Best Technivorm Coffee Maker: Which Model Should You Choose?
Technivorm Moccamaster coffee makers are widely considered among the best drip machines in the world. Every Moccamaster is expertly handcrafted in the heart of the Netherlands with the care your coffee deserves, and they’re certified by the Specialty Coffee Association to produce the perfect cup of coffee. Of course, all that expertise comes at a price.
Before you drop big bucks on a Technivorm coffee maker, you want to be sure you’re buying the right model. For that, you’ve come to the right place, as we review the eight best Technivorm coffee makers. Choose carefully, as each of these coffee makers is built to be your last-ever brewer purchase.
At A Glance:
- TOP PICK: Moccamaster KBG
- RUNNER UP: Moccamaster KBT
- BUDGET CHOICE: Moccamaster KB
The Reviews: The 8 Best Moccamaster Models In 2023
Let’s compare Moccamaster models, all of which are among the best automatic drip coffee makers for home use. Home Grounds has delved into the Technivorm coffee machines niche and discovered the eight best Moccamaster models in 2023. Though they all look similar, each has unique quirks and features. We’ll help you find which excellent coffee maker is the best fit for you.
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Moccamaster KBG |
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Moccamaster KBT |
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Moccamaster KBGV Select |
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SEE ON AMAZON
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Moccamaster KB |
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SEE ON AMAZON
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Moccamaster KBTS |
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Moccamaster KBGT |
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SEE ON AMAZON
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Moccamaster Cup One |
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Moccamaster CDT Grand |
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SEE ON AMAZON
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1. Moccamaster KBG – Best Overall
Specifications
Type Of Carafe: Glass
- Capacity: 10 Cups
- Dimensions: 6.5 x 12.75 x 14 inches
- Drip-Stop: Automatic
Being the best of them all and the belle of the ball, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBG 741 AO rightfully snatches the Best Overall award.
An ideal extraction is guaranteed by the 9-hole outlet arm feature, which ensures an even shower of water over the coffee grounds. This, along with the perfect temperature auto-set by the Moccamaster KBG to heat the water, yields a delicious cup. That’s why this brewer is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) as meeting its Golden Cup standards.
If you’re paying good money for specialty coffee, this is a coffee maker that ensures it will be brewed to its fullest potential.
The Moccamaster KBG is incredibly easy to use. With just the flip of a switch, you’ll get 10 cups of excellent coffee in 4 to 6 minutes. It also conveniently stops the coffee flow rate if you move its glass carafe to pour before a brewing cycle is complete — no need to worry about messy spills. It automatically turns off after 100 minutes and is guaranteed never to burn your coffee.
The Moccamaster KBG is built to last. Its highly durable rectangular build is made from stainless steel, safe plastics, and aluminum. It makes a proud addition to your counter display. Aesthetically, there are more color options than you’ll know what to do with, featuring brushed brass, brick red, butter yellow, copper, fresh green, grape, matte black, matte silver, merlot, midnight blue, off-white, pistachio green, polished silver, red, red metallic, satin, sky blue, turquoise, white, or yellow pepper. You’ll love the way it livens up your kitchen.
2. Moccamaster KBT – Runner-Up
Specifications
Type Of Carafe: Thermal
- Capacity: 10 Cups
- Dimensions: 6.75 x 11.5 x 15.25 inches
- Drip-Stop: Manual
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 is the most durably built, even more so than the Moccamaster KBG, because it uses exclusively stainless steel parts. It also has a narrower and taller build, making it better suited for taking up less of your precious limited kitchen counter space.
For the most beautiful and precise coffee bloom, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT has a drip-style pre-immersion function. This is a key component in crafting the most delicious brew, according to coffee experts.
Bloom makes your coffee better . . . the force of [carbon dioxide will] push water away from the coffee, disrupting extraction. You want this to happen during the pre-brew phase rather than the main extraction, so that you’re not getting inconsistent flavors in the cup.
This feature turns already wonderful coffee into a better-tasting brew by yielding a rich aroma and coaxing an even richer taste from the natural coffee flavors (1). Paired with the customizable coffee flow rate via a manual drip-stop, serious coffee enthusiasts can brew an impressive cup with this model.
The Moccamaster KBT has a stainless steel carafe, which distinguishes it from the glass carafe of the KBG. While the steel carafe won’t keep your coffee hot quite as long as a hot plate, we think it does a better job of maintaining the coffee flavor.
Where the Moccamaster KBT loses points compared to the Moccamaster KBG is in its overall aesthetic appeal and ease of use. It comes in far fewer color offerings – polished silver, black, or stone gray – and a thermal steel carafe is arguably not as attractive as a glass carafe. The manual drip-stop also makes this model a bit less straightforward for beginners.
3. Moccamaster KBGV Select – Best Glass Carafe Brewer
Specifications
Type Of Carafe: Glass
- Capacity: 10 Cups
- Dimensions: 6.5 x 12.75 x 14 inches
- Drip-Stop: Automatic
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select is our favorite coffee machine featuring a glass carafe, making it a great option if a stainless steel coffee pot doesn’t appeal.
Its standout stylish glass carafe has an ergonomic design. A comfortable handle is affixed on both ends and perfectly frames your hand as you grip it to pour. The glass carafe is paired with a built-in hot plate to keep your brewed coffee warm. It turns off automatically after 100 minutes.
You can choose to brew a full carafe or a half carafe with the Brew-Volume Selector. The brew water is guaranteed to fall between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit, the ideal brew temperature as recommended by the SCA.
Like the Moccamaster KBG, there are many wonderful colors to choose from, from wild turquoise to more traditional polished silver, so you’re sure to find something to suit your kitchen design.
4. Moccamaster KB – Budget Pick
Specifications
Type Of Carafe: Glass
- Capacity: 10 Cups
- Dimensions: 6.5 x 12.75 x 14 inches
- Drip-Stop: Manual
We admit it’s a little weird to give a budget award to a Technivorm coffee maker. They are all pretty pricey compared to the average. But the Moccamaster KB is the most affordable model for any coffee enthusiast looking to squeeze the most out of their budget.
The Moccamaster KB is constructed out of aluminum rather than stainless steel, which is the biggest factor determining its lower price point. Build quality is an important consideration, and if this model were plastic, we’d be disinclined to recommend it. But aluminum is still very durable and has the bonus of being lightweight. This model is only available in one color, brushed silver, which likely also helps with affordability.
The KB has basically everything all of the other Moccamaster coffee makers have, but cheaper.
The Moccamaster KB automatic drip coffee maker comes with a glass carafe, a reusable filter, and a manually adjustable brew basket, giving you control over the coffee flow rate or letting you stop it altogether. This manual function also allows you to pick between brewing a full 10-cup carafe or a half carafe. It has a hi-lo hotplate switch with a copper boiling element that adjusts temperature within a 10-degree Fahrenheit range. As with the other models, it turns off automatically after 100 minutes.
5. Moccamaster KBTS – Best Value For Your Money
Specifications
Type Of Carafe: Thermal
- Capacity: 8 Cups
- Dimensions: 6.75 x 11.5 x 13 inches
- Drip-Stop: Manual
The polished silver Moccamaster KBTS is another affordable pick if the Moccamaster KB is just not for you. The main difference between them is that the KBTS has a thermal carafe. A stainless steel insulated carafe is a wonderful addition to a coffee machine, ensuring your brew stays hot and delicious without risking that stale “hot plate flavor” we all know and dread.
The Moccamaster KBTS is space-conscious with a shorter and more narrow build than the other models. The trade-off for its compact design is that it only has an 8-cup capacity.
This is still an SCA-certified coffee maker, which, along with the thermal carafe, we think makes it incredible value for money. You won’t miss out on a quality build or “the golden cup” if you opt to save money with this pick.
6. Moccamaster KBGT – Best With Thermal Carafe
Specifications
Type Of Carafe: Thermal
- Capacity: 10 Cups
- Dimensions: 6.7 x 11.5 x 16 inches
- Drip-Stop: Automatic
The Technivorm KBGT Moccamaster is a drip coffee machine for coffee brewing experts, and we think it’s the best Moccamaster coffee maker with a thermal carafe. You’ll get the most nuanced, flavorful, and aromatic full-bodied coffees with perfect coffee extraction from the cone shaped brew basket. Most importantly, your coffee will retain these features if you don’t drink it right away.
The Moccamaster KBGT’s thermal carafe will keep your coffee hot for hours with its dual-wall stainless steel build. If you use the included travel lid, it’ll stay warm from morning brewing until the late afternoon. There’s even a Brew-Thru lid included that lets coffee drip directly into the thermal carafe and minimizes any chance of heat loss. The coffee flow rate will stop when the carafe is removed, so pour in peace, and it’ll resume when back in place.
This model shares the same aesthetic as the rest of the Moccamaster line and is available with a polished silver, black, off-white, or stone grey body.
7. Moccamaster Cup One – Best One-Cup Brewer
Specifications
Type Of Carafe: None
- Capacity: 1 Cup (10 ounces)
- Dimensions: 6.5 x 10.2 x 11.7 inches
- Drip-Stop: None
Coffee for one? The Moccamaster Cup One is the brand’s only single-serve drip coffee machine, perfect for coffee drinkers who need no more than a single cup of joe to start their day. A copper heating element ensures it reaches optimal coffee brewing temperature fast, and the pre-infusion feature guarantees a delicious coffee.
It takes about 4 minutes to brew a cup of morning coffee, a bit longer than the average Keurig, but we promise it’s worth the wait. There is no drip-stop, no carafe, and no hot plate. You brew directly into your own mug. This simplicity makes this the least expensive model on the list, though, with a $250 price tag, we would have liked to have seen a mug included.
This drip coffee maker is small in stature and available in an off-white or polished silver coating. Keep it on your counter or easily tuck it away in your cupboards.
8. Moccamaster CDT Grand – Largest Capacity
Specifications
Type Of Carafe: Thermal
- Capacity: 15 Cups
- Dimensions: 6.75 x 12.5 x 17.75 inches
- Drip-Stop: Manual
The Moccamaster CDT Grand is the best coffee maker when you want a whole bunch of coffee; we’re talking about more than a dozen cups. This brushed silver stainless steel thermal carafe coffee maker brews up to 15 cups of the best drip coffee in just 6 minutes with its powerful copper heating element.
If you want to entertain at home, at the office, or at a small cafe, this should be your go-to Moccamaster. Technivorm suggests brewing a full carafe to ensure the most flavorful results, as the brew cycle has been optimized for large-batch brewing.
The design of the stainless steel thermal carafe will keep your coffee hot all morning and well into the afternoon. This lets people come and go to drink as much hot coffee as they’d like – perfect for social settings.
Which Moccamaster Should I Buy? How To Choose The Best Technivorm Coffee Machine
Every model of Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker looks similar at first glance; indeed, they share many commonalities. Each is handmade to exacting standards in the Netherlands. None of them are saddled with extraneous features, options, or touchscreens. Every Technivorm Moccaamaster does one thing, and it does it exceptionally well. It brews coffee to the exacting standards of the SCA (2).
All SCA Certified Brewers have met these requirements, which are based on proper water temperature, brewing time, and ability to brew within the SCA Golden Cup recommendations.
There are, however, slight differences between each model, so one is likely the best choice to meet your needs. This buyer’s guide will walk you through some key questions to consider when making your choice. What type of carafe do you prefer? How much control do you want over the brewing process? And how much quality coffee do you need to brew at a time?
Read on to discover the perfect Moccamaster coffee maker to add to your life.
Do You Prefer A Glass Or Stainless Steel Carafe?
Each Technivorm drip coffee machine is equipped with either a glass or a stainless steel thermal carafe, with the obvious exception of the single-serve Moccamaster Cup One. Both styles of carafe have pros and cons, and this is an easy way to narrow down your options.
Glass Carafes
Glass carafes allow you to monitor the brewing process and see exactly how much coffee is left, and they are easier to clean. They tend to be less expensive, and there is no risk of glass retaining any scent or flavor from previous brews. Some people find them more aesthetically pleasing, but that’s a matter of personal taste. On the downside, they require a hot plate to keep your coffee warm, and they are fragile.
Thermal Carafes
Thermal carafes are made from vacuum-insulated double-wall stainless steel. They are more durable and keep your coffee hot and fresh for hours without relying on a hot plate. However, they tend to cost more and are prone to the build-up of scale when not cleaned properly. They can also be messier as they are heavier and harder to hold for precise pouring.
Do You Like Having More Control, Or Will You Go With The Flow?
The brew basket of Technivorm Moccamaster coffee makers has either a manual or an automatic drip-stop function.
The manual drip-stop is the ideal tool for experimenting because you’ll get full rein over starting, stopping, and managing the coffee flow rate. If you’re more of an active, hands-on barista passionate about procuring the perfect bloom and making just the right fine adjustments needed to get there, you’ll appreciate this style of brewer. It combines the convenience of an automatic machine with the control of a pour over dripper.
Opt for an automatic drip-stop if you prefer a more passive approach to home brewing. It manages the flow rate for you, making brewing coffee as simple as flipping a switch. It gives you less control but simplifies the coffee brewing process, a benefit on sleepy mornings. If you remove the carafe, it will stop automatically.
The Moccamaster Cup One is unique. It has no drip-stop and only makes enough for one cup. It is a hassle-free single-serve brewer that doesn’t rely on any switches or levers to operate.
How Much Coffee Do You Drink At A Time?
How many cups of delicious coffee do you want in a day? Are you a coffee drinker who just needs a single cup of coffee to get up and going? Or do you find yourself amidst a group of coffee drinkers where 8, 10, or even 15 cups of freshly brewed coffee is a necessity of life?
Consider the capacity of each Moccamaster coffee brewer. Most brew 8 or 10 cups, the Cup One is limited to one cup of coffee, and the CDT Grand makes 15. The KB and the KBGV Select have a special setting for brewing half a carafe, offering a happy medium with 5 cups of coffee.
Keep in mind your own limits, not just that of every Moccamaster. If you’re getting a Moccamaster that makes a lot of coffee, share the love and brews, but ensure that everyone takes their caffeine within the recommended healthy range (3).
How Much Space Do You Have?
Before adding any sizeable new coffee equipment to your kitchen, first measure how much space you have. Determine the dimensions of your countertops if you wish to display your Moccamaster, or measure inside your cupboards if you want the convenience of tucking it away. They are all relatively similar in size, but there is an inch or two of variation here and there that could make all the difference depending on your home.
The Verdict
The Home Grounds’ top pick for the best Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker model in 2023 is the Moccamaster KBG. This SCA-certified drip machine is sturdy in build, easy to use, and available in an assortment of colors to suit any style. Its brewing cycle may be interrupted at your leisure to enjoy a hot cup of flavorful and aromatic coffee free of any mess.
The runner-up pick, the Moccamaster KBT, is a better choice if you prefer a thermal carafe. Though available in fewer colors, it produces the same delicious coffee as the KBG and eliminates the need for a hot plate.
FAQs
No, you cannot use vinegar in a Moccamaster coffee maker. Neither can you use citric acid (4). According to Technivorm, attempting to descale your Moccamaster in these ways will cause problems with the machine’s mechanisms and leave an unpleasant lingering taste. If you’ve already done this, clean your Moccamaster multiple times using a neutralizing soda solution followed by water (5).
You should clean a Moccamaster with warm, soapy water whenever it looks like it needs cleaning. The company specifies this as a matter of personal preference. You should descale every 100 cycles, once every three months, or if the reservoir’s glass tube takes on a cloudy appearance – whichever comes first (6). Proper cleaning, descaling, and maintenance of your Moccamaster will ensure its longevity and keep your brews tasting delicious.
A medium-coarse grind is best to use with a Moccamaster. Most pre-ground coffee found in stores is too fine for a Moccamaster and will yield over-extracted coffee. We recommend that you invest in a high-quality burr grinder to ensure the proper grind size and enjoy the freshest, most flavorful coffee grounds.
Yes, Moccamaster has a grinder, the Technivorm Moccamaster KM4-TT. It is a sturdy, sleek stainless steel coffee grinder with a unique upside-down construction that avoids heat build-up. It yields only the medium-coarse grind size required for the perfect Moccamaster brew. However, there are no Moccamaster drip coffee makers with built-in grinders.
You should use filtered or bottled water in a Moccamaster for the best-tasting coffee. Depending on the quality of water where you live, you can also use tap water (7). Just beware that if you live somewhere with hard water, you will need to descale more frequently. Distilled or reverse osmosis filtered water should be avoided (8). Distillation removes minerals from the water, which negatively impacts the coffee flavor..
References
- Carrasco, N. (2017, August 4). Brew Guide: What Are The 3 Phases of Drip Coffee Brewing? Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2017/08/brew-guide-what-are-the-3-phases-of-drip-coffee-brewing/
- Specialty Coffee Association. (2023). SCA Certified Home Brewer Program. Retrieved from https://sca.coffee/certified-home-brewer
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). 9 Reasons Why (the Right Amount of) Coffee Is Good for You. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-reasons-why-the-right-amount-of-coffee-is-good-for-you
- Levy, J. (2018, September 22). Citric Acid Pros & Cons: Is Citric Acid Harmful to the Body? Retrieved from https://draxe.com/nutrition/citric-acid/#What_Is_Citric_Acid
- Moccamaster EU. (n.d.). FAQ Maintenance. Retrieved from https://www.moccamaster.eu/faq
- Moccamaster USA. (n.d.). How frequently should I descale and clean my brewer, and what should I use? Retrieved from https://support.moccamaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500009428621-How-frequently-should-I-descale-and-clean-my-brewer-and-what-should-I-use-
- Moccamaster USA. (n.d.). What kind of water should I use? Retrieved from https://support.moccamaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500009388901-What-kind-of-water-should-I-use
- Crail, C. & Allen, S. (2022, April 26). Learn The Pros And Cons Of Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Systems. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/home/reverse-osmosis-water-pros-cons/
