in original box also. If memory serves, I've more 12 cup carafes than 10-cups...but if anyone is in need of something, let me know and I can dig about and drop pics your way...