The water tank is filled first. Fill with cold water to max line. Ensure the reservoir are firmly in place in the rear and there is no leaks. The plain water awaits its destiny as brewed coffee. Nothing happens without this routine but important step. Now for the coffee grounds. No need for the tea basket this time around. Instead, use the coffee filter and add your coffee grounds.
Dark brown powder fills the cone shaped filter which sit snugly in its holder. Gently tap on the grounds and level them out. It all settles nicely before water arrives, and having a good bed of coffee make a difference. Slide in the basket easily. The frame glides shut easily, locking in place with a soft click. Hearing that brings a sense of confidence (things must be lining up correcty).
The Brewing Experience
Just to make doubly certain, you double-check that the seal is secure; it’s set-up and ready to listen to your orders. There are multiple sizes of cups to choose from on the panel. Then there’s a regular cup size selection, and then you choose which brew program you’d like. For today, classic mode seem to be the winner here as it’s neither too strong nor too weak. Each option is well lit in blue and the navigation around the menu are simple. Everything is spelled out clearly on the display. One final check of your settings and then you turn the knob to lock in the program.
No more wobbling around. The knob locks smoothly into place. The interface reacts quickly because machine isn’t lagging. You’re ready to go and the wait is nearly over.
Then you hit Start. There’s a faint hum within the machine and some vibrations but still no steam. It’s going to take time; one minute goes by … Two minutes go by …
Patience is a virtue, as the screen reminds for a few seconds before resuming its initial display, rushing things will spoil the outcome. Not long later, coffee begin to flow. A dark river rushes into your white cup; it fills up without pausing or spluttering.
It smells of dark richness, filling the kitchen with a scent that makes you happy just by smelling it grow stronger. You’re glad that this thing can make a clean pour, it fits right in your morning schedule. As the brew nears completion, bubbles appear on the surface. When finished, a lighter foam sits across the surface of the coffee and the stream shuts off suddenly. Classic mode’s ticking timer passes over and… there it is. It is full-bodied, dark, and ready for drinking right away. Check the temperature before sipping. It is hot to the touch; you can feel it with your fingers. There’s a slight whiff of steam coming off the surface of the cup.
Strength is what you’re seeking, that’s clear in the taste profile. And strength is what the machine deliver effortlessly: not a minute wasted. “End” is plainly shown on the screen. Everything went as expected; no warning messages, no problems. It’s done and you’re glad that it worked.
Machines sometimes have a mind of their own and don’t always work. But this one do every time. So all that setting up was worthwhile. How does it compare to other systems? It’s like comparing single-serve pods: handy but wasteful. Or you prefer the authenticity of ground coffee, which seems more accurate here.
You do notice a difference in taste; these coffees are richer and deeper. Overall, with real beans, the experience is much better (and goes far beyond any problems with pods). Cleaning up afterwards is easy. A quick rinse of the filter and a wipe down of the counter from any spillage does the trick. Since this thing requires some daily care, you need to take time to keep it clean. Good design choices makes it easier to do that with this one.
But this was all done within just a few minutes. Within three minutes, you’re gone from the water and in your mug.
In busy mornings, time is important and quick is good. No delays keeps you on track. Everything is laid out as it should of, with a logical progression from one step to the next. This gives you a smooth start to set up the rest of your day.