Moccamaster 53933 KBGV Select 10-Cup Coffee Maker, Off-White, 40 ounce, 1.25l

After considerable research I decided to purchase a Moccamaster. The coffee machine I replaced was a conventional drip maker that was inconsistent in taste and I was looking for something that provides a quality cup of coffee. I knew exactly what to expect when it arrived and wasn’t surprised by the plastic parts or anything associated with the build. A major plus for me is the longevity of the company and replacement parts which are readily available if necessary. It’s simple to clean and has a cool retro look. I like the fact that it’s no frills, I don’t need another device that connects via blue tooth or requires an app. Low tech is better in this instance.Now the most important part that in my opinion is necessary for a quality cup of coffee. It’s a tremendous difference when you grind your own beans. I was purchasing ground coffee from a specialty shop and it wasn’t working in the Moccamaster. The coffee was coming out too weak, didn’t have a smooth taste and the flavors were muted. Grinding the beans solves the issue and you get the full flavor of the bean.What works for me when brewing is starting the unit and allowing it to drip just over the top of the grounds and then pausing. I let the coffee bloom for 30 seconds stir then finish the brew cycle.The finished cup of coffee is the perfect temperature and there is no hint of bitterness or sour notes. It’s a great addition to the morning with a quality cup of coffee.

I’d been limping along with a generic $9 drip coffee maker for years, always putting off the research to find a good one. This year, I’d had enough of that cheap maker. I dove deep into researching SCA-approved brewers, binged YouTube videos, and read tons of reviews. After all that, I settled on the Technivorm Moccamaster, mainly because it’s not made in China, has a solid warranty, and offers parts and service through a U.S. location.At first, I was leaning toward the thermal carafe model. Coffee nerds kept saying glass carafes give coffee a burnt taste if it sits too long. I know that taste from a lifetime of glass carafe makers, but I rarely let coffee sit that long. If I do, I just brew a fresh pot. Plus, glass carafes are way cheaper to replace and easier to clean than those glass-lined thermal ones, which are also breakable but cost a lot more.The color choice was tough. I was leaning toward a safe, neutral one, but then I read a review (can’t find it now) that basically said: if you’re torn between a boring color and a bold one, go bold—you won’t regret it. That pushed me to pick the turquoise, and I’m obsessed with it. No regrets!I’m not a clean freak and never bothered to thoroughly clean my old coffee makers after every use. But this Moccamaster? It feels like it deserves the extra few seconds to stay spotless. It’s built to last years, and I want to keep it looking nice.Since I couldn’t see one in person before buying, I was a bit nervous about the plastic quality some folks complained about. Honestly, I don’t get the fuss—the plastic feels solid enough, not cheap or flimsy, and every part is replaceable through Amazon or Technivorm. The glass carafe does seem a tad thin, so I’m sure I’ll break it eventually. The carafe lid pops on and off super easily for cleaning. The water reservoir lid feels a little loose, but it’s not a big deal to me—what am I locking up in there?Heads-up: Moccamasters need coarsely ground coffee. If you’re using pre-ground grocery store stuff, you might want to pick a different SCA-approved brewer. I used to be a pre-ground coffee person too, but I switched to hand-grinding specialty beans right before getting this. I’ve accidentally ground too fine a couple of times, and it almost overflowed the filter basket—way too close for comfort.Some coffee gurus say to stir the grounds while brewing for the best extraction. I wasn’t planning to bother, but I’m usually nearby (I leave the filter lid off during brewing). When it’s down to about a cup left, I’ll give it a quick stir if I notice dry grounds near the filter basket handle. A few times, I forgot to stir until it was done, but when I checked, all the grounds were wet anyway. The coffee tasted just as good to me—I couldn’t tell the difference.Is this the ultimate coffee maker? I don’t know. But it feels well-made, I love how it looks, and the coffee it brews is fantastic. I think it’ll last for years. Would I pay full price? Probably not. Did I wait for a sale? Nope. I got an Amazon store card with a $100 instant gift card, which made it feel like a solid deal for a coffee maker I’m thrilled with.

The coffee maker arrived pretty well packaged. Some assembly was required, but it was pretty simple. I ran it a couple of times with filtered water to clean out dust or stuff left behind in the manufacturing process, then I decided to make my first pot of coffee on it. I don't have a scale to measure out the exact amount of coffee to use, so I followed the instructions which said 7 scoops for 10 cups of coffee. This turned out to be a little too much, my coffee came out way too strong. But it smelled and tasted better than any coffee I'd ever had on my Cuisinart brewer. I love the aesthetics of the Moccamaster, it's kind of retro. It all feels very sturdy, even the plastic has a solid feel to it, nothing feels loose or out of place. It's smaller than I'd expected, but that's not a bad thing. Honestly, so far I'm pretty impressed. I'd definitely recommend it if you're okay spending a lot of money on a well built coffee maker with a great reputation.

For the fancy coffee people: If you enjoy a consistent, easy-to-make, really good cup of coffee, this machine is great. It consistently hits the Specialty Coffee Association's target temperature of 195 degrees F-205 degrees F. I have used Aeropress and another pour over. This is easier for multiple cups. I still find its helpful to do a stir, kind of like aeropress, but its not absolutely necessary.For the usual coffee people: Style of this machine is good, the plastic parts are well built and can easily be replaced, unlike most brands. While the moccamaster can make any ground coffee taste a little better because of the temperature of the water and the fountain head, it does stop short of the miraculous. It will not make the really cheap coffee taste much better. Apart from aesthetics, consistency, and ease, this product would appear to be overpriced. If you do eventually find yourself buying some good specialty coffees, this machine would be very helpful to pull out the many flavors of those coffee beans.