Ratio - Ratio Six

I am also local to PDX and that was a factor in my buying the 6. I have heard these issues have been sorted out with the newest model, but the build quality is abysmal. I have had to get mine in for warranty service twice because the finish was flaking and chipping off under totally normal use due to the following design flaws: 1. The rubber gasket on top of the filter basket and carafe catches on a “lip” at the end of the top of the machine, and the steam/coffee oils/acid weaken the finish, which over time starts to peel off due to the gasket catching on this lip (hard to explain in words) 2. The carafe has six little plastic nubs on the bottom which scratch the finish on the base of the unit. There is a very specific way you can assemble and disassemble the whole “brewing stack” to avoid these issues, but frankly I don’t think a coffee maker in this price bracket should be this fragile and fiddly. Anyway, the third time this happened, Ratio told me they couldn’t fix my model anymore due to not having any more parts in this color and suggested I just buy a new one. No “hey we’re sorry your $400 coffee maker has been such a problem, here’s a discount on a new one” or “we only have parts in this color, is that okay” or “here’s the updated carafe design which will prevent the problem from getting worse,” nothing. I wasn't expecting them to do anything for free since the machine is out of warranty, but they made no attempt to accommodate me as a longtime customer who's had repeated, documented problems, just “buy a new one.” The Ratio makes better coffee, but only slightly, and the MoccaMaster wins on build quality, repairability, and customer service imo.

The Moccamaster is a fine auto drip coffeemaker but another one that is SCA certified and about the same price is the Ratio Six...quality through and through and a flat bottom brew basket...it has auto bloom which the Moccamaster lacks. It makes very very good tasting coffee once you experiment and get your optimal coffee to water ratio and grind setting.

Ratio Six! SCA approved! Coffee is HOT! Expensive but solid quality build and automatic bloom.

Ratio Six > Moccamaster KGBV > everything else We had one of those really fancy expensive Breville brewers, but it tasted like plastic even a year later.

Oh gosh, a long long time. At least 5 years. Very happy with it. Still have it.

If you’re in the US, go find a local TJ Maxx or Marshall’s. They typically have Breville Precision Brewers for on sale for $179. I actually got one for $89 recently. Any of those on your list will be perfectly fine though. I like the OXO stuff for the money, but if you can wait on a moccamaster sale you’d be in good shape. It’s not my favorite brewer at MSRP (I much prefer the Breville precision, the Ratio 6, and the Fellow Aiden—all of which I’ve owned), but if you can get it around $200 it’s great.

The biggest thing is temperature stability, as well as being at a good starting temp in the first place. Also, it’s super easy with a pour over to ensure all the grounds are getting properly saturated. Lots of machines struggle with this in particular, especially cheaper ones. There are definitely machines you can buy that are as good as pour over. Ratio 6, Technivorm Moccamaster (although don’t like its water dispersion), Fellow Aiden, etc. There’s more, but those are 3 I’d trust any day.

It’s really solid. There are things about other brewers I like more, but it brews dang good coffee. The water dispersion is why I stuck with it over the moccamaster. I had fits with 2 different ones just not saturating the bed consistently well enough. Have no problems out of the Ratio, though.

The basket itself is also plastic on the ratio, as with most others. I don’t particularly share your concern with plastic, although I completely understand it. The internals are more significant than anything else as that’s where the water is either hot or being heated. But I will say that the Ratio 6 is a wonderful machine in my opinion, and what I currently use at home.

If you’re using a good machine and grinder there’s really no quality difference whatsoever once you’re dialed in. Drip and pour over are conceptually the same thing, it’s just a matter of if you wanna do it yourself or not. I make pour overs for smaller weekend or evening cups, batch/drip for mornings before work to save time and brew larger cups. Using a Fellow Aiden currently, which has been great but also have the Breville Precision (also great) and have had the Ratio 6 and Moccamaster previously.

My ratio six makes great coffee and has options for different carafes.

Ratio Six checking in! Great brewer. There have been a bunch of improvements since Hoffmann reviewed it couple years ago

Ratio was a massive disappointment for me. The water never dispersed evenly and it always pooled towards the back of the spout.

Ratio 6 owner *(bf of owner)*: Not impressed. Just returned the first unit because paint started peeling off. New unit seems to produce a slightly better cup, but nothing special. Build quality overall is lacking. Okay for a drip machine, but comparing it to pourover in any fashion is a stretch.

If you care at all about hot water plastic exposure, I don’t see any other option but the Ratio 6 (swapping the carafe for glass) or the Ratio 8. (The ratio 6, which I have, also does make very good coffee)

I’m curious why there was no mention of the Ratio 6. I love mine for batch brewing. I am hoping when mine kicks the can down the road an Aiden 2 is out or something similar. Personally I am one of the people that really wants to see good materials. I found the plastic off putting in showrooms.