Customer Reviews

Breville BKC600XL Gourmet Single-Cup Coffee Brewer

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

Length:: 1:28 Mins

This is a review for the Breville BKC600XL k-cup coffee maker. I didn't know what a k-cup was until just recently so I thought a video review would be helpful. For the record, a K-cup is a mini single serving of ground coffee design by the Keurig company and their special brewers. I believe they were originally meant for commercial use but recently came onto the personal consumer scene (and I'm rather glad).

You may not think it's true but I consider myself a coffee snob. My last two coffee makers were 1500 dollar fully automatic espresso machines but the fear of them breaking down and the cost involved always diluted my true coffee experience. When I saw the makers that were involved in the K-Cup industry, they got my attention. Green Mountain, Caribou, Tully's, Newman's Own and even Celestial Seasonings tea are just a few of the over 150 varieties they offer.

So, here's the Breville in action, I hope it helps you make up your mind (btw, the Breville includes the K-Cup that allows you to put any coffee you desire into it. It works like a charm! I'm also trying this Pod Holster so that I can use less expensive pods in my brewer Perfect Pod Holster Use Any Pod in Your Keurig Coffee Maker I'll let you know how it works!

I hope to list a review of the k-cups that have been outstanding.

I have no trouble admitting that I'm a complete coffee snob. I love the stuff, but it has to be brewed well, and brewed STRONG. I've been devoted to my French Press for years, but because I'm the only one in my house who really drinks coffee, I often end up pouring lots of coffee (and lots of money in the process) down the drain. So, I started investigating single-serve coffee machines.

I had tried a Keurig K-Cup in the industrial machine at my office and I was not terribly impressed, to say the least, so I nearly passed the Breville system by. However, after trying coffees from Nespresso (their pod system is abhorrently expensive, and quite limited in selection), as well as Tassimo and a couple of others, I decided to give this one a try.

The options that the Breville gives really set it apart from the competition. The fact that I can select the size of my cup of coffee (less water + more grounds = better coffee) as well as have the option of using the "My K-Cup" filter (so I'm not beholden to any given type of coffee pod) helped nudge my buying decision along nicely. Once I'd tried a cup, however, I was *completely* sold (there's a high-end kitchen store, whose name rhymes with "Shilliams-Bonoma", at which you can sample cups of coffee from the various machines that they sell, so I tried all of the single-serve machines). I highly recommend going through the exercise of trying coffees from various machines, because everyone's coffee needs/tastes are different.

The coffee produced by the Breville is rich, strong and exactly the way I like it. I have the option of using over 150 different coffees (I have found the ones labeled "extra bold" to be the best and brew them at the 7.5 oz setting) or K-Cups of tea or cocoa, and cleanup couldn't be easier (just open the machine's head and discard the K-Cup; what could be easier than that?!?)

I had a little buyer's remorse after my initial purchase, but with each passing day (I've been using the machine for a little over a month, now), I am happier and happier that I got it. It's an expensive machine, but for me, it was worth every penny. If you're a coffee aficionado and want an easy way to get your cup on each morning (and afternoon, and evening), I couldn't recommend the Breville BKC600XL more highly. Happy brewing!

This machine has it all. Do you want choices? You've got them like crazy with this single cup brewer: coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Choose your own ground coffee or pre-portioned packs from brewers like Gloria Jean's, Celestial Seasonings, Tully's, Green Mountain, or Caribou...to name a few. It's amazing to be able to press a single button for Kona coffee, Masala Chai tea, something flavored like mocha java or vanilla caramel and absolutely nothing to clean afterwards...unless you use your own ground coffee in which case the cleanup is a quick rinse of an individual filter cup.

I've tried nearly every single cup out there and nothing I've tried compares in taste, versatility, durability and options. Speaking of options, I forgot to mention that you can select 4 different sizes of beverage. Naturally the smallest cup will be the most robust since it uses the least water. The size range is between 5.25 oz and 11.25 oz. Oh, and temperature. You select the brewing temperature between 187 - and 192 degrees in single degree increments.

Now I know looks alone shouldn't be a deciding factor but if it were, the Breville would take that category too. When you turn it on, blue lights illuminate the LED screen and the water tank. If your water level gets low, the blue light in the tank will flash--no annoying beeps or alarms. You can add water while it runs or remove the tank to fill and replace when finished. The unit comes with a water filter, 18 sample single portion coffee blends, and a grounds filter cup and scoop which store right inside the machine.

This is a new machine so there weren't any reviews at Amazon yet when I was researching it but I got to play with a demonstrator at Williams Sonoma and was convinced right away. I couldn't be happier with my purchase and everyone who tries it wants one too. Fantastic machine!

I just purchased this machine from Williams Sonoma, and had a few preconceived concerns after reading numerous reviews. I am a coffee snob, in the sense that I enjoy high quality, fresh ground brew made with top quality equipment. I've been brewing regular coffee with a Capresso Coffee Team Therm for some time now, and I've been very happy with it. However, I do find that when I am the only one drinking coffee, I tend to waste too much by pouring what's left down the drain. My main concern with regard to this machine was that it would not make a decent sized cup of robust joe. Many reviewers suggested that the coffee is very weak. I decided to test it with a brand new bag of Wallenford Estate Jamaican Blue Mountain that was brought to me two days ago from the island. I ground enough for the K cup and after priming the machine, used the default cup size. I did use a somewhat finer grind than I do with my Capresso machine so that I could get a little more coffee into the filter basket. I noted that the coffee came out quite dark initially, but as the brewing continued, it looked very watery. However, I was quite pleased to find that the resulting cup tasted great. It was actually a bit stronger than the coffee I get from my drip machine set on medium. So, I can assume that the next size up will be about equal to what I'm used to. Happily, there was no bitterness at all, and the quality of brewed cup was excellent.

With respect to the vibration that many have reported, it did not bother me in the least. I am fairly used to it, as I also own a Pasquini Livia 90 espresso machine, and when the pump on that machine turns on to fill the boiler, it makes a similar noise and vibration. I would put a small rubber coaster on the drip tray plate to keep my cup from rattling, but otherwise find nothing about the noise objectionable.

I could only give the machine 4 stars for now, as I have not used any of the K-cups yet, and have not used the machine long enough to tell if it is worthy of another star. I do own other Breville products and will say that this appears to be built to the same level of quality as the others.

Lastly, I will say for the record that I would only buy kitchen electrics from Williams Sonoma for the simple reason that they warrant ALL of the ones they sell for the life of the machine. So, if in 5 years this coffee maker goes on the blink, I simply get it replaced at no charge. I know they stand behind this warranty, because I did have to replace one of my Capresso machines. Not only did they replace it, they upgraded it to the current model which sells for an additional $100.00 over the one that I returned. I could have saved $60.00 with a 20% coupon from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, but preferred to have the reassurance that I would never have to replace this machine at my expense.

After reading some reviews of the Keurig machines I was afraid the coffee would be too weak for me. It turns out that this machine can make very good and dark coffee. Some brands of k-cups are really too weak and make the coffee taste like water. Just stay away from these.

If you want dark coffee, use the 7.25 oz setting (the default one). 7.25 oz is just about the amount of coffee I expect to drink when I want a cup so that's perfect for me. The coffee it makes also depends on the k-cup you use. I like Green Mountain Dark Magic, Coffee People Black Tiger and Van Houtte Eclipse. Those three K-cups give me coffee as strong as I used to make with my standard coffee maker (and I used to put a lot of coffee in the pot). You need to put a lot of milk/cream to get a pale color out of these k-cups. If you expect stronger coffee than this you need an espresso machine. Another alternative to making strong coffee is using the MyKCup which comes with the machine. Just fill it like crazy with your own coffee.

The tea is also very good. It makes great black and green tea although I find using K-Cups to make tea a bit weird. How hard is it to put a teabag in hot water (which the machine can also dispense)? I guess the advantage is that the tea will never be bitter from over brewing.

The coffee is hot enough (192 degrees F) to make good coffee but not too hot so that you have to wait before drinking. I still would have liked an option to set the temperature higher (something closer to 200 degrees F).

What makes this machine great for me is that it's quick and easy. No more grinding, measuring, adding water, waiting and washing. It's also great when people come over to let them pick their own flavor of K-cup. No more making a second pot of coffee for those who want decaf.

I bought a Keurig brand coffee maker about 4 years ago. Loved it! 5 of my friends bought them! I figure, for the coffee kick my husband was on, it paid for itself in a couple of months. He would either make a whole pot in the evening, drink one cup, then make a fresh pot later on in the evening. OR drive to Dunkin Doughnuts and buy coffee and doughnuts there. Once we didn't have to go thru all that, he could drink fresh coffee all night for a fraction of the time and money. So what this comes down to is, I love k-cups!
Eventually, the old brewer stopped working. After ALOT of research in all price ranges kcups and pods, for the best tasting coffee, I decided to get this Breville. One, because of the water filter; two, because of so many great reviews; and another, because Breville makes great quality products. This brewer is $299, consider that they make $175 TOASTERS! That makes this feel alot less expensive. Plus, Bed Bath and Beyond has all of those 20% off coupons, that saves you $60!
It feels much better quality than the Keurig brand brewers. The tank is much easier to get on and off. The blue tank light flashes when it needs water (I thought that was cute.) Stored in the top of the machine is a superior container for using your own ground coffee (vs. the open mesh cups you get for the other Keurig brewers). Pointless but cute is, the drip tray has a water level indicator to tell you when to empty it. The buttons are easier to understand if you dont know the machine.
We have low cupboards and would have to pull the old brewer way out to put the kcup in because the whole top has to come way up. This one, only the front half has to come up, so we are able to leave it sitting in one place because only 1/2 of it needs to open instead of the whole top.
About my only complaint is that its not smudge free stainless. Its constantly covered in fingerprints. A small price to pay.

My wife and I make coffee all the time, but seldom do we drink an entire pot. We had a Cuisinart Grind and Brew and found that we were wasting coffee most of the time. The single-cup coffee makers have been around for quite some time now, but nothing we have seen compares to the Breville.

This machine uses the K-Cup system, for which coffee, tea and hot chocolate cups are widely available. One K-Cup makes one cup, mug or travel mug size beverage. The nice thing about K-Cups is that there is no cleaning required. Just pop in the K-Cup, brew your beverage, and then throw the K-Cup away. The coffee maker stays clean. The K-Cups are available from many brick and mortar merchants, such as Linen's 'n Things, and Bed, Bath and Beyond. They are also available online at places like Amazon.com. For an idea of the cost, you can purchase 50 coffee K-Cups on Amazon.com for $20, which is 40 cents a cup.

This is a well-made machine that weighs in at about 17 pounds. It is constructed of high quality stainless steel with a die-cast locking arm. The reservoir has a replaceable filter and holds enough water to make about 10 cups. Two blue LEDs illuminate the reservoir so you can always see how much water it contains.

The LCD display is large and backlit in blue with very easy to navigate menus. Controls for selecting your cup size and starting the brew cycle are just below the LCD and are also illuminated in blue. The LCD provides information and instructions, which include telling you when to refill the reservoir, when to open the K-Cup chamber, and when the machine is ready to brew.

The blue illumination is always on when the machine is turned on, and only the clock stays visible in the LCD display when the machine is off.

You can program the machine to come on and brew at a specified time and to turn off at a specified time. While the machine is on, the brew temperature is constantly maintained so you can have a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate on a moment's notice.

It takes only a couple minutes for the water to reach brewing temperature and about 30 seconds to brew an average size cup.

Other options include setting the brewing temperature, but I am perfectly happy with the defaults that came with the machine.

One of the most valuable options of this machine is called
the "My K-Cup" which allows you to use your own coffee or tea instead of the pre-packaged K-Cups. Tucked into the top of the machine under a spring-loaded lid is the "My K-Cup" holder and a coffee scoop. Just dump a scoop of your favorite ground coffee into the machine-washable My K-Cup filter, pop the entire assembly in place of the K-Cup holder, and brew away.

I found that from the very first cup, brewed from either a pre-packaged K-Cup or from my own coffee in the My K-Cup, this machine has brewed as perfect a cup of coffee as I have had from a consumer coffee machine. I use it to brew directly into a travel mug every morning so I can enjoy coffee on my way to work. My wife and I now enjoy coffee more often, and the flavor is always predictable and consistent. We are no longer wasting coffee by making a pot that we do not finish.

I never thought I would spend this much on a coffee maker, but this is definitely a case where you get what you pay for. We hope to have this machine for a very long time.

Have owned this product for close to two months now and am EXTREMELY happy with it. The Breville was a replacement for my Braun Tassimo that my dogs knocked off the counter and broke. I read some of the other reviews and can honestly say I have not encountered any of the problems discussed. The Breville is significantly quieter then my Braun was. Granted, there is about 3 seconds when the water is heating that the glass/mug vibrates on the drip tray, but that problem is alleviated by not putting the cup on the tray for those 3 seconds. Otherwise, this thing is extremely quiet. Also, my braun drip tray had to be emptied every few days....not a big deal, but the Breville tray rarely has any water in it. I do get some splash droplets as the cup fills, but if you wipe it with a rag after the brew is done, it is no big deal. The best thing going for this is the included my K cup which lets me brew any type of coffee I want....I am not limited to a k-cup, t-disc, or pod. This is how I mainly use the machine, filling the my k-cup with coffee grounds. Best way to quickly brew a single cup. Yes, it is an expensive machine, but it is built very well and appears much sturdier then my Braun. I would highly recommend this machine to anyone looking for a single serve coffee machine.

As all the previous reviewers have stated, this is a beautiful machine.

The blue backlit menu screen and water tank (yep, the water tank has a blue light shining through it too) give it a very elegant/raise-the-pinky feeling to it.

However, for those of us who are completely addicted to the Sbucks 14 oz. mongo-mugs, know that even at its travel mug size setting, the Breville will not be able to fill it. You can set the machine to fill again (in other words, fill your cup twice), but if you use the same K-cup (or even your own K-cup), the coffee will be very weak. You'll have to use two separate K-cups, one for each fill run.

If you stay within the range of what the Breville is willing to brew, and lower your morning expectation of a jug-o-joe to a petite 4-8 oz. you'll get a half-way decent cup of coffee.

If you use the pre-packaged K-cups, there will be virtually no post-brew dripping. If you use your own K-cup, there will be some dripping so be ready with a paper towel.

There is a bit of splattering on the machine as well as onto the counter so be ready to wipe that up too.

I wish there was a way for the water to be held in the grounds a tiny bit longer before it drips into your cup so it would be a bit stronger and/or that the K-cups themselves and the portion of the Breville where you park them were a little bigger so the water has more coffee to perk through.

And one final wish on my list...that the temperature could be set higher than 192 degrees. While the first sip from a fresh cup is pretty hot, that initial heat seems to disappear pretty darn fast. Maybe that's why it brews teeny little portions at a time...gives you half a chance to gulp it down before having to brew another cup.

I watched a demonstration of the Breville in a William-Sonoma. In the store it was quiet as a mouse during the heating and brewing. Why does my machine sound like a buzz saw? Maybe they had padding under the machine in the store to reduce the vibration. And using paper cups probably reduced the noise there too.

I probably wouldn't buy this machine again because of the limited brewing amount. I need something quick and easy. Having to run two cycles to get one cup of coffee pretty much cancels out the quick part. If I can't come up with a way to deliver a huge cup of HOT and STRONG coffee to my husband by the end of today, I'm pretty sure he's going to start suggesting we return the Breville for a refund.

This coffee maker is a work of heaven. Makes one cup of coffee at a time which for some is a pain but in this house hold is perfect. My husband is the primary coffee drinker. Allows me to make a single cup without wasting a bunch of coffee grounds and water. You can use your own favourites with the gold foil filter or you can by prepacked K-cups.

Easy to clean.

Looks nice and works well. You can vary temperature setting and cup volume to customize your coffee experience. Comes with a premeasured scoop for reproducible coffee each time.

Easy to fill water reservoir.

Only con is that it is somewhat loud while warming water but it is nothing obscene. Does NOT wake me if my husband uses it before work.

Would recommend to friends and family. Purchased at Bed Bath Beyond with the 20% off coupon. Cheaper than Amazon. Used reviewes from Amazon before making my purchase.