It's been a few years since I conducted my initial Technivorm Moccamaster review. Back then, pour-over aficionados wouldn't have dreamed of lowering their standards by using an automatic coffee maker. Unless it was the Technivorm Moccamaster, that is.
It’s been a few years since I conducted my initial Technivorm Moccamaster review. Back then, pour-over aficionados wouldn’t have dreamed of lowering their standards by using an automatic coffee maker. Unless it was the Technivorm Moccamaster, that is.
In recent times, the coffee maker scene has changed in a big way. Seriously, there are several machines in my drip coffee maker guide that have blown me away with their quality and precision. Rather than being pretenders to the Moccamaster throne, these babies are serious contenders for the title of “best drip coffee maker.”
With that in mind, I’ve decided to update my Technivorm Moccamaster review. I know that I still absolutely love the thing – that will never change. However, can the Moccamaster compete with the new crop of SCA-certified drip coffee makers? Let’s find out!
Best coffee maker
Moccamaster KBGV Select
The Best, Most Ingenious Coffee Maker
Makes superb coffee
5-Year-Warranty
High-quality materials and design
Easy to clean
Readily Available Replacement Parts
Fixed Water Tank
Technivorm Moccamaster Review Overview
You’ve got to hand it to Technivorm. The Dutch manufacturer released its signature coffee maker all the way back in 1968, and has barely felt the need to change things since. What’s more, to say these guys were ahead of their time is the understatement of the century.
Right from the get go, Technivorm encouraged its customers to use fresh, high-quality coffee beans in their Moccamasters. Meanwhile, other manufacturers couldn’t care less that most folks were dumping mass-market rubbish from a can into their filters.
Fast forward, and dozens of brands have released coffee makers based on the Moccamaster’s iconic retro-cool design. Plus, more and more consumers are discovering the joys of drinking high-quality, sustainably produced coffee. The end result? Manufacturers are falling over themselves to improve their drip coffee makers.
Of course, all this hasn’t phased our Dutch friends one bit; Technivorm just keeps on truckin’. Sure, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select offers thoughtful upgrades, but it’s almost identical to the original. Each Moccamaster is still handmade in The Netherlands using high-quality materials, and the attention to detail is quite staggering.
With all that said, the Technivorm Moccamaster has always been expensive. I mean, you’ll have to shell out $351.60, which is a lot for a seemingly bare-bones coffee maker. However, the Moccamaster’s performance and build quality more than justify that investment.
Take my trusty yellow Moccamaster, for example. Before I bought the KBGV Select for this review, Old Yeller had served me well for years. In fact, it’s still outperforming most of the other machines in my kitchen – pumping out mind-blowingly delicious coffee time after time.
Moccamaster Models
As I just mentioned, I’ll be focusing on the Moccamaster KBGV Select in today’s review. However, Technivorm produces a few other models that are worth mentioning:
Moccamaster KBG – brews a full carafe and has an adjustable hotplate switch.
Moccamaster KB – manual-adjust stop on the brew basket allows you to control brewing speed.
Moccamaster KBGT – comes with a stainless steel thermal carafe.
Moccamaster KBTS – smaller capacity brewer with thermal carafe and adjustable brewing speed.
Moccamaster Cup-One – awesome little single serve brewer.
Regular Coffeeness readers might be surprised that I didn’t go for a thermal carafe model. After all, I’m always going on about how much I hate hotplates on coffee makers. Still, there’s just something about that classic design that I couldn’t resist.
Oh, and earlier I made it seem like Technivorm doesn’t pay attention to what’s happening in the coffee world. Still, I’d say these guys actually know what’s up. I mean, they’ve obviously cottoned on to the fact that there’s a huge demand for single-serve machines these days. And if the Cup-One steers a few folks away from coffee capsules, I’d call it a win.
Technivorm Moccamaster Features
Looking at the Technivorm Moccamaster, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s just a simple, no-frills coffee maker. Sure, it’s got a pretty cool-looking design, but there aren’t any bells or whistles to speak of.
In a way you’d be right. I mean, at a nuts and bolts level, this is just a coffee maker that heats water and then releases it via an outlet over coffee grounds in a filter. The resulting brew trickles through the filter into a glass carafe. Which is no different from a Melitta or Mr. Coffee machine.
So, what makes the Technivorm Moccamaster so special? Well, the devil is in the details. Let’s continue my Technivorm Moccamaster review by checking out the machine’s many awesome features.
SCA-Certified Home Brewer
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select is one of a small number of machines that have been Golden Cup-certified by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). I won’t go on and on about what the Moccamaster had to go through to earn the “Exemplary Home Brewer” title.
Suffice to say this machine meets all the requirements for water temperature, brewing time, total dissolved solids and more. The long and the short of it is that the Technivorm Moccamaster is capable of producing coffee that’s about as good as it gets.
Oh, and it’s been given the seal of approval by the European Coffee Brewing Centre (ECBC) too. That’s what I call a double whammy!
Size and Design
These days it isn’t unusual to see high-end coffee makers with exposed brewing baskets and carafes sitting alongside the heating element rather than below it. Still, let’s not forget that Technivorm invented this type of design. Not only that, the Dutch company perfected it decades ago. Anyway, for as many Moccamaster ripoffs as there may be, the original is still distinctive and instantly recognizable.
Incidentally, the Moccamaster’s design isn’t just for show; the extended spray arm extending over the brew basket aids in ensuring a soft and even extraction. With all that said, the Moccamaster isn’t the most compact coffee maker on the market. Let’s just say you’ll need plenty of counter space to make a home for your machine.
Overall, the Moccamaster’s open design makes it very easy to keep clean. Plus, all that solid stainless steel housing makes the machine feel pretty bombproof. My only complaint is that the water tank is made of plastic. Still, you can’t win ’em all!
Colors
The Technivorm Moccamaster is available in an astonishing range of colors – way too many to list here. Suffice to say that if you’re looking for a coffee maker that’ll complement your pistachio or turquoise kitchen color scheme, Technivorm has you covered.
As you’d expect, some colors mean you’ll pay a little more or less; I guess that comes down to how popular they are. As for me, I’ll always love the Yellow Pepper Moccamaster the most!
Filter Basket
If the Technivorm Moccamaster filter basket looks kind of like a pour-over dripper, that’s because it essentially is. The whole thing is removable, although I feel like the flimsy plastic construction is rather disappointing. You’ll get the best results using Moccamaster Coffee Filters, although any #4 cone filter should work just fine.
Although I don’t usually see the point of a dripstop feature, it’s quite handy to have here. If you remove the glass carafe during the brewing cycle, a valve on the bottom of the basket will prevent coffee from continuing to drip. Seeing as there’s no automatic pre-infusion function, you can allow the ground coffee to bloom by removing the carafe. Once you’ve put it back, the brew cycle will continue.
If you’re a total coffee nerd, you should know that a Hario V60 or Kalita Wave fits surprisingly well onto the Moccamaster KBGV Select. So, feel free to geek out and compare results from different drippers!
Glass Carafe
To be honest, the glass carafe that comes with the Moccamaster KBGV Select is nothing to write home about. In fact, I find the plastic handle to be a little flimsy. Still, I do really appreciate the stirring funnel, which ensures brewed coffee is consistent from top to bottom.
Water Reservoir
The Moccamaster’s 40-ounce (1.2 liter) water tank sits proudly above the heating element. As I mentioned earlier, the water tank is made of plastic and can’t be removed. While that might be a turnoff for some people, the removable lid means it’s super easy to fill the tank. Still, you’ll need plenty of headroom, so overhead cabinets could get in the way.
One thing I love is that you can watch the water passing through the glass supply line as your coffee is brewing. Trust me when I tell you this can be a relaxing way to start your day!
Independent Hotplate
As you probably know, a coffee maker’s keep-warm function usually means just one thing – stewed coffee. As your brew sits on a hotplate, it slowly cooks, becoming bitter and astringent in the process. With that said, I know that many people like to drink a pot of hot coffee over the course of a morning, so hotplates aren’t going out of style.
Fortunately, the Technivorm Moccamaster adjusts its hotplate holding temperature between 175-185 degrees Fahrenheit (79-85 degrees Celsius), depending on how much coffee you’ve brewed. Plus, it automatically shuts off after 100 minutes.
Spray Arm
The high quality of coffee you’ll get from the Moccamaster is due, in large part, to the machine’s fantastic shower head. There are nine holes here, which means that the bed of ground coffee is evenly saturated.
Plus, the extended spray arm doesn’t shoot out water at lightning speed. Instead, water rains down gently in a pulsing motion, mimicking your gentle pour-over technique.
Brewing Time
Probably the most important part of what makes the Technivorm Moccamaster such an effective brewer is its powerful copper heating element. As I mentioned earlier, demonstrably consistent temperature and brewing times are key to achieving SCA-certification.
And that’s where the Moccamaster shines. The copper heating element works quickly to bring water to between 196-205 degrees Fahrenheit (91-96 degrees Celsius), and maintains temperature throughout brewing. Oh, and the Moccamaster is fast – it’ll brew a 40-ounce carafe in around six minutes.
By the way, loads of people complained that older models struggled with brewing time consistency, especially for smaller volumes. It’s a common issue with all coffee makers; fewer grounds in the filter means there’s less resistance, resulting in a sub-optimal extraction.
The KBGV Select model offers you the option of adjusting the Technivorm Moccamaster to brew six cups rather than the usual 10. With this setting, the water is dispersed more slowly and in a controlled manner to compensate for the reduction in resistance from the coffee grounds. Problem solved!
Warranty
Technivorm makes a big deal of the fact that its coffee makers come with a five-year warranty. And so they should – that’s just evidence that these guys really believe in their products. Anyway, excluding the carafe and removable parts, your Moccamaster is guaranteed to be free of manufacturer defects for five trips around the sun.
On top of that, Technivorm has always strived to make spare parts available and affordable. These days, that really means a lot. So, if you drop the carafe, accidentally snap the spray arm or your dog eats the brew basket, all is not lost!
How to Use the Technivorm Moccamaster
Scoop grounds, switch the machine on and you’ve practically got coffee in your cup. Standard procedure, right? Well, kinda. If you’re treating yourself to a $300-plus coffee maker, maybe a bit more care with the preparation and ingredients is in order.
Don’t panic, it only feels like work at the beginning. In a couple of days, it’ll be second nature:
Use cold water — either filtered or fresh and frothy from the tap. And don’t decant into the reservoir using the carafe. Residual oils from previous brews not only mess with the flavor but can also build up inside the machine.
Get hold of some quality coffee beans from a small, independent roaster. Oh, and grind ’em fresh every time. I’d recommend a medium-coarse grind size.
Stick to a dose of about 7 grams of coffee for every 3 ounces (89 milliliters) of water. A coffee scale will come in handy here.
Use high-purity paper filters or a permanent one made from a neutral material. Moccamaster Coffee Filters work well and come in a variety of sizes. Alternatively, a permanent filter from a company like Cilio is a good option.
Now we’ve got that out of the way, brewing coffee with the Moccamaster is a piece of cake. Simply fill the water reservoir according to how much coffee you’ll be making, then add your carefully weighed ground coffee to the filter.
Once that’s done, select either the full or half carafe option and press the power switch. Once your coffee is ready, the Moccamaster will take care of maintaining the correct hotplate temperature.
Tips for Getting the Best From the Moccamaster
As I mentioned earlier in this Technivorm Moccamaster review, I’ve spent many years using mine. With that in mind, I can give you a few pointers to help you achieve consistent and delicious results.
Before firing up the Technivorm Moccamaster, take out the filter basket and moisten it with water. You’ll want to wash away any lint to ensure your extraction is nice and even.
Before pouring the coffee into your cup, give the brew a quick swirl inside the glass carafe. That way, you distribute the oils to give your java a more uniform body. The funnel that extends down from the lid into the pot mostly does this for you. Which is why other manufacturers like Philips have copycat versions on their top-of-the-range coffee makers.
As for which grinder pairs best with the Moccamaster, there are plenty of great options in my burr coffee grinder guide 2024. With that said, you can’t go wrong with either the Fellow Ode or the Baratza Encore for drip coffee.
Oh, and don’t think for a second that you can get away without using freshly ground coffee in the Moccamaster. I mean, if you’re spending this much on a drip machine, you want to do things right!
Technivorm Moccamaster Cleaning
Same old story here: Every coffee machine, whether it’s cheap or expensive, needs regular cleaning and descaling. Sorry, not sorry!
Each new layer of scale or coffee residues is one step closer to clogs and blockages. Long before it gets to that, your brewing time and temperature are affected. And those are precisely the make-or-break factors in a machine.
Technivorm recommends descaling once every three months, or about 100 brews. Since no one actually keeps count or saves the date in their calendar, you’ll need to keep a close eye on your machine. Or, better yet, descale each time you buy a new 100-count box of coffee filters.
In fact, my experience living in big cities suggests that limescale will cause your machine to start acting up far sooner than manufacturers indicate. Still, don’t panic; descaling and cleaning are really no biggie. In fact, you don’t even need to study the user manual.
To ensure that your machine lasts for years to come, it’s vital that you buy an extra jug to fill the water reservoir. The carafe is only for coffee! While I can’t promise you’ll do less cleaning, it will improve the taste of your morning cup of joe.
Simply rinse the filter basket and lid under running water. The carafe will need a bit of buffing to get rid of watermarks.
Household products, such as citric acid, work like a charm on limescale. As long as you don’t make the solution too strong, there’s no need to overcomplicate the cleaning process.
Just fill the water tank, add a spoonful of citric acid powder and switch on the machine as usual — minus the coffee, of course. You can repeat the process a number of times if necessary. Do a final run with just water, and the job’s done. See, I told you it was as easy as pie!
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select Specifications
| Moccamaster KBGV Select | |
| Manufacturer | Technivorm Moccamaster |
|---|---|
| Model number | KGBV Select |
| Product category | Drip coffee maker |
| Housing material | Stainless steel with plastic parts |
| Color options | Anthracite, Beetroot, Black, Brushed Brass, Butter Yellow, Candy Apple Red, Juniper, Matte Black, Matte Silver, Merlot Red, Midnight Blue, Off-White, Orange, Pink, Pistachio, Polished Silver, Red, Rose Gold, Slate, Stone Grey, Turquoise, Yellow Pepper |
| Carafe | Borosilicate glass |
| Keep warm function | Yes (adjustable) |
| Milk frother | |
| User interface | Buttons and dials |
| App | |
| Removable water reservoir | |
| Water reservoir capacity | 44.0 fl oz / 1.3 l |
| Brew capacity | 42 fl oz / 1242 ml |
| Single cup function | |
| Reusable coffee filter | |
| Coffee pod compatible | |
| Brew styles | 1 |
| Pre-infusion | |
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |
| Coffee strength adjustment levels | |
| Hot water function | |
| Water filter | |
| Power consumption | 1475 W |
| Weight | 6.0 lb / 2.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 14.0 x 12.8 x 6.5 in |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| SCA certified home brewer | |
| Notes | Included Accessories: User manual |
| Current price on Amazon | $351.60 |
| All specifications | |
Moccamaster vs Other Drip Coffee Makers
As I pointed out at the start of this Technivorm Moccamster review, our Dutch friend has some stiff competition these days. So, let’s see how the Moccamaster stands up in comparison to a couple of my current faves.
Technivorm Moccamaster vs Bonavita Connoisseur
Costing $351.60, the Bonavita Connoisseur is much more affordable than the Moccamaster. However, that’s still a chunk of change to drop on a drip machine.
Fortunately, the highly popular Bonavita Connoisseur has plenty to justify the investment. For starters this is an SCA-certified brewer that can deliver exceptional cup results. What’s more, there’s an optional pre-infusion function built in.
While not as visually appealing as the Moccamaster, this compact machine features stainless steel construction and a thermal carafe. Overall, the Bonavita is worth considering if space is tight in your kitchen.
See Also: Bonavita 8 Cup Coffee Maker Review 2024
Technivorm Moccamaster vs Ratio Six
There’s only one coffee maker that’s come close to luring me away from the Moccamaster, and that’s the Ratio Six.
Costing $339.00, the Ratio Six is in the same ballpark as the Technivorm, pricewise. The Ratio Six also features incredible attention to detail, including borosilicate glass supply lines and a stainless steel shower head.
Like the Moccamaster coffee maker, the Ratio Six is Golden Cup-certified by the SCA. During my testing, the Ratio fully lived up to all the hype – this thing performs to the highest level and produces astonishing coffee. Not only that, the Ratio Six is easy to use and looks amazing. Can you tell I love it?
See Also: Ratio Six Hands-On Review 2024
Technivorm Moccamaster vs Others Comparison Chart
| Moccamaster KBGV Select | Bonavita 8 Cup Coffee Maker | Ratio Six Coffee Maker | |
| Manufacturer | Technivorm Moccamaster | Bonavita | Ratio |
| Model number | KGBV Select | BV1901TS | Six |
| Product category | Drip coffee maker | Drip coffee maker | Drip coffee maker |
| Housing material | Stainless steel with plastic parts | Stainless steel with plastic parts | Stainless steel with plastic parts |
| Color options | Anthracite, Beetroot, Black, Brushed Brass, Butter Yellow, Candy Apple Red, Juniper, Matte Black, Matte Silver, Merlot Red, Midnight Blue, Off-White, Orange, Pink, Pistachio, Polished Silver, Red, Rose Gold, Slate, Stone Grey, Turquoise, Yellow Pepper | Black/Silver | Stainless Steel, White |
| Carafe | Borosilicate glass | Thermal | Thermal |
| Keep warm function | Yes (adjustable) | No | No |
| Milk frother | |||
| User interface | Buttons and dials | Buttons and dials | Buttons and dials |
| App | |||
| Removable water reservoir | |||
| Water reservoir capacity | 44.0 fl oz / 1.3 l | 40.6 fl oz / 1.2 l | 44.0 fl oz / 1.3 l |
| Brew capacity | 42 fl oz / 1242 ml | 40 fl oz / 1183 ml | 40 fl oz / 1183 ml |
| Single cup function | |||
| Reusable coffee filter | |||
| Coffee pod compatible | |||
| Brew styles | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pre-infusion | |||
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |||
| Coffee strength adjustment levels | |||
| Hot water function | |||
| Water filter | |||
| Power consumption | 1475 W | 1500 W | 1400 W |
| Weight | 6.0 lb / 2.7 kg | 6.1 lb / 2.8 kg | 8.0 lb / 3.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 14.0 x 12.8 x 6.5 in | 12.2 x 12.4 x 6.8 in | 14.3 x 6.8 x 13.5 in |
| Warranty | 5 years | 1 year | 5 years |
| SCA certified home brewer | |||
| Notes | Included Accessories: User manual | Included Accessories: Descaling powder, Instruction manual, Paper filters. | Included Accessories: Removable power cord, User guide, Catcher for filter basket, Heat shield/lid for filter basket, Ratio microfiber towel, 4 paper filters. |
| Current price on Amazon | $351.60 | $189.95 | $339.00 |
| Moccamaster KBGV Select | Bonavita 8 Cup Coffee Maker | Ratio Six Coffee Maker | |
| Manufacturer | Technivorm Moccamaster | Bonavita | Ratio |
| Model number | KGBV Select | BV1901TS | Six |
| Product category | Drip coffee maker | Drip coffee maker | Drip coffee maker |
| Housing material | Stainless steel with plastic parts | Stainless steel with plastic parts | Stainless steel with plastic parts |
| Color options | Anthracite, Beetroot, Black, Brushed Brass, Butter Yellow, Candy Apple Red, Juniper, Matte Black, Matte Silver, Merlot Red, Midnight Blue, Off-White, Orange, Pink, Pistachio, Polished Silver, Red, Rose Gold, Slate, Stone Grey, Turquoise, Yellow Pepper | Black/Silver | Stainless Steel, White |
| Carafe | Borosilicate glass | Thermal | Thermal |
| Keep warm function | Yes (adjustable) | No | No |
| Milk frother | |||
| User interface | Buttons and dials | Buttons and dials | Buttons and dials |
| App | |||
| Removable water reservoir | |||
| Water reservoir capacity | 44.0 fl oz / 1.3 l | 40.6 fl oz / 1.2 l | 44.0 fl oz / 1.3 l |
| Brew capacity | 42 fl oz / 1242 ml | 40 fl oz / 1183 ml | 40 fl oz / 1183 ml |
| Single cup function | |||
| Reusable coffee filter | |||
| Coffee pod compatible | |||
| Brew styles | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pre-infusion | |||
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |||
| Coffee strength adjustment levels | |||
| Hot water function | |||
| Water filter | |||
| Power consumption | 1475 W | 1500 W | 1400 W |
| Weight | 6.0 lb / 2.7 kg | 6.1 lb / 2.8 kg | 8.0 lb / 3.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 14.0 x 12.8 x 6.5 in | 12.2 x 12.4 x 6.8 in | 14.3 x 6.8 x 13.5 in |
| Warranty | 5 years | 1 year | 5 years |
| SCA certified home brewer | |||
| Notes | Included Accessories: User manual | Included Accessories: Descaling powder, Instruction manual, Paper filters. | Included Accessories: Removable power cord, User guide, Catcher for filter basket, Heat shield/lid for filter basket, Ratio microfiber towel, 4 paper filters. |
| Current price on Amazon | $351.60 | $189.95 | $339.00 |
Verdict: Technivorm Moccamaster Review
Best coffee maker
Moccamaster KBGV Select
The Best, Most Ingenious Coffee Maker
Makes superb coffee
5-Year-Warranty
High-quality materials and design
Easy to clean
Readily Available Replacement Parts
Fixed Water Tank
There’s no shortage of newer drip coffee makers that have adopted the Moccamaster philosophy and produce coffee of similar quality. Plus, lots of them will set you back a lot less cash.
At the same time, something like the Breville Precision Brewer costs virtually the same as the Technivorm. And it’s even better suited to brewing up giant batches.
Still, at the end of the day, none of the other players in the drip-coffee scene can hold a candle to the ‘Master, because it’s virtually indestructible and so ingeniously conceived.
So, the majority of alternatives look like pale imitations. And considering the long years of day in, day out service you’ll get out of this drip coffee maker, the price starts to look pretty fair.
What you’re really paying for here is high-quality, hand crafted construction, and a product that has been thought through from every angle.
Which is exactly why I still give it ten out of ten. Even if many of you get cold feet at the thought of paying that much for a coffee maker!
Would you spend over $300 for your daily dose of drip coffee? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section!
Technivorm Moccamaster Review FAQ
Each Moccamaster is made by hand in The Netherlands to exactingly high standards. Plus, thanks to its SCA certification, the Moccamaster is capable of producing exceptional coffee.
It’s really a case of getting what you pay for. Seeing as each Moccamaster is still made by hand in The Netherlands, it’s going to last for decades.
If you’re willing to invest in a coffee maker that’ll make high-quality coffee and will last you for years, the Moccamaster KBGV is very much worth it.
Thanks to the attention to detail involved in its design, the Moccamaster really does make exceptional coffee.
