Anyone looking for the latest and greatest in coffeemakers might expect the action to be among single-serve “pod” machines, new variations of electric French-press models, or machines that combine brewing methods or even beverages—say, coffee plus smoothies and shakes. But with the Krups Moka Brew KM4688, the German manufacturer is offering a new twist on the standard drip coffeemaker.
One of six coffeemakers we’ve just gotten in for testing, the 10-cup Krups Moka Brew KM4688, $150, isn’t truly new; the company has offered four different versions since the product’s debut in 1961. All have been similar in that they resemble a teapot with a coffeemaker on top. That’s not far off from how it works. The hot plate on which the new unit’s glass carafe rests is also the lid of a reservoir fitted with coils that heat the water. The heated water rises up one side of the machine to directly above the carafe in a “steam extraction” process Krups says delivers “rich flavors and a full-bodied coffee.”
The carafe itself includes the brew-basket, which uses a permanent wire basket about half as tall as a standard cupcake-style filter. If you prefer paper filters, you’ll be double-filtering your coffee in addition to snipping off the top half of your filter every day. A lock on top of the unit prevents it from opening during brewing.
We’ll let you know how the Krups performs once we’ve finished testing it and the five other models, which include single-serve and drip coffeemakers from Brim, Mr. Coffee, and Tru. But there’s no reason to wait if your current coffeemaker has gone on the fritz. See our coffeemaker buying guide for tips on what you’ll see in the stores. Then see our coffeemaker Ratings of more than 110 models.
—Ed Perratore (@Ed Perratore on Twitter)
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