KBGV

They are no longer special, but used to be. About 15 ish years ago, the only game in town was Bonavita BV1800 or Moccamaster. I went with the Bonavita, and with almost zero maintenance it lasted me a ten years or so. I would keep it going but they intentionally made it hard to repair and find parts for. I could have picked another machine from the bunch that is available now, and probably been happy, but went with the MM KBGV instead. It is a known quantity at this point, and I have some semblance of what to expect in the machine's future. The brews are consistent everyday, the design and quality has been proven for 60 years, I don't have to think too much. It gets the job done. If you got it on sale on Amazon, those prices are in line with what other brands cost. Yes, the plastic basket feels cheap. And I hate that glass carafe with a passion. (I've posted lists of what I hate about it here before.) There was an article describing this phenomenon that I'm trying to find but can't. The summary was that products that have continued to be around for a really long time will continue to be around for a really long time. (Bathtub curve). Anyway, yeah. it's nothing special now, but it's consistent. You can brew every day knowing what to expect.

We tried the Moccamaster and the amount of coffee recommended was nuts. From there went to Ratio. Really nice coffee but the thing has been repaired twice and now it is not functioning again. The backup for the Ratio is a Fellows. If it were up to me, I would do either a pour over or French press and not spend $$$ on an expensive coffee maker. Do buy freshly roasted beans, grind in a burr grinder and store beans in a vacuum canister.

**Moccamaster KBGV**, certain colors dip regularly under $250, even under $200 (maybe wait for Black Friday?) Plus a good **grinder.** Baratza Encore is good. Baratza Forte (with steel burr) if you want to splurge. Baratza isn't the most durable thing in market, but IMO is best for BIFL because they have decades of history providing spare parts readily available, cheaply priced, and user replaceable. The Encore, for instance, has a plastic burr holder that is cheap and easy to replace, and designed to break first if a stone goes in the grinder, before more expensive parts are damaged.

It has got to be one of the most BIFL items that plugs into a wall and manufactured in 2025. The glass carafe can obviously break if dropped, and can be replaced at reasonable cost. Of course it will need a little bit of maintenance running cleaning cycles, more often if you have hard water. And it makes great coffee. I still make a V60 pour over when I get a real special coffee, but for my "daily driver" specialty coffee, Moccamaster does a great job. It's worth the \~$350 it usually costs, but every couple months it goes down to $250 and under $200 a couple times a year (Prime day and black friday?)

I got mine for the simplicity and ease of use. I like the fact that it makes drip coffee well enough, without me having to put thought or effort in. I have a vintage lever espresso for when I want to chase perfection. My moccamaster is for regular busy mornings. Dishwasher safe components and speed, stress free.  I mine doesn't drip like yours seems to.   I would also love the glass to be a bit thicker and have a more durable feel. Maybe the light glass makes it easier to pour for most people? I haven't broken mine, despite it being kinda light.  I like the light plastic. Unpretentious, easy to clean, replace, etc.  I always thought I was spending money on the boiler that gets the water to temp. The rest is just kinda... around that.  It's ok to return something you don't like!! Don't feel bad.  You aren't crazy. 

KGBV. I've had it for a few years. Use it every day and going strong.  I've got a fairly good dishwasher that doesn't melt anything, so maybe don't put it on the bottom rack of a shirt dishwasher with an old school ceramic element. Realistically I give it a rince most days and our it through the dishwasher once a week. 

Get a Mr. Coffee. Buy it at Walmart or in person to save over Amazon. I have two mocca masters, and two KitchenAid espresso machines (kf7). For coffee the mr. coffee taste good and is quick and easier to use than other ones. If you want to spring for the moccamaster probably wait for the amazon sale, think they have one in July or something? But black friday will also see about 100 taken off.

I think at the end of the day results rule. This is my 3rd SCA rated brewer. OXO, Bonavita, and my KBGV and neither of the others are even close to cup quality. The Bonavita was solid but the Moccamaster still makes a more consistent cup. The only feature that matters to me is great coffee.

I have the same, solid brewer. I have a Moccamaster at work and it's an upgrade over the enthusiast, but the Bonavita was a bargain, bought when Kohls stocked them a few years ago and it's been problem free.

I was going to post this as well. It's such a non-issue with the lack of timer because it brews SO FAST.