I have had Cuisinart coffee makers for years and I am so tired of having to buy a new Cuisinart after a couple of years of use when it begins to malfunction. I have had to return brand new Cuisinart coffee makers as they didn't work right and then wait for the replacement. Don't know why I was so loyal to the brand. Maybe because they used to be much better and lasted longer.
This Moccamaster has a five year warranty - that tells you something right there (don't forget to register yours if you purchase one - they have an online form). It's made in the Netherlands with meticulous crafting and testing. It's nice looking. It's easy to clean. It's fast. It makes hot coffee. It's smaller so it fits on my countertop nicely without taking up a lot of room.
At first I wasn't sure if I'd like the Rose Gold even though it is pretty, but I've come to like it and it's a change from the stainless steel I've had for years. And, the Rose Gold was $60 less, so there's that!
Keep in mind that though this carafe holds ten cups, this is ten 4 ounce cups, not 6-8 ounce mugs. Fine by me as I drink a few mugs in the morning and then I'm done, and I'm the only one drinking coffee.
These take paper filters - I've used a gold filter for many years because I don't like tossing things in the landfill. However, two things: my gold filter does fit in there should I want to use it; and you can rinse the paper filters and reuse them a few times. Between those two things, less in the landfill.
There is research to indicate that using paper filters doesn't affect your cholesterol levels like the gold permanent filters. So something to think about. However using the paper filters does affect taste to some degree - I have to get used to the more 'smoother' taste of the coffee without the oils. But on the good side, there's not the sludgy stuff at the bottom of my cup, and no coffee grounds escaping into my cup.
Though it indicates to use fresh ground beans, I use both fresh ground and already ground. The fresh ground can taste better, but sometimes the already ground is convenient and easy and right there, and on sale.
This is so easy to use right out of the box, once you put the parts in place.
This is a no frills type coffee maker - there isn't a timer but I never used the timer on my Cuisinart, not once, so I don't miss that feature at all. There's no clock but why do I need a clock? I don't even have clocks in my house other than what is on my stove and cable box. There's two buttons: one to select half pot or full pot, and the on/off button.
The plug is weird. You have to kind of turn it partially sideways. It was annoying at first but now I just do it and don't think about it. Cord is short, which I like. Hate snaking cords - I like the cord hidden behind the coffee maker and this one stays behind just great.
What I also like is there isn't those two deep dark areas that are difficult to get to and clean like in the Cuisinart and many other coffee machines. No matter how much I cleaned the machine, I always wondered how clean it really was down in there where you pour the water and where the brewing happens I guess. Here you can see where the water is, and it only goes through the stainless steel 'arm' and then down the little funnel and into the grounds. Cleaning is simple. There is no coffee going inside the machine anywhere.
They suggest descaling it about every 3 months using a descaler and not vinegar. I never liked to use vinegar anyway.
Out of the box I 'brewed' water only 3 times (they suggest 2) to be sure any factory dust or whatever was gone.
It's quiet. No loud beeping when it's done. No loud gargling gurgles. Though you can hear it gently brewing. And you can see the bubbles coming up in the water - it happens fast!
Mine has a warming plate. I don't know if all of the models have it. The KBGV Select has a full pot or half pot selection. I used the half pot selection this morning when I brewed about a half pot and my coffee tasted better than when I used the full pot selection on half a pot - so it does something.
I'm happy with mine and glad I finally purchased it after doing so much reading and research on coffee machines - for months! -- the Moccamaster kept coming up over and over in the Best Coffee Makers lists - and often number 1.
If you are on the fence, hop on over, if you don't mind the price and don't mind it's a no-frills machine. The best part of it is the quality - I shouldn't have to buy another coffee machine for many many years!