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Other
items you might want to add to your Technivorm order: |
You
might also need #4 cone filters for your brewer. We offer
the Filtropa
AromaBrown filters.  |
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We
use this bowl
brush to scrub out the KBTS carafe and think
it works great. |
Technivorm Spares:
We stock a few items for the Technivorm that people have requested. We don't carry the replacement carafes for the glass brewers anymore - you can get them from Boyd Coffee online or by calling their 800-223-8211 . Please
note: The
9 hole spray head now comes standard with all the brewers - so
the other spray head is necessary only if you have an older brewer. - Maria
KBT 741
1.25 Liter (42 oz.) Carafe
$59 (2.3
lbs ship wgt) 
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KBTS
1 liter (34 oz.) extra all-stainless thermal carafe
$55 (2.3
lbs ship wgt)
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Standard head in rear, 9 hole in front
Nine Hole
Spray Head *
$15 (1.1 lbs
ship wgt)
*Please note: as of 8/26/05 the 9 hole spray
head comes standard- you don't need to upgrade.
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Technivorm Features:
The filter cone holder is unlike other coffeemakers allowing for manually
holding back the hot water - this has advantages (see below). Also note
that the Moccamaster CD is of a different design ...(also see below!) |
The finish in the machines is good, and if you have any doubts of
their wallop, check out the diameter of the power cord. One weak point
in the manufacture is the thin feel of some plastic lid parts, above.
They are quality ABS material, they could just have a little more heft
to them. |
A note on the KBTS Thermal
Carafe model:
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My
favorite
Technivorm feature
is so simple ... |
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| This
is an image of the sensor on the base of the KBTS model (with the thermal
carafe). It stops the brewing if the pot is removed (or won't let you
start the brewing if the pot is not there). By the way, you also need
to close the filterholder's drip-stop switch (next image) to remove the
pot and pour coffee before the brewing is complete. However, this is
something you should really not do ... you are changing the overall flavor
of the whole brew batch if you, for example, stop brewing to pour the
first 12 ounces from the carafe. |
This
is the simple feature on most models* of the Technivorm that I really
appreciate. It's the filterholder's drip stop switch. It is supposed
to be set to "Full Drip" when you brew a full pot, "Slow
Drip" (half open) for brewing less than a full pot, and No Drip
(closed) to pull out the pot when coffee is still brewing. However,
it has a fantastic alternative function; I set it to No Drip for the
first 1-2 minutes of the brew cycle to allow for the hot water and
grinds to fully infuse, then I switch it to Slow Drip for the remainder
of the brew cycle (I see no need to use Full Drip at all). The intensity
of the coffee is excellent using this technique, and no longer is the
timing of the water passing through the coffee dependent on the grind;
too coarse and the brew tastes week and under-infused, too fine and
it is bitter and has sediment). This improves the performance of Swiss
Gold filters in the Technivorm too. I also stir my grinds in the filterholder
after 2 minutes, but this is purely optional. The danger of my
technique: if you forget to switch the brewer to Slow Drip after a
minute or two, it is going to overflow - though there is a new mechanism
so it does not create a huge mess - you might just get some grounds
in the pot. Our
tip sheet outlines this process, and it comes with the Technivorm
** Some folks have said that they have trouble with their filter
basket on the Technivorm - trouble with the mechansim - so I
have a photo of the bottom of the basket here. The most common
problem is that the rubber stopper is out of place - so a tug on
the tail of the stopper gets it seated correctly. You can also
buy replacement filter baskets from Boyd's Coffee. - Maria |
Aside from the KBTS,
the technivorms feature a brew switch to start the hot water boiling,
and a High-Low hot plate switch. I would keep that in Low always. It
also has an automatic scale sensor, and a light to indicate when de-scaler
is needed. The manuals that come with the machines explain these feartures
fully, and we include our own Sweet Maria's Tip Sheet as well |
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You
also might appreciate the attitude expressed in Technivorm's "company
profile" statement, as I did:
Technivorm-Moccamaster
has for many years specialized in the manufacture of coffee makers. These
coffee makers are all handmade, which means that they are manufactured and
assembled by hand and individually tested in a live situation. It is the
personal touch that makes our products unique.
The brewing quality of our coffee makers is beyond dispute and guaranty a first
class beverage due to the fact that brewing temperature and water/coffee contact
time as well as holding temperature are in accordance with the critical requirements
of the Norwegian Coffee Brewing Centre and the Specialty Coffee Association
of America and Europe. Needless to say that we are proud to carry their seal
of approval for all our coffee makers.
The Technivorm-Moccamaster factory is centrally located in the heart of the
Netherlands and serves customers all over the world. Every single product meets
the electricity requirements of the country they are destined for and are produced
under the ISO 9002 regulations.
Our environment is well recognized in both production and product against the
following design and marketing philosophy:
1. To produce totally reliable equipment simple to operate providing the maximum
satisfaction to its users through being completely dependable.
2. To contribute towards the resolution of the world's pollution and waste
problems by the manufacture of high quality and energy efficient "long
life" products.
3. To use only recyclable or fully degradable materials in the manufacture
of our quality products.
-
My
final thoughts on the Technivorm: We have been using
the same KBTS in the warehouse for years and we have
been brewing fantastic coffee. As someone who cups coffee daily,
it is nice to drink coffee from the Technivorm. There is no other
home electric drip brewer I would even consider using. The difference
is the truly hot brew temperature, and my preferred method (to
set the filterholder to No Drip initially and then to Slow Drip
after about a minute). I lift the top and stir the grounds at
the same time, but this is just my own quirk as the standard
brewhead on the Technivorms does a fine job saturating all the
grinds. For such a simple machine, it makes a huge difference
in the cup quality of the coffee. Use 5 level scoops with the
1 liter model and 5-6 with the 1.25 liter models.
We have had some feedback from folks who find the coffee brewed not hot
enough in the Technivorms. There is a steep drop off once the water hits
the grounds and then drops to the pot - that is to be expected. Testing
the machines at our warehouse - I get the following temperatures: 195
to 205 degrees F at the brewhead; in the grounds, 160 degrees F; and
156 degrees F in the pot. I find 156 degrees too hot to actually taste
anything - so I let it cool a bit. Some folks find this too cool - they
are used to the coffee being heated on a hot plate above brewing temperature
but I can't taste anything in a liquid that hot - so reheating the coffee
does not make much sense for me. I know that some folks are used to coffee
that hot though - that is what they are accustomed to. -Tom
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