Review: Moccamaster KBGV Select Coffee Maker
Buy nice or by twice. Or, in the case of cheap coffee makers, buy again and again and again. Contrary to this approach, and in pursuit of quality, a Moccamaster KBGV Select coffee maker showed up at the creakybottombracket.com office after our last machine died a slow death. The coffee maker would need to be reliable, simple, and produce a delicious cup of coffee every time. In the midst of our cycling exploits, we decided to push the Moccamaster KBGV as hard as possible to see if we could humble the machine. Either way, we came out completely jittery and extremely light on coffee.
Gerard Clement Smit founded the Netherlands-based Technivorm factory in 1964. His company’s goal was to create a machine to produce the best tasting cup of coffee. In 1971 the Moccamaster hit the market. The coffee maker was such a success, it has remained relatively unchanged since its debut fifty years ago. Every Moccamaster is assembled by hand as the company continues to set new standards in the coffee maker market. Each Moccamaster comes with a five year warranty and the company will repair any brewer for life.
The sustainability in the Technivorm production continued. It was no surprise that our Moccamaster KBGV Select coffee maker arrived in recyclable packaging. There were no plastic bags; everything was held in place by cardboard. Removing the coffee maker from the box was akin to a glimpse into the past. The machine was located on the countertop, the tank lid installed, and the basket and carafe were put in place. The Moccamaster coffee experience was only a few moments away.
The machine is simple to operate, allowing the coffee brewing process to come through. There are two buttons on the machine: the on/ off switch and the brew size. Brew size can be thought of as half or full pots. The water flow is adjusted accordingly. That is, water flows slower for small brews while sending more water through the outlet arm. Prior to that, the water has been heated to approximately 200 degrees (F)/ 93 degree (C) through the copper heating element. Once poured over the grounds, the coffee collects in the glass carafe that can hold up to 1.25 L/ 10 cups of coffee. Under the glass carafe is a hotplate with an independent element to keep the brewed coffee hot, though our coffee didn’t last long enough to need it. There is also a shutoff switch to pause the brewing process to grab a cup, though the whole process takes between four to six minutes.
After hundreds of cups of coffee, we can honestly say there is a difference. Perhaps the difference is taking pride in keeping the Moccamaster KBGV office ready. We have produced more coffee per brew and more cups per day. The flavor is outstanding. After a recent trip to a local diner to consume ridiculous amounts of java, we brewed up another pot upon returning to the office to see if the difference in quality could be detected. It definitely had brighter roasting notes like the coffee was meant to be experienced. Moccamaster recommends descaling the coffee maker once per box of filters or roughly every one hundred brews. They also recommend using a medium setting on the grinder, in our case setting the Virtuoso to 18 - 30, which is more coarse than we’ve done in the past with pour over.
Some areas where the Moccamaster could be improved (despite being around for five decades) is echoed by many who use it. Though Technivorm talks about the lack of plastic packaging, there is quite a bit on the machine. The tank and lid are plastic while the boiling water moves up a glass tube. The brew basket and lid are plastic as is the lid to the carafe. What is helpful is that each part is replaceable through the Moccamaster website.
Some tactics to boost success are helpful when making coffee with a Moccamaster. First, this isn’t a cheap coffee maker, so stop basing experiences off of ones purchased from the local grocery store. We use cold filtered water, but having hard water means keeping an eye on descaling. Further, use hot or boiling water to rinse the paper filter while it is set up in the brew basket. Lastly, using fresh-ground coffee is key. Most pre-ground coffee is too fine for a Moccamaster to excel. Remember, this machine is more of a pour over experience than a coffee maker.
When it comes to coffee makers, a Moccamaster is tough to beat in its reliability and simplicity. A five-year warranty, lifetime repairs, and replaceable parts mean the machine will serve for decades to come. That’s better than purchasing a new cheap coffee maker every couple of years. Without distractions like fancy buttons, displays, or beepers, the Moccamaster can keep everyone focused on the quality of coffee. After all, it’s why we’re here. If the speed at which the coffee is snatched up after brewing is any indication, the proof of flavor is reinforced by the fact we are brewing again just a few short minutes later. Technivorm’s Moccamaster has accomplished its goal of creating the best tasting cup of coffee and didn’t mess with the success.
