Nostalgia Coffee Maker Review: Retro Vibes for the Modern Kitchen

Nothing goes better with your morning cup of joe than a little taste of nostalgia  – or, in this case, the Nostalgia Retro Coffee Maker. I’ll cover everything you need to know about this old school beauty in my Nostalgia Retro Coffee Maker review, so let’s get to it.

Oh, and if vintage isn’t your style, check out my guide to the best drip coffee makers. I’m pretty sure you’ll find a machine to float your boat in there somewhere!

Nostalgia Coffee Maker Review Overview

What’s better than using eye catching vintage appliances in your kitchen? Using eye catching vintage appliances with all the updated features you’d expect from a modern appliance. That’s exactly what’s happening here with the Nostalgia Retro Coffee Maker.

For $59.99, the biggest draw to this coffee maker is its retro appearance. Available in a variety of stunning colors, there’s no way you’re going to miss this coffee machine if it’s sitting on your countertop.

But aside from its glossy exterior and throwback look, what else does this retro coffee pot have to offer? For one, the backlit LED display screen includes a 24 hour programmable clock and delay timer, so you can schedule your brew ahead of time. Still, the push button control panel means operating this coffee maker is pretty straightforward.

Let’s also not forget about the boil dry protection that automatically shuts off the machine after two hours. That’ll protect your carafe in the long term, but it’s also just plain convenient.

Nostalgia Retro Coffee Maker Features

There are plenty of features to cover with this coffee maker, so keep reading my Nostalgia Coffee Maker review to learn more.

Colors

The retro look of this coffee pot is one of its biggest benefits, and as far as colors go, you’ve got a variety of options:

Bear in mind that some colors are more popular than others, meaning you’ll likely have to pay a little more. Personally, I’m of the opinion that this machine looks great no matter the color!

User Interface

You won’t find LED displays on actual coffee pots from the 1950s, but I won’t complain about the simple user interface on this machine. The LED display doubles as a clock, but if you want to turn the machine on or start brewing, there are a couple of buttons around the screen.

Besides that, you’ll find a few buttons to program the delay timer, but that’s it. As far as drip coffee machines go, operating this one isn’t exactly rocket science. It’s relatively beginner friendly, so if you’re not used to using drip machines, there shouldn’t be much of a learning curve either.

Program Function

I’ve mentioned that program function a few times, but how does it actually work? Some machines only let you brew coffee immediately, but this one allows you to schedule your brew in advance. The clock is programmable up to 24 hours, which is usually more time than most people need.

If you’re someone who has to get up early for work and wants a steaming pot ready by the time you stumble downstairs, now you’ve got the option. You may not always need the delay timer or program function, but when you do, it’s the most convenient thing in the world.

Water Reservoir

No drip coffee maker is complete without its water tank, and that includes the Nostalgia Coffee Maker. The lid flips open easily, and you can use the markings on the side of the water tank to judge how much water you need to put in the tank. As long as you don’t go above the max line, you won’t overfill this machine.

Filter Basket

You won’t escape coffee filters and filter baskets if you use a drip coffee maker, but you can forget about paper filters with this coffee pot. The Nostalgia Coffee Maker includes a reusable filter and filter basket, so you don’t have to rely on disposable paper filters.

That said, if you want a cleaner extraction, you can use #4 paper filters with the Nostalgia.

You can remove the filter basket whenever you need to, and the reusable filter is relatively easy to clean. I’m all for things that make my life easier!

Pause and Serve

As mentioned previously in my Nostalgia Coffee Maker review, this coffee pot makes up to twelve cups. That means plenty of coffee to go around, but it also means a lot of thumb twiddling while the coffee brews. Who has time for that?

Fortunately, with the pause and serve function you won’t have to do any waiting. The pause function allows you to remove the carafe while it’s still brewing and fill up your cup without hot coffee dripping all over the place.

However, allow me to remind you that sneaking a cup mid-brew means you’ll be drinking under extracted coffee. Perhaps waiting a little longer isn’t such a bad idea after all!

Automatic Shut-Off

Boil dry protection is crucial for the long term maintenance of your coffee maker. That’s where the Nostalgia’s automatic shut-off comes in.

The keep warm function keeps your coffee piping hot for two hours, after which the machine automatically shuts off. Not only does this conserve power and save you a little bit of a time, it prevents the carafe from getting damaged.

Glass Carafe

This coffee maker’s glass carafe certainly fits in with the retro theme. Still, if I’m being honest, I always prefer a stainless steel thermal carafe. Glass carafes may be easier to clean, but they’re prone to breaking and don’t retain heat as well.

A glass carafe like this one means the coffee maker will also include a warmer plate, which can sometimes scorch your coffee.

Another thing to note about this glass carafe is its anti drip design. While you may still see the odd drip from time to time, the lid’s design keeps spillage to a minimum.

Warranty

The Nostalgia Programmable Coffee Maker seems pretty sturdy and well made. However, in the unlikely event that you buy a defective machine, the manufacturer will either replace or repair the machine under the terms of its one year warranty.

How to Use

As I mentioned earlier in this Nostalgia Coffee Maker review, using the machine to make great coffee is fairly straightforward. With that in mind, here’s how to do it:

And that’s it! That’s all you need to do on this programmable coffee maker. By the way, I should remind you that using freshly ground coffee beans will yield the best results. 

If you haven’t yet made the switch away from using pre ground coffee, check out my best coffee grinder guide for inspiration. Trust me, using quality coffee beans and a good burr grinder will change your life!

Nostalgia Coffee Maker Review Cleaning

If you want to ensure your Nostalgia Coffee Pot makes great coffee all the time, you don’t want to overlook cleaning this machine  – especially if you’re using it for everyday use.

You should rinse the reusable filter and removable filter basket after every use. I’d also recommend cleaning the glass carafe on a regular basis, using warm water and a little mild detergent. As for the warming plate, use a damp, non abrasive cloth to wipe it down.

You’ll need to descale your programmable coffee maker from time to time, and for that, I’d recommend a citric acid descaler. The frequency with which you’ll need to descale will depend on your water’s hardness. Still, don’t skimp on descaling – it’ll keep your coffee maker in good working order and your tastebuds will thank you!

Nostalgia Coffee Maker Specifications

Nostalgia vs Other Retro Coffee Makers

I wouldn’t be able to finish this Nostalgia Coffee Maker review without first talking about how it compares to other retro coffee machines. So, let’s get into it!

Nostalgia vs SMEG Retro Coffee Maker

If you think the subject of this Nostalgia Coffee Maker review is retro, you should check out the SMEG Retro Coffee Maker. With that said, the SMEG costs $229.95 on Amazon, which is quite the investment.

While this coffee maker only brews 10 cups, it also comes with a couple of more advanced features  to justify its price tag. For starters, you can choose between two aroma intensity settings. What’s more, the SMEG allows you to set your water hardness, which is a really cool function.

Incidentally, it’s worth checking out the awesome SMEG fully automatic coffee machine if you want to take things to the next level!

Check out: SMEG Retro Coffee Maker Review

Nostalgia vs Amaste Retro Coffee Maker

For $52.99, the Amaste Coffee Maker is almost as stunning as the Nostalgia Coffee Maker. This is definitely a smaller coffee maker, so it’s more suitable for making coffee for one or two people.

The Amaste Retro Coffee Maker uses a keep warm feature too, but it only keeps your coffee hot for around thirty minutes. After that, the Amaste automatically shuts off.

Nostalgia vs Other Coffee Makers Comparison Chart

Verdict: Nostalgia Coffee Maker Review

If this Nostalgia Coffee Maker review has proven anything, it’s that you can have all the modern features you want in a cute and compact retro package.

While it doesn’t allow you as much control over the brewing process as some other programmable coffee makers, the Nostalgia still makes great coffee. Plus, you get the convenience of easy programming and a delay timer. I bet they wouldn’t have even dreamed that was possible in the 1950s!

Nostalgia Coffee Maker Review FAQ