KBT

Yeah I bought us one about a year ago. Got a great deal so I'm happy with it. But if I paid full price I would feel let down on the quality/sturdyness of the whole thing.

Coming from a Ratio 6 owner who has used the OXO: Get the MoccaMaster. The Aiden is an incredibly cool piece of tech, but reviews suggest it isn't ready for prime time due to the software being buggy and unreliable.

Happy to help! Again, I have heard that the newer models do not suffer from the same issues (I have a very early Ratio 6 from 2021) and I can say that the coffee is VERY good, so I wouldn't fault you for going with the Ratio. I will also concede that their customer service has been very good in the past when I've needed it, but their response this time around really soured me on the whole thing. I am just at a point in my life where I really value longevity, repairability, and build quality over many other things, which is why I am not looking at the Aiden despite it tickling the part of my brain that loves fiddling with settings and software. Conversely, we have a MoccaMaster KBT at the bar/cafe where I work here in PDX and it's been absolutely bomb-proof brewing a full batch of coffee every few hours from 5am to 9pm with daily cleaning/monthly descaling. It has never given any of us a single problem. So, that's probably what I'll end up getting myself if and when the Ratio finally craps out.

According to NYT Wirecutter (and myself), “we’ve been testing burr grinders since 2015, and the no-frills Baratza Encore has been our top pick since 2017, as it continues to beat out other grinders in its price range. It’s easy to use and delivers high-quality, consistent grinding. It’s also easy to clean, repair, and even customize, and it should last you years if not longer — all for a fair price.” Personally, I found one at TJ Maxx and absolutely love it. It’s a little louder than I would like but the grind quality and consistency is top notch. As for drip coffee makers, I think the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT would be perfect for you guys. It’s the top rated drip coffee maker by Americas Test Kitchen, NYT Wirecutter, and many others because of its high quality coffee. I love my Moccamaster! The Moccamaster KBT is for anyone who wants a simple, stylish brewer that’s easy to use should choose a Moccamaster. The tall, streamlined design features a barebones interface, and all of our tasters rated the resulting cups the highest in every round. The durable, thermal carafe of the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT retains heat well keeping coffee hot for longer. It produce well-rounded, nuanced, high-quality cups, brewing a full pot quickly. It’s also beautifully designed and covered with a generous 5-year warranty.

During Amazon Prime Days, I saw the KBT for $160.

I have both a Ninja coffee machine and two Moccamasters. The Moccamaster makes far better coffee.

I like my Moccamaster best.

The last year I used a Moccamaster KBT I stirred as part of my process. I divided the total water charge into two parts. Closed the basket ouput. Added the first charge and would stir if needed to manage the bloom. Drain the first charge, close the output and repeat for the second half minus any stirring. The divide into two parts is because the basket wasn't large enough to hold four cups. However for the first few months of ownership I just dumped in coffee and water and pressed the switch. In the beginning of the brew I would run with the basket in the half open position and rotate the basket to and fro (you can do this with the KBT) for a uniform bloom and wetting and to get increased contact time. I loved that machine but I eventually switched to Aeropress after retirement.

Yes Technivorm needs to rethink the Moccamaster shower but I **never** had dry spots on my KBT. Ultimately I switched to an overly complex brew process but not because of dry spots.

If you want a simple, durable drip machine, the Technivorm KBT is a good choice. Ours is several years old, about four 12-oz cups a day, and an annual descaling. The KBT comes with the movable filter basket (if you like to encourage more even wetting), and no hot plate, just an on/off switch. I believe the double wall thermal carafe we got separately is now standard.

I'm curious why you wanted a KBGV in the first place? The feel and fragility of the carafe has been something I've seen repeated online for a long time. And the abundance of plastic parts is also a commonly known factor. Moccamaster has lots of competition these days, so I'm wondering why you chose the KBGV? It seems like another brand would be more up your alley. Personally, I chose my KBT because I love the look of it, and I also love the durability of the boiler and the easily replaceable parts. I read and watched tons of coffeemaker reviews before deciding on the KBT and I saw that most coffee snobs recommend a thermal carafe over glass on a hot plate. I was expecting a simple, durable workhorse and that's what I got with the KBT. Plus I've had fantastic interactions with customer service.

I adore my KBT and it tops the list of several reputable testing reviews.

The models with a manual filter basket and no hot plate (KBT, KBTS) would have been a better choice then. You can do smaller amounts and brew right into the cup with those models.

I agree with all of this - I would just point out that the KBTS has a fully stainless steel carafe while the current KBT has a glass lined carafe. Personally, I prefer my old, fully stainless KBT from a few years ago before they switched to glass. But for anyone deciding between the 2 machines, this might be helpful info.

Personally, I think the KBT is the best choice. It can brew 16oz and you can brew directly into a mug if you'd like. And when guests come over you can easily do the full 40 oz. I love my KBT, and I've read lots of mixed results with the KBGV.

Sometimes I think there is too much hype with a Moccamaster. I love my KBT! But at the end of the day, it's simply a very well made drip coffee maker.

The Moccamaster is great (I own one too), but I don't think it translates as a good option for robustness outside a home environment. A lot of plastics that won't survive heavyhanded use, a bit unconventional for some, and it's outside their budget.