Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)IT'S NOW MAY 2011...... UPDATE
We've used this coffee maker for quite a while now. I wished I had purchased the Technivorm. Why? Making small batches of coffee, the temperature of the carafe coffee is never hot enough. We've used room temp water, pre-rinsed the thermal carafe with hot water, and even brewed larger volumes, which Capresso recommends for highest temperature performance. But in the final analysis, this machine just doesn't live up to the claims of brewing near 200 degrees F. And frankly, I can't stand the engineering on the "screw tight and screw open carafe lid." It's just not user friendly, in my opinion. We're giving the machine to our youngest daughter and her husband. We're buying a Zojirushi at Bed Bath and Beyond for about $72 after their 20% discount and another $5 promo. BTW, in the mornings we usually brew our Brasilian coffee "Tropeiro Style", which is similar to Turkish coffee preparation. The final product is just below boiling, and stays very hot in the thermos/carafe for hours. This is very common in Brasil, and it works! No fancy machines. The coffee maker for us is usful when we're serving coffee for more than four people.
-------------------------------------- ORIGINAL REVIEW -----------------------------------------------------
I'm a member of SCAA, (Specialty Coffee Assoc. of Amer.), and know that properly brewed coffee requires "hot water." In fact, brew temp's need to be around 200 degrees F. This machine, and the Technivorm unit from Boyd Coffee are the only two consumer machines I'm aware of that do.
My ONLY ISSUE with Capresso is the insulated thermos/carafe. It has the most unfriendly screw on cap. And outside of a small raised dot, which is black and matches the rest of the cap....thus making it near invisible, you'll play heck having anyone other than you figure out how to pour the hot coffee first time out!
I can say that it is a quality brewing device, does everything I expected, and meets my critical brewing demands.
Was it worth paying $200 for this brewer when I could have purchased a "look-a-like" for under $100? For me, yes. Both we and our friends agree that the final product is very good, and the carafe holds the coffee for our required "one hour" of usability, while maintaining a reasonably high temperature. I guess the moral remains; "You get what you pay for."
I did speak to both Capresso customer service and to Boyd Coffee Co. at the recent International Coffee Convention in Long Beach, CA. I asked both about brewing "under 3 cups" per cycle. (We are Brasilian and drink traditional fine ground coffee from Brazil, and in small demitasse cups....3 US cups is enough for 2-3 people) Both they and Technivorm prefer that their clients brew no less than 3 cups at a time, and preferably 5 or more cups. However, if you must brew smaller quantities, the Capresso does have a "3 cup cycle", which slows the water delivery and extends the steeping of the grounds. Again, it's all about having 200 deg. F water flowing over and steeping the grounds. Most cheaper machines will never get their percolated water to that temperature point, which is required to emulsify and pass the essential flavor oils into your cup. If you're concerned with buying the best machine for home coffee.......than you have two great choices; the Capresso for its ability to meet brewing standards "and also" blend into your designer kitchen, or the very competent Technivorm, sold by Boyd Coffee Co., which is certified by the SCAA, but honestly isn't a beauty to look at........ I opted to get a good brewer "and" satisfy my wife's design concerns.
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Capresso 441.05 MT-500 Plus 10-cup Coffeemaker with Metallic Alloy Body and Stainless Thermal CarafeProduct Description
With its sophisticated look, the new MT500 Plus ties in beautifully with today's metallic kitchen trends, while adding a classic accent that works with a variety of kitchen decor options. This is the only 10-cup electric coffee maker with a stunning metallic alloy body, stainless steel thermal carafe and a stainless steel lined heating system. The new MT500 Plus adds a brushed metallic filter holder for a sleek look. It features a convenient side panel with easy access soft-touch controls, plus an illuminated LED display that is easy to see from any angle in any light. Convenience features include easy-to-clean polished surface, GoldTone Filter, easy-to-read external water level indicator, drip free spout, 24-hour programmable clock/timer, concealed cord storage and automatic safety shut-off after brewing.
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