Customer Reviews

KitchenAid KCM515OB 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker (Onyx Black)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I received this coffeemaker as a Christmas gift and was initially skeptical of the thermal carafe being able to make hot coffee and the basket-style filter. After using the maker for a week, I have to say my skepticism was unjustified. This machine makes great-tasting coffee that is as hot as I could want it. I never liked the "cooked" coffee that regular, glass-carafe makers produced - burned tasting after the first cup. The coffee from this machine is consistent from the first cup to the last. I fill the carafe with hot water, mill my beans and fill the reservoir, empty the carafe and enjoy. After two hours, the coffee was still hot. One great feature not highlighted is the front-fill aspect: Kitchenaid designed the top with a channel to fill the reservoir by pouring the water from the front, right next to the filter. No more struggling to pour water in the back and see the water level. Extremely convenient.

I have to disagree with the previous reviewer - this machine makes ten 5-ounce cups. After reading the review, I double-checked the carafe capacity against my old Krups machine: exactly 10 cups; more than enough for our household. All in all, a great-looking, great-performing coffeemaker that meets Kitchenaid's high standards. I highly recommend it.

Don't waste your hard earned money on this coffee maker. This item was given a fair test drive since it was purchase back in May 2007.


Pros:
Nice stylish appearance. Love the stainless steel look.
Steel carafe, nothing to break in a clumsy moment.
Steel carafe stays cool to touch.
If you make small quantities of coffee, taste is satisfactory.
Love the gold mesh coffee basket, no more messy paper filters to deal with.
Auto clean light will illuminate to let you know when cleaning is required, due to mineral build up.
Easy to read graduations inside to see water level.
Plastic measuring spoon supplied, to scoop fresh coffee grounds.

Cons:
The coffee maker does not brew enough coffee. 10 cup feature brews really only 2 1/2 mugs - they are normal size.
If you try to brew 10 cups , really anything over 7 cups, you end up with coffee ground spillover, and that is using their suggested coffee ground measurements. Crunchy coffee... Mmm...Delicious - NOT.
The coffee comes out luke warm and needs to be reheated in the microwave before drinking.
There is NO heating element to keep the carafe warm over time.
The carafe had a very deep inset lip and makes it difficult to pour coffee out from carafe.
Must use alternative container to fill water station, carafe too difficult to pour from.
The "minute" setting of the LED time clock broke,(won't pop back out) and can not be adjusted. This occurred after only 3 trials of resetting time, due to power outages.
Overpriced due to lack of quality of product.

I was in a hurry to replace my thermal carafe Krups, which gave me great service for two years then stopped working today. Went to Linens and Things, bought the KitchenAid, THEN did my research. I expected ice coffee, based on other reviews. I guess I got a good one. Nearly burned my tongue off, expecting lukewarm, but getting HOT coffee. Maybe they improved it, or a bunch of bad ones went out for those who think the coffee doesn't get hot enough? I like that the filter doesn't swing out separately, and doesn't require an additional piece of non-cleanable hardware.

I received this coffeemaker as a gift. I really like the ease of the function controls and I like having a thermal carafe. The problem - the coffee isn't hot enough. I end up putting my cup in the microwave for a bit just to get the temp up. According to the instruction book, Kitchenaid recommends that you heat the thermal carafe with hot water before making coffee in order to get a hotter brew. Well, that's great if you're making it right then, however, I like to set up the coffeemaker to come on in the mornings so I don't have to get up and make it which means the carafe will be cold when the coffee is brewing. This, of course, means I don't get coffee as hot as I'd like. Coffee temp aside, this is a really good machine, easy to use controls and coffee tastes really good.

The helpful guy at Bed Bath & Beyond told me this was the best coffee maker on the market. He must be getting kickbacks or something. The first one I bought didn't work and the company helpfully replaced it at no cost. But the truth is it never worked all that well: the coffee isn't hot enough and the machine is poorly designed--try to clean the place you pour the water into and you'll see what I mean. Finally, after owning it for a year, it has started breaking down. I highly recommend you avoid this coffee maker.

This coffee maker is fabulous and will not disappoint you if you are a coffee lover. The coffee flavor is full and rich, coffee is hot and stays hot in the thermal carafe. I am so glad I purchased it for my husband for fathers day. We are on vacation now and he misses the full flavor of the coffee it makes. Thanks Kitchen Aid.

This is an update on my first review. I originally felt that this machine wasn't much better than a $40 coffee maker. The coffee temperature is good for only the first or second cup. Other than that- the coffee tastes good and the features worked well for a while. I have had this for just under two years and it is now leaking water out the bottom. I can no longer pre-fill it at night or else the water is all over the counter in the morning. Even with filling it immediately before brewing will result in some leakage. The KithenAid name has always made me think of quality, but this being my first product from KitchenAid has made me rethink my views.

I am not a coffee connoisseur, so my criteria for a good coffee maker is probably modest. I bought the KA Javastudio because I own several KA appliances and have always been pleased. Although, the KA 10-cup is pricey, I felt that buying a thermal carafe represented an upgrade from my previous glass carafe. I also figured that the wide spray mechanism might mean a richer cup of coffee. I did as much research as I could, reading reviews and looking at available coffee makers in my area. After trying out our new KA yesterday, my husband and I were both disappointed in its functionality and performance. Here are some points to consider about this product:
1. The KA 10-cup makes 4 1/4 oz cups. In other words, if you're looking for 8 ounce servings, the most this will make is about 5 real cups of coffee.
2. The thermal carafe is heavy. If you're planning on keeping this on your counter - and possibly under a cabinet, it is a tug to pull it out each time you use it to pour water in the back.
3. There is no way to figure out the water level in the tank. The directions say to use the optional white water filter insert.
4. For us at least, taste-wise, there is no discernible difference between what the KA brewed and what we've tolerated with our old coffee maker.

Good luck with your search for a more perfect coffee maker.

I have had this coffee maker for a few years. Since day 1 the coffee does not even get close to hot, especially if you put any creamer in it. You have to put your coffee in the microwave to get it hot, then it loses a lot of its flavor.

I have tried heating the carafe first, using warm water, etc. The water comes out of the shower at only 150F. This is about 50F short of proper brewing temperature.

The best coffee I have made from it recently was when I just used it as a manual drip. I boiled some water up, removed it from the heat for a few seconds, then poured it strait onto the grounds. This is the only way to get a good cup of coffee from this coffee maker. My wife, not knowing how I had made that pot commented, "Hey, did you fix the coffee maker?" "Not exactly" I replied.

Save your money and get something that will brew at the correct temperature or just get a manual drip cone.

Brian.

The positive and negative reviews are both correct. This coffee maker makes lukewarm coffee and uses a lot of grounds due to a lower brew temperature. I happen to like coffee that has is brewed at a temperature that extracts the flavor and caffeine, but not the astringent oils. I also like to drink it right away without burning my mouth. If you like scalding, bitter coffee, look elsewhere, but if you agree with me, this coffee maker is an incredible deal.