Krups FMF4-14 10-Cup Coffeemaker, Black and Stainless Steel
by Krups
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: KrupsBrand: Krups
Model: FMF4-14
Color: Black and Stainless
Product features:
- 1100-watt, double-walled stainless-steel coffee maker with 60-ounce water reservoir
- 10-cup vacuum thermal carafe; soft-eject filter holder; LED control panel; programmable timer
- 1- to 3-cup flavor setting; pause-and-serve function for pouring a cup midbrew; brewing-complete signal
- Built-in water filtration system; de-scaling indicator; adjustable-time heating plate keeps coffee warm
- 1-year warranty
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Krups FMF4-14 10-Cup Coffeemaker, Black and Stainless Steel
Customer Review: Excellent Coffee, some minor quibbles
Summary: 5 Stars
In all, I'm very pleased with this coffee maker and quite surprised by the number of negative comments.
Last year, when my old coffee maker's carafe cracked and developed a slow leak, I started lengthy research on a replacement. The new one needed to have a thermal carafe, as glass breaks and it usually takes me two to three days to finish a pot. I didn't want a carafe with a glass liner, as I've had those break on me as well. That left double wall stainless steel. I wanted a minimum of a 10 cup carafe and a brew timer, which eliminated Braun.
I hit all the shopping sites and review sites over several weeks (I have OCD). I quickly found that all thermal carafe coffee makers seem to generate a lot of complaints. Most every model seemed to have sporadic overflow problems. I believe that this often has to do with a thermal carafe needed a tighter air seal than a glass carafe, which requires a seal between the basket and pot that is more prone to spillage if you don't get both in the proper position. Every double wall stainless steel carafe seemed to result in cooler coffee on first pour than a glass carafe. This makes perfect sense if you consider the physics involved, as it will take more energy to heat the same volume of stainless steel than glass to a given temperature, so it is a trade off between durability and efficiency. Lastly, it seemed that all thermal carafes seemed to have pouring issues. Either they made a mess, were a bother to go between pour and closed, slow to pour, required inverting the pot to get the last cup out. Most of these problems seem to be due to the need to keep an air seal on a thermal carafe that is not required on a glass carafe.
I had actually decided on a 12 cup Cuisinart before finally buying the FM4 after finding it on sale in a local store for $99. I had rejected it previously based on the $169 price I found everywhere prior to that. When comparing the two side by side, the Krups looked much better (the Cuisinart looked like a big Mr Coffee with cheap slick plastic. The latest model does appear to have better aesthetics.), appeared to be a better design that was much less likely to produce the brewing spills that many people complain about with just about every model of thermal coffee maker I read about. Luckily I hadn't seen the bad reviews here or I might still be looking for a new coffee maker.
I have now had this coffee maker for a year and have little but good things to say about it. I have had no problems with mine. I have gotten good coffee out of it since day one. (I did clean thoroughly with white wine vinegar before using it the first time.)
I have never experienced an overflow on brewing mess. Neither has my visually impaired mother. Most coffee maker overflow problems are caused by improperly inserted filter baskets and/or coffee pots. I find the removable hanging basket very handy for emptying and cleaning. The basket holder is very easy for someone that is visually impaired to open and close. It has a lever on the side to open and click when it is fully shut. Unlike many other coffee makers, you can tell it is fully closed by feel. If you push the filter basket holder and pot all the way into the coffee maker, there is no reason why you should have a spill.
I've never paid any notice to the water level indicator as I always fill the pot with water and fill the coffee maker with that. I removed the water filter after a month had passed, since I use filtered water to fill it.
It brews faster than any coffee maker I have had previously. I find the coffee temperature to be a drinking temperature from the point it is made to a couple hours after. The carafe has a pour lever on it that is simple to operate. I find that it pours at a decent rate, but you do have to nearly invert it to get the last cup or two out. With the lid off, the opening is wide enough for me to get my hand and a sponge into it for cleaning. The carafe is substantial and the handle is firmly attached.
I've had nothing but positive comments about the coffee I've made with this coffee maker. I grind whole beans to an espresso grind and make a full bodied cup with an "8-cup" quantity of grounds. I've never noticed a plastic taste, but then I make my coffee pretty strong.
I have noticed that the heating plate is functional on the coffee maker, but it has operated at such a low temperature as to not affected the plastic foot on my carafe.
Virtually all the complaints I've read of can be eliminated by taking care in filling the unit with water using the pot as a measure and making sure that everything is fully seated before making a pot of coffee.
Description of Krups FMF4-14 10-Cup Coffeemaker, Black and Stainless Steel
New from Krups, this 10-cup double walled stainless steel programmable coffee maker has 1,100 watts to provide fast and efficient brewing. Vacuum thermal brushed stainless carafe maintains flavor and temperature longer. The programmable timer/auto on sets the start time each day and has a 1-3 cup flavor setting to maximize flavor extraction from small quantities of coffee. There is an audible signal indicating when the machine is done brewing and a popular pause and serve feature allows interruption anytime during brewing. The 60 ounce water reservoir has a detection feature which shuts the unit off if completely empty has a built in water filtration system to remove chlorine and limescale buildup. Beautifully styled with a blue illuminated LED control panel for easy of use, it has a solid swing out filter holder with soft eject motion and easy pour 10 cup stainless steel carafe with no drip spout and ergonomic handle design. The descaling indicator measures brew time and calculates when descaling is necessary. Comes with a 1-year warrantyDrip Coffee Machines
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