So, as you can see by my rating, I love this machine. At 4.5 stars as of this review date, I see most of my fellow purchasers are also satified. Out of complete curiosity I browsed the bad ratings- to be as helpful as I can with my review instead of singing the phrases of my machine like other reviews I'll address some of the complaints about the machine and give my counter view.

Price. Ok, we're not including the basic machines out there, I'll assume if you're looking at this machine you're looking for a PREMIUM machine. Maybe like me looking for a machine certified by the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) or its European equivalent association. I pulled 3 familar branded machines from their website and got their current prices and ratings on Amazon (dropping the cents) Bonavita BV1900TS $133 (4 stars), Cuisinart Pure Precision Pour Over Coffee Brewer $167 (4 stars), Kitchen Aid Pour Over Coffee Brewer $149 (3.5 stars). So they hover around the same costs and their reviews aren't terrible, but they're also not higher than this machine. Yes. This machine is expensive when you compare it with some of the other SCAA certified machines (basically 2x the cost). I am willing to bet that at least 2 of 3 of those machines are made in countries where the labor is typically cheap (sorry Asia), that's not a ding on their quality per se, just how they get costs low. A quick glance at their Amazon descriptions didn't really seem to say. ALL OF THEM likely made by machines supervised by people as opposed to a handmade coffee maker such as this (again addressing costs). HANDMADE speaking generally- is a lost art, is usually higher quality, longer lasting, and more beautiful than its machine made counterparts, and always more expensive. My personal machine is also brass. It's freaking gorgeous by the way, but brass DOES cost more than plastic. A cursory view of the other 3 machines are all black, plastic, and no premium metal choices or COLORS that I can see. Yes, yes, to some that doesn't matter, BUT plastic IS cheaper. Not saying plastic can't be quality, just saying metal is going to be more expensive. These are all things that will add to cost, and really, what's wrong with also wanting a GOOD LOOKING machine, they do sit on the kitchen counter. Options are nice.

So the majority of coffee experts and/or coffee snobs agree, pour over is the BEST way to make coffee. The machines that are SCAA certified SIMULATE A POUR OVER. I ran a quick cost comparision for the tools to brew a proper pour over. For a MANUAL burr, pour over kettle (WITH a thermometer) and a pour over carafe with filter approximate cost is $104. If you do the same set up but with an electric burr about $160. Costs are low here, however, this requires also that you have the time to fuss over the temp of your water, grind your beans if you're going manual and have the patience to properly pour your water over the grinds. I'd be willing to do this on my days off, I love a ritual, but that's exactly what it is, a ritual that takes time. One of the most adament reviewers against this machine doesn't like the way the holes in the machine's arm distributes the water. Says that at least on their machine it doesn't come out ALL the holes. My machine doesn't have this issue, I'm sorry they do. The water, as it is heated, comes out in bursts, so yes sometimes the initial holes get some of the water but during the peak of the bursts all the holes have water coming out. My grinds get fully saturated (and I'm attaching picture proof). What I find kind of amusing about the reviewer's beef with this is that just looking at the other machines I don't believe that reviewer would even be ABLE to observe how the water is distributed in order to complain about it, they are enclosed units. That's one of the VERY neat features of this machine, you see just about everything that goes on and I find it rather mesmerizing. I'll admit until I read that review I didn't think to take the lid off the coffee filter portion to observe the water arm, the lid keeps the heat in while the water soaks the grinds. The way this machine dispenses the water definitely seems to simulate a good pour over with proper temperature and good timing to allow the grinds to soak properly.

Now to address another gripe that has been mentioned, the plastic parts that DO exist on this machine which is few. My initial reaction is, um, SO? Again the 3 I pulled from the SCAA list are primarily plastic. Here is my counter for how this particular company does it. Yes, the lid of the water reservoir and all of the coffee filter basket come off the machine. To some they feel flimsy, to me they are light but very sturdy, and I personally very much appreciate the ability to take them entirely off the machine and give them a good cleaning. Try and do that with a hinged lid on a water reservoir or the permanent filter basket on a traditional machine and I say no fun. Also, having worked with a lot of kitchen appliances and tools, hinges can often be a weak point in design with a LOT things, I really like how this machine has so very little that could go wrong with it. Simple is wonderful. I also appreciate that the company boasts that ALL of the parts of this machine are fully recyclable. I will also mention that I don't find that the tabs that hold the brew basket in place are at all flimsy either.

The glass carafe. Also apparently a point of contention with some reviewers. They say it's too thin making it feel cheap to them and they'd expect a machine of this cost to have...better(?) glass. My counter, some of the best/finest glass out there is not pyrex people. "The best" wine glasses are butterfly wing thin. Ok, fragile, but the best tool for the job. Then you have the other end of the spectrum, gorilla glass and the equivalent on your cell phones. Thin, and durable. Imagine that. This carafe is gonna fall somewhere in between all that in durability. Yes, the glass on this carafe is thin, light, elegant dare I say- but I don't think it's any less fragile than the other glass out there on coffee machines. I don't know what other people are doing with their coffee machines but I've yet to break one. It's got a wide mouth, the lid comes off (though it has a hinge) and it is all very, very easy to clean. There is also a complaint about how the carafe itself pours. It does have a smaller lip and I'm willing to bet this is also by design, to keep heat in. You can't expect to pour "quickly" as the lip of the carafe can be overwhelmed easily. Personally I've yet to spill a drop of coffee. It's just different.

No, there are no clocks. No timers. These would negate the whole "best way to brew is a pour over". Grinding your beans the night before per the coffee experts would be a "no no" (though I'm not personally against it, and have done it with other machines). So if you want all of that I'm pretty sure that there isn't going to be an SCAA certified machine that does that. I like that there is a simple on/off, and LOVE there is a lower/higher heat button on the hot plate (I've never had a machine with that feature). No buzzing, or dinging, just the simple sound of water boiling. If you need all of that fancy stuff then the likelyhood is you'd be better off with your basic drip coffee brewer, this machine or its equivalents are not for you. There is nothing wrong with just going to a traditional drip coffee maker, to me these are two completely different monsters. Like the difference between an espresso maker and a drip brewer.

Yes, this is a European machine. It's going to have measurements in European terms. The cups are not as big over there as they are here. That happens to suit my personal tastes, it may not yours. The cord is long and thick, to me that's a durable thing- to others it is cumbersome and unnecessary. I tethered mine with a cord keeper. It does not sit on the counter in a traditional way, you can place it any way you want but because of the design I prefer it sideways on my counter as the product pictures show. It's easier for me to operate that way and I can see it better, for once I have a coffee brewer that I LIKE to see on my counter. So yes, it's definitely not something most people are used to coming out of a traditional brewer market. These are all things to consider!

So I hope I've addressed some of the things that would put doubt into your head about quality of this machine if you were on the fence- maybe I even convinced you to go another direction and buy another SCAA certified machine (and there are quite a few more you can look into), go with a traditional drip brewer or do a pour over set up instead. Any way you slice it, you should be happy with your decision. I am extremely happy with mine. I like to buy quality- that I only have to buy ONCE. I think this Technivorm and I will be together till death do us part. For me, in the end it's about simplicity. Machines and technology don't always mix. I have a 49 year old car in my garage that has seen multiple newer cars run through my fingers and it still runs like a top. More appropriately I also have a 79 year old toaster that works like a dream. What they have in common is no frills, do my job and do it good, simplicity and they're built WELL. I expect that this beautiful machine will do the same.

I think the Moccamaster is the perfect example of the placebo effect. When people *think* something is good, even if it isn't, they will convince themselves it is.

After our Cuisinart coffee maker died after many years of service, I wanted to get a better coffee maker. Our household drinks coffee on a regular basis and I wanted something that will provide us with more flavorful coffee. After a lot of research, it seemed like the Moccamaster was The One. Super positive reviews on Amazon. Great reviews from various publications. How could we go wrong? Plus, considering, at the time of this writing, it cost $330 and was hand built, it must be the best there is. So I ordered one.

Upon receiving and setting up this very expensive machine, what immediately struck out to me was the low quality components this coffee maker was made of. The coffee basket was cheap plastic, which is held in place by two tiny plastic pieces on the plastic arm above the carafe. You can even read the numerous reviews that mention these little plastic pieces breaking off in transit.

The carafe is made from thin plastic, and thin and flimsy glass. I seriously thought I was going to break the carafe when I was using it. In my opinion, this carafe belongs on a $15 coffee maker, not a $330 one. Our Cuisinart, which cost $70 a decade ago had a far sturdier and solid feeling glass carafe. To make matters worse, if you break yours, the replacements are expensive.

There are two flimsy plastic lids you put on. One for the coffee basket, and one for the water reservoir. Aside from the fact that they are both also flimsy hard plastic, you have to take both off when making a pot. You also have to take off the coffee basket. So to make coffee you have to take three pieces off. Couldn't they have used a hinge of some sort to keep these lids in place and allow you to open them without taking them off?

The base itself seemed okay, no complaints about the quality there. However, the location of the thick power cord also seemed strange because it came out of the left side of the coffee maker. So if you position the machine in front of you, like most people would, the cord just sticks out from the side. It really should come out the back.

Now, aside from the flimsy cheap plastic and odd cord positioning, is the more important part: brewing quality. You would think for $330, this thing would brew some amazing coffee. Alas, it fell short here too.

The shower arm in this coffee maker, i.e. the metal thing at the top that drips the hot water on the coffee grounds, does not work very well. The arm has a lot of holes to allow the water to spray all the grounds. However, in practice, at least half the time during the brewing cycle, water comes out of the first few holes only. What this results in, is the hot water is mostly being dripped over the left-to-center portion of the grounds, leaving a lot of the grounds without much drip. I have observed the brewing process numerous times, and have consistently observed the coffee on the right side of the filter get slightly soaked initially, then rise to the top and sit there without any more water running through.

Essentially, if you want the water to really cover the coffee properly, you have to babysit the grounds and swirl them around during the brewing process with a spoon to allow proper coverage to occur. There is even a 3rd party shower head out there, that is an attempt to fix this problem. A $330 coffee maker should not need 3rd party components to make it work right.

I even contacted Technivorm support asking about this, and here is the verbatim quote from their response:

"Water will gradually saturate from the center of the basket into the grounds on the perimeter. At the end of the cycle, the grinds (sic) will be damp, but may not be soaked or have been fully submerged."

Huh? So it is normal for a $330 coffee maker to leave coffee grounds with minimal, or even no water during the brewing cycle? Are you kidding me?

This was not only an observation visually, but also in terms of taste. I used a good burr grinder, and tried various grind levels. I have used quality beans, roasted anywhere from the same day, to less than a week. Without mixing the grounds manually, I could never get the Moccamaster to brew a highly flavorful cup. Even while mixing manually, the coffee did not turn out as good as I would expect. The Bonavita coffee maker I have replaced the Moccamaster with has produced noticeably more flavorful coffee, using the exact same coffee beans, grinder settings, coffee quantity, and water. And, without doing anything manually. Oh, and it cost less than a third of the Moccamaster price.

In order for this coffee maker to command its very high price, I think the following improvements need to happen:
1. Improve the shower head so that water drips evenly and actually extracts flavor from all the coffee you're trying to brew.
2. Replace the cheap flimsy plastic with better quality, more durable materials. Seriously, most of the parts on this machine would not feel out of place on a $20 Mr Coffee.
3. Improve the usability by reducing the number of things you have to take off to brew coffee. Hinges for lids, etc.
4. This is the most minor one: put the cord on the back of the machine.

The reason I mentioned this coffee maker is a placebo is that I cannot fathom how anyone can describe it as having a high quality build. The flimsy tinny glass carafe alone reeks of cheap quality. I also don't think the quality of the brewing is worth anywhere close to the $330 price tag. This leads me to think that people see this machine, see things like "hand built in the Netherlands!", the very high price, glowing reviews from some folks, and convince themselves it must be good.

I bought it hoping it would be all that, and it wasn't. The placebo did not work on me.

OK, so this is really expensive and you don't get even any of the basic modern features you'd expect on a $20 machine like auto start or 'bold' versus 'regular' setting. What you DO get, however, is what I consider to be a great coffee experience and a rather unique and fun to operate machine. The boiler kicks on with kind of a dull roar, and then bubbles come through the center column in the water tank. I was surprised at how quiet it was. I think this is because of the weird drip funnel thing that extends down into the carafe. I like being able to watch the water bubble up from the center column, and it's also fun to be able to pull off the grounds cover and watch the coffee grounds become saturated with water.

I was really worried about regretting my purchase because of the price, but to my surprise I'm enjoying the thing. I've had no problems with the machine at all. If you're the kind of person that might impulse buy a $300+ coffee machine because it's cool and made of metal and comes in pretty colors, I don't think you're going to regret this at all.

Ok, it's expensive, but it does make the best cup of home brewed coffee I've ever had. If I hadn't had Christmas money to splurge with, I'm not sure I would have spent this much money on a coffeemaker, but I'm glad I did. I found their suggested amount of coffee beans per pot to be way too strong. I use four scoops per full pot and that comes out best. The main advantage of this coffee maker is the speed with which it brews -- five minutes or so. That makes up for its main disadvantage which is its small (40 oz) carafe size. For morning coffee for one or two people it's fine, but if you are entertaining it's less convenient. Because of the way the water is heated separately from the warmer, it's possible to make several pots in quick succession. With fresh, freshly ground good quality beans, this approaches being the best cup of coffee possible.

Update: after using this for a month I have a couple of observations. First, there are a lot of parts to handle in the daily chore of coffee making. Besides the carafe (which does have a detachable lid) there is the lid to the water reservoir, the coffeemaker grounds basket and it's separate lid. Previous coffeemakers I've had had attached reservoir and grounds basket lids, so there weren't quite so many loose parts. It's not a big deal exactly, just a low-level annoyance each morning. Second, I kind of wish I had gotten the thermal carafe as the warmer holds the prepared coffee at a slightly lower temperature than I like. These are minor complaints and if I had paid $80 for this coffeemaker, I probably wouldn't even comment on it, but when you pay for a Cadillac, you expect to love it. With good quality beans it does make pretty good coffee though.

If you love great coffee, buy this machine. When I say great coffee, I mean the kind of coffee you would expect and get from your favorite local coffee roaster/café or quality coffee shop (think Starbucks or Peet's, NOT the tasteless brown water that Dunkin' Donuts sells).

I've wanted a Moccamaster since I first saw one and tasted the coffee it makes while a college student, way back in the 1980s. Owning one at the time was impractical and unattainable, so I moved on. Over the intervening thirty years, I've always lingered enviously over the store displays whenever I encountered them, but never made the plunge"”the machine was just too expensive. That being said, I've owned the best coffee makers from Braun, Krups, Kitchen Aid, and Breville, all of which made decent coffee. In fact, the Breville made great coffee, although its cost was dangerously close the the Technivorm's. That machine was the no-longer-available Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single-Cup Coffee Brewer"”the only Keurig system coffee maker the brewed hot enough for decent extraction. That machine lasted eight years, but finally shorted out due to perforation of the boiler element because of it's aluminum construction.

WHAT DID I CONSIDER?
I researched and considered buying two machines other than the Moccamaster: one from Breville, the Breville BDC650BSS Grind Control, Silver, and one from Behmor: Behmor Connected Temperature Control Coffee Maker. Both of these machines should make very good coffee, but I ultimately decided on the Moccamaster for several reasons, which I'll explain below. If the Moccamaster were't so much better, or not available, I think either of these machines would be a good option, but note that they're still expensive, so the choice was easy.

WHY DID I CHOOSE THE TECHNIVORM MOCCAMASTER?
1. Copper Heating Element"”Almost all consumer coffee makers have aluminum heating elements. They will eventually corrode and short-circuit the machine. When this happens, cut the cord off and THROW IT AWAY. This assumes it's been plugged into a GFCI outlet. If it isn't, it will keep working despite the short. You're not only out of compliance with the local electrical code no matter where you live in the United States, but you're playing Russian roulette with your life. A copper element will heat virtually instantaneously, and it will last many years. Copper heating coils are customarily found in better espresso machines, and this quality feature sets the Moccamaster apart from the rest of the field.

2. Replaceable Parts"”The Moccamaster has a modular construction which makes most parts user-replaceable. Other parts, such as the copper boiler, switches, etc., will be replaced quickly and at minimal cost by Technivorm's US service facility after the warranty expires. The warranty is five years.

3. Proper Brewing Temperature and Extraction Time"”Good coffee require HOT, but not boiling, water. Most coffee makers just don't heat the water enough. The copper element in a Moccamaster heats the water to 196"“205º, and has optimal flow-through for the best extraction. This results in coffee that is rich but not overpowering, with a "thick" body and smooth mouthfeel, and no sediment or separation.

4. Optimal Hotplate Temperature and Duration"”Coffee should be kept at ±180º. A Moccamaster hot plate can be set to warm at either 175º, or 185º for those who prefer it hot. Every other machine's coffee will taste lukewarm to you after you use this machine. The hotplate switches off after 100 minutes, preventing burned coffee. If you need to warm it up again, just turn the machine on again. When the water tank is empty, a float switch prevents the water heater from engaging, so only the hot plate will come on.

5. Made the Way Things Used to Be Made"”Technivorm has made these machines since 1964 with the same solid build quality, by hand, while incorporating improvements in materials and technology over time. The body is heavy-gauge extruded aluminum, and plastic parts are quality cast and attractive, with perfect fit and finish. I agree, in this price range one would expect some of the plastic to be heavier, or possibly the water tank be made of glass, but the plastic is toxin-free and unbreakable. Other parts are glass, rubber, and stainless steel. The heavy, removable, stainless steel showerhead has nine holes, which evenly bathe the grounds with hot water at the optimal rate of flow. Every part of the machine is recyclable, and the packaging is recycled corrugated cardboard, making it a champion of sustainability. The old-fashioned, heavy-duty rocker switches are the only adjustable controls. I'm as avid a technology geek as you can find, but perfect coffee means making it when you want it, which means timers, clocks and other electronic wizardry just shouldn't be part of the equation. Water will lose its oxygen and start going stale within two hours, and coffee will lose vital aroma within thirty minutes of being ground, so setting things up the night before to awaken to the smell of coffee guarantees you a mediocre cup.
In any case, this machine is FAST"”faster than you've ever experienced. An entire 10-cup (1.25 liter) pot takes just under five minutes. Enough for a large thermal travel mug (4 cups on the water indicator), takes two minutes. The copper heating element is so oversized and efficient that the water will begin boiling and percolating up the glass tube in about five-ten seconds"”you have to see it to believe it. A slick an old-fashioned feature is how the power switch physically rocks back to the off position after 100 minutes rather than the power just being cut off. It also features an orange neon-looking, but I assume LED, power indicator.

BOTTOM LINE
It's expensive. But consider that it's made by hand, over-engineered, parts are replaceable, and it's manufactured in the Netherlands by people earning a fair wage. Other machines are manufactured in Chinese, Mexican, or southeast-Asian factories alongside many other brands and models at a low cost with inferior materials. They are then marked up many times because the market will bear the inflated price. This coffee maker not only has superior build quality, but like other American- and European-made goods, the price is dictated by the cost of manufacturing, not excessive markup. I chose the copper finish to treat myself after waiting thirty years, but you can save up to $40 by choosing silver aluminum, and there are many painted and anodized colors available at different price points. The machine has two separate heaters with discreet circuitry, so when the water is done boiling, the coil switches off and the hotplate switches on much more durable and efficient.

HOW DO I MAKE PERFECT COFFEE?
1. Buy Whole Beans"”Buy the best you can, from a reputable supplier. Resist the urge to buy your coffee pre-ground unless you're making a lot of it for a large event or party in a coffee urn. Coffee flavor and aroma degrades quickly after grinding.
2. Use A Burr Grinder"”A conical burr grinder won't overheat the beans and burn the coffee like a cheap blade grinder will. It will also make the grind uniform, allowing the best and most consistent extraction. My grinder of choice is from Kitchen Aid: KitchenAid KCG0702OB Burr Coffee Grinder, Onyx Black. Mine has been going strong even after over ten years of daily use. Use the "6" setting for a Moccamaster or any other drip coffeemaker.
3. Weight, Not Volume"”Just as in baking it's preferable to weigh dry ingredients rather than use measuring cups for the most exact portions, coffee should be weighed. Your chosen grind fineness, humidity, barometric pressure, and other factors make using a spoon very inconsistent. Use 14 grams of whole beans for each 8 ounces of water. This means 7 grams for each cup marking on a Moccamaster, since they use the European standard of 4-oz. cups of coffee. Grind the beans right before you put them in the filter basket.
4. Speaking of Filters"¦"”I was always a firm believer in gold-plated stainless steel mesh filters. They last forever and there's no waste or mess. Technivorm specifically reccomends against them, and so I was skeptical. I bought a good quality #4 mesh filter separately and made two pots, one with the reusable filter and one with a paper filter supplied with the machine. There was no comparison. A paper filter is designed to give the best filtration and optimal steeping time. Buy #4 filters made from bleached white paper. The brown ones give the coffee a taste and aroma overtone faintly reminiscent of cardboard, and the bamboo filters may be sustainable, but they make coffee almost as bad as the metal mesh filters. No need to use Technivorm filters; a box of 100 white Melitta #4 filters will cost you about $3.50 at any grocery store.
5. Measure the Water"”Don't use the carafe to pour water into the tank. Use a clean glass or cup or other container. If your tap water is sweet and soft and doesn't smell like chlorine, go ahead and use it. If you have hard water or smell anything when you turn the faucet on, use filtered or bottles water. DO NOT use distilled water. Minerals are necessary for good coffee for taste, aroma, and pH. I live in an area blessed with some of the purest reservoir water in the world, but I use water from my refrigerator dispenser for purity and consistency. Plus, cold water works better than room temperature or warm water. The filtration means better-tasting coffee and longer burner life, with more cycles between descaling.
This machine makes coffee as good as any I have ever had in a fine restaurant or craft coffeehouse. Buy it and enjoy it. Technivorm says a Moccamaster should be the last coffee maker you'll ever buy, and I believe them.

Rereading this review, I've realized that I've practically written a marketing piece. I'd like to make clear that I have no proverbial axe to grind. I'm not affiliated in any way with the manufacturer or any vendor, and I haven't received any sort of compensation from anyone. I waited decades to buy this machine, and I wish I had done it sooner.