Zojirushi Coffee Maker Reviews: What's with the Hype with the Zojirushi?

With all the turbulence of last year, many of us who started working remotely still haven't returned to the office. Not surprisingly, this has led to coffee fanatics worldwide having to brew our morning cups at home with the best of the best. However, with most of us spoiled by our daily trips to our local coffee shops (okay, or maybe Starbucks), homemade coffee can taste bland and stale, resulting in dull, underwhelming coffee experiences. 

That's why it's so important to invest in a quality coffee maker. By now, you've probably ended up browsing online to see what your options are. Zojirushi coffee makers are becoming more and more popular amongst homeowners. Because of its versatile features like brewing iced coffee, its insulated coffee carafes, or its anti-spillage technology, Zojirushi is quickly becoming synonymous with at-home brewing. 

Whether you're a coffee connoisseur or you're just beginning on your at-home brewing journey, read this Zojirushi Coffee Maker review to find out whether it is the machine for you. 

View Latest Price→

---

About Zojirushi Coffee Machines 

While Zojirushi came into the home appliance market with great rice cookers, they have moved away from cooking and have branched out into beverage makers. 

Zojirushi machines are well manufactured and expertly designed. They come in several variations (some have carafes, other models brew more cups than others), but for the most part, each Zojirushi has similar basic features that all work to make the perfect brewed joe.

While they can be more expensive than other machines, they have quality features that can make the price tag worth it. All Zojirushi coffee makers are easy to use, brew well, and are reliably made.

The bottom line? Zojirushi Coffee Maker offers high-quality coffee machines that, if you're looking to spend a little more for a top-tier device, are worth your investment. 

Before we dive into further details, here are some quick pros and cons to understand why Zojirushi Coffee Maker is a superior machine. 

Pros

• They are BPA Free
• They have a simple setup 
• They come with an easy-to-read manual 
• They craft high-quality, excellent joe due to high brewing temperatures. 
• They're versatile: the Zojirushi Coffee Maker can brew both hot and cold 
• Their vacuum enclosed carafe guarantees heat retention 
• Has permanent stainless mesh filter
• Has anti-drip properties like brewing directly into carafe and drip safeguards
• Includes a measuring spoon to create the perfect cup of coffee
• Removable filter basket/swing basket
• Removable water tank

Cons: 

• Requires manual cleaning 
• Delicate basket valve makes it easy to break or damage 
• Inability to adjust high brewing temperatures
• Coffee can be bitter 
• Tall, somewhat awkward build 

Zojirushi Coffee Maker Review

Build Quality

When you buy one of these machines, you get quality. They are well-engineered and are built with advanced technology and cutting-edge features. In addition, they are durable, well-built, and sturdy as they're made primarily from stainless steel.  

Zojirushi also includes a full one-year warranty so that you can invest in this purchase with ease of mind.

All in all, this machine is built well, so although it does tend to be more expensive than other machines, you can rest assured that you're paying for superior quality. We give it a 5 out of 5 for build quality. 

Performance

The majority of the time, the EC YGC120 excels above the rest and has outstanding performance. Farewell, glass carafe. The stainless steel thermal carafe is highly effective and does an excellent job at keeping your beverage warm for hours. 

So, if you're someone who likes to drink their joe throughout the day, this coffee maker with its sleek thermal carafe might be the one for you. 

Other features, too, perform well. The iced coffee maker, for example, automatically over-caffeinates iced brews to make up for the watered-down joe that people get when they add ice to their drinks. It also flash-chills the coffee, which helps to further lock in the flavor. 

And, probably the most essential aspect, this machine continually brews a smooth, bold, flavorful cup of joe at an optimal temperature. Due to the precise heating, and paired with its use of filtered water, the coffee tastes and rich without a bitter aftertaste. All in all, its perfect brewing temperature creates a stronger coffee. 

It's a bit ironic that one of its most touted features (its ability to brew coffee at the extreme temperature of 200 degrees) is also a contributor to its biggest con: in that it often brews very bitter coffee. 

Some coffee beans don't do well with high temperatures and long exposures and, as a result, can brew very bitter beans. Because of Zojirushi's inability to adjust brewing temperatures, some grounds may come out too unpleasant to taste. 

The Zojirushi Coffee Maker ranks highly on consumer sites such as Amazon, and many customers praise it for its fantastic coffee. However, a few customers have complained about receiving faulty machines that don't brew the coffee at the preferred temperature of 200 degrees. 

This is an easily fixable solution because of the warranty, as you can exchange the machine for a working coffee maker. 

And above all else, the Zojirushi Coffee Makers brews excellent tasting coffee. If you get the right beans and enjoy a more bitter brew, this coffee maker delivers a cup of coffee with a noticeable difference in quality from other drip coffee makers. We give it a 4 out of 5 for performance.

Ease of Use

This machine has a simple operation, simple assembly, and produces a simply delicious cup of coffee. But their cleaning process is simple, too, making this a great machine if you're sick of spills, drips, and leaks. 

For one, these coffee makers have a removable reservoir, which allows you to fill the water tank with ease. Plus, when you fill the water tank directly under the sink, you can say goodbye to drippage and spillage all over your counters.

You can prevent further spills by having the coffee drip directly into the stainless steel thermal carafe, which has a drip prevention mechanism that prevents coffee from leaking. 

Their parts are easy to clean, too. For example, each coffee maker comes with reusable, stainless steel mesh coffee filters (which you can remove if you prefer paper filters). That means you never have to worry about another paper filter breaking and ruining your floors or your kitchen countertop when you toss coffee grounds in the trash. 

Instead, remove the mesh filter, dump grounds in the trash, and rinse the mesh in the sink for easy cleanup. 

Another excellent feature of this machine is its accessible designs and easily washable parts, making cleaning a breeze and setup stress-free. 

Besides the easy cleanup and drip prevention, the Zojirushi Coffee Maker has an intuitive design that allows you to jump right into making your first cup of coffee without being slowed down by an overly complicated interface. However, if you do get stumped, Zojirushi also provides easy-to-read manuals, so it never feels like you're trying to decode a foreign language. 

For all of its benefits, these coffee makers do have some downsides. For one, the machines are programmed to beep at the end of their brewing time; but many customers report that this beeping is loud and obnoxious. It's so loud, in fact, that some customers can even use this beeping as an alarm clock even when it's in a different room. 

Another downside? The coffee filter itself. Some customers have found that after a few weeks of use, the permanent filter still allows some grinds through. Additionally, the permanent filter is a pain to clean without getting grinds stuck in the sink. We give it a 4 out of 5 for ease of use. 

Features

Whatever model you plan on purchasing, the Zojirushi Coffee Maker line ensures that each machine comes equipped with several prominent, hard-hitting features that outshine most of its competition. 

With intelligent designs like a tapered, heat-insulated carafe, or multiple timed settings, the Zojirushi Coffee Maker has features for every coffee lover. We give it a 5 out of 5 for features.

1). The Pre-Infusion Zojirushi Fresh Brew Cycle

The Zojirushi Coffee Maker comes complete with a pre-infusion brewing cycle feature, where the machine evenly wets all of the grounds before brewing. This feature allows the coffee maker to extract the perfect, most full flavors and aromas from the grounds and gives you a more even, bold-flavored cup of coffee. 

2). Some Like Their Coffee Hot: The 200°F High Brewing Temperature

As mentioned, the Zojirushi Coffee Maker proudly brews the coffee at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, although this delivers a quality cup of coffee for most beans, some grounds don't brew optimally under such high levels of heat, and therefore can come out too bitter. 

3). Time Saver Mode

You now have the choice to set your coffee to a time saver mode when you use a Zojirushi Coffee Maker. This time-saver mode allows you to make coffee faster when it increases its brew speed so that even if you're in a hurry, you still get to enjoy a premier cup. 

4). Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Carafe

Not only does the stainless steel carafe keep coffee hot for hours, but it also prevents coffee from getting that burnt taste that typically happens when you use a hot plate to keep coffee hot. 

5). Quiet Mode

Sick of loud coffee machines distracting you and causing disruption? The Zojirushi Coffee Maker brews coffee quietly, so you and your routine are never disrupted or interrupted. It's sleek and powerful, so powerful that it makes little to no sound when brewing. 

6). Iced Coffee Mode

Tired of having coffee warm? The iced coffee mode is a feature that sets this machine apart from others in the market. Not only does it add caffeine to protect against watered-down drinks, but there are water measure lines for iced coffee. These allow you to adjust the water-to-coffee ratio for a more robust brew so it won’t taste too weak when poured over ice.

7). Clean Light 

The Zojirushi Coffee Maker does indeed take a bit of maintenance to keep it working optimally. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a drawback as it can be a pain to clean. 

However, the good news is that the coffee maker will alert you when it needs a little love. The machines come with a clean light indicator to alert you when you need to clean your coffee maker. By routinely cleaning your coffee maker, you will help it live a long, healthy life and will also help you get the most for your money. 

Make sure to always follow directions when you clean your coffee machine (like always using citric acid). Even though it might be a pain to do deep cleans routinely, regular upkeep of your machine will guarantee great coffee every time.

8). Smart Carafe Design

The Zojirushi Coffee Maker comes with a tapered design carafe with thumb-activated pouring to make serving smooth, easy, and hassle-free. 

9). Sound/Mute

When your coffee has finished brewing, the Zojirushi Coffee Maker will beep a few times to alert you that your drink is ready. However, some people find the beeping to be too loud and obnoxious. While you cannot adjust the volume of the beeping, you do have an option to mute the beeping altogether. 

10). Timer 

These coffee makers come with a programmable timer so that you can make sure your coffee is ready in the morning before you wake up. The time is programmable for up to 24 hours in advance, which gives you plenty of time to set up. 

Design

As if those features aren't enough, the Zojirushi fresh brew looks good, too. Zojirushi fresh brew employs a sleek design that's a bit retro to give it a little understated flair. With no black plastic and all stainless steel, their hip, becoming design ensures that they'll look good on any kitchen countertop. 

The only downside to their design is some customers complain that they are pretty big and a little too tall to the point where they're awkward and have difficulty fitting where other coffee home-brewing machines can. We give it a 4 out of 5 for design. 

Value For Money

While this coffee maker's price can range, it usually lands upwards of 150.00 dollars. For other coffee machines on the market, this is certainly a more expensive option. The Keurig Coffee Machine, for example, is only around 70 dollars, whereas the Ninja is between 80 dollars and 120 dollars at the max. 

As a result, this hot coffee machine is undoubtedly one of the more expensive at-home coffee brewing machines you can buy. 

However, due to the overall value of the machine and the features you get (its ability to make iced coffee, heated carafe, programmable timer, removable water reservoir, and quality materials), this is a worthy purchase if you're looking for a long-term hot coffee investment. 

Especially if you're okay with spending a little more money to get great-tasting coffee, this is one machine that may be an excellent option for you. We give it a 4 out of 5 for value for money. 

Final Thoughts 

The Zojirushi fresh brew is certainly a bit higher end in terms of quality than your average competitors. However, because it is more expensive, this is a great drip coffee maker that can brew a premier drink. 

With easy cleanup, BPA-free carafe, optimal temp, perfect brew temp, it’s undeniable that this is a pretty neat machine that delivers a good cup of hot and cold brews. Plus, it looks great on your counter space. Whether you like your coffee hot or cold, Zojirushi delivers a premier beverage.

View Latest Price→

---