CR: Technivorm Shmechnivorm!

[frigilux]

CR's new issue contains a test of coffeemakers in which my much-loved Technivorm Moccamaster limped in at the middle of the pack, outscored by inexpensive models from Michael Graves ($40), Black & Decker ($20), and Mr. Coffee ($40).

They note, "The Moccamaster is a Dutch import touted by connoisseurs for its superior brewing. The Technivorm aced our brewing tests, but others brewed comparably for $40." (The aforementioned $20 B&D, while outscoring the Technivorm overall, did not match it in brew performance scoring.)

Bunn fans, steady thyselves: The Bunn machines were at the bottom of the pack, with the $165 BTX-B scoring a 53, and the $115 NHBX-B scoring a 50.

They go on to say, "Handling the Technivorm's array of parts and properly positioning the carafe for brewing takes added care.

It was rated 'Excellent' for brew performance, and only 'Good' in the categories of convenience and carafe handling.

Their top-rated model: Cuisinart Brew Central CDD-1200 at $100. It scored an 87. The Technivorm scored a 69.

Moral: While the Moccamaster has high style and excellent brewing going for it, you can buy ONE of them for $265....or you can buy six Michael Graves 40304's.

 

[rayjay]

Well.....The coffeemaker does get an excellent for brewing, and I think that is all that matters, I have to be made better than a lot of the ones we have here in the states. A lot has to do on specific tasts also. You and others I know really love this machine. CR is only to be used as a guidline. I have the Cuisinart BrewCentral for many years now and the coffee is just okay. I have to say it is reliable and has held up longer than all the other ones we have had.

I would rather take the ratings from Cooks Illustrated, ( which are professional chefs), than CR. If I can I will attach their review.

 

[rayjay]

Eugene, This is what Cooks Illustrated have to say.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FIRST IS THE RECOMMENDATION, THEN THE DESCRIPTION, THEN THE PRICE.

Highly Recommended

Technivorm Moccamaster Coffeemaker
Fast, very simple to operate. Tasters described coffee as “a dynamic and clean cup, flavorful and expressive,” “very good; robust but smooth.” Achieved perfect temperatures for brewing and serving and was the closest of all the coffee makers to reaching the ideal brewing time. Pieces disassemble easily for cleaning. Though not programmable, this machine was so fast and easy to use, we didn’t mind.


$239.95
Recommended with Reservations

Krups 10-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffee Machine
Compact and attractive, this programmable machine is simple to use, but it lost points for too-slow and slightly too-hot brewing. Thin water line down front of machine magnifies as water is added, making it easy to read levels. Optional beeper indicates when brewing is complete. Tasters deemed its coffee “slightly too bitter.” Half-pot was weaker than the full pot.


$95.93
Recommended with Reservations

Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker
“As loud as a jet taking off,” the attached burr grinder will wake anyone who isn’t already up in the morning. Controls and carafe were well designed, but brewing water spent most of the cycle well below optimal temperature, reaching it only for the last three minutes. While a few tasters called the coffee “mellow,” others deemed it “watery,” “bitter,” and “thin.”


$199.00
Recommended with Reservations

Black & Decker 10-Cup Thermal Stainless Steel Coffeemaker
Innovative lift-out water reservoir you can take to the sink and fill, but controls could use improvement: A temporary sticker explained that one button turned the machine on and off and set programs with different numbers of pushes. Tasters found the coffee “strong,” but “nothing exceptional”; some remarked on its bitterness. Brewing water remained too cool for most of the cycle, then spiked up too high near the end. Half-pot was slightly weaker.


$59.99
Not Recommended

Hamilton Beach Stay or Go Deluxe 10-Cup Thermal Coffemaker
This programmable machine is easy to use and fill, with simple controls, and we liked the two commuter cups you can brew into directly. But it’s one of the slowest coffee makers in the lineup, taking 12 minutes, 23 seconds to produce a pot. Brewing water was too cool and took 16 minutes of the brew cycle to reach the proper temperature. Tasters found the coffee “strong” but too “bitter.”


$89.99
Not Recommended

Mr. Coffee 10-Cup Thermal Programmable Coffee Maker
Attractive machine, but water filter is fussy to put in correct direction, with tiny, raised print the only indication. Condensation dripped neatly into tank when lid was opened. Tasters found the coffee the most bitter of the lineup, calling it “harsh,” “like cowboy coffee,” and rated it near the bottom for complexity of flavor. Brewing temperature fluctuated between too high and too low.


$47.24
Not Recommended

Bunn-O-Matic Home Brewer
This super-fast machine brews a full pot in just four minutes, but the coffee is “weak,” “thin,” and “flat.” You can’t see into the water reservoir or check water level; you must leave unit on at all times to keep water preheated and ready to brew (at the cost of fresh flavor), or wait 15 minutes for preheating before brewing. No “on” button; closing reservoir lid starts brewing. Turbulent water spray strews grounds over and around filter. Water never reached 195 degrees.


$131.32
Not Recommended

Capresso CoffeeTEAM Therm
Deluxe machine is enjoyable to watch as the filter fills, then swings over to begin brewing, but for the price, the coffee should taste better, and it takes up too much counter space. Coffee was brewed at too high a temperature, making it “too hot to drink,” “weak and watery,” and “too bitter”; it received the lowest overall tasting scores. Delicate, tiny parts for top of brew basket were fussy, easily lost, and had to be in exactly the right place for proper function.

 

[jasonl]

190 degrees water, 2 tbsp of coffee per "cup", if you're going to percolate/drip, one minute per cup. If you're going to steep (French Press/manual vacuum pot), 4 minutes.

The Technivorm accomplishes this automatically. An inexpensive French Press will do the same manually.

Bunns run way too fast, most other drip pots and percs BOIL the coffee or burn it while sitting on the bottom plate.

My daily driver is an automatic kettle, a grinder, and a Bodum french press.

 

[frigilux]

I generally stand by Consumer Report's tests, but I really wish they would abandon the "red dot/black dot" scoring system and give each category a numbered score. An appliance (coffee makers in this case) can score anywhere from an 80-100 to get an 'Excellent' rating. That's a pretty wide range.

With numeric scores, we'd know exactly where an appliance scored in all the given categories.

In the case of washing machines, for instance, I'd love to know the exact score for washing performance. If a front-loading Whirlpool Duet gets a score of 81 (Excellent) and its Maytag sibling gets a 79 (Very Good), that's not enough difference to be concerned about.

However, if the Whirlpool gets a 98 and the Maytag a 79, that's a big difference in washing ability and I'd choose the Whirlpool.

Oh, well....as we all know, these tests are simply guidelines for making purchases, not Moses and the tablets.

 

[jeffg]

IMO their reviews can't even be used for guidelines. They usually range from mostly to completely misleading.

 

[petek]

I read your msg a few hours ago then I checked my mail and found my monthly issue so I just finished reading it. It doesn't surprise me since it's pretty much known that the most expensive doesn't always provide the best performance as shown also in the stove/range article same issue. But if you're happy with it be happy, don't let the article diminish that.
I wonder if they used 8 O'clock because it's a taste many people are familiar with.

 

[frigilux]

Oh, I love the Moccamaster---regardless of anything CR has to say. There is absolutely no doubt it makes the best coffee I've tasted.

The question becomes this: Is the Moccamaster's coffee $165 better than the Cuisinart Brew Central's coffee?

No, probably not!

 

[whirlcool]

I say forget the modern brewing machines and just buy yourself a good Sunbeam Coffeemaster vacuum pot. Just make sure you have some original Sunbeam cloth filters for it. It makes the best coffee I have ever had. If CR was to review it, it would probably get downgraded due to the hot exterior and kinda messy clean up.

But it still beats all the modern coffeemakers out there!

 

[ronhic]

I would...

....almost kill for a Sunbeam Vacuum coffee pot....

I don't think Sunbeam sold them here in Oz....I've yet to see any come up on ebay...

 

[rayjay]

Sunbeam Coffeemaster

Chris, There are quite a few of them out there on e-bay now. Check it out.

Ray

 

[rayjay]

Technivorm

Eugene, I would take CR's ratings with a grain of salt. I kind of like the Cooks Illustrated website. These are professionals that show you technique and also rate products. There Creme Brulee is great, and also their technique for chocolate chip cookies makes them so delicious. Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. There method is melting and browning the butter first which gives it a toffee taste. Best choc chip I ever ate. THis is just one of the many great techniques that they have. I like the website, because you can search on recipes, save them, they have videos that you can also save, you can also add the recipes to your cookbook. So.....this is why I think their review/rating of the Technivorm is accurate.
Check them out at www.cooksillustrated.com.

Ray