We tried the Moccamaster and the amount of coffee recommended was nuts. From there went to Ratio. Really nice coffeebut 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.
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.
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.
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.
Do you want no bells and whistles as in simple or inexpensive? I have both the Moccamaster (probably the most classic and robust brewer around) and Ratio 6, and both are great and simple but not cheap. I prefer the Ratio 6. It has a greater capacity and is a flat bottom brewer, which I think makes a better cup (just a personal preference). There is a Moccamaster flat bottom brewer but it’s a lot taller (won’t fit probably in my space) and is less sexy.
31mph
