Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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250 of 255 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fanfare for the Coffee Man (or Woman). Note: It Uses the KWF2 Water Filter, January 2, 2006
Update: November 23, 2008:
I regret to report that this coffee maker stopped working today, less than 3 years after I received it. The power light goes on, but the heating element doesn't heat, and the water doesn't flow from the tank. THe warranty is only one year, so no recourse there. While I was very happy with the Braun while it worked, I would expect a fairly simple mechanism to last longer.
I'm not saying everyone's Braun will suddenly stop working at about three years, and I don't know how well other coffee makers fare. However, I do know that most Cuisinarts have a THREE-YEAR warranty at no extra cost. With that timeframe, I could have replaced this for free (or, no more than the the price of shipping.) SInce I gave pretty much a rave review of this product, I wanted all potential buyers to know of my experience with its durability. It may still be worth purchasing, but I can no longer recommment it without reservation.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This Braun coffeemaker brews coffee so consistently hot and very flavorful that, if Aaron Copeland had worked for an advertising agency (shudder), his moving composition, "Fanfare for the Common Man," could have promoted it. Fortunately, he didn't.
OK, that intro was a stretch. So, without further delay, let me sing the praises of this Christmas gift:
A. Temperature. "It's not hot enough!" is perhaps the most common complaint about coffeemakers. We can divide this into two categories: First, the coffee is not hot enough when made, and second, the coffee does not stay hot after it is made.
1. The Braun KF 590 (also known as the KF590E) brews very hot coffee, when initially poured you couldn't take it any hotter unless you had damaged nerve endings in your mouth. As with any hot beverage, the coffee will stay warmer depending on the coffee cup's insulation qualities (thick walls, relatively narrow, perhaps pre-heated with hot water)
2. Temperature Duration. The carafe of my old Krups (Crystal Arome Time, #400 series) seemed to keep things warm for about 20 minutes; this was completely unsatisfactory and the main reason for wanting a new one. My new Braun (thanks Mom and Dad!) kicks Krups' butt in this area, keeping it hot for hours without a burnt flavor. The default setting (until automatic shut-off) is 2 hours of heat, but you can manually adjust it from 20 minutes to 3 hours.
B. Convenience of Operation: The Braun is relatively easy to use, but a limited number of buttons (4) and indicator lights (2) operate the clock, the automatic shut-off described above, and the automatic start-up (setting the time that you want the coffeemaker to begin brewing). It does take a bit of time to learn these programming features; I consulted the brief instructions for a few days before I got the hang of it. Once learned, it not easy to forget. I don't think this should be a factor in deciding whether to purchase this. The Braum brews coffee faster than in the old Krups, and like many machines, this one stops the coffee flow when the impatient (or the addicted) simply must pour a little java before all the water has run through. Noise level is about average, you can hear it brewing, but it's doesn't sputter loudly when done. Another contrast to the Krups is the nicely designed carafe handle and the ease of pouring coffee without spilling it.
C. Features: THE WATER FILTER-It's almost unbelievable that the instructions don't include the replacement model number for the "Braun Brita" water filter. They're not hesitant to tell you that it "improves coffee flavor by significantly reducing chlorine and also prevents calcification ... Provided that the cartridge is replaced regularly every two months, it not only brews better tasting coffee but can also extend the life of your coffeemaker by preventing [this gets redundant] calcification buildup. Braun water filer cartridges are available at your local retailer or Braun service centers."
WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU... Use the following to replace the "Braun Brita" water filter: The KWF2. (web citation: http://www.theessentials.com/jump.jsp?itemID=994&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C8%2C65%2C336&iProductID=994 ). As of this date, this costs $9.99 for a two-pack. At one filter every two months (see below), annual replacement (assuming no shipping) will cost you about $60, or about 75% of the current Amazon.com sale price. Braun and Brita executives must be in their cups about this sweet little arrangement they've brewed.
As stated immediately above, Braun's manual recommends that you buy a new water filter every two months, but the Braun-linked website above tells you to replace it every 70 brews. Depending on your consumption, that could easily take three or four months, not two. Also, running vinegar through the machine twice should dissolve most or all of the calcification, and one can always just buy bottled water.
Big Brother Braun reminds you that it's time to change the water filter with a small but cheesy-looking 12-month "time for a new filter" dial on top. This is a slightly annoying and unattractive feature on an otherwise stylish machine. There's a permanent (but removable) "gold cone" filter, the type of filter that most aficionados prefer for its superior brewing properties. It appears you can buy a replacement filter at Amazon.com, although other than an accidental tear or accumulated stains (which can be removed with baking soda and scrubbing), the filter should last for years. However, it doesn't look gold and it's not clear to me whether there really is a gold coating over the fine steel mesh. One can manually swing out the filter holder, or lightly push a small silver button atop the machine. Very nicely done.
D. Maintenance: Very easy: Wipe off the outside, run vinegar or water through it, and take out the gold cone filter and run water over it. Because part of the holder for the gold cone filter is metallic, it is supposedly not dishwasher safe, the manual recommends wiping it down with a damp cloth with a small amount of dishwashing soap if desired. I didn't see any metal parts except the metallic exterior of the holder; personally, I'm gonna dunk the thing. Since the manual is so incomplete, you may want to copy the "authorized" Braun Service Center number: 1-800/272-8611.
E. Where to Buy Accesories:
1.The KWF2 Water Filter:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000062UH2/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-7519344-0327817?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance&n=284507
2. Gold-Tone Filter
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007W04A2/qid=1137279064/sr=1-12/ref=sr_1_12/103-7519344-0327817?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=284507
F. The Bottom Line: Easily one of the best coffeemaker out there, the Braun KF590 makes delicious hot coffee that stays hot, and it sells at a very reasonable price. I considered the Braun 600 "Impressions" machine because of its thermos-like carafe, but feature is a double-edged sword, you can't see how much coffee is left. Aside from the small but ridiculous water changer dial on top, the chrome and black Braun 590 looks good and is moderately sized for its capacity. Look at the reviews of the other coffeemakers and you may agree that this is the best one for the money. I will be updating this review in a few months to let people know about the Braun's durability.
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99 of 100 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very pleased with the coffee. You don't have to use the filter., January 31, 2006
I decided to purchase a Braun coffeemaker after reading how Consumer Reports had rated the Aromaster KF400 their top choice. I would have chosen the KF400, but am one of those people who use the timer function on the coffeemaker so that fresh coffee is brewed just before I wake up in the morning. After some debate I decided on the KF590 and I have not been disappointed.
In the box you receive a coffeemaker, a gold-tone filter and Brita water filter.
I think that the coffeemaker makes a good cup of coffee. Not as good the French press I use when I have the time, but definitely good for a drip machine. Maybe it is the effect of gold-tone filter versus paper filters, but I taste much more distinct flavors in my coffee than my old machine. Overall I am very pleased with the coffee.
The KF590 is part of the Impressions line which won the Reddot design award in 2004 and it does look slick. However, some of the design looks better than it functions. For example, the lid of the carafe is plastic and it feels cheap and rattles about. The lid does not open all the way and so must be removed each time you clean the carafe. However, the lid snaps into place easily which is good.
To open the compartment for the grounds, you press a button on the top of the coffeemaker. The compartment swings open which is pretty slick until it gets stuck. I have found that it opens as it should only 15% of the time. However, when it gets stuck all it takes is a little pull and it swings open. Not a big deal, but could have been done better. However, one nice touch is that the compartment easily comes off for cleaning and is easy to put back on which is really nice for cleaning.
The coffeemaker uses a Brita water filter. However, since I already have filtered water, I was curious to see if it would work without a filter since I don't need to filter my water twice. The coffeemaker works fine without the filter which is good if you already have filtered water or you don't want to spend the $30 a year.
In summary, a good choice for good tasting drip coffee. There are some quirks, but nothing that will effect your use of the machine or your enjoyment of the coffee.
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49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An impressive little machine, January 11, 2006
This review is the result of my search for a decent full-featured 12-cup coffemaker, which seems to be an increasingly difficult task these days. The search began in August 05. We looked at the Cuisinart Retro-designed stainless model and after sifting through the reviews and examining the store sample, it wasn't for us. It had a dumb water gauge, a narrow fill area, and a single lid over the coffe and water compartments, which in my opinion, could lead to grinds getting into the innards of the machine. Further, despite its cool stainless retro-industrial look, the bulky black base it sat on was butt-ugly.
So, we selected the nice-looking Krups FME-4. It had a great feature set and a great reputation-after all, our six year old Krups Aroma Pro was still making decent coffee. Well, the FME 4 turned out to be a complete disaster. After returning three to the store because of peeling hotplates, I started sending them back to Krups. In my stubborness to get one that worked properly, over three months, I sent five of them back to the factory for replacement. Too bad, all of them were junk.
Remembering the little plain Braun 10-cupper that we had years ago, it seemed like a good coffemaker with but one detraction, the on-off button was on the lower front of the unit and could easily be inadvertently turned on with no water in it if an item on the countertop nudged the switch. Over time, it was an annoyance, so we bought the Krups Aroma Pro with the switch up high.
So, with the failure of the new Krups products, we went back to a Braun and resigned ourselves to a ten cup machine.
My impression of the KF590 is that it makes VERY hot coffee,about 180 degrees, after brewing three cups. It is hot enough to pour into a cold cup and still be hot afterward. I'd say it's a plus. With other machines we'd always preheat our cups with hot tap water. And the KF590's warmer keeps it pretty hot as well.
The machine brews quickly and quietly UNTIL is gets to the end of the cycle, when it spits, pops, and steams louder and longer than any machine we've had. I could hear it in the kitchen from our second-floor bedroom in the early morning quiet. The steam leaves a lot of condensation on the black plastic lid, but it evaporates without wiping.
The unit is very compact, and has a great carafe. The heavy basket is nice, but since it doesn't separate from the stainless steel shell, I don't think we'll be popping it into the dishwasher.
The timer is simple and easy to operate. The programmable auto shutoff is great. You won't need to dig through drawers for The manual. Brief instructions are inside the fill lid.
Like most Euro coffemakers, it uses #4 cone filters and makes a very good cup of coffee. It lacks a 2-3 cup setting, but I don't think it makes much difference. A gold permanent filter is included. We don't use ours except if we run out of filters. Even then, a skillfully folded paper towel will also work.
Overall, it's a well thought out design, but it could be quieter at the finish and also less steamy. I'd have to say it's a keeper, and is the best black and stainless programmable machine we've seen.
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