Coffee Gear at Home

Roundup of the Best SCA Certified Coffee Makers

Drip coffee makers are not created equal, that’s for sure. And if you want the best of the best, then you’ll definitely want a SCA Certified coffee maker.

We’ve covered many SCA certified coffee makers in a lot of our previous posts. So this post will be a roundup of all of them in one page to make it easier for you to find.

What Is a SCA Certified? And Why Is It Great?

SCA stands for Specialty Coffee Association, a non-profit association that does research in the specialty coffee industry. From teaching programs, spreading education and rating coffee and coffee gear, the SCA does all research required to educate you on how you can get the best cup of coffee that is not only great to you, but is also fairly traded, sustainably grown and is fair to the entire industry.

When it comes to coffee makers for home, SCA tests brewers to ensure that they meet special requirements from optimal water temperature, brewing time and the brewers ability to brew a cup that meets the Golden Cup standard. If the machine passes these tests, it will be SCA certified.

Best SCA Certified Coffee Makers:

BUNN Heat N’ Brew 10-cup coffee maker has its die-hard fans. A classic drip coffee maker that delivers amazing results. This coffee maker brews between 197.6 and 204.8F water temperature, using a commercial-style sprayhead design that ensures the coffee ground in the basket filter is fully saturated. It takes the machine about 10 minutes to brew a full pot of coffee, 6 minutes to bring the water to optimal temperature and 4 minutes to brew the coffee.

Other features include: digital clock, auto on/off, warming plate.

Technivorm’s Moccamaster coffee makers are famous for the coffee they brew and for their high quality. If you want a truly high-quality build coffee maker, you have to go for a Moccamaster.

What makes Moccamaster machines unique is the fact that they are handmade with high quality parts in The Netherlands. Every machine is tested for water and electric before it is shipped.

Moccamaster machines meet the European Cofee Brewing Centre and Specialty Coffee Association guidelines. They brew between 196 and 205F, steep coffee grounds for the right amount of time and holds the brewed coffee at the perfect temperature of 175 to 185F without burning it.

There are many models of the Moccamaster coffee maker, and the main differences between them are: volume, carafe type, design and brew basket (manual stop, auto stop or no drip stop).

You can read our full Moccamaster comparisons here.

On the down side (for some people), this machine does not have a digital clock so they can’t be programmed to brew automatically.

The Bonavita is a simple uncomplicated coffee brewer that brews 8 cups of coffee that meets the SCA standards. With a showerhead spray, pre-infusion and optimal water temperature of 195 to 205F, you’ll get the perfect brew every time.

There are several models of the Bonavita: BV1800, BV1900, and BV1901 models, with one of them featuring a digital clock that allows for auto on.

Breville Precision Brewer is a great SCA Certified coffee maker not just because of its specialty coffee certification, but it has so many great features that other coffee makers don’t have.

In true Breville fashion, the Precision Brewer gives you many presets as well as a manual override for those times you want to make your own customization.

Presets are Gold Cup (SCA standard), My Brew for setting your own temperature and timing, Pour Over setting allows you to use the machine as an automatic kettle while using your favorite dripper like V60 or Kalita, Over Ice which makes concentrated coffee that won’t taste watered down with ice, Cold Brew which makes overnight cold brew, Strong setting for bold tasting coffee and Fast setting, which is an option for making a full 12-cup carafe in under 7 minutes.

If you’re looking for diversity in options, you’ll love having the Breville Precision Brewer. It includes a thermal 12-cup carafe, a flat bottom filter and cone filter baskets.

Ninja Specialty coffee maker is another versatile SCA-certified coffee maker that’s a big hit among customers. This coffee maker is able to brew many cup serving sizes: Single cup, XL cup, Travel mug, XL travel mug, half carafe and full carafe. This is great as it provides an option for every occasion, whether you’re relaxing at home, on your way out or entertaining many people.

When it comes to brewing coffee, it has 4 options: Classic, Rich, Iced and Specialty (in this case, specialty is a espresso-like coffee concentrate, and Classic is your Golden Cup standard). The machine also has a built-in milk frother. It does NOT heat milk, but you’ll be able to create milk froth.

There are many Ninja coffee makers available, so please note that the Ninja Specialty coffee maker is the only SCA certified model.

Best Cuisinart Coffee Makers To Buy

When it comes to drip coffee makers, Cuisinart is one of the first brand names to come to mind. It’s been a leader in kitchen appliances in general, but coffee makers especially. Cuisinart makes quite reliable products for an affordable price, which is one of the reasons they’re leaders in their markets.

Finding the BEST Cuisinart coffee maker though is not a straightforward task. BEST is a different thing to different people. So what we’re going to do here is give you the best machine in each category, which will hopefully help you find what you’re looking for.

Generally speaking, you’ll have to keep a few things in mind:

What capacity do you need?
Do you want to use ground coffee or do you want a machine with built-in grinder?
Or, do you prefer to use K-Cup pods instead?

Best Cuisinart Full Pot and Single Serve Dual Coffee Maker:

Cuisinart SS-15P1 Coffee Center 12-Cup Coffeemaker and Single-Serve Brewer, Silver

12-cup glass carafe with stainless steel handle. Material: Metal
Brew Strength Control - select BOLD for stronger coffee flavor. BPA free
Gold-tone coffee filter lets only pure coffee flavor flow through.UC Cubic Feet: 1.26
Single-Serve serving sizes: 6, 8, 10 oz; Charcoal water filter
Includes Cuisinart's Home Barista Reusable Filter Cup which lets you use your own coffee, K-Cup pod compatible as well

Let’s start with the machine that gives you two options for brewing coffee, either brew a carafe or a single cup. The Cuisinart SS-15 happens to be one of their best sellers, and it’s quite obvious why. It gives you the best of both worlds, a full 12-cup carafe or a single cup serving in multiple sizes.

Using the 12-cup carafe is straightforward, fill in the gold-tone filter with your favorite ground coffee and let it brew.

To brew a single cup, you can choose serving sizes 6, 8 or 10 oz. Using the included reusable filter cup, you can either fill it using your favorite coffee or you can use any K-Cup pod you like.

Other features of the Cuisinart SS-15:

Programmable auto on/off (for pot brewing only).
Brew Strength control: select Bold option for a stronger cup.
12-cup glass carafe.
Two water reservoirs: 60 oz fixed reservoir for the carafe side, 40 oz removable reservoir for the single serve side.
Includes carafe, gold tone filter, reusable coffee pod for single cup brewing and some K-Cup pod filters.

This machine is also available in model SS-20, which is the exact same in features as the SS-15 except that it has a thermal carafe and has 10-cups capacity.

Best Cuisinart Coffee Maker with Largest Capacity (14-Cups):

Cuisinart DCC-3200P1 DCC-3200 Glass Carafe Handle Programmable Coffeemaker, 14 Cup Stainless Steel

State-of-the-art technology to ensure hotter coffee without sacrificing flavor or quality
Brew strength control allows you to select regular or bold coffee flavor
Fully automatic with 24-hour programmability, self-clean, 1-4 cup setting and auto shutoff (0-4 hours)
Adjustable keep warm temperature control
Gold tone, commercial style permanent filter.MC Cubic Feet: 2.32

Most drip coffee makers offer a capacity of 12-cups max. The Cuisinart DCC-3200, another best seller, has a generous 14-cup capacity. However, it is important to note that those 14-cups are measured as 5 oz per cup. So how many actual cups you’ll get from it will depend on the size of the cup you use. Nevertheless, this machine still offers a capacity that you rarely see in drip machines.

Features of Cuisinart DCC-3200:

Brew as little as 1 to 4 cups and up to 14 cups.
Programmable auto on/off.
Brew Pause feature allows you to pause the brew cycle to pour a cup before the cycle is finished.
Brew strength control: choose from regular or bold brew.
70 oz water reservoir capacity.
Includes a gold-tone filter and charcoal water filter.

This is a straightforward simple to use drip coffee maker. If large capacity is what you’re looking for then this is your machine.

Best Cuisinart Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker:

Cuisinart SS-10P1 Premium Single-Serve Coffeemaker Coffemaker, 72 Oz, Silver

K-Cup compatible brewer makes one cup at a time, Compatible with any brand of single cup pod including Keurig K-Cup pods. Cord length : 32 Inches
5 beverage sizes: 4-12 oz, Removable 72-ounce water reservoir, Charcoal water filter
Hot water button lets you enjoy instant coffee, soup, tea and hot cocoa; Rinse feature instantly cleans the inside of the brew chamber
Material Type - Plastic. Kindly check user guide for further clarification
Fully programmable with a full spectrum of features, including Auto On/Off and adjustable temperature control. Note : Refer to the video for Installation and PDF attached below in Technical Specification for User Manual. Do not clean drip tray with cleansers, steel wool pads, or other abrasive materials

The Cuisinart SS-10 single-serve coffee maker is one of those K-Cup brewers that works better than Keurig’s own machines. In fact, the SS-10 offered the 12 oz serving size as an option way before Keurig did.

Now if you’re looking for a compact machine, like Keurig offers, this is not it unfortunately. In comparison to many of Keurig’s machines, which are quite compact, the SS-10 is huge. However, if you want features, the SS-10 has a lot of them:

Compatible with any K-Cup pod or refillable pod filters.
Serving size options: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz.
Water reservoir capacity: 72 oz
Hot water on demand, perfect for making tea or instant meals.
Rinse feature cleans the inside of brew chamber instantly.
Adjustable brew temperature.
Includes a reusable filter pod and charcoal water filter.

Cuisinart vs. Keurig – Which Do You Choose?

I know I already said that the Cuisinart SS-10 makes a great machine in comparison to Keurig’s own. However, Keurig did introduce newer models that compete with the Cuisinart, which was years ahead of Keurig.

Sale

Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker, Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer, With Iced Coffee Capability, Brushed Silver

Included in the Box: A Bonus 6 Count K Cup Pod Variety Pack, One Water Filter Handle, and One Filter to Help Ensure Your Beverages Taste Their Absolute Best
Coffee in No Time: Brews K Cup Pods in Under a Minute
LARGE 75 Ounces WATER RESERVOIR: Allows you to brew 8 cups before having to refill, saving you time and simplifying your morning routine; Removable reservoir makes refilling easy
REMOVABLE DRIP TRAY: Accommodates travel mugs up to 7.2 inches tall and holds a full accidental brew for easy cleanup
BREWER MAINTENANCE REMINDER: Alerts you when it is time to descale your coffee maker; Descaling is an important process that removes built up calcium deposits, ensuring the best tasting brew possible

The Cuisinart is comparable with Keurig’s K-Elite model which also has 5 serving sizes, temperature control and hot water on demand.

Features of the Keurig K-Elite:

5 serving sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 oz.
Large 75 oz water reservoir.
Strong Brew option.
Iced Coffee option.
Programmable clock.
Compatible with all K-Cup pods, including refillable filters (sold separately).

Where the Keurig K-Elite Excels Over Cuisinart SS-10:

Strong Brew: this option will steep your coffee longer for a bolder tasting cup of coffee.
Iced Coffee Option: this option optimized the temperature and strength settings to brew coffee that will not taste watered down when it mixes with ice.
High Altitude Setting: when chosen, this setting will prevent the machine from over pressurizing in altitudes over 5,000 feet.

Where the Cuisinart Is Better:

The Cuisinart SS-10 is cheaper than the Keurig K-Elite, and it includes a reusable filter pod.

Best Cuisinart Grind and Brew Coffee Maker:

Cuisinart DGB-650BC Grind-and-Brew Thermal 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Brushed Metal

10-Cup automatic coffeemaker with built-in automatic bean grinder
Fully programmable with Auto shut off, Brew Pause, 1- to 4-Cup setting, and grind-off option for pre-ground coffee
Double-wall thermal stainless-steel carafe keeps coffee hot and fresh. BPA free
Includes: Charcoal water filter and permanent gold tone filter ensures only the freshest coffee flavor flows through. Measuring scoop, instruction Booklet

There’s nothing better than a cup of coffee coming from freshly ground beans. If you want to enjoy your coffee in the freshest form possible, you can either buy a decent grinder separately, or get a coffee maker with built-in grind that does the work for you.

The Cuisinart DGB-650 does just that. It has a built-in coffee grinder that will automatically grind then brew the coffee. And if you ever want to use pre-ground coffee? You can do that, too. So you have two options to choose from.

The coffee maker is available in 10-cup (thermal carafe) or 12-cup (glass carafe) capacity. As a minimum, you can brew 1-4 cups.

The grinder works by grinding all the beans you put in, so it doesn’t have a hopper that holds more beans than you need. The instruction manual will guide you on how much beans to put in for the amount of cups you want to brew.

Other Features:

Brew Pause feature.
Grind-off to use pre-ground coffee instead of whole beans.
Includes a gold-tone permanent filter and #4 paper filters.
Also includes Charcoal water filter.
Programmable auto on/off.

Best Cuisinart Grind and Brew Coffee Maker with Bean Hopper:

Cuisinart DGB-700BC Grind & Brew 12 Cup Coffeemaker, Chrome

24-hour fully programmable coffeemaker with 12-Cup capacity
Built-in burr grinder automatically grinds beans before brewing
Strength selector and grind control fine-tune intensity and volume, 8-ounce bean hopper, auto shutoff and brew-pause function
Includes: Charcoal water filter and permanent gold-tone coffee filter ensures only the freshest coffee flavor flows through. Measuring scoop, instruction Book
Review Trouble shooting manual and Product Manual for easy usage of the product. BPA Free, Dimensions : 8.27" x 11.61" x 16.34".Dripless Spout & Knuckle Guard

If you want a better Grind and Brew experience than the DGB-650 has to offer, then go for this model. The Cuisinart DGB-700 is the upgraded version which has many excellent features:

It has a bean hopper that holds up to 8 ounces of beans and seals it perfectly to keep it fresh.
It has a brew strength selector and grind control option to fine tune your brew strength and taste.

These are the best upgraded features from the previous model. Now you can choose from three brew strength options: mild, medium or strong. And the grind option can be selected according to the number of cups you’ll brew.

Other than those two upgraded features, it has the same features from the previous model:

Brew Pause option,
12 cup capacity
programmable auto on/off
Includes permanent filter, charcoal water filter, measuring scoop and instructions.

Compare Cusinart Grind and Brew Coffee Makers:

Cuisinart DGB-700BC Grind & Brew 12 Cup Coffeemaker, Chrome

Cuisinart DGB-800 Burr Grind & Brew Automatic Coffeemaker, 12 Cup, Silver

Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker

Cuisinart DGB-800 Burr Grind & Brew Automatic Coffeemaker, 12 Cup, Silver

Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker

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Cuisinart DGB-700BC Grind & Brew 12 Cup Coffeemaker, Chrome

Buy on Amazon

Cuisinart DGB-800 Burr Grind & Brew Automatic Coffeemaker, 12 Cup, Silver

Buy on Amazon

Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker

Buy on Amazon

There are a few grind and brew models from Cuisinart: DGB-550 (the oldest version), DGB-650, DGB-700 DGB-800/850 and DGB-900.

For the most part, they work in the exact same way, but with some differences:

The DGB-550 and DGB-650 have the same features but different designs. The control panel has been redesigned in the DGB-650 model to have less buttons, but both still have the same options. Also, both models are available as 12-cup capacity with glass carafe, or 10-cup capacity with thermal carafe.

As for DGB-700, DGB-800 and DGB-900, these are the models that have an 8 ounce bean hopper as well as brew strength settings and grind settings. They are all identical in features, but have slight differences in design. When choosing between them, I’d say compare their prices and go for the best price.

Is It Better To Buy a Coffee Maker with Built-in Grinder or Buy a Separate Grinder?

This is a great question. When should you opt for a coffee maker with built-in grinder and when should you go for a separate grinder?

It all depends on your use and what brewing methods you prefer. If all you want is to brew coffee using a drip machine, then the right choice would be to go for a machine with a built-in grinder. It’s a time saver as well as a space saving option.

However, if you make your coffee using different methods: drip, pour-over, chemex… you name it, these are all methods that require different grind sizes, and this is when investing in a conical burr grinder that offers a variety of grind options makes a better choice.

Buy Starbucks Capsules for Nespresso OriginalLine

The best thing about owning a Nespresso OriginalLine machine, whether it’s a Citiz, Pixie, Essenza Mini, Lattissima or a Creatista… is the fact that it is compatible with coffee capsules from many brands other than Nespresso, which gives you a whole lot of options to choose from.

Without a doubt, Starbucks is one of the world’s leading coffee brands. And now, you can enjoy a cup of Starbucks coffee at a friction of the price and in the comfort of your own home (or office!).

Starbucks Coffee Capsules for Nespresso Original Line Machines:

Starbucks has worked hand in hand with Nespresso to bring these capsules to work perfectly with your Nespresso OriginalLine machines. So unlike some third-party capsules, these will not produce weak coffee and they will fit your machine perfectly.

These capsules are:

Authentic Starbucks brand made by Nespresso, made for OriginalLine machines only.
Available in many intensities and blends.
Made from recyclable aluminum, just like Nespresso’s own capsules.

Compatibility:

If you have a Vertuo, VertuoPlus or any of the VertuoLine machines, these capsules are NOT compatible with your machine.

These capsules are compatible if your machine is a Nespresso OriginalLine machine and that includes models such as: Pixie, CitiZ, Lattessima, Essenza, Creatista…. Nespresso machines by DeLonghi or Breville, even machines from other brands that are Original Line compatible.

Best Starbucks Variety Pack Nespresso Capsules:

Starbucks by Nespresso, Favorites Variety Pack (50-count single serve capsules, 10 of each flavor, compatible with Nespresso Original Line System)

Variety pack including 5 of customers favorite blends.

This variety-pack includes a total of 5 boxes, with 10 capsules in each pack. You will receive:

House Blend: Lungo (3.7 oz) capsules with Intensity level 8, Medium roast.
Colombia: Single-origin Espresso (1.35 oz) capsules with intensity level of 7, medium roast.
Caffe Verona: Intensity level 10, dark roast espresso capsules.
Pike Place Roast: Intensity level 7, medium roast Lungo capsules.
Blonde Espresso Roast: Intensity level 6, Starbucks blonde roast (light), can be enjoyed as espresso or Ristretto (0.85 oz)

Starbucks by Nespresso, Intense Variety Pack (50-count single serve capsules, 10 of each flavor, compatible with Nespresso Original Line System)

If you enjoy your coffee strong or with milk, this is the pack for you.

The Intense Variety pack includes the strongest roasts, which can be enjoyed on its own or if you like your coffee with milk but still prefer a strong coffee taste.

This pack includes:

One Espresso roast, which has intensity level of 11.
Two sleeves of Caffe Verona – Intensity level 10.
One sleeve of Colombia – Intensity level 7.
One sleeve of Pike Place lungo capsules – intensity level 7.

Starbucks by Nespresso, Mild Variety Pack (50-count single serve capsules, 10 of each flavor, compatible with Nespresso Original Line System)

Mild Variety pack which includes medium roasts

If you prefer your coffee on the lighter side, but still flavorful, this Mild Variety Pack is for you. It includes:

Two sleeves of House Blend Lungo capsules – intensity level 8.
One sleeve of Pike Place Lungo capsules – intensity level 7.
One sleeve Colombia espresso capsules, intensity level 7.
One sleeve of Blonde Espresso roast, intensity level 6.

What Coffee Beverages Can I Make With These Capsules?

These capsules can be used for any coffee drink you’d like to make: espresso, lungo, cappuccino, latte… you name it!

Espresso capsules are recommended for any milk based drink such as a cappuccino, latte or macchiato. If you want the taste of the coffee to come through, use a higher intensity or a dark roast such as the Espresso roast or Caffe Verona.

These capsules contain pure coffee ground in them, so no artificial flavoring or sugar. For milk, you can use an Aeroccino milk frother (or any other milk frother you might have) to heat and froth the milk.

If you like your coffee flavored, you can buy coffee syrups to add to your drink, just like a Starbucks barista would do when making your drink in store.

Don’t Want a Variety Pack? No Problem!

You can still buy your favorite blend on its own, if you prefer a single type only…

Review of DeLonghi 3-in-1 Specialty Coffee Brewer – Is It Worth It?

It seems like Specialty coffee makers are on the rise, and that’s great news for us coffee lovers! Popular brands like DeLonghi are coming out with SCA certified coffee makers means that a nice cup of coffee is now more accessible to everyone.

What Is a Specialty Coffee Maker and What is SCA Certification?

Before I get into the DeLonghi Specialty coffee brewer, let’s talk about what is ‘specialty’ and what is SCA.

SCA is the Specialty Coffee Association, which does a lot of testing on coffee makers to ensure that they meet the Golden Cup Standard. Coffee makers must meet certain requirements like proper water temperature, brewing time as well as other recommendations from the association.

Coffee makers that pass the tests of the SCA are granted the Golden Cup standard certification, and you can rest assured that you’ll be getting a great cup of coffee out of them.

You can read more about SCA Golden Cup certification here.

SCA Certified coffee makers I previously featured are Bonavita, Braun Multi-Serve, Breville Precision Brewer, Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker and Technivorm Moccamaster.

Features of DeLonghi Specialty Coffee Maker:

Brews coffee in three ways: Drip, Pour-over or Over Ice.
SCA Golden Cup Certified.
Pour-Over option gives you an even water distribution using a pulsing showerhead action that ensures all coffee ground is fully saturated, just like it would if brewed manually.
Over Ice option uses proprietary process that brews a smooth, full bodied coffee that is never watered down.
Borosilicate glass carafe.
Warming plate with 1 hour auto shut off.
Water tank capacity: 42 oz.

Click here to learn more about DeLonghi Specialty Coffee Maker, read the customer reviews and buy it.

How Does DeLonghi Specialty Coffee Brewer Make Iced Coffee?

To make Over-Ice coffee that will not taste watered down when ice is melted in it, DeLonghi asks that you add the same amount of coffee ground, but you’ll use less water. It will also alter the water temperature so the coffee isn’t brewed too hot that it will melt the ice right away. On the carafe, you’ll see the lines that indicate the amount of ice cubes you add. When choosing the Over Ice option, the machine will use the pour-over pulsating method to brew the coffee, which means you’ll get a bolder cup.

Is The DeLonghi Specialty Coffee Maker Worth It?

According to customer reviews, this coffee makers produces a great carafe of coffee. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

The coffee basket is located inside the carafe, which can be quite annoying. This means when the coffee is ready and you want to pour a cup, you’ll have to remove the basket first. The machine does come with a basket holder just for this purpose, but it’s still a somewhat of a design flaw – for me personally at least.

The Over-Ice option is great and works as promised. However, it doesn’t make a single cup. This isn’t a problem for anyone who wants to make a patch of iced coffee to keep in the fridge. But if you prefer just a single cup of iced (or even hot) coffee, you might want to consider a machine like the Ninja Specialty coffee maker, which has a lot more serving options.

Should You Buy the DeLonghi Specialty Coffee Maker?

Overall, the DeLonghi Specialty coffee maker is a decent coffee maker, but for its price point, it’s not the best. Being priced the same (at the time of writing this post), I would absolutely recommend the Ninja Specialty Coffee maker instead.

Ninja Specialty Fold-Away Frother (CM401) Coffee Maker, Single Serve to 10 Cup (50 oz.), Glass Carafe

Specialty brew: brew super rich Coffee concentrate that you can use to create delicious lattes, macchiato, cappuccinos, and other coffeehouse style drinks
Iced Coffee: brew fresh over ice for flavorful Iced Coffee that's never watered down
6 brew sizes: brew anything from a single cup or travel size to a half carafe or a full carafe in your Coffee maker
Fold away frother: turns hot or cold milk into silky smooth froth
Sca certified home brewer

The Ninja Specialty Coffee maker overs a lot more brewing and serving options, including full/half carafe, XL cup (travel mug) and single cup. It also has a built-in milk frother for times when you want to make a latte or a cappuccino. You’ll get a lot more for your money with the Ninja coffee maker. Click here to read my full post on it.

Review: Mr Coffee All-in-One Pour Over Coffee Maker

Pour over is one of the most popular manual methods for brewing coffee. It has recently regained popularity with the introduction of specialty coffee, and with tools like Hario V60 or Chemex widely available, many people gave it a go.

However, there’s still a number of people who are still intimidated by pour-over and all the tools it requires just to make a cup of coffee. Why does it require a lot of tools? Is it really worth the time and effort?

To do Pour-over correctly, measuring and timing are everything! You have to measure the amount of coffee ground and water, and you have to time every step. So to do your pour-over, you’ll need a grinder, a scale and a timer. That’s a whole lot of things just to make coffee. And it’s okay, many people enjoy the process of making coffee this way, and that’s exactly what matters.

Now if you’re one who have always wanted to try pour-over but don’t want to buy all those accessories, or even find it such a hassle to do all the steps required, you’ll like what Mr. Coffee has created in this coffee maker.

What Is Mr Coffee All in One Pour Over Coffee Maker?

You’ve probably seen some automatic pour over coffee makers that imitate the method of pour over (blooming, showerhead water spray and so on… Bonavita and Moccamaster are fist to come to mind), which is a great solution for anyone who wants the taste of a pour-over cup but don’t want to do any of the work. This coffee maker is not one of those…

Mr Coffee Pour Over Coffee Maker is still somewhat of a manual method of pour over, but it guides you through the process entirely to make it easier for beginners. It has everything you need for the perfect pour over built into it (including a scale and a timer!)

The coffee maker consists of:

Electric gooseneck kettle
Cone dripper and a glass pot.
The base that holds it all together.

The base of the coffee maker is where all the magic happens. The interface of base unit displays step by step guide to help you make the perfect brew:

Select the amount of coffee you’re brewing: 2, 4 or 6 cups.
The guide will prompt you to add your coffee ground and it will automatically measure the correct amount with the built-in scale. Once you have added enough coffee, it will prompt the next step…
Adding water is also measured using the built-in scale. Now you’ll have to slowly pour in the water in circular motion until the progress bar is full. First, you’ll add just a little to allow your coffee to bloom, then you’ll add the rest of the water required for your serving size.
How long do you have to wait? The base unit has a timer, too. While it doesn’t show you the time in seconds or minutes, it does tell you to wait and continue when you need to.

Is The Mr. Coffee Pour Over Coffee Maker Worth It?

This coffee maker makes a great all in one solution for someone who wants to start using pour over as their brewing method. It includes everything you need except for the grinder.

If you’re a beginner, you’ll love the ease of use this coffee maker provides. In fact, even if you start getting the hang of things, in pour over, you’ll always need your coffee and water scaled and timed. So even if you advance in your brewing method, the automatic guidance will still be useful.

The question is, is it worth the effort? This is only for you to decide. Pour over is a manual method that takes a bit of time and effort on your part. It is important that you like taking time off to make your coffee manually and enjoy the process of preparing your coffee. If you’re someone who wants a quick cup of coffee or don’t have the time, this is not a machine for you. I’d highly recommend getting an automatic pour-over coffee maker that automates the whole thing and makes your coffee for you with a push of a button (while getting the same results). However, if you ever feel like you want to take a real coffee break, and take your time doing it, this would be a cool way to do it.

One thing to keep in mind is, this machine does not have a warming plate to keep coffee hot. When it comes to manual brewing, keeping your coffee on constant heat is not recommended as it makes the coffee bitter. So only make the amount you’ll be consuming at the time.

Another thing about Mr Coffee Pour Over is, if you plan on experimenting with recipes (use different measurements of coffee to water ratios…), it will be hard to do so using this machine. As it doesn’t show you exactly in grams the amount coffee or water you’re using, it’s hard to know the exact recipe you’re following. The display only shows you that you’ve used the correct amount for the coffee volume you want to brew, but not the exact measurement. So if you feel like you want to experiment or use different ratios, you’re better off buying your tools separately.

Recommended Grinders for Pour Over:

Getting your coffee grind right is as important as everything else in pour over. If you’re using the wrong grind, your coffee will not taste good. A hand grinder is always a great option to start with, here are a few high rated recommendation: