Customer Reviews

Krups 199-4G Aroma Control 10-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffee Maker, Black

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

I read all the reviews about the temperature of the coffee brewed by this machine, and since "too cold" or "just right" are subjective, I stuck a thermometer in the carafe of freshly-brewed coffee. The temperature was 178 degrees F. Too hot for me to drink straight out of the pot, but perhaps some folks have throats of steel. After pouring a cup with a splash of milk, the temp was 162 in the cup. So if those temps are ok for you, you should do fine with this pot.

As far as temperature retention, I've gone up to four hours with little appreciable loss, but it probably does not hold the temp as long as a "regular" thermos. I would recommend also removing the carafe from the base so that the pop-up lid pops back into place and, theoretically, seals the temperature better.

As far as flavor, that's also a subjective evaluation, but I'll vouch that this brews a better cup of coffee than any hot-plate drip maker I've tried. Not a french press quality in my opinion as some have found, however; there simply isn't the length of steeping time with the grounds with any drip pot as you get in a press.

My criteria for buying this machine is I wanted a cone-filter machine, believing that to have better extraction capabilities, along with a carafe. So far, I haven't been disappointed.

The only thing that knocks this down a star for me from 5 to 4 is the size. It's rather large, and too tall to slide under my upper cabinets on the countertop. Otherwise, it's a great looking machine.

This has got to be the worst kitchen appliance I've ever had.

I have a Braun that works fine, but received this as a Christmas present. I was thrilled to get it, because I've always wanted a coffeemaker with the carafe.

Here are the problems:
1) Coffee doesn't come out of the filter basket until the filter overflows filling the carafe w/ grinds -- I have yet to make a full pot, so I know I'm not overfilling the basket with coffee.
2) Coffee that does make it through is lukewarm.

3) About 2 cups of coffee stay in the basket and never make it through to the pot -- hmmm, love that messy clean-up.
4) When you pull the coffee pot out to pour a cup while it's brewing, the auto-stop mechanism only works about half the time, so coffee pours all over the machine and the counter.

I have completely disassembled the filter basket, washed all the pieces, and started over again. The first pot was great. The second pot was a complete failure.

Shame on Krups' product managers for letting this one out on the market. This should be a career-ending offense. I would have given the product a "bomb" rating if it was available.

I have used a Krups coffee maker for many years. When the glass pot accidently broke, I went looking for a new one. Going to the Krups site as well as the local hardware stores, I discovered that it would cost me $20 to replace the pot. After trying cheaper, generic brand pots and not ever getting a proper fit, I decided that instead of spending the $20 for the proper pot, I should replace the entire unit; it really has had a tremendous amount of use.
At the store I am inundated with many many different types. After so many years of good service from my old Krups, I really wanted to buy another. This one attracted me. I really did want a thermal pot to keep the coffee warm, as I like to drink my pot over several hours. In the past I always poured the freshly brewed coffee directly into a Dunkin Donuts thermos for this purpose. I figgured that since I was buying a new machine anyway I might as well get the thermal pot one.
When I saw the price, however, I balked. I left the store. I came back to the store the next week... still couldn't bring myself to spend the money. But after 3 weeks, litterally thinking about how much I wanted that stupid coffee machine, it suddenly did not seem like so much money anymore. So I broke down and bought it.
At the very beginning I was nervous about it. It made a lot of funny hissing and spitting noises at the end of the cycle. I solved that by staying out of the kitchen mostly while it was brewing and ignored the sounds. And I really love the auto shut-off. I will never buy another coffee maker without one. The coffee flavor itself was fine. Nothing remarkable in either direction. The thermal pot kept the coffee at a good temperature for a few hours. (probably like 3-4. Not as long or as hot as my old Dunkin Donuts thermous however, but I did not have to transfer the coffee)
After a few days I tried the timer. I don't usually use one, but since it had one I figgured I'd give it a shot. It worked perfectly. The very first time. Then never again. I could never figgure out why. But since I never really used that feature, I did not let it bother me.
However, for some reason, about 6-8 weeks after buying it, suddenly it has a problem. After pouring my second cup of coffee one time after brewing, I was a little surprised at how little coffee seemed to be left in the pot (I use very large, thermal mugs BTW - and yes, I like my coffee REALLY hot - I even heat my milk before adding it). I really did not think I drank so much coffee already; I was pretty sure it was only my 2nd mug.
When I went to remove the filter and old grounds, I discovered the problem. The entire reservoir was still filled with hot water. I carefully removed it and emptied it over the sink, and only managed to burn myself a little. I assumed I had done something wrong, but I had not, since it happened the very next time I used it. That time I burned myself a lot, unfortunately. I tried it twice more with the same results. I cleaned every part extremly well, since I was told that stuck grounds could cause it to clog. There are no stuck grounds. It just wont work any more.
I have it all packed up right now and will take it back to the store this week. I sure hope the will give me my money back. I don't really want a replacement, at least not the same unit. I plan to look for a different coffeemaker, with a thermal pot and auto shut off. Consumers Reports (this issue came out right AFTER I bought the unit - I really tried to check it out ahead of time) says that the Mr. Coffee Thermal pot works well, has an auto shot off, a removable reservior, and is less than half the price. I think I'll check that one out.

What a disappointment! I owned the "older" version of this thermal coffee maker and loved it!! Hot, fresh coffee, without having to transfer it to a thermal pot in order to enjoy it few hours later. And the thermal pot was easy to clean (most other makers make carafes with necks that are so narrow that you need a bottle brush to clean them). When the time came to get another, back I went to Krups. I bought this model without realizing that they had made changes. Unpacked it, put it on the counter. Saw that it was different but trusted the brand. What a mistake!!! After a few uses the "Oh No!!'s" kicked in. They changed the design...away from the easy basket that sat on top of the pot, to a permanent basket that swings out (sometimes "pry out" would be a better way to describe it). Instead of the regular screw on solid lid, now the pot has a lid that has a depressed area that the coffee brews into, when of couse, the pot is perfectly aligned with that basket. Are you SURE that it is in right??!! I can't tell you how miffed I've been to come down to the kitchen and find a brewed pot of coffee, plus coffee grounds, everywhere but in the pot (makes you rethink using that timer feature). If you brew too early and it makes it into the pot, the coffee starts cooling down right away because the lid is pressed down in the center. Don't brew too early...a delay means ice cold coffee! And until you are through drinking the pot of coffee, you have to leave the carafe sitting out on the counter instead of tucking it back into the machine because the top will be pushed down thus letting the heat escape. The final straw is the hole that they added to the back of the water reservoir. If you fill it up with too much water or pour the water in a little off center, you are mopping up the water that has now leaked out of the back of the unit. I am very unhappy with this coffeemaker. I would love to replace this unit and it really bums me out because I know what they had prior to this "new and unapproved" model (not to mention spending additional money on a replacement). Buyer beware!

The coffee maker is pretty tall ( a problem if storing or using under a cabinet), made of flimsy light plastic, has a fairly small opening to pour water in and the swing out arm to put the filter and ground coffee in keeps wanting to swing back in towards the coffee maker so you have to hold on to it. OK, that said, its still a good home coffee maker. I've owned many Krups coffee makers and they last. The warranty is only 1 year, but it will last much longer than that. I've never had an overfilling issue as stated- by the way the side water reservoir level indicator is perfect. The timer works flawlessly and the thermal carafe keeps the coffee hot (not warm) for at least 2 hours. Also, to dispell the critics who think that it doesn't brew at the correct temperature- well its plenty hot. In fact, it brews at a higher temperature than the professional model I have at work in our kitchen. Would I buy it again... yes and no. For the price, performance and thermal carafe yes. If you want a lower profile, heavy stainless steel model with removable water reservoir then no. You have to ask yourself: is $60 for a programmable coffee maker with a thermal carafe that makes good coffee a good deal or do I want to spend up to $300 on a heavy duty, stainless steel, upper end brand with more conveniences, but in the end makes the same cup of coffee?

We have had ours for about a year and a half. We liked it so much, we told our friends to get it. A few months ago, their thermos exploded, we all chalked it up to a fluke, and they went out and purchased the same one again. 3 days ago, ours exploded while making coffee, coffee spewed all over the couter along with tiny dust size glass particles, the insides of the carafe just imploded/exploded, and cracked the bottom of the carafe. Since this happened to our friends and us, who know how many others its happened to. I have been looking it up and seems its not that uncommon to have an exploding thermos. One person had glass in their eye, the other an injury b/c it exploded while they were washing it. A little scary that Krups wouldn't put out a warning or a recall. I contacted them and they said if we had the receipt we could return it if it was less than a year old, and said otherwise I had to purchase a new one. Sad that they don't/can't/won't stand behind their product.

After less than 6 months of light usage (one pot daily - 4 days a week) the water reservoir has suddenly sprung an internal leak so that during the brewing process most of the water ends up on the countertop. It is not possible to dismantle the bottom of the maker to see where the leak is coming from.

Otherwise, it made OK coffee and the carafe is easy to clean.

I experienced the same problem consecutively with two of these coffee makers purchased from different suppliers. I poured in the water and it ran directly out the bottom. I cannot review whether it makes good coffee or not because both machines I purchased ...had the same problem. I contacted Krups by phone and they told me I had to take the unit in to a service center but the nearest one is 100 miles away. If this was a quality machine, this problem should not exist.

I'm quite surprised by the low rating the Krups Aroma Control is getting. I've had mine for over three years and have not had any problems like the ones mentioned in the reviews. My coffee is always hot, the handle has not loosened, and I get nothing but compliments on how good my coffee tastes. My mother has a Cuisinart coffee maker/grinder combination and she often comment on how much better my coffee tastes than hers. I would recommend this coffee maker over similiar coffee makers in this price range.

At first I thought that this coffee maker was nice: pretty design and pleasant, though not hot coffee. Then this evening the carafe exploded--no joke!--while my son was holding the carafe about to pour the coffee. Glass and coffee went everywhere! What on earth! This is a potentially dangerous product. Save your money.