If we're scoring drip coffee makers on style, the Technivorm Moccasmaster KBGV Select is at the top of our list. If we're scoring drip coffee makers on flavors the Technivorm Moccasmaster KBGV Select is at the top of our list. If we're scoring drip coffee makers on build quality (you guessed it) the Technivorm Moccasmaster KBGV Select is still at the top of our list. Does that make it the model at the very top of our list then?
Some experts will say that the Technivorm Moccasmaster KBGV Select is the best drip coffee maker on the market and I wouldn't want to argue with them. This is one of a handful of machines that meets the Speciality Coffee Association's Golden Cup standard for coffee. It also brews incredibly delicate flavors; you don't need a barista qualification to work it; and there's a whole spectrum of colorways that you can buy the Moccamaster in. In short, there's a lot to love about this luxurious coffee maker.
With impressive credentials like that, our experts were keen to test this. We first used the Moccamaster three years ago and have put the machine through annual tests to make sure that it's still a market-leading drip coffee maker. Whilst we love it (a lot), it still hasn't secured the very top spot in our buying guide. Here are all the details of who it suits, who it doesn't, and why.
Specifications
Unboxing
The Moccamaster comes wrapped in recycled cardboard, and the only plastic used was around the glass carafe. For brewing, the instructions are very thorough. However, for set up, I had to leave it to intuition as to how to assemble the metal showerhead and brew basket.
I was struck by how weighty the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select was, with a solid metal base that won't shift easily on a kitchen counter. I also liked how sturdy it was, but noted that some of the removable features such as the filter holder and the water container felt quite flimsy.
The included directions include a guide on how many scoops of ground coffee to use to meet the perfect ratio. For instance, 2 tbsp of ground coffee for every 6 oz. of water means you'll use seven-level scoops for a full 10-cup pot. It comes with a 2 tbsp. scoop, but it felt a little flimsy, and we're not sure about longevity. It also suggests using medium to medium-coarse grind for best results.
Once you fill the water reservoir using the glass carafe, slide the carafe onto the hot plate. The metal outlet arm attaches to the center of the water tank, and does not have to be taken off each time. It does get very hot when brewing, so consider this a warning not to touch it.
In the removable brew basket, add your filter and coffee grinds before sliding directly underneath the metal arm. I found that actually easiest to go through this entire process of assembling your coffee maker each morning if the carafe is already in place before the brew basket. At first, I thought I wasn't going to enjoy the modality of each part. But, it turned out to be an advantage, for filling up with grounds and easily taking transporting to the trash.
Another interesting design feature is the practically incognito drip stop. There is a small lever below the brew basket. When the glass serving carafe is sitting on the hot plate, coffee will flow freely. The moment you remove the carafe, say mid-brew cycle, it will pause the coffee flow.
What is it like to use?
The Technivorm Moccamaster design has not changed much since its debut in the late 1960s. In fact, today's models stylistically maintain the same look as the KB 741, which debuted in the early 1970s. However, the KBGV Select has added the convenient option to let you optimize or "Select" your brew depending on whether you're brewing the full 10 cups or half a pot.
The switch adjusts both the flow of the water through the brew basket and the hotplate temperature, for the perfect extraction and holding temp at either amount. This feature proved to be very useful for the days when just two people were drinking coffee as opposed to three.
As timing and temperature are two very important features of coffee brewing, the Moccamaster uses a copper boiling element that almost immediately is able to heat up coffee to an ideal 196°F - 205°F, and automatically shuts off when the water reservoir is empty.
From there, the boiling water is funneled up the glass tube, where it flows into the metal outlet arm with nine rainwater-style holes and pulses over the brew basket to bloom the coffee grounds. The cone-shaped brew basket steeps the coffee grounds to extract the coffee's full flavor, further demonstrating how the Moccamaster almost mimics the complex notes of pour-over brewing.
Making a full carafe
I recorded that a full 10-cup cycle took just shy of 6 minutes (5 minutes 38, to be exact) to brew, and a four-cup dose was done in just 2 minutes.
As for the temperature claims, I found that they held true. I couldn't get into the ceramic carafe to take the temperature of our coffee as it brewed, but after the full cycle had run its course (and temperatures had inevitably fallen slightly) we measured a temperature of around 176°F.
After leaving on for half an hour on the hotplate, the coffee came out at 159.8°F, which I found to be perfect for drinking.
The coffee was fresh and a bit fruity, like a great tea. The sensitivity of the specialty grounds really came through with a complex tasting profile, so if you're someone who enjoys buying small-batch coffee from local roasters, you won't lose any of that great flavor when brewing in the Moccamaster.
Special features
Select Brew Size
Should you decide to only brew a half carafe, either 2 to 6 cups, selecting the half-carafe option slows the brew cycle, while the full-carafe switch brews at its normal speed. There, you get the best coffee whether you're brewing 5 cups or 10. This is a new feature on the KBGB Select whereas earlier models had a switch to choose between a high/low hot plate setting.
Copper heating element
One of the key design elements that set the Moccamaster apart from others is its unique copper boiling element. It rapidly heats water to control brewing temperature between 196°F - 205°F which is important for coffee soluble extraction, then automatically switches off when the water reservoir is empty. Overheated water will burn the coffee, while water that is too cold, will create a sour coffee. too sour achieved with copper brewing element
The copper heating element is also separate from the hot plate element, which holds the temperature within the range of 175°F - 185°F depending on how much you brew. The brewer’s power switch and hotplate automatically shut off after 100 minutes.
5-Year Warranty and Lifetime Repairs
If you're going to spend hundreds on a coffee maker, you expect it to last. Technivorm stands behind its product with a lengthy 5-year warranty. In comparison, most other small appliances from competitors carry a one, maybe a two-year warranty. Another nice feature, if a part does wear out, is that Moccamaster can send you just the part to repair (even if it's from a discontinued model), rather than having to deal with a perfectly good machine ending up in a landfill.
Cleaning, storage, and maintenance
Maintaining a cleaning schedule will keep your Moccamaster in top shape. The brew basket, lids, and carafe should all be washed by hand. The metal arm also needs to be wiped down every so often, as coffee residue does collect around the rainhead.
Moccamaster recommends descaling your brewer after every 100 cycles. This is easiest to keep track of if you buy Moccamaster's 100-count filters, but you can use any No. 4 filter, preferably oxygen whitened filter. They recommend Urnex and Durgol products, which I also received, with my machine. They advise against using vinegar, which might not effectively remove build-up or be difficult to rinse thoroughly.
How does it rate online?
On the Moccamaster website, the Moccamaster KBGV Select holds 4.8 out of 5 stars, with users commenting on its stunning design and the great coffee it delivers. One aptly called it her "Artistic Science Experiment," while others note how happy they are that they went ahead with their purchase. Critics acknowledged the superior coffee that their Moccamaster brewed but questioned the longevity of the plastic parts and glass carafe, some mentioning a screeching sound that came from sliding the carafe into place.
How does it compare?
The Specialty Coffee Association's definition of the Golden Cup Standard means that a particular coffee machine meets the association's standards for water quality, coffee-to-water ratio, grind/particle size distribution with a temperature between 195 and 205 degrees, and a brewing time of fewer than 8 minutes. Just 30 coffee makers have made the SCA's list.
Most similar in its emphasis on coffee over settings, the OXO Brew 8-Cup limits coffee brewing to a simple switch. It also offers a one-cup option with an accessory filter that re-creates the pour-over experience for when you want a single portion.
We've also tested the Breville Precision Brewer, which offers various presets including iced coffee, cold brew, and MyBrew which enables you to adjust bloom time, flow rate, and brewing temp according to your preferences.
In the same price bracket, you'll also find the wifi-enabled Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker with the ability to precisely adjust temperature and brew strength.
Should you buy it?
For the million-dollar question, is the Moccamaster KBGV Select worth it? If you're looking for a coffee maker that will last you YEARS (and should anything need to be replaced, it can sustainably and easily be done), then yes, absolutely. It's a bit of an upfront investment, but whether you consider yourself a "coffee aficionado" or your friends and family would simply refer to you as a "coffee snob", the Moccamaster is for the person who wants to master their coffee experience.
The Moccamaster brings together the very best in aesthetics and performance for a coffee experience that is truly unparalleled. The handcrafted machine brews rich, velvet coffee, perfected by its unique copper heating unit, rain shower head that blooms grounds at the right rate, and a swift brewing time that meets the SCA's requirements for a "Golden Cup." I can proudly say, it brews some of the most distinctive, memorable coffee I've ever had at home, and perhaps even out and about at cafes.
