If you’re an avid coffee drinker who is tired of brewing bad coffee, you may have added the Technivorm Moccamaster to your home. Unfortunately, the complete lack of buttons and features may have you a little confused. But don’t worry, you’ll be brewing like a pro in no time!
Among all the drip coffee makers on the market, the Technivorm Moccamaster stands out because it isn’t your garden variety coffee maker. However, unlike many other machines, this one promises to be user-friendly with some of the best coffee extraction capabilities available.
So before we brew our first pot, let’s take a closer look at this extraordinary machine.
Meet the Moccamaster
If you own a Technivorm Moccamaster, then you know it’s one of the best drip brew coffee makers on the market. But do you know exactly how great it is?
Technivorm Moccamaster is a family-owned Dutch company and a master in brewing. They’ve been making drip coffee makers by hand since 1968. They’re known for the precise engineering of all essential elements.
The Technivorm Moccamaster meets the Gold Cup Standard developed by the Speciality Coffee Association of America. This standard is earned after rigorous quality control and laboratory testing. It means that a cup of coffee meets specific requirements of the four T’s of consistent coffee: temperature, time, turbulence, and total dissolved solids.
Their machines are designed to batch brew a pot of great-tasting coffee. Almost all of their models include either a manual or automatic drip-stop brew basket, a coffee carafe, the auto-off energy-saving function, the copper heating element, and the showerhead outlet arm.
Best of all, every Technivorm Moccamaster comes with a 5-year warranty and lifetime repairs. And because so many of their parts are removable, they last a long time.
Their machines fall into two major categories: Glass or Thermal Carafe. So let’s take a closer look at both.
Glass Carafe
Moccamaster makes several glass-carafe coffee makers. These models include the copper boiling element that raises the water temperature to 196-205 degrees, the ideal brewing temperature for amazing hot coffee.
The Moccamaster KB comes with a manual-drip brewing basket and holds ten cups of amazing coffee. The Moccamaster KBG includes the auto-drip basket.
Moccamaster also produces the KBGV Select, which allows you to choose between a half or full carafe of coffee.
Thermal Carafe
Who doesn’t love a double-walled stainless steel carafe? Moccamaster makes four different models!
The Moccamaster KBGT includes the auto-drip basket, while the KBT has the manual drip-stop. In addition, the KBTS contains all the same features as the KBT but in a smaller package. At thirteen inches high, this model slides seamlessly under kitchen cabinets.
And if you’re looking for a machine that can supply an office, try the Moccamaster CDT Grand. This stainless steel carafe holds a total of fifteen cups of coffee.
All thermal carafes will keep coffee warm for up to an hour and come with a travel lid that will maintain the carafe temperature for several hours.
The single model that varies from the standard design is the Moccamaster Cup-One. This machine brews single cups of coffee instead of carafes of coffee.
I recommend checking out any one of our Technivorm Moccamaster reviews to learn all about these quality coffee makers if you don’t already own one.
The Moccamaster is an easy-to-use drip brew coffee maker, no matter which model you own. Keep reading for a simple five-step process to making excellent coffee.
What You’ll Need
- a paper filter
- Five to seven scoops of pre-ground coffee
- 1.25 liters of cold water*
- your Technivorm Moccamaster
*I’m using the 1.25 L/10-Cup Moccamaster Model KB. If you own a different model, like the 8-cup KBS Moccamaster Model, adjust to 1 liter of water.
The Process
Technivorm Moccamaster makes the coffee brewing process as user-friendly as possible. It’s one of the things I love most about it. You’ll be sipping your cup of drip coffee in no time.
Step One
Place the #4 filter paper into the filter basket. I like to wet down the filter basket before putting the filter paper inside. It helps to hold it in place while filling it with coffee grounds.
QUICK TIP: Make sure the folded section of the filter doesn’t cover the drip hole of the filter basket. Otherwise, you’ll slow down the hot water and can cause an overflow.
Step Two
Fill the coffee brew basket with five heaping scoops of your choice of ground coffee for the 8-cup model. If you have the 10-cup version, add seven level scoops of your choice of coffee grounds.
Step Three
Place the brew basket back on the drip coffee brewer and cover it with the brew basket lid. I love that the Technivorm Moccamaster lets you lift the lid to watch the brewing method.
Step Four
Fill the water tank to the top water level mark with cold, filtered water. Depending on your coffee maker, this may be anywhere from ten to 60 ounces.
Step Five
Turn on the power, and in 4-6 minutes, you’ll have a delicious carafe of finished brew. It’s that easy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much coffee do you put in a Moccamaster?
I use about seven level scoops for my 10-cup coffee maker. The coffee to water ratio is essential when brewing a pot of coffee, but that doesn’t mean you don’t like what you like. I recommend adjusting the grind setting and amount of grounds to find what works best for your taste buds.
How do you grind coffee for Moccamaster?
There’s no shame in buying pre-ground coffee, but the truth is, nothing beats the taste of fresh ground coffee. But grinding your own might be intimidating.
Check out our review of all the best Coffee Grinders available and see which one works for you. I love my Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder. I always recommend a burr grinder over blade grinders.
The burrs create a more even particle and let you adust from a coarser grind to fine. This means that if you own an espresso machine, you can grind your own espresso powder.
Why do the thermal carafe models come with two lids?
All Moccamaster thermal models include the brew-thru lid and travel lid. With the brew-thru cover in place, the stainless steel carafe will keep your coffee hot for up to an hour. The travel lid prevents heat loss, and you can take your pot to go and keep your coffee hot for hours.
What kind of plastic is used in the Moccamaster machines?
All plastics used in Moccamaster machines are BPA, BPS, BPF, and phthalate-free. They are also food and beverage safe. These plastic parts should be hand washed in soapy water, including the lids and brew basket.
Because these plastic parts don’t contain chemical additives, they may feel flimsy or less durable. However, the additives that enhance the feel have also been linked with many health concerns.
Why are there two buttons at the base?
On the Moccamaster glass carafe models, the second button controls the temperature of the hot plate. The half-circle is 175°F, and the whole circle maintains your already-brewed coffee at 185°F. The hotplate will automatically shut off after 100 minutes. If you have a Select model, this second button lets you choose between a half or full carafe.
Can I brew less than an entire pot of coffee?
Yes! But only with the manual drip-stop brew basket switch or one of the Moccamaster selects. The partial open setting on the manual brew basket wall slows the water flow to allow for a longer steep time in smaller quantities.
What can I do with a manual drip-stop?
The benefit of a manual drip-stop, available in the KB and KBT versions, as well as the CDT Grand, is that you can control the flow of hot water. In addition, it creates a hands-on brewing experience.
I like to open the filter basket while it’s brewing and stir up the bed of coffee grounds to aid the coffee blooming and provide extra saturation time. Also, I can slow down the brew time enough to brew a half carafe or a single cup without owning a Select model or the Cup-One.
Can I program my Moccamster to brew in the morning?
Unfortunately, Technivorm Moccamaster comes with no programmable features. Instead, it’s a simple drip coffee maker that makes delicious coffee and nothing more.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t wake to fresh coffee in the morning. Thanks to the copper element, these coffee machines brew an entire pot in under six minutes.
Still too long? You can always plug your automatic coffee maker into an outlet timer. Then, you’ll wake to the aromatic coffee experience.
Which filters do I need for the Moccamaser?
Most Moccamaster models use a standard #4 coffee filter, but it’s up to you if you like paper or reusable. Check out our review on coffee filters to pick one that’s right for you.
Did you know the Moccamaster CDT Grand is the only model with a flat-bottomed filter basket? Therefore, you’ll need the correct paper filter size: 110-millimeter flat-bottomed filters.
Happy Caffeinating!
