I'm Erin, and welcome to the fourth episode of The Coffee Lab, the series where we forget coffee snobbery. The Coffee Lab is all about making coffee fun. Join me as I help you kickstart your coffee journey!
When I get asked, "Which is the best coffee maker to buy?" I only have one answer. The Technivorm Moccamaster KGBV Select.
The Moccamaster is famous in the coffee world for a reason — it looks gorgeous, makes delicious, intense, rich coffee, is a delight to clean, and the best part? It has a 5-year warranty as standard, and Technivorm offers lifetime repairs. Yep. Lifetime. Repairs.
If you've been struggling to figure out which coffee maker to buy, struggle no more! Get the Moccamaster. I know it's a little pricier than the competition — $369 from Amazon right now — you won't have to buy another model again. Think of it like investing in the future of your coffee maker.
And, yes — I've seriously reviewed 44 coffee makers. I've added another one to my belt since publishing my last roundup.
SCA-approved
SCA stands for "Specialty Coffee Association," which basically means the Moccamaster has got a nice shiny medal from serious coffee snobs. To achieve this accreditation, machines must meet the SCA's requirements for "proper water temperature, brewing time, and ability to brew within the SCA Golden Cup recommendations."
According to Bonavita, another SCA-accredited manufacturer, the "Golden Cup" involves the following criteria: "Coffee volume, brewing time, water temperature, beverage preparation, consistent performance, uniform coffee extraction, beverage clarity, holding temperature, instruction manuals."
Of course, an SCA accreditation isn't the be-all and end-all of coffee makers, but if a coffee is good enough for some seriously knowledgeable coffee nerds, it's good enough for me.
Built to last
You've heard me say this before and you'll definitely hear me say this again, but the Moccamaster is a coffee maker that'll survive the apocalypse. Technivorm offers a 5-year warranty as standard, and lifetime repairs (for a fee after 5 years). This after-purchase care is better than Breville, Ninja, Krups and Bonavita... combined.
Standard Warranty |
Repairs/extra warranty |
|
|---|---|---|
Technivorm Moccamaster |
5 Years |
Lifetime repairs |
Fellow Aiden |
2 Years |
3 years with registration |
OXO Brew 8-Cup |
2 Years |
None |
KRUPS Essential |
2 Years |
15-year repairs |
Breville Luxe |
1 Year |
None |
As you can see, Technivorm is just leading the crowd here. There's very little competition. If you want your coffee maker to last you a lifetime, it's gotta be Technivorm.
This is not to say all other-brand machines will break within a few years, not at all. But, if your Breville Luxe Brewer were to break after 366 days, you'd be stuck with it. Moccamaster breaks after 3,666 days? Technivorm'll fix it.
And, of course, taste
Moccamaster coffee is frustrating, because once you try it, you won't be able to go back to the $50 drip machine you got off Amazon. There truly is nothing like it. It's dark and intense and rich — all those adjectives I associate with diner coffee — but it's much more complex than you might think. It's juicy and flavorful with zero bitterness.
Of course, you can adjust flavor based on ratios and grind size. If you want it stronger, use less water/more coffee and a finer grind size (but not too fine, otherwise it'll take ages to brew and get clogged). If you want it weaker, use a coarser grind, or more water/less coffee.
That's the beauty of the Moccamaster — you can experiment on it and customize it as much as you like. It makes consistently excellent coffee, and it's my favorite drip machine for a reason.
Have you tried the Moccamaster before? Is it right for you, or do you prefer something else? Let me know in the comments!
Don't forget to follow along with The Coffee Lab — I release new episodes on our TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram every single Friday.
More from Tom's Guide
- Your espresso machine is the least important part of your coffee setup — here's why it's all about the grinder
- You don't have to spend $1k on espresso — my pro setup is under $650 (trust me, I'm an ex-barista)
- You don’t need a $1,000 espresso machine: This $299 'budget' model makes barista-quality coffee at home
