Moccamaster Coffee Maker Test 2023
The Moccamaster is our favourite among filter coffee machines. It convinced us not only with its simple design and ease of use. It also impressed us with its taste in the test.
We have been swearing by the Moccamaster in our office for years, because large quantities can be prepared quickly – without compromising on taste. This is not a matter of course for filter coffee machines. They often burn the coffee with water that is too hot, brew too quickly and the result is more than disappointing. But the Moccamaster saves the honour of filter coffee machines. In our test, you’ll find out what we love so much about it.
Maximilian,
our Moccamaster tester
You only got 2 minutes? Our test result in a nutshell
The Moccamaster brews a filter coffee that actually comes close to the quality of a hand-brewed coffee. Good design is important, but not as crucial as functionality. With the Moccamaster, both are right. We think it integrates perfectly into any kitchen and does not lose its shine even after many years.
The special feature of the Moccamaster is the brewing process, which gently extracts the coffee. In the process, it evenly infuses the coffee powder with 96°C hot water through nine fine valves. This is clearly evident in the taste. The Moccamaster can even tease out subtle nuances that we previously only got with the hand filter. We were particularly impressed by the taste of larger quantities of coffee. With only small portions, the coffee in the test and in our experience was sometimes a little thin and unbalanced, but still good to drink.
When it comes to preparation, the machine follows the convenient approach of conventional coffee machines: Grind the coffee, determine the amount of water, switch on and enjoy. We have summarised how to brew coffee with the Moccamaster in our brewing instructions.
We recommend the Moccamaster to anyone who doesn’t want to miss out on really good coffee even when making more than 2 cups. In addition, the Moccamaster scores with its durability (5-year guarantee), extremely easy preparation, consistent, clear taste and great time savings.
Advantages:
- 5-year manufacturer’s warranty
- High quality workmanship
- Good coffee taste, almost as if filtered by hand
- Perfect brewing temperature
- Heating plate that does not burn the coffee
- Simple design
Disadvantages:
- Water reservoir not removable
- Tends to under-extract with smaller quantities
- Plastic filter holder
The Moccamaster is available in two versions
KBG Select - with glass jug and heating plate
KBGT 741 - with aluminium thermos flask
The special feature of the keep-warm function of the Moccamaster with glass jug is that the coffee is not heated too much by the keep-warm plate after the brewing process, which would make the coffee bitter and undrinkable. The Moccamaster keeps the temperature of the coffee at approx. 80 – 85 °C for 40 minutes before it switches off automatically (according to EU standards).
For a better taste experience, we recommend drinking the coffee immediately after brewing or pouring it into a thermos flask. Flavours are always lost when heat is added.
Technical details at a glance:
- Jug: Glass jug or aluminium thermos jug
- Coffee quantity: 2 to 10 cups
- Max. Filling capacity: 1.25 L
- Brewing time: 2 to 6 min.
- Brewing temperature: around 96 °C
- Keep warm temperature: 80 – 85 °C
- Dimensions: 32.5 x 35.5 x 16.5 cm
- Cable length: 1.40 m
- Weight: 2,6 kg
- Manufacturer: Technivorm
- Warranty: 5 years
- Power: 1,450 W
Here we go with the detailed test
How we tested the preperation
We tested the Moccamaster for its suitability for everyday use and which settings give us the best coffee taste. We tested the taste of three different quantities of coffee: 300 ml, 500 ml and 1000 ml. The results surprised us:
The preperation
We prepared all three coffees in the same way to make the results comparable. We ground the coffee a little finer than for the hand filter. In addition, we rinsed the coffee filter with hot water before brewing and stirred the ground coffee a little after the first two spurts of water for a more even extraction. Otherwise, we let the Moccamaster do its work on its own.
Preparation steps in the test:
The taste is convincing - especially with larger quantities of coffee
In our test, we chose Yirgacheffe coffee because it tastes particularly nuanced and fruity – and is certainly not the easiest coffee to prepare. When brewing, these nuances can quickly be lost, for example through incorrect pouring or unevenly tempered water. That’s why we were particularly interested to see whether the Moccamaster could tease out the fine aromas of Yirgacheffe coffee.
We were very pleasantly surprised by the taste of all three coffees! We liked the preparation with the largest amount of coffee best. The taste was most balanced and the subtle nuances of the Yirgacheffe coffee came out best. The smallest brewing quantity was the least convincing in the test, as the coffee ran through very quickly and therefore tasted somewhat flatter than the other doses. For small quantities of coffee up to 300 ml, we therefore recommend grinding a little finer. This extends the contact time of the water with the ground coffee and more of the coffee is dissolved in the water.
1) The TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) indicates in percent how many particles of a substance, in this case coffee, are found in a solution. With the help of a formula, this number can be used to infer the extraction rate.
2) The extraction rate indicates how many solid coffee particles have been extracted from the ground coffee by the brewing process and are found in the filter coffee.
3) The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) recommends an extraction rate of 20 to 22%.
Moccamaster vs. hand filter - Who makes the better coffee?
Der Hario V60 hand filter provides more variability in terms of brewing time and extraction than the Moccamaster due to manual brewing. The short pre-infusion of the Moccamaster in particular does not allow the coffee grounds to swell sufficiently, which is a disadvantage in terms of uniform extraction.
In our test, however, both brewing methods (Moccamaster and hand filter) made it difficult for us to taste any difference. Both variants delivered a balanced taste picture.
For small quantities of coffee up to 500 ml, the hand filter was able to show its strengths better, as you can determine the infusion intervals yourself. In comparison, the Moccamaster poured the water a little too quickly for small quantities of coffee, which resulted in a less aromatic filter coffee. The coffee from the hand filter had a better body in comparison and the aftertaste was noticeable for longer. The Moccamaster did a good job of accentuating the fruity nuances of the coffee, but did not taste as full-bodied and lingering as the coffee from the hand filter.
It is important to note that in the test, we rinsed the Moccamaster’s paper filter with hot water and stirred the ground coffee a little after the first two spurts of water. These two steps significantly improved the taste of the coffee. With darker coffee roasts, such as Toleyo coffee, the differences in taste are significantly smaller if you omit the two additional steps.
The hand filter performs much better with small amounts of coffee
You ask, we answer: tips and tricks
What is the best way to descale the Moccamaster?
The manufacturer Technivorm recommends descaling the Moccamaster regularly after approx. 100 brewing processes. If you use the Moccamaster every day, you can plan to do this every 3 months!
An indicator of a calcified Moccamaster is when, for example, the glass tube inside the water reservoir becomes slightly cloudy or the machine makes increasingly loud noises during the brewing process. You can find out how to descale the machine step by step in our instructions.
4 tips for even better taste:
These tips get even more flavour out of your coffee!
- Rinse filter paper with hot water
- Stir the coffee grounds with a small spoon after the first two spurts of water
- Preheat the aluminium pot with hot water – keeps the filter coffee warm for much longer
- For small quantities of filter coffee (up to 500 ml), grind even finer
How is the water reservoir constructed?
The water container of the Moccamaster holds approx. 1.25l and is marked in 0.25l increments. The container is made of plastic and is not removable, which we find a bit of a shame. Therefore, you always have to use another container to fill the Moccamaster with water. The intake tube is made of glass. Tip: If the tube becomes a little cloudy over time, this is a sure sign that the machine should be descaled.
The concept of the Moccamaster, similar to almost all coffee machines, is that the entire amount of water in the water tank is always used for brewing and no individual brewing quantities can be set on the machine.
Which paper filters do I need for the Moccamaster?
Theoretically, you can use any conventional paper filter for filter coffee machines, but we do not recommend this. Instead, we recommend the original Moccamaster filters!
These paper filters are about as strong as the Hario V60’s, but a little stiffer and with fine pores. They are bleached, which we like, because then the taste of the coffee remains unadulterated. Many conventional coffee filters are made from recycled paper and transfer an unpleasant taste to the coffee. You can bend the Moccamaster filters once at the bottom and on the side so that they sit firmly and securely in the filter holder. We also tested the original Melitta filter (bleached) in the Moccamaster and found no difference in taste.
How robust is the glass jug?
The glass jug of the Moccamaster feels robust, although it would probably not survive a fall onto the kitchen floor. What’s special is that the glass jug has a kind of funnel integrated into it that mixes the coffee (mixing lid), so there’s no need for additional swirling for a balanced flavour.
What is special about the Moccamaster’s shower head?
The water is distributed evenly over the coffee powder through the perforations. The shower head pours the water at short intervals so that the brewing process is not completed too quickly. Nevertheless, for a better taste experience, we recommend stirring briefly after two water infusions so that the coffee is extracted even more evenly.
What is special about the filter holder?
The filter holder of the Moccamaster has an automatic drip stop. This means that when the glass or thermos jug is pulled away, no more coffee drips out of the filter holder. The shape of the filter holder is reminiscent of the classic Melitta filter. The filters of the Moccamaster are flat at the bottom and do not taper like the Hario V60 hand filter, for example. The filter holder is easy to remove and therefore convenient to rinse. Simple cleaning with washing-up liquid is often sufficient to remove coffee residues. Nevertheless, the filter holder can be put in the dishwasher without any problems.
Which coffees are best suited for the Moccamaster?
The Moccamaster is suitable for all filter coffees. In the test, we used Yirgacheffe coffee to find out whether the Moccamaster can also extract the aromas of particularly finely nuanced coffees. With success! Just choose a coffee that best suits your taste preferences. If you prefer chocolaty and strong coffees, the Toleyo is the right choice for you. If you prefer floral and fruity coffees, you should use our Rungeto or Yirgacheffe for example.
Our conclusion:
In the specialty coffee scene, filter coffee machines had a bad reputation for a long time because they prepared the coffee amateurishly. With the Moccamaster, the critics‘ points have been remedied by heating the water to the ideal preparation temperature of 96° and infusing it in small intervals.
We recommend the Moccamaster to all those who want to brew really good coffee, even in larger quantities. The time saving and convenient preparation are the great strengths of the Moccamaster compared to manual brewing methods. For coffee drinkers who like to take a little more time to brew their coffee and who mainly drink up to 300 ml of coffee, we recommend a hand filter.
