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

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Pack-Dig...oor-24-Hour-Plug-In-Outlet-Home-/302681585791

 

[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.

https://www.braunhousehold.com/en-us

 

[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...

 

[funktionalart]

...might've jumped the gun on previous post

I'm not seeing the boxes I saw last week with my braun stuff....may have been donated. I'll have a hard look this weekend and repost if the things are actually still here!

 

[lotsosudz]

Krups is my go to brand

I had my original Krups maker {basic} for 14 years, before I gave it it my friends who were down and out, and we bought a new one that my partner took when he and I split up. I them inherited a 10 cup Krups programmable maker, that I've had for 15 years, and is still going strong. I use it everyday.

Hugs
David

 

[justjunque]

Hi David,

We actually have a Krups as well.
It's black, and a much larger machine than the Braun.
Ours says AromaControl, and has an insulated carafe that you can take to the table as a server.
We've actually only used it a couple of times, when the Braun was briefly carafe-less.
I seem to recall it making good coffee.

Kind of a funny story.
When we signed up for a gift registry before our wedding, the Krups just appeared on it.
We never put it on there.
I believe, and I could be mistaken, I think we removed it from our wish list, only to have it reappear.
So, we decided to leave it on there. And someone bought it for us!
It's currently stored in the dining room closet.

Barry

 

[rp2813]

Sometime back in the '90s we had a Krups that did drip coffee on one side and espresso on the other.   I preferred the FlavorSelect's brew, and we weren't using the espresso side much, so we gave the Krups to Dave's daughter when she got her first apartment.

 

[dermacie]

This makes me want one I know my brother and sister-in-law had one for a long time. I have somewhat of a coffee maker addiction. Mostly percolators, but have recently started looking at drip machines too.

 

[ea56]

Derek,

I got the coffepot bug too, and this Braun has pert near cured it. It makes consistently excellent coffee,I don’t need to use as much ground coffee, because it brews a nice strong pot with slightly less coffee than I used to use. And its fast and much less hassle to clean up and use.

And with the neat digital outlet timer that I found I can program it to turn on at 7:30 am, turn off 45 mins later and then turn back on at 7:00pm for my evening pot and again turn off an hour later. Plus it looks really nice on the countertop and takes up minimal space. Its a win/win all the way around.

Keep an eye out for one on ebay, you won’t be disappointed.

Eddie

 

[wayupnorth]

I wont keep any heat generating appliances plugged in. My next door neighbor is the fire chief, next city over. He said to unplug all toasters, coffee pots, hair dryers, etc, as any of those could just go poof. Better to be safe than sorry. He has seen too many fires caused by those.

 

[justjunque]

Eddie,

Thanks for mentioning that!
I always feel like I'm not using enough coffee, but I'm happy with how it turns out.
I thought maybe I just like weak coffee.
But everyone who I've ever made it for has complimented it.
But, now it makes sense!

Barry

 

[jakeseacrest]

This way my favorite coffee maker of all time. I burned through 3 of these in the last 20 years. I found that they made such a rich delicious cup of coffee.

 

[lordkenmore]

My mother had a Braun that looked sort of like the one posted in the first post of this thread. The big difference is hers had a switch by the power switch which supposedly did some magic if one were brewing only 4 cups. That was one feature that was almost certainly never used on our specimen...

 

We got that Braun in the 1980s.

 

Not too terribly long ago, I saw one just like it at Goodwill...and it was an epic battle to say "no, I don't really need this!" and move on. I feel pangs of regret even as I write this...but I don't brew much coffee at once these days, and I didn't have any "toy" money that day...

 

As I recall, the coffee is pretty good. It's not as good as French press, but it was a good, convenient "daily driver."

 

We used a permanent filter--less convenient than paper, but it probably made better coffee.

 

Another thing I seem to recall: these Brauns top rated by (IIRC) Consumer Reports.

 

[askolover]

I bought my mother one way back when.  My grandmother followed soon after.  Mom's eventually died after many years of use.  I kept the carafe and used it in an old Mr. Coffee for the once in a blue moon I'd make coffee.  I may still have the carafe in storage.  I used to see stainless replacements for people who tend to break them frequently.  I don't drink coffee unless I'm desperately cold at work on nights.  And it's been over 3 years since.