Braun KF400 Aromaster 10-Cup Coffeemaker

by Braun

Product Features

• Water-dispersal system provides fast, uniform saturation of coffee, full flavor
• Plastic carafe's lid seals to minimize evaporation
• Pour a cup midbrew with convenient brew-pause feature
• Swing-out filter basket; flip-top water-tank lid
• Measures 12 by 6 by 11 inches; 1-year warranty

Product Details

Product Manual [200kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 12.5 x 10.7 x 6.6 inches ; 3.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005IX9U
• Item model number: KF400-BK
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (169 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,730 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Thanks to a system that quickly saturates ground coffee and a sealed carafe that minimizes evaporation, this 10-cup coffeemaker delivers full-flavored coffee that doesn't turn bitter while it's on the warming plate. The water-dispersal system ensures rapid, uniform saturation, and the plastic carafe has a spout that automatically opens for pouring and then shuts tightly, combining with the sealed lid to prevent evaporation. Other features include a coffee-flow shutoff if the carafe is removed for a quick pour during the brewing cycle; a swing-out filter basket that can be removed for cleaning; a flip-top lid on the water tank; and cord storage in the rear. This model comes clad in bright black plastic and carries a one-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack

Product Description

This 10-cup coffeemaker has a specially designed carafe to seal in all that heavenly aroma and flavor. The pause and serve feature allows you to grab a first cup without waiting for the whole pot to brew. A sensible and affordable choice for those who don't need all the bells and whistles.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

169 of 174 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great coffee,but has it's quirks!, August 5, 2004

By 

snakeman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Braun KF400-BLK Aromaster 10-Cup Coffeemaker, Black (Kitchen)

I,ve seen the other reviews for this machine and I think several issues with it have not been brought up,so here's my 2 cents.I'm no stranger to these;I've had 2 of them over the last 15 yrs.

First and foremost,this machine makes a great cup of joe!And for the money,that alone should make it worth considering.However,to live happily ever after with it,you should be aware of some design issues:

1.The little hinges on the carafe that hold the lid on are very fragile.Be careful when snapping the lid on that you do not put too much pressure on the hinge tabs furthest from the rim;a new carafe costs as much as the coffeemaker!

2.The dripstop mechanism is a pivoting rubber ball on a rod which,like the hinges,is prone to break if removed too often for cleaning.It is held in position by a bent spring which comes loose very easily if you're not careful when cleaning.

3.The above mentioned mechanism creates many nook and crannies under the filter basket that enable food crumbs from the dishwasher to get stuck in.Either rinse the bottom out by hand or tap the filter basket rightside up on your countertop to get any food particles out after it comes out of the dishwasher.

4.Be aware that the hot plate on this machine does not shut off afer a predetermined time.

Finally,don't think that I don't like this machine!After years of experience with them,I've learned to live with it's quirks.I also have a Krups that has none of these oddities,yet does not make as good a cup of coffee!

137 of 142 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, March 11, 2005

By 

philo_vance (NY, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Braun KF400-BLK Aromaster 10-Cup Coffeemaker, Black (Kitchen)

Do you like coffee? If so, then this is your coffeemaker. Prior to the Braun, I had the vaunted Kitchenaid 4-cup machine. The KF400 makes a superior cup using the same beans, grinder and water and fits in the *same* counter space as the smaller-capacity Kitchenaid. And the coffee tastes better.

A number of reviews here criticize the Braun for being fragile. If you are Godzilla and rip the lid off the carafe then, yes, you will break the tabs that hold it there. But forewarned by this review, you can take an extra half second and remove and replace the lid carefully. If you don't seat the swing-out basket correctly in the machine then, yes, you won't be able to close it properly. And if you are King Kong and jam it closed anyway then, yes, you will break it and the coffee will leak out. But since you've read this review, you will know to take an extra two seconds when you replace the basket to make sure that it is positioned correctly and then everything will work fine.

And dribbling carafes. That might be my favorite. Read the reviews for *any* coffeemaker on this site and you will see complaints about dribbling carafes. Solution: pour over the sink. Your machine is probably located within 2 feet of the sink. Hold your cup in one hand, the carafe in the other, hold both over the sink, and who cares about dribbles. Not exactly rocket science. The fact is that this one dribbles far less than others I have used.

One negative that I see here that I agree with concerns the freshly-brewed coffee not being as hot as it could be. I think the Braun brews at the correct temperature, otherwise the coffee would not taste as good as it does. But I think the coffee then loses heat when it hits the carafe, which has not yet had time to be warmed by the hotplate. I have found, however, that if you warm the carafe before brewing, by filling it with hot water while you put your grounds in the basket and your water in the reservoir, you can overcome this possible shortcoming. This is similar to what you would do with a thermal carafe.

When you make your list of priorities for a new coffeemaker, is a delicious cup of coffee number 1? And saving a few bucks number 2? If so, buy the KF400. If, instead, it is more important to you that your machine be ruggedized like combat gear, dribble-proofed, idiot-proofed, quiet as a mouse and hot enough for a lawsuit, look elsewhere. But get your wallet ready.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good no-frills coffee maker is an excellent value, February 21, 2004

By 

Stephen Holland (Naperville, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Braun KF400-WH Aromaster 10-Cup Coffeemaker, White (Kitchen)

The Braun Aromaster KF 400 is a well built coffee maker that makes good coffee. While I described it as no frills, it does have a valve under the filter holder that stops coffee from coming out if the carafe is removed in mid brew. The front mounted power switch works very easily with a smooth click action and the on light is easy to see. The filter holder is easy to remove and replace for an occasional rinsing. The measuring marks are easy to read when pouring in water. The coffee tastes good no matter how much is made. I had one coffee maker where the coffee tasted stronger when larger batches of coffee were made even though I used the same ratio of coffee to water. That problem does not affect this unit. I find an eighth cup of ground coffee makes 3 servings of coffee.

I use this unit constantly at the office. It looks like new after 6 months of use. I have the white one. No fingerprints or stains. It gets wiped with a paper towel once in a while.

The overall fit and finish is excellent. On my unit the plastic handle had an aberrant piece that kept the lid from snapping on correctly. A little trimming with a utility knife was needed.

The unit is sized for standard #4 filters. I use Melitta brand filters. Some Braun coffee makers have a replaceable water filter cartridge built in. This model does NOT have that feature.

This is an easy to use, inexpensive, well made coffee maker with an attractive design that makes good tasting coffee.

Recommended.

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