I used a technically perfect coffee machine for three weeks - and it got more compliments than any of my home decor

Over the last decade, coffee has become very cool and hipster. In saying that, I immediately exclude myself from the group of being both cool and hipster, but nobody can take my barista qualifications away from me, nor can they overlook my very attractive, retro drip coffee maker, the Technivrom Moccamaster KBG Select.

This vintage, blocky filter coffee machine is widely accepted amongst coffee connoissuers as one of the best coffee machines on the market. By nature, it's a good batch-brewer that will deliver on lighter, delicate cups of coffee. I kept it in my kitchen to give the KBG Select a family-sized amount of demand, so you would know whether to make the investment. 

It won't surprise you that, with nearly 60 years of specialised experience, Moccamaster delivers the National Coffee Association's perfect cup of coffee. Quite literally. I timed it, I tested the temperature, and I tasted it. This is flawless.

Specifications

Unboxing

The Moccamaster arrived in a very slim cardboard box. From all the pictures that I'd seen of the KBG Select, I thought it would be quite deep and heavy, but it's actually pretty slim and incredibly lightweight. 

The Moccamaster arrives in a few parts. with an instruction guide that shows you how everything assembles. Once the parts are in place, Moccamaster recommends that you run the water tank through a couple of cycles (as if you were brewing coffee, just without the beans). This clears any factory dust and dirt out before you can get into the proper brewing.

The best way to get the 10-cup water reservoir full is by using a good jug. It's fixed to the machine, so you won't want to tilt under a tap, nor will you want to use the carafe to try and pour into the reservoir. I have a good water jug that I filled with filtered water and poured directly in. It's very simple but is also a hack that I have seen lots of people miss out on.

Who would it suit?

The most obvious deciding factor is, of course, the kind of coffee that you drink. This is a filter coffee (or drip coffee to some) machine, which means that your cup will taste very light and delicate. It’s best brewed in batches, so is often a popular choice for big-family homes.

The Moccamaster is special. Whilst it doesn’t necessarily have the touch screen automatic adjustments that some models boast (the KitchenAid is a good example), it will brew half (5 cups) or a full (10 cup) carafe in between five and ten minutes. The coffee it makes is some of the best drip coffee that I’ve tasted and it’s clear that Moccamaster really cares that you’re getting a good cup of coffee. One great example is their warming plate. This will keep your carafe of coffee warm for 40 minutes, which is short compared to other models in the industry (some don’t even time out), but Moccamaster has done this for your benefit. If you keep it hot for more than 45 minutes, your coffee will either burn or end up tasting stale and bitter. I don’t know why brands let you ruin coffee for yourself, but Moccamaster certainly doesn’t.

Aside from the coffee expertise, this is a very natural choice for someone who wants to make a retro, colourful, or style statement in their home. This is eye-catching, especially in the orange that I tested. I would be tempted to have it out just from an aesthetic perspective, but it’s light and robust enough to move around and tuck away, if you need to.

What is it like to use?

Moccamaster provides you with a scoop that is the perfect size for two cups of coffee. I wanted to test out half a carafe (5 cups), so I used two and a half scoops of medium-grind coffee and put it in my filter. Moccamaster provides three paper filters with the KBG and these do a great job of brewing. Some people like to pre-saturate theirs, to get the maximum amount of coffee oils, but you don't have to. It's something that you can play with as you use your Moccamaster more.

The button on the base of the KBG lets you select either a full or half carafe. The half-carafe took 4 minutes and 52 seconds to finish brewing, which is about perfect for drip coffee makers. It was quiet and efficient, making a deliciously light and well-balanced cup of coffee. Even the delicate, floral notes in my coffee were distinct and notable. The coffee is brewed at 93°C, which is smack bang in the middle of what the National Coffee Association recommends you should aim for.

I brewed a full carafe in just under nine minutes and switched between brewing different cups. Normally, drip coffee makers are better in bigger quantities, which is why lots don't give you the option to brew just one cup. Whilst this doesn't strictly offer you a single or dual cup function, you could stop the brewing process early. Even just my single cup of coffee was good. I didn't get any grains, over-brewed, or bitter silt at the bottom of the jug.

The final place that a drip coffee maker might trip up is with the hot plate. This will keep your coffee warm for 40 minutes, which is quite short compared to other models. I mentioned this earlier, but just in case you missed it, a 40-minute keep warm function is short for your own good. If you left your coffee on a hot plate for much longer, it would be over-brewed, stale, and bitter. At forty minutes, you can still enjoy the lighter, delicate flavours from your cup. 

Cleaning and maintenance

It's important to keep your coffee machine clean and, luckily, this is easy to maintain. The filter paper lifts out and can go in your food waste. Some people even like to put coffee in the garden, because it can be very nourishing for plants. After that, I would recommend running it through a half-carafe cycle to clear out the water as well as any coffee grounds that might linger and ruin the flavours in your next cup.

The rest of the machine is very low maintenance. I like to give all my machines a wipe down and clean after use, but this didn't look like it needed one. The lid of the carafe comes off, which makes it very easy to clean the coffee pot and, according to the website, you could put this glass and plastic carafe in your washing machine. I wouldn't generally recommend this, because I think it puts unnecessary wear and tear on your Moccamaster. Instead, wash them in some warm, soapy water. If you need more tips, visit our dedicated page for how to clean a coffee machine.

How does it compare?

There are lots of drip coffee makers that promise to do all sorts for your coffee. Whilst the Moccamaster is easily the most stylish of them all, there are a couple of other options that I'd recommend you take a look at. First, the OXO Brew 8-Cup Drip Coffee Maker. This is over half the price of the Moccamaster, which is reflected in its appearance. The OXO is not nearly as attractive, crafted from a very industrial stainless steel. You can't watch your coffee brew, but this speedy machine makes delicious coffee. It rivals the Moccamaster's, without costing more money, and your coffee is kept warm by the double-walled carafe, rather than a hotplate, which makes your coffee taste nicer, even if it cools quicker. If you want to save money, whilst still getting good flavours, this is the perfect alternative. It just won't quite be the showpiece that the Moccamaster is.

Alternatively, if you're not confident in your coffee skills and you want a stylish, but simple option, KitchenAid makes a surprisingly good drip coffee maker. This comes with all the signature, curved, retro aesthetics that you'd expect from the brand. I love it. Beyond its beautiful exterior, it has a really helpful, programmable interface. You can set the number of cups that you want brewed, as well as the strength, time, and temperature. So, if you want to wake up to coffee in the morning, this can anticipate your needs and have it ready. You don't need to keep an eye on it either. Think of it as your live-in coffee expert. Whilst it's more expensive than the OXO, it's still cheaper than the Moccamaster, making for a competitive alternative. 

Should you buy it?

As far as style is concerned, this is the best drip coffee machine of all time. It looks stunning and brews coffee that is just as beautiful. I made some beautifully light, nuanced cups of coffee, in both small and large quantities. It's clear that Moccamaster thinks carefully about the quality of coffee that they're delivering you, so it pays to invest. Just don't forget to check out some other options, because you could make some savings, if you wanted to.

How we test

As a former barista, I have a special eye on all things coffee. That means that our tests at woman&home have to surpass professional standards, offering you more than you need to know. Coffee is geeky stuff and I like to go all-in.

I keep an eye on all the latest coffee launches and, as soon as I see something that I think you'll like, I call it in. Whilst the coffee machine is in transit, I'll research all the claims that a brand makes about their machine, so that I can put all their boasts and brags into my brews. I like to tell what's good and what's a gimmick.

Once I have one of these in my kitchen, I make notes on everything. I'll talk about the box that a product arrives in; it's packaging; the set-up; the clean-up; and the all-important brewing. I'll let you know whether the coffee it makes is any good, whether the machine is noisy when brewing, how easy it is to use, and anything else that I would want to know from a consumer-perspective.

After I've been caffeinated (and caffeinated, and caffeinated), I'll have a think about all the other drip coffee makers that I've tested. I'll use my experience to compare the coffee maker in question to other models on the market. If you can get better flavours for your buck, or a more attractive brewer for less, I'll let you know. In essence, I like to 'shop around' for you, to save you all the scrolling. 

By the end of the review, you should know everything you need to know about the product. If you have any more questions, feel free to email me. I'm always happy to answer (especially on all things coffee).

To find out more, you can visit our dedicated page for how we test coffee makers.