Braun KF187W FlavorSelect 12-Cup Coffeemaker, White
Though only slightly bigger than a quality four-cup coffeemaker, Braun’s top-of-the-line FlavorSelect is full of high-tech wizardry and able to turn ground beans into a superior pot of drip coffee. Its most desirable feature for many will be the water filter (it needs replacing after about two months of regular use). The water filter removes
Though only slightly bigger than a quality four-cup coffeemaker, Braun’s top-of-the-line FlavorSelect is full of high-tech wizardry and able to turn ground beans into a superior pot of drip coffee. Its most desirable feature for many will be the water filter (it needs replacing after about two months of regular use). The water filter removes chlorine, bad taste, and odors from water before brewing. It also reduces calcification so the machine rarely, if ever, needs to be decalcified. But, for others, the digital clock and timer feature will be a big draw. The brewing cycle covers both small and large quantities and mild or strong coffee. There’s even a feature that adjusts the temperature of the hot plate, and another that turns the machine off from zero to four hours after the coffee is brewed. This model comes with a stainless-steel filter screen, which will last years and eliminates the need for paper filters completely. All of these features come in a sleek, simple design that won’t take over the kitchen. It does take about 15 minutes to get through the directions, but once you’ve got them down, this machine might change your mornings. –Maria Dolan
Editor’s Choice: Braun’s FlavorSelect coffeemaker is our choice for the best coffeemaker under $100, and our choice for best drip coffeemaker without a grinder, regardless of price. It has too many quality functions not to be, starting with the flavor selector, which lets you adjust the coffee to personal preference–no more trying to adjust flavor by putting in different amounts of coffee. It’s also very convenient, with both automatic brewing capabilities and automatic hotplate shutoff (meaning that you can tell it to either turn on or turn off when you’re not around), and a hotplate temperature control that ranges from 167 degrees to 187 degrees.
Product Features
- 12-cup capacity with versatile 1- to 3-cup switch
- Patented water filter reduces chlorine for more flavorful coffee
- Pour a cup midbrew with convenient brew-pause feature
- Automatic shut-off, adjustable temperature control, digital clock and timer
- Measures 14-1/2 by 7-3/5 by 12-1/4 inches; 1-year warranty
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Top notch coffee maker ! I have owned both this Braun and the competing Krups model, and the Braun model is hands down the best. It has a lot of really nice features. I like good, strong coffee and I’m willing to buy really good beans to make it (like Peets, for example). This coffee maker really does good beans justice. Its really fast – much faster than the Krups, for example, but the coffee is fuller and richer tasting.
Great Coffee — But Forget the Filter I’ve had this coffeemaker for about two weeks now and I’m very happy with it. The coffee comes out good and strong and never bitter. My one quibble, and why I only gave it four stars, is the nylon filter that comes with it. I think the coffee tastes much better when dripped through a paper filter. I had come to the same conclusion with my old Braun, when I switched back to paper after having used a gold-tone filter for about 2 years. The coffee tastes much richer and more flavorful. My…
Convenient but has problems As others have pointed out this is a reliable and convenient machine. It makes decent coffee but (like other auto drip machines) doesn’t get the water to the right temperature. In fact, it’s about 20 degrees fahrenheit too low. You’ll probably need to nuke your coffee in the microwave after brewing it, and you won’t get quite the rich taste you achieve with hotter water.