After thinking about it for the longest time, I finally took the plunge and decided to invest in the Moccamaster KBG Select coffee maker. Filter coffee has always been my preferred brewing process and I had been making manual drip coffee for years, so I knew I wanted to invest in a drip coffee maker rather than an espresso machine.
For me personally, aesthetics are very important, especially for electronics that you leave out on the counter, so to sum things up, I’m really happy with the Moccamaster coffee maker and would gladly pay a little more to have a machine that makes a great cup of coffee and is a looker at the same time.
Manual vs automatic drip coffee makers
The reason I took so long to finally buy the Moccamaster (or any other drip coffee machine for that matter) was because of the countertop space I undoubtedly had to give up in exchange for the ease of having a fresh cup of coffee with the push of a button.
While I had been refining my manual pour-over coffee techniques the best I could and even loved taking time over the weekends to heat the water to the perfect temperature and slowly sprinkle the water over the coffee grounds to achieve the perfect coffee bloom, during weekdays things just have to go quick sometimes and I would dread having to take the time.
While the Moccamaster is still relatively small in size compared to other coffee makers, it does take up considerable space on my countertop, there is no way around it. But it’s counter space I gladly gave up to have freshly brewed coffee in an instant in the morning.
An aesthetically pleasing retro design
One of the reasons the Moccamaster KBG had caught my eye is because of its beautiful retro design, available in a wide range of colors. Being a fan of a rather minimal and toned-down interior I went for the matt black version, which looks both elegant and high-end. Since the plastic components on the coffee maker are always black (also in the color and white versions), I think the black or matt black version has the most elegant and balanced look.
Built quality of the Moccamaster coffee machines
While the matt black on the base of the drip coffee maker looks super nice and enhances the retro design of the Moccamaster, I was initially a bit disappointed with the many plastic components: the water tank, brew basket, and lids are made of black plastic. It also makes them easy to clean and lightweight though so I’m not currently bothered by it and would buy the product again after knowing this. I also read that the plastics used are food-safe and BPA, BPS, BPF, and phthalate-free, so that’s great.
The Moccaster came delivered with one rubber foot shorter than the others, which I fixed with a felt sticker (you can even see it in some of the pictures). I’m sure I could have sent the coffee brewer back and gotten it replaced, but I didn’t consider it necessary for something I could easily fix myself.
Quality of the coffee made by the Moccamaster
I feel a bit reluctant to give a review here, as I am far from a coffee connoisseur. However, I can share a comparison of the quality of the coffee with my hand-pour-over set and with the Moccamaster coffee machine.
The quality of the coffee made with the Moccamaster is as good as the best coffee quality I was able to achieve by hand, which is exactly what I was looking for and with so much less hassle. Coffee quality depends highly on the quality of the beans you buy of course and I freshly grind my coffee beans before I brew the coffee, which in my opinion makes a huge difference.
If you don’t want to take my word for it though, the Moccamaster is certified by the specialty coffee association and the European Coffee Brewing Center after extensive quality control.
Subtle functionalities I appreciate about the Moccamaster coffee brewers
Other than turning fresh ground coffee beans into delicious filter coffee, which is the obvious functionality you would expect from the machine, there are some more subtle benefits I really appreciate about the machine.
A setting for a full or half a pot of coffee
During the week I drink coffee alone, and even though I think I drink quite a bit of coffee, I still only need half of the glass carafe. When I’m having people over though I easily need a full pot. The Moccamaster KBG Select has a smart button that you can set depending on how much coffee you need and both of the settings ensure the best quality coffee.
The hot plate switches off after 40min
While I like the fact that I can keep my coffee warm when needed, I don’t want the heating element to just consume energy when it’s not necessary (i.e. when I forget to turn it off), all while still enjoying my coffee hot. The KGB Select automatically turns off after 40 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about that.
If you want to keep your coffee hot for longer, you can always go for the Moccamaster KBGT, which has a stainless steel thermal carafe.
A great drip-stop
Compared to many coffee makers I have used in the past, the KGB Select has a great drip stop so that you don’t have to worry about taking out the carafe too early. While I don’t take it out while the machine is still actively brewing, it’s safe to pour a cup when there is still some water in the brew basket.
Conclusion
To me, the Moccamaster is the perfect coffee machine for the design conscious as the elegant retro design looks great on your kitchen counter. Compared to many standard drip coffee makers this easily is the most stylish one, available with a glass or thermal carafe.
While I’m not a coffee connoisseur I have tried to perfect my manual filter coffee over the past years and even though I was able to brew good coffee like this, the Moccamaster consistently makes high-quality coffee without having to put in the work. While I was a bit reluctant during the unboxing, after using the machine for a while, I can now confidently say that I would make the exact same purchase again.
