Customer Reviews

Krups 466-71 Crystal Aroma Plus Coffeemaker, White

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I had planned to buy this coffee pot after reading a fairly comprehensive review elsewhere that rated it very highly relative to other coffeemakers. Then I read some disturbing reviews here on Amazon that dissuaded me. Then I went to a store, looked it over along with a few others, and bought it anyway. I am extremely happy with it and feel I should set the record straight on several points.

1. The coffee really does taste great. The Braun and other coffeemakers probably make good coffee too. Just want to state that my morning coffee is excellent.

2. You can definitely use it with a permanent gold filter. Krups makes gold filters and sells them all over, including on Amazon.com. I use one every day. The instruction manual specifically mentions gold filters. You can of course use standard paper filters too. Anyone who claims it cannot take a permanent filter is completely mistaken.

3. Contrary to some claims, the carafe is not hard to use and doesn't necessarily spill. I personally have experienced nothing unusual. I really do think I would notice if I were spilling coffee. The carafe is not that dissimilar in shape to the rounded carafes used on the big coffee machines in countless diners and restaurants. Unlike those, it has no center hole and is supposedly designed to keep the coffee aroma in. You can see steam building up in the carafe as the coffee brews.

It may take a moment or two to realize how to take the top of the carafe off for cleaning, but after you have done it once, it is just as easy as taking apart any other carafe. Because it is so round, it is very easy to clean -- no coffee residue builds up anywhere. Moreover, it has no metal parts and is "microwave safe."

4. The pot has a replaceable water filter (so do some Brauns), a very nice feature. You can keep using the pot even when the filter is shot.

5. It uses 900 watts. Many similar machines -- Brauns and others -- use 1100 watts and more, including some other Krups models. Not a big issue, but if your toaster, microwave, etc. all feed into the same circuit breaker, it's something to consider. (My previous pot, a nice Braun, used a mere 750 watts. Not sure why coffee pot manufacturers are suddenly so power mad. Perhaps it's related to the sport utility vehicle thing.)

6. The pot has many other brilliant features, too numerous to mention. OK, here's one. You can easily change the setting for how long the burner keeps your coffee warm. (The default is 1 hour.) Also, the way the coffee carafe locks into place is a good thing, not a bad thing. With my old pot, the carafe would sometimes get askew and then trigger the "stop and serve" feature. That doesn't happen here.

In sum, it is one of the most beautifully designed appliances I own, and not just superficially. I don't know how long it will last, so perhaps I am typing this too soon. But it is a pleasure to look at and use, in a very form-follows-function way.

No, I do not work for Krups. And yes, I clearly have too much free time.

I purchased the 466 Krups Crystal Aroma Plus coffee maker after my old Krups pot finally died after six years of good service. I do not go for fancy coffee makers with clocks/timers or built-in grinders, I like simple drip models that work well and make decent coffee. This Krups makes the best coffee of any drip coffee maker I've ever used, and would be a welcome addition to most coffee drinking households.

A coffee connoisseur I am not. My idea of fancy coffee is buying two pounds of "Eight O'clock Coffee" beans at the local Sam's Club and grinding it in my little Krups "Fast Touch" coffee grinder. I'm not after the perfect cup of coffee, just a plain decent cup is fine with me! This Krups makes a perfectly acceptable cup of coffee, far better than most drip coffee makers.

Here's what makes the 466 Krups Crystal Aroma Plus a real standout:

WATER FILTER: This is one of the few inexpensive coffee makers that has it's own internal water filtration system, and it works extremely well. There is a small, vegetable based "Duo-Filter" that you can easily install into the base of the unit. I have unfiltered water in my home that has a nasty chlorine flavor to it. This filter almost completely removes the chlorine taste, making the coffee far more palatable than I've ever known it. Amazing how such a simple thing as a water filter dramatically improves the taste of the coffee!

DESIGN: The design of this coffee maker is one of the most elegant I've ever seen. The globe-like glass carafe is half hidden by the sides and back of the maker, which provides a kind of insulation that helps keep the coffee hot. Also, the opening of the top of the glass pot is rather small, and completely covered by a snap-on plastic top. This design greatly minimizes evaporation, and keeps the coffee from becoming overly strong as it sits atop the warmer plate. The pouring spout on the carafe is also brilliantly executed, I've never spilled a drop in the many weeks I've used it. Overall, an outstanding design.

COFFEE FILTER: The coffee filter of the Krups 466 is a little narrower than the typical round, cone shaped "Braun" filter used by so many coffee makers. The typical Braun style gold filters will not fit in the Crystal Aroma Plus; however, Krups does make a special gold filter for this coffee maker. (Krups part# 026-33) The narrower cone shape forces the hot water to go through more of the coffee grounds before draining into the pot, making for a very rich and flavorful cup of coffee. I've used the special Krups gold filter since the very first pot I brewed, and have been extremely pleased with the results. If you purchase this coffee maker, do get the Krups gold filter as well, you'll be very glad you did.

There are a few negative points to ponder as well:

STEAM VENT: There is a steam vent on the top of the Crystal Aroma Plus that spouts steam like Old Faithful at the end of each brewing cycle. This is definitely NOT a coffee maker you'll want to leave under your fine hardwood kitchen cabinets when in use! This Krups must be placed on a counter top or table where there's plenty of room for the steam to vent.

NON-STANDARD PERMANENT FILTER: As mentioned above, if you don't buy a Krups gold filter designed for this coffee pot, you will find that none of the other brands will fit. The Krups filter cone is a little narrower, and as far as I know, only Krups gold filters will fit. However, those who prefer paper filters will be able to use standard cone shaped filters with no problem. (Krups includes ten paper filters with the maker.)

Overall, I'm extremely pleased with this particular coffee maker, and highly recommend it.

Maybe the other reviewers got bad machines or just don't know how to use it properly, but I have had nothing short of excellent results with this coffee maker. I have never had a problem with dripping or leaking and the taste of the coffee is superb. As far as the permanent filter is concerned, anyone who cared enough to investigate, would have discovered that there is a special gold filter for this particular Arome that is cone shaped, but with straight sides to fit the basket perfectly. The design of the carafe really does keep the coffee fresher longer. My only suggestion is that people who purchase a great quality machine take the time to read the literature that comes with it and learn how to use the machine properly. I am a serious coffee connoisseur whose standards are not easily met and I must say, that for this price range, this is a wonderful machine.

This is a novel looking coffeemaker but it's usability is hampered by several design flaws. The water resevoir opening is small, and if care isn't taken when filling, it dribbles down the back and onto the counter. The spherical carafe is difficult to pour without dripping and costs over $20 to replace, holding only 10 cups. The brew basket is not a standard shape, so no permanent filter can be used and the brewling process is uneven. The carafe must be "locked" into place on the warming plate. Yes, it looks good, but I expect good usability from a German design; this made in Mexico model disappoints.

I've been using this coffee maker for about a year now -- the best feature is that it has a water filter inside of it that purifies the water you pour in, so instead of having to go to my fridge to get filtered water for my coffee, I just pour in tap water and it gets filtered in one easy step. The machine also lets you know when the filter needs changing (it includes an extra filter, and you can buy more from Krups direct, they're fairly inexpensive.) It has a timer, and will automatically shut off the burner so that the coffee never scorches. Great design, too!

This stylish little coffee maker gets its cool shape from its function--to "lock in" the aroma of the coffee. Frankly, I don't think it does that, but it looks spiffy just the same.

The filtration system is pretty good; it sure beats having to Brita your own water for every darn pot. Also, it uses the cone system for brewing coffee, which allows the greatest amount of coffee-meets-water time. The one drawback is that it doesn't heat the coffee very long before the auto-shut-off kicks in.

I used it for one week and returned it back. The coffee was not hot enough. I tried two other Krups coffe makers (different models, both with timers) and I wasn't happy with either one. With all three Krups coffee makers I tried, coffee was just warm.I purchased a $20 machine with no name and I was happier.

I hesitate to say how long I've had this coffeemaker and jinx it but it's been many years and still working perfectly! If it stopped working tomorrow, I'd buy the exact same one! The timer and clock are very easy to program and I love being able to decide how long the hot plate stays on. I used to use bottled water and the duofilter lasted much longer...I use tap water now and the coffee still tastes great. Amazon.com and linensandthings.com also sell the duofilters. The only thing I didn't like- in the beginning it was hard to put the lid on the pot...once I learned the trick- put the front down first, then snap the back into place it is a piece of cake.

I've had mine for about 5 years now and it is by far the best coffee maker I've ever had.

I don't know what really you can say about a coffee maker, but this guy just works great.

First of all, it's quick. it makes a pot in no time.

The filter is cinch to clean and I have always like the taste of the cone style makers, it seems to gather more flavor from the grounds without getting the undesireables. I can use less coffee to get the strength I like and thats important when you like Jamaica Blue Mountain at $25/lb.

I have not a lick of trouble out of this in 5 years. Usually I expect to get 2-3 years from a good one, maybe more for a Bunn. But this guy is still like new. I used it every single day. Thats so far thats over 2000 pots of coffee and still going.

I bought the gold filter for it and I like the idea of a washable filter. The only complaint I have with it is the water filters are hard to find, only Bed, Bath and Beyond carries them here locally and they are expensive. I just leave it empty most of the time as I use RO water from my machine to make the coffee. I have never had to run any vinegar through it because of the good water I use, but the filter should do the same thing.

This think looks good. I saw them using one in an episode of Babylon 5. Maybe they used it because it looks futuristic, but I am guessing that mine will still be in service in the year 2260.

I am a coffee snob -- I admit it. I loved the look of this coffeemaker and really wanted a maker with a timer and not too many other bells and whistles. This looked great but the coffee it made was nowhere near as good as what I already had. <sigh> I returned it.