Technivorm Moccamaster 741 KBT - Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Makers Review

You must pay a lot of money to own a stunning machine like that, but the tasty coffee at the end of the brewing cycle makes this a top choice for those who are looking for a premium coffee maker.

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However, there are better options out there if you either need a more affordable machine, don't want to buy a separate grinder, or simply need some programmable features.

Pros

• Outstanding coffee

• Elegant design

• Easy to clean

Cons

• Extremely expensive

• Need a lot of counter space

• No programmable features

Technivorm Moccamaster Review

Design

With plenty of negative space, sharp angles, and clean lines in the design, it's not a surprise if you find the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT stunningly attractive right at first glance.

The liberal use of clear plastic and metal makes this automatic coffee maker the most beautiful kitchen appliance you may ever own. While there are a few other models that can challenge this title, like the Wilfa Svart Precision brewer with its orthodox design, they are not as widely available as this Technivorm machine, especially on Amazon and other stores in the US.

On the left side of this coffee maker, you will find a transparent trapezoidal water reservoir sitting on top of a trim tower, which in turn spouts from the solid, flat base at the bottom.

Right beside the water tank is a black hard-plastic funnel-shaped brew basket that accepts both permanent gold filters and standard paper filters. It is supported by a thin platform that is connected to the main body, giving the impression that the entire funnel is floating above the carafe.

The clear water tank

As we have mentioned in our Technivorm Moccamaster coffee makers reviews, the T in KBT means this is a stainless steel thermal carafe, and it's not a conventional carafe that we usually find on the coffee makers either.

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Instead of a typical spout to allow you to pour coffee out, it has a high-collared funnel design.

This odd shape may seem weird at first, but it will come in handy once you get used to it as this funneled mouth of the carafe will allow you to pour coffee out virtually from any angle or direction.

This thermal carafe sits on a black, round plastic station with the help of a curved socket. And since this is a thermal model, there is no hot-plate, like what we will find on glass carafe machines in the Moccamaster series.

There is also a white button on one side that acts like an extra safety measure to make sure that you can slide the carafe into the station properly.

Before you press the On/Off switch to kick off the brewing process, the carafe must press into this button, avoiding the situation in which the hot water and coffee runs down to an empty place and spills all over your kitchen counter.

The red indicator light in the front will show you whether the carafe has been put into place correctly.

The base and the On/Off switch

The flashy metallic parts and sleek form may cause the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT to look more compact than it actually is. This is not a small coffee maker at all. In fact, the top of this machine reaches as high as 15.5 inches while the base spans over 10 inches. Despite this, the KBT is relatively light at 4.8 pounds, a below-average weight for a 10-cup coffee maker.

Usability

The Technivorm Moccamaster KBT is another prime example of how this Dutch company has put a lot of effort into the functionality of its products. In this part of this Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker review, we are going to talk about other brilliant design choices that make it a pleasure to use.

For example, the water tank includes a flat cover that will reveal a wide mouth when you remove it, making it easier to refill water. Pouring water while we are still half asleep in the morning is actually a challenge of its own, so this is definitely a nice touch for busy people.

You also won't have to do any guessing with the clear marking on the water tank that shows both units of cups and liters.

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Coffee enthusiasts will love to watch the brewing process of the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT, including the preparation, which is half of the fun in operating this coffee maker.

The glass tube with boiling water

Once you have filled the water tank, add coffee grounds on top of a paper filter in the brew basket, then rotate the water arm to the center of the basket.

When both the brew basket and water lids are in position, screw the Brew-Thru Lid to the mouth of the carafe before sliding it into the station and flipping the power switch.

The crescendo of bubbles will appear and march upward not long after the beginning of the brewing process, while the boiling water starts moving from the reservoir to the side brew basket along the arm, dripping constantly over your grounded coffee.

The dual-purpose Brew-Thru Lid above is not only designed to let brewed coffee drip into the carafe and minimize heat loss during the process, but it also allows you to pour coffee out without unscrewing it. Technivorm claims that this clever lid can keep the brewed coffee warm for up to a full hour.

Performance

As impressive as the design of this Moccamaster machine is, it must still  make delicious coffee to be a strong contender for the title of the best coffee maker. Fortunately, the quality of coffee the KBT produces doesn't disappoint. It can make 10 cups of coffee quickly, and all of them are consistently tasty with a sublime flavor.

Water dripping into the brew basket

This is the result of a speedy brewing process, which takes around 6 minutes to complete. Remember that the Specialty Coffee Association of America only recommends 8 minutes as the maximum time for a high-quality model to deliver its coffee.

The temperature inside the brew basket also stays within the range between 200 and 204 Fahrenheit degrees during the whole brewing cycle. This amazing ability to hold a stable temperature really shows in the quality of the final coffee.

If you are familiar with affordable coffee makers, which can't keep the temperature within the optimal range, their bitter brews will not be strange to you.

This difference will even jump up dramatically when you switch to more premium coffee grounds. This Dutch machine will create a complex and deliciously smooth brew that even some high-end models may fail to deliver. 

As we have mentioned above, you can still enjoy this tasty coffee long after the brewing completes (up to 6 hours), thanks to the thermal carafe and its dual-purpose lid.

Cleaning

Since most parts of the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT are modular and removal with pretty much no fastening mechanism, you can take apart and clean them separately with ease. But remember that a lot of them are not dishwasher-safe, like the thermal carafe.

Alternative Choices

#1- Technivorm Moccamaster KBG - The Glass Carafe Choice

Technivorm Moccamaster KBG Via: Amazon

There is no more obvious alternative option to the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT than its glass carafe cousin - the KBG. As we have said in our Technivorm coffee maker reviews, the Dutch company uses a simple scheme, mostly a series of letters, to name its products. 

KBT means thermal carafe (T) and rectangular body column (KB), while the lack of T and addition of G indicates this is a glass carafe with an automatic drip-stop.

Compared to the KBG, the KBT has no hot-plate, meaning you can take the thermal carafe out and put it anywhere you like. Most of them are a double-walled container, which can reduce heat loss a bit. However, thermal carafes are usually heavier than glass ones and difficult to pour as a result. Cleaning them is also a bigger issue.

On the other hand, glass carafe models like the Technivorm Moccamaster KBG can keep coffee hot for a longer period. But since glass doesn't have the durability of stainless steel, those carafes tend to be more breakable.

Besides this material choice of the carafe, there is almost no difference between the KBT and KBG models. You can still find all the same elegant design elements and features in this glass carafe version.

#2- Bonavita BV1900TS 8-Cup One-Touch Coffee Maker - A Less Expensive Alternative

Bonavita BV1900TS Via: Amazon

By praising the ability to produce superb drip coffee of the Technivorm Moccamaster models, we don't mean that you can only enjoy your favorite drink at home with expensive machines like that.

The Bonavita BV1900TS is a much cheaper drip coffee maker that comes close to the vaunted quality of the Dutch machines

Our Bonavita BV1900TS has shown that it is a breeze to operate, a stark contrast to complex high-end drip coffee makers from Breville and Cuisinart.

Hardcore enthusiasts love delicate and complicated systems like that, where they can take control over almost every aspect of the drip brewing process. But for most customers, a convenience like the BV1900TS is usually way more appealing.

Unlike the Technivorm machines, this model doesn’t put on a show and brings an entertaining showcase of how drip coffee is made. Except for the clear water tank, everything operates behind the concealed metal and plastic parts.

Water just drains quickly from the reservoir into the next brew basket; there is no bubbling liquid to indicate that the brewing process has started. But if you listen carefully, you can still hear the sound of water dripping constantly to the carafe.

The simplicity of the Bonavita BV1900TS is also shown in the number of parts that make up the machine. A simpler design means you have to break down much fewer parts in order to clean it. The brewing arm is detachable, and you can also remove the two lids along with it easily. Besides the water tank and carafe, you just need to also clean the filter basket by hand.

#3. Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker - A Basic Model

Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch Coffee Maker Via: Amazon

Many decades have passed since its foray into this market, but Mr. Coffee has always been known as the brand that makes affordable yet reliable products, earning it a solid place in virtually every best coffee maker review. 

And this 4-Cup Switch brewer is another machine like that - a decent choice if you want to save as much money as possible for other investments.

It's a basic machine, meaning there are no fancy and advanced features, except for the mid-brew pause function. But the Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Switch will still get the job done, and given its price, the brewed coffee is quite acceptable, unless you are a coffee fanatic who loves to see a perfect and optimal brewing process.

Final Verdict

For most drip coffee addicts, Technivorm is among the first names on their mind when they think of this brewing process. The sleek look, thoughtful design, and ability to produce consistently tasty drip coffee explaines why the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT is one of the most popular coffee makers.

This Technivorm Moccamaster review has shown that while the products this Dutch company has put on the market are expensive and out of most customers' budgets, their features and performances are indeed exceptional, exactly what a high-end coffee maker should deliver.