Technivorm Moccamaster Review: Why You Need A Moccamaster Coffee Maker

So they say the Technivorm Moccamaster is the crème de la crème… But is this machine really worth it? Well, we've taken the liberty of compiling all the crucial information that you'd want to know, the design, features, usability, cleaning tips, etc., and created a Technivorm Moccamaster review guide!

If you want the quick and dirty review, we 100% recommend this machine if you are after the best specialty coffee experience! In fact, we even placed this beauty at the number one spot for our coffee makers reviews section.

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Technivorm Moccamaster 

For the sake of this article, we will be referring to the various Technivorm Moccomaster models as a single machine rather than spelling out every difference between each model. If you decide you want the higher-end glass option, go with the KBGV Select (our recommendation) and if you want the thermal version, stick with a KBT.

We believe that this machine is the best out there, but of course, every coffee maker doesn't fit every lifestyle. How much counter space do you have? Do you need a built-in grinder? What about a heating plate? Due to the versatility and reliability of the Moccamaster drip coffee maker, we think this one takes the cake.

Hopefully, this review will help you to make an informed decision about the KBT (thermal) and KGBV (glass) model, whether it's the right choice for your needs. Keep reading to learn about the Moccamaster and all it has to offer when it comes to a quality cup of joe. 

Moccamaster Coffee Maker

4.9 ⭐ out of 5

Specs: 

• Width:12.8 in
• Depth: 6.7 in
• Height: 14 in
• Water Tank Capacity: 1.3 qts

To give you a brief overview of the Moccamaster Coffee Maker before the breakdown, here's what you can expect if you purchase this machine. 

✅ It comes with a copper heating system that boils the water at the perfect brewing temperature.

✅ The machine comes in many different colors, and it has a unique design.

✅ It will deliver a delicious, equally extracted cup of coffee, every time.

✅ It comes with a five-year warranty. Much longer than most competitors.

✅ The coffee machine was handmade, and the workmanship is of premium quality.

✅ The replacement parts are inexpensive. 

🚫 It's a little pricey compared to your average brewer, but the Moccamaster is no "average" device.

The Technivorm Brand

Founded by Gerard Clement Smit in 1968, Technivorm specializes in making high-quality filter coffee makers. This company is a Dutch manufacturer that has set the standard for coffee makers over the last five decades.

All of Technivorm's coffee makers have been personally handcrafted in the Netherlands, and they each go through a live testing situation to ensure quality. They're unique, reliable, and easily used for both home and professional use. 

The Moccamaster coffee maker is a Technivorm creation that has excelled in the world of coffee machines and grinders over the years. All products produced by Technivorm have gotten approved by the European Coffee Brewing Centre or the ECBC. Additionally, every home coffee machine has received a special certification from the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). 

You can trust that when you purchase a Technivorm product, it's reliable, durable, and very well-constructed. The brand also commits to the environment; they use recyclable materials, and all products are energy-efficient and primed for longevity. 

For this reason, each Technivorm product that you receive comes with a five-year warranty. The assurance of excellent customer service makes us confident that this is amongst the top coffee machines in the market. 

Technivorm Moccamaster Review

Should you be thinking of giving the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 or the KGBV Select a shot, you should know how it functions, how it looks, and what makes it as good as they say. We've reviewed several categories, including whether it's a good value for the money you'll pay. 

While it is a little pricey, we think the features and the consistency you'll get with this machine make it worth the money. Our review comes from our own experience and that of others that attest to the excellent performance of these Moccamasters. Not only that, but even the Specialty Coffee Association has rated this the number one device for drip coffee!

Features 4.5/5 ⭐

It's common knowledge that traditional drip coffee makers, especially the cheaper ones, don't heat your water to the ideal temperature for brewing. Or if it does, it won't stay that way for the entirety of the brewing process. What does that lead to? Well, you'll either get a cup of coffee that's under-extracted because the temperature is too low or over-extracted because the temperature is too high.

Always remember that you have to pay attention to the temperature of the water when you want a good-tasting brew. 

A unique feature of the Technivorm Moccamaster is that it has a dual-coil copper heating component that is similar to that of an espresso machine. Copper is a metal that's not only durable, but it's also an excellent conductor that quickly heats your water to the correct temperature. 

The showerhead design of the spout makes the Moccamaster coffee machine a consumer favorite in comparison to the average brewer. A typical drip coffee maker utilizes a basic spout that pours the hot water onto a small area of the coffee grounds. This leaves large areas of the ground coffee under-extracted. 

The Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 features an extended transfer pipe that has a nine-hole showerhead at the end. It fully permeates the coffee grounds, giving you a balanced cup of coffee. Also, these have a stainless steel thermal carafe that's insulated to keep your coffee hot for hours on end. This was one of the features that put the Moccamaster coffee machine at the top of the list for us. 

The carafe also has what's called a "brew-through" lid that reaches the bottom. This kid also helps to ensure that your coffee stays hot by properly mixing the coffee that was just brewed through the carafe. This is an absolute must for optimal heat retention and flavor distribution. 

Ease of Use 5/5 ⭐

Seeing as how the Moccamaster is in the upper echelon of drip coffee makers, it's no big surprise that it does a wonderful job of brewing excellent coffee. 

The brew basket has a cone shape and it takes standard paper filters (#4), or you can use a permanent filter (gold-tone). There are vertical ridges on the basket, which help to collect the fines or dried coffee. Therefore, you have to clean it regularly to avoid buildup. 

After you've put the ground coffee into the filter basket, your work is complete. The Moccamaster will do the rest! Turn the coffee machine on and let it do its thing!

These drip coffee brewers will quickly and easily heat the water to the perfect brewing temperature of 92°-96° C (195°-205° F). After it has reached the desired temperature, the machine will maintain this heat range for the duration of the brewing process. 

You can see the hot water brewing through the tubes in the middle of the water reservoir, and then it carefully drips evenly over the coffee grounds. A natural pulsing action guarantees that you get a well-balanced cup. Within 4-6 minutes you can expect a delicious cup of coffee. 

Can it get much simpler than this? 

When it comes to cleaning the Moccamaster, it's pretty straightforward. After every use, rinse off the filter basket and the carafe. Give the basket a good scrub using a towel or brush each week. Be mindful that the plastic parts of the brewer are not dishwasher-safe. Most coffee brewers are constructed in this way as well. 

For regular maintenance of your machine, you should descale your coffee brewer after every pack of filter paper or one hundred uses.

Design 4.5/5 ⭐

The Technivorm coffee maker has, for the most part, remained the same since the late 1960s. The Moccamaster is no exception; it has straight, clean lines, a stainless steel frame, and high-quality plastic that's BPA-free. 

Given that the design hasn't changed much over the years, it further demonstrates how the Technivorm brand is outstanding in terms of longevity. It does take up a large amount of counter space, however, which may not be a good fit if you have a small kitchen. 

The machine comes in three colors: black, stone grey, and polished silver. These colors will be on the body of the machine, as the plastic and stainless steel carafe so look the same no matter which color you select.  

Value for the Money 4.5/5 ⭐

It's no secret that the KBT 741 is expensive. Even amongst the other elite machines, it does still stand out as one of the highest costing coffee machines. However, it is worth the money when you consider that every brewer is uniquely built by hand in the Netherlands. They're tested separately as well. This consistently produces a top-of-the-line coffee maker. 

Follow this up with the fact that every Moccamaster has a five-year warranty that protects your investment. Technivorm 100% stands by the quality and durability of its products. This particular model, the KBT has also received one of the highest honors, the Home Brewer Badge certification from the Specialty Coffee Association. 

All in all, we do believe that the Technivorm Moccamaster is worth the price and will be a great addition to your kitchen counter. 

Performance 5/5 ⭐

When determining whether or not a coffee machine meets the marks of excellence, the quality of the brew is the most important. From our personal experience of many different coffee pots over the years, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 consistently gives you great tasting pots of coffee. 

The Moccamaster brews approximately 40 ounces of coffee. That's roughly five 8 oz cups. There's a lever on the brewing basket that allows you to slow the drip down in the instance that you only wanted half a pot of coffee, or if you wanted to stop brewing altogether. 

If you find that you want to pour a nice hot cup of coffee in the middle of the brewing process, you just pull out the carafe; this amazing appliance will automatically pause the operation.

The brewing cycle was completed in less than 6 minutes (5 minutes 45 seconds to be exact), which is 2 minutes faster than the recommendation of 8 minutes from the Specialty Coffee Association of America. 

We also tested out the water temperature to see if it got the water to the ideal temperature. About two minutes into brewing, we checked the brew basket to see if it was at 200° F. Sure enough it was 200°, but more impressively, it remained between 200° and 204° during the whole cycle! 

Whether you're using a cheaper coffee variety or a premium brand, you can expect a delicious, complex, smooth cup of joe. In comparison to other coffee makers, like the Bunn Velocity Brew BT, for example, it doesn't quite rise to the occasion like the KBT model from Technivorm.

Lastly, this machine truly does keep your coffee hot for up to six hours after it's finished brewing. The thermal carafe is outstanding, maintaining a temperature of 150 degrees for about 6 hours. That's longer than any other thermos-equipped coffee pot that we've tried.

There's no doubt that we recommend the Technivorm KBT 741 as a great coffee machine that repeatedly serves a near-perfect cup of barista-style coffee time and time again. 

Don't Buy A Moccamaster If…

Here are a few reasons why you may not want to purchase the Moccamaster coffee maker, depending on your lifestyle needs.

1. You do not have or want a burr grinder.

The size and consistency of the coffee grounds are everything when it comes to the brewing process. In order to make the perfect drip coffee, you should be using the best burr grinder.

The Moccamaster can certainly make you a great cup of brew, but only if the coffee is evenly and uniformly ground. Here's where the need for a burr grinder comes into play; burr grinders offer consistency in ways that blade grinders cannot. So having a burr grinder is a must.

2. You need your brewer to be automated with convenient programmable features.

If you are on a tight schedule and having your coffee ready before you even get out of bed is a priority for you, this coffee machine may not be for you. The Technivorm Moccamaster is not equipped with any automated features whatsoever. This brewer has one button, and that button is to brew the PERFECT cup of joe.

To be honest, programmable features sound nice in theory, but it's not difficult to hit a button when you wake up, especially since this drip brewer can make a pot of coffee extremely quick. If you are stuck between automation and the perfect brew temperature, we recommend the latter!

3. You have your heart set on a drip coffee maker that is kind to your wallet. 

The Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 is indeed a master in brewing. If you need a coffee machine that makes a great cup of coffee, this brewer is for you. However, to own one of these coffee pots is more on the expensive side. So if the price is an issue for you, the Moccamaster may not be the brewer for you.

A few cheaper alternatives include Hamilton Beach, Zorijrushi, Bonavita, Breville, OXO, Brim and a few other manufacturers that are slightly more cost effective. 

With that being said, we offer the lowest price match guarantee and can help you secure one of these machines for a fraction of the price when compared to buying coffee at Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts every day. In our opinions, it's a no brainer. Would you rather buy a cheap machine that dies in a year or have one of these beauties for 5+ years?

How to Brew with the Moccamaster

You may think that all this is required to make a great cup of brew is to turn the machine on to let it perform its magic! This approach may work with your typical coffee pot, however, to get the best quality brew out of the Technivorm KBT 741, a bit more work is required.

Start by using cold water, it can be fresh or filtered and frothy. Be sure not to use the carafe to decant into the water reservoir. Be mindful that leftover remnants from brews that you've already done can ruin your flavors and cause build up to occur inside the coffee machine.

Next, using a coffee roaster, freshly grind your beans to medium coarse. You should stick to the specific quality of seven grams of coffee to every three oz. of water.

When it comes to filters, you will want to use a permanent filter made from neutral material. Or, you can use high-purity paper filters.

Lastly, before you pour the fresh brew into your cup, quickly stir the coffee inside a thermal carafe or the glass; this will evenly distribute oils, giving body to the brew uniformly. If you follow these simple steps, you are sure to churn out the best brew possible from the KBT 741.

Why does the coffee taste so good from a Technivorm Moccamaster?

The Moccamaster meets all of the following requirements that make for perfectly filtered coffee:

✅ The Moccamaster heats water to the perfect brewing temperature, which is between 200 and 204 degrees Fahrenheit.

✅ The water is gently sprinkled over the filter instead of being harshly sprayed onto the filter. This feature helps with getting an even extraction.

✅ The Moccamaster coffee maker has a nine-hole showerhead which is integral to the gentle extraction process. Keep in mind that there is a big difference compared to the traditional water gun effect associated with cheaper filter-coffee brewers. The Moccamaster water outlet sprays gently onto the surface of the filter basket.

✅ In the machine's design, the water has a shorter distance to travel so the water is processed more gently.

As you can see, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 checks off all the necessary boxes needed to filter the ideal cup of joe. The Moccamaster is perfectly balanced, ensuring you the best chance of a great cup of brewed coffee, every time!

Troubleshooting the Technivorm Moccamaster

The glass tube in the water reservoir is cloudy: The possible cause is that your brew needs to get descaled. The solution is to look at your descaling instruction manual. 

Coffee tastes weak or bitter: Possible cause #1 could be an incorrect amount of coffee used in brewing. The possible solution is to brew SCAA Gold Cup Standard using 2 Tbsp. coffee for every 6 oz. cold water. Possible cause #2 is that you have incorrectly ground the coffee. The solution is to make sure the filtered drip grind on the coarser side. The grind affects the extraction of coffee solubles, which impacts the flavor of your brewed coffee.

The brewer is not working, the lights are not illuminated: The possible cause is the power supply. The possible solution is to check to ensure that the brewer is plugged into the outlet.

The power light is on, but the coffee machine is not working: Possible is cause #1 is that the carafe is not properly in place. The possible solution is to place the carafe snugly against the white button at the base. Possible cause #2 is there is a mineral buildup in the heating element. A possible solution is to see descaling instruction in the manual.

Hot-plate stays on after brewing is complete: The possible cause is that your brewer has a manual power-off switch. The solution to this problem is to manually turn the power switch off. Some models have optional “auto-off” where the power switch shuts off the hot plate in 100 minutes.

Brew basket is overflowing: The cause, in this case, would be that the manual drip-stop is in the closed position. The solution is to move the switch on the brew-basket to the open position.

The thermal carafe is not keeping coffee hot: Possible cause #1 defective thermal carafe. Possible cause #2 is that there is damage to the carafe vacuum seal. The solution in both cases is to contact an authorized service center for a replacement.

Moccamaster Models

While the differences are minor between most of these models, some are bigger or smaller and can differ in features slightly. Below are examples of the slight differences that you will find between the Moccamaster models. While there are many models, and many more to come, these are some of the more popular options.

Moccamaster KB vs. KBG vs KBGV

Moccamaster KB:

• Drip: Manual
• Carafe: Glass
• Colors: Black or Brushed Silver

Moccamaster KBG:

• Drip: Auto
• Carafe: Glass
• Colors: 13 Colors

Moccamaster KBGV:

• Drip: Auto
• Carafe: Glass
• Colors: 13 Colors
• Brew speed button on front.

Here, the difference between the Moccamaster KB, KBG and KBGV is that the KBG and KBGV come in more colors and that the KGB and KBGV have an auto-drip while the KB has a manual drip. One last difference is that the KBGV has a button on the front to control the brew speed.

Moccamaster KBT vs. CDT

Capacity:

• CDT has a 15-cup capacity.
• KBT has a 10-cup capacity.

Design:

• The CDT has a round housing.
• The KBT has rectangular housing.
• Carafe designs are slightly different since the CDT holds more volume than the KBT. 

It's Competitors

While this machine sure does shine, it certainly has it's fair share of competitors. Between the Breville Precision and some of the other SCA certified machines (the Braun cofffee maker for example), this device has a lot to prove in order to maintain the number one spot. So, let's discuss the competition.

Bonavita Coffee Maker

We see a lot of people comparing these two manufacturers, simply because Bonavita is also SCA certified. However, the Moccamaster vs Bonavita comparison is like comparing a real Furari with a matchbox version. While the Bonavita coffee maker will deliver good coffee, only a Moccamaster will provide you with REAL coffee.If you want to know more about the Bonavita, be sure to check out our Bonavita bv1900ts review.

Breville Precicion

This is the only arguable competitor to that of the Moccamaster. While we still prefer Technivorm, the ladder can brew a serious pot of coffee as well. Since both offer similar features and qualities, and are priced similarly, it comes down to your own personal preferences on aesthetics, support and brand. For a more in-depth review, be sure to check out our Breville Precision Brewer review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Technivorm Moccamaster Worth It?

The short answer to this question is yes! 

The Moccamaster comes with a 5-year warranty, and it is a very reliable piece of equipment. The build quality is excellent, using quality materials that will last for years to come.

And for the environmentally conscious, it may behoove you to know that the Moccamaster coffee machine only uses recyclable and biodegradable build materials.

The only complaint levied against this excellent machine is that it is a bit pricey. However, if you have the money to spend, the Moccamaster is definitely worth the buy.

How to Clean Technivorm Moccamaster?

Using running water, rinse the lid and the filter basket. You will need to wipe the carafe to rid yourself of the watermarks.

You can use citric acid or other household products to clean the limescale. Just don't overdo it with the potency of the solution. In this case, a little bit goes a long way.

First, fill the water tank. Add to the tank a tablespoon of citric acid powder. Then you'll need to turn the machine on like normal, no coffee added. If necessary, repeat this process until your Moccamaster is clean to your liking. Lastly, run the machine with water only, and you're all done.

Final Verdict

The Technivorm Moccamaster is not a brewer that wows you with complexity, which makes it the perfect drip coffee maker if you want to keep things simple. On the contrary, it is the quality that the product exudes that amazes most, which is why it is considered the best in the business. The quality and longevity of this machine shines above the competition which is why the Specialty Coffee Association gave it the number one rating.

The Moccamaster lives up to the billing and was as impressive as the reviews said that it would be. There are not many coffee makers on the market that can give you a reliable, optimum coffee brewing temperature along with an even extraction. Hopefully, this review has helped you to decide if this drip coffee maker is an addition that you want for your kitchen. Check it out today!

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