The Technivorm Moccamaster is an excellent coffee maker. I makes fantastic coffee (probably close to the best possible for a simple drip style unit). HOWEVER... the price! How does one justify $300+ when there are so many cheaper options? If one of the following describes you, steer away from this coffee maker: you ... Just want something to make your Folgers, Want something fancy (expensive) to keep up with the Joneses, Want cutting edge "technology," Want lots of "features," Don't take good care of your possessions, Don't keep things for many years, Want the best "deal" (not necessarily "value" which is more complicated) possible, Make coffee only occasionally (not every week), or of course Want a machine that will make hot chocolate, chai anything, cappuccino, or anything other than straight up high quality drip coffee. This does one thing, simply. It is very well made, in Europe, by well paid employees, and designed to last a lifetime if properly maintained. If it breaks, it is designed to be able to be FIXED with widely available parts unlike nearly every Chinese made small appliance on the market today. These qualities make for a great product but at a relatively high price. Now that we have that out of the way, here is my review of this product after a half year of use: I like my coffee flavorful and strong. I typically make one pot every couple of days, saving the unused coffee in the fridge to be used for iced coffee later. I believe it is advisable to make exactly one full pot at a time for best results. One pot is about 48oz or 6c. It says 10 cups on the water reservoir, so they must think each "cup" (of coffee) is about 4.8oz. There is also what appears to be liter measures, but I question the accuracy there. You certainly can put in less water and try to make a partial pot, but I have reservations about the quality of the results. At any rate, you get about 6c. of coffee for a pot. I'm always amazed and impressed how fast and quiet it works. Granted, my comparison is to my old, cheap, $12.99 coffee maker that gurgled and carried on for what seemed like forever. I love the Moccamaster for it's quiet, smooth operation. Cleanup for me is to simply dispense with the #4 cone style filter and spent grounds (compostable), rinse the detachable parts, of which there are several, and leave to air dry. Not the easiest cleanup, but not bad at all. There are two switches only; both of which operate with a silky smoothness and a satisfyingly weighty metallic "click." Flip the left switch to start brewing. The light on the switch will turn on signaling power. If you don't flip it back (off), it will automatically do so in 90 minutes. The right switch controls the temperature of the heating plate (not the water heating element which always heats the water to optimal brewing temperature). Flip the switch one way for hotter coffee, the other way for somewhat less hot coffee. The idea here is that some like HOT coffee, but quality will be effected with time. The less hot setting will allow the coffee to stay fresh for the entire 90 minutes, if desired. I think the less hot setting is plenty hot, so I keep it there. The only other adjustable component is the brew basket. It can be set to "open," "closed," or "half way." I usually just leave it open. If you close it for some reason, DON'T forget to open it before the next brew. Disaster!! (Trust me you will not make that mistake twice.) I'm not sure what the purpose of a user adjustable brew basket is (as opposed to one that automatically shuts off the flow when the carafe is removed). Supposedly the half way setting can be used when brewing a half pot. Also, closing it off at the beginning of brewing can allow the coffee to "bloom" briefly before opening it up for the remainder of the brew. One positive consequence of not having the automatic shut off is that the carafe doesn't have to physically contact the brew basket which provides a cleaner look and no moving parts to keep clean. (Just don't forget to slide it to "open" before brewing!) The construction is quite good. The main structure is heavy gauge metal, beautifully painted. Mine is matte black which hides the smudges and finger prints nicely. Other finishes, especially shiny ones, might take more care to look good. It says the heating elements are copper which will stay corrosion free as opposed to cheaper, failure prone aluminum elements in nearly all other coffee makers. The hot plate on which the carafe sits appears to be ceramic, looks very nice and is easy to wipe clean. The plastic parts are well made, but somewhat flimsy; definitely not commercial grade. If one is hard on one's appliances, I could imagine breaking or cracking the brew basket, brew basket holder, water reservoir lid, or carafe lid. Of course all of these parts can be replaced if needed. The water reservoir itself is very sturdy (acrylic?). I wish the plastic end caps were metal, or at least better looking plastic. The Moccamaster's style would be perfect in a modern, minimalist kitchen; but may not be everyone's cup of tea. (er, you know what I mean) I love the design because it looks like no other coffee maker, serious but not fancy. They sell colors and finishes that could easily make this coffee maker the showpiece of a kitchen, if desired. (However, this particular model only is available in stainless or black.) Not too many complaints with this unit, but nothing is perfect. The flimsy plastics could feel and look more rugged, especially the end caps. Operation is a little bit of a process (removing and replacing the lid on the water reservoir, removing and replacing to lid on the brew basket, etc.). I'm fine with it, but some might feel it is a little tedious. Finally, my biggest problem is with the carafe. I do love it's overall look and feel, but the handle is problematic. The plastic handle is attached to a metal band that holds it to the glass. The metal band is not tight enough to keep the handle from making the whole thing feel flimsy, especially when lifting and pouring a full pot. My old cheap coffee maker had a larger plastic handle piece that attached to the glass at two spots making it feed sturdy when pouring. However it didn't look sleek like the Moccamaster's carafe. Are looks more important than feel? Don't know, but I wish I could have both. The other issue with the carafe is it's inability to pour without dripping or even spilling slightly. I am a careful pourer, but I can't get a clean pour for the life of me. Oh well, I always have a tea towel handy when pouring myself a cup to keep things tidy. In conclusion, the Technoverm Moccamaster is one of my favorite possessions, but it is not made for the masses. This somewhat elitist appliance may, simultaneously make you feel proud and guilty. But, if you truly love good, simply made coffee, as I do (and have deepish pockets); the pride and guilt will pass, and you will be left with a coffee experience you can savor for a lifetime.
