While I was growing up in Denmark, I was exposed to a large number of Moccamasters. They were found in every kitchen imaginable. Even my great-grandmother owned one of these.
(There is a family legend that my grandfather bought it for her because it brews coffee much more quickly than other models!)
On the other hand, all of this occurred a very long time ago – aeons before the specialty coffee boom began in the middle of the 2000s. The Moccamaster was initially conceived of in the 1970s and has undergone very little development since that time.
Consequently, all of this has piqued my interest in determining whether or not this legendary coffee machine is still up to the task.
Over the course of more than a month, I put the Moccamaster through its paces by making coffee with it on a daily basis.
Continue reading if you are interested in discovering whether or not modern coffee connoisseurs should spend their money on this equipment.
WHO ARE THE TECHNIVORM GUYS?
The origins of the Dutch corporation known as Technivorm may be traced all the way back to the early 1960s. In the years leading up to the introduction of the now-iconic KGB model in 1974, the firm was responsible for the production of both a coffee maker and a grinder.
Even while Moccamaster currently produces a wide variety of various domestic models, the majority of them are essentially just variants on the same pattern.
Although some of them come equipped with thermal carafes and others have a mechanism that prevents drips integrated into the filter basket, in essence, they are all made of the same material and perform in the same way.
When you take into consideration things like consumer electronics or high street fashion, this is an attitude that is invigorating. It’s hard to tell the difference between a Moccamaster from 25 years ago and one made today.
The same environmentally conscious philosophy is applied to both the construction and the materials used. The housing is built out of a solid block of aluminum, and most, if not all, of the components can be purchased separately as spare parts.
So let’s imagine that you’re having trouble with either the carafe or the arm that sprays water. If this is the case, purchasing a replacement component and installing it on your own will not be difficult at all. In the case of the water outlet arm, I resolved the issue in this manner. But we’ll talk more about that in a bit.
In addition, Technivorm still maintains its manufacturing in the Netherlands, where all of the machines are put together using manual labor. This also helps to explain why companies based in Europe, such as Moccamaster, prefer to charge higher prices than those based in Asia. Despite this, the price of the brand is not prohibitively high in the EU. In contrast, the United States of America and many other parts of the world view it more as an investment.
Moccamaster Glossary
There are a great number of subtle distinctions between different Moccamasters. The following information may be deduced from the abbreviations contained in the name:
KBG: The traditional template
KB: This is the classic model, but it does not have the auto-stop mechanism for the drip.
The version of KBT with a thermal carafe
The letter V in KBGV denotes the volume control. This model is also known as the Moccamaster Select, and it debuted in 2021 as the most recent and improved iteration.
HB and HBG are examples of models that begin with the letter “H” and only offer a single heat plate setting. It’s not really that big of a deal for the majority of today’s users.
The classic Moccamaster has undergone very little evolution throughout the years.
MOCCAMASTER KBG 741 IN DAILY USE?
Now, let’s put our fond memories of the Moccamaster in the past and instead concentrate on how well it works in today’s world. Has it have what it takes to succeed?
I have to admit that my expectations are quite high because I am a coffee nerd and a Q grader. I also have a big brew device collection that includes anything from Harios and Kalitas to PID-controlled espresso machines.
Would there be room in my collection of coffee tools for a design that’s been around for 46 years?
At first, the procedure appeared to be somewhat cumbersome due to the many distinct components that needed to be assembled correctly.
Particularly, the detachable top on the filter basket as well as the water reservoir appeared to be quite cumbersome at first.
However, my experience has shown me that most coffee gadgets can feel like that initially, but after a week’s use, muscle memory sets in, and you have more minor workflow concerns. After a week of use, most coffee gadgets can seem like that initially.
This appeared to be the situation in this instance as well.
In the event that there is an issue, the device’s design, which is modular, makes it simple to fix.
If the design were not sturdy, it wouldn’t have been around for as long as it has been.
The ease with which all components of the Moccamaster KBG can be properly cleaned is yet another essential facet of the design of the Moccamaster KBG. The accumulation of rancid coffee oils and mold is one of the primary issues associated with automatic drip coffee makers. This can have a negative impact on the flavor of the coffee and potentially your health.
When I was utilizing the Moccamaster, I never once had any worries or concerns in that regard. It is simple to remove and clean any component that comes into contact with liquids such as water or coffee grounds. The water tank is the one and only exception to this rule; when it comes to the water tank, it is absolutely necessary to fill it with fresh water. In addition to this, you shouldn’t use the carafe to fill it because the carafe may still have some coffee oils stuck in it.
EXTRACTION ISSUES?
The following test consisted of making some good coffee from scratch. During the time that I was putting the Moccamaster through its paces, I often made coffee for only two people. Because there are just two of us, a large batch is way too much coffee, so I spent most of my time making just enough for two large mugs of coffee. Therefore, that was normally somewhere in the range of 500 milliliters to 32 grams of coffee.
If I didn’t do anything to slow them down, the beers that were produced came out a little bit too quickly. This makes perfect sense given that Moccamaster is known for its rapid brewing capabilities. Despite my best efforts, I wasn’t able to secure the desired amount of face-to-face interaction time. This is likely the result of combining a large basket designed specifically for producing enormous quantities of brew with a rapid flow of water.
After the initial water had been distributed, I would frequently find myself turning off the machine for a period of thirty seconds to simulate a bloom. This led to an improvement in the extraction, as well as cups that were rounder and had a more full-bodied flavor.
If you do nothing except let the water pump operate on its own for two minutes, it will be able to dispense 500 milliliters of water. After that, the overall brew time will be determined by the grind size you use. Because of this, the brewing process will take approximately 2.30 minutes in the vast majority of instances. If you ask me, that is moving a little too quickly.
THE BRAND-NEW OUTLET ARM OF MOCCAMASTER
Another problem that I ran into was a water dispersion that was overly concentrated. The Moccamaster has a water spray arm that is very long and very thin. On the other hand, because of the way the nine holes in the arm are constructed, the water has a tendency to combine and form a single stream. This tremendous stream would carve a massive crater in the middle of the brew bed as it dug its way through the brew bed. I am accustomed to making coffee with a pour over method, therefore I am aware that this method is inferior. You should instead aim for an equitable distribution across the entirety of the coffee bed. Because excessive agitation might result in a bitter taste in the cup, you should also strive for a somewhat mild flow that does not stir up the entire brew bed. This is because you want to avoid creating bitterness in the cup.
During the course of my investigation into the matter, I discovered that the most current generation of Moccamasters ships with a water output arm that has been subtly altered. The holes on this spray arm include a type of projecting rib that helps foster equal dispersion across the entirety of the surface. Therefore, I searched for a store that sold items online and placed an order for a new water outlet, which didn’t cost more than about $28 to $30.
Even a little child could have easily installed the replacement arm because the process was so straightforward. A few minutes after I was given the replacement, I noticed that my brew bed looked noticeably nicer and had that little more soft feel, which indicated that the agitation was being done more gently.
IS IT CAPABLE OF MAKING DECENT COFFEE?
The coffee that came out of the Moccamaster tasted very good on the whole. The organization did an excellent job of determining the ideal temperature for the product. The heating element of the machine is made of copper. I don’t have a method to verify this claim, but I’ve heard that it has a higher quality standard than products made by other manufacturers. The Moccamaster, on the other hand, is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means that it is reasonable to presume that it brews at the appropriate temperature.
If you use clean water at the appropriate brewing temperature (about 93–95 degrees Celsius), pour it at the appropriate intervals, and distribute it uniformly throughout the brew bed, then the coffee that you make will have a pleasant flavor. That is merely a fundamental truth about coffee.
On the other hand, the vast majority of the time I was assisting the Moccamaster in some little way throughout the process. As was stated, I would frequently incorporate a “blooming phase” into the process by turning off the machine. When I felt like stirring the brew bed more thoroughly, I would occasionally use a spoon. Alternately, in order to guarantee uniform saturation, I would tilt the spray arm ever-so-slightly.
It would appear that completing these procedures is important in order to get the most out of the equipment. If you don’t do it, you’ll still get nice coffee, but you might only get to 80%, whereas the minor hacks can help you get the very last bits out of your beans. If you don’t do it, you’ll still get wonderful coffee.
It’s sort of a shame that you have to do anything like that in order to use an automatic drip coffee maker because it seems to run counter to the whole point of having one of those machines in the first place. On the other hand, these are rather unimportant actions to take in order to guarantee outstanding coffee on a broad scale. And you’ll find that you’re using them naturally in no time at all.
Moccamaster for those who are nerdy?
Since I am a coffee enthusiast to the core, it was inevitable that I would try to make the process even more complicated.
I experimented with brewing coffee using a variety of brewers other than the traditional cone-shaped basket, and I found that you can achieve some quite intriguing outcomes by using a Hario V60 or a Kalita Wave in its place. The holder for the filter is very close to being an ideal fit for one of those devices.
In the event that you are even more determined, removing the filter holder can be accomplished by simply unscrewing the two screws that are attached to it. After doing so, you will be able to store larger brewers in that space, like as a Chemex or a Hario Nel Dripper.
Throughout all of these studies, the combination of a Kalita Wave and a Gabi Dripmaster B produced the most favorable outcomes for me. When I brewed 500 milliliters of coffee using a ratio of 1:16, the finished product surprised me by being silky and having good extraction.
WHO IS IT DIRECTED AT?
You are probably thinking about purchasing the Technivorm Moccamaster, which is why you are here reading this article. This is a very important question for you to answer.
My opinion is that it is dependent on the individual as well as their coffee preferences.
I don’t believe there is a compelling need to incorporate a machine in the brewing process if you are primarily using a Hario V60 to make coffee for no more than two cups and consider yourself a speciality coffee enthusiast.
Convenience? To be honest, no. The majority of the time, preparing coffee with a pour-over method will be an equally simple process.
The answer is no. Even when everything is done correctly, pour–over coffee machines still have a little quality advantage over drip coffee makers.
If you frequently brew larger quantities, between 4 and 10 cups, the offer will be different for you.
In this scenario, I believe the Moccamaster is the best option to go with. You can brew a large pot of coffee to share with your loved ones and still have full faith that it will satisfy their taste buds.
Additionally, you are not required to be extremely involved in the brewing process for the majority of the time. Following the one to two minutes spent grinding coffee and setting up the machine, you are free to attend to the needs of your guests while the machine completes the remainder of the brewing cycle.
What if you’re just a regular person with an average income who dreams of having an iconic coffee maker in your home?
Now that you mention it, the Moccamaster does seem to have a lot of merit. It is true that the price is two to three times higher than that of comparable drip coffee makers. On the other hand, in terms of the quality of the construction, it will last for at least that long. When seen from the perspective of one’s long-term financial well-being, the investment in question is not a frivolous one. Especially not if you are the type of person who is concerned about the environment and its future. If this is the case, purchasing a single high-quality item that can be repaired is always preferable to purchasing multiple low-quality ones.
DRAWBACKS OF THE MOCCAMASTER KBG
There are a few drawbacks to the Moccamaster, particularly in comparison to the traditional KGB 741; however, these vary slightly depending on the model.
Let’s talk about them right here:
• Poor spray arm: This was the situation with all of the older models, however moving forward, Moccamaster will switch over to the new design. Despite this, I’m willing to bet that a significant number of the models now on the market utilize the outdated design of the water outlet. You should go for the fresh new Moccamaster “Select” model if you want to make sure that you get the right one.
• Heat Plate: The vast majority of Moccamasters are equipped with a heat plate. That can appeal to you if you have more of a traditional mindset. However, the vast majority of contemporary coffee connoisseurs do not place a lot of importance on this characteristic. It does not appear that the brew will be negatively affected if the coffee is removed at the end of the brewing cycle, as far as I can discern.
• Fast Brewing: After the brew bed has been saturated, you have the option of turning the machine off for a period of thirty seconds; nevertheless, this does feel like a relatively low-tech approach. When making smaller batches of coffee, the newest version of the Moccamaster, the Moccamaster Select, features a function that will improve extraction by slowing the flow rate of the water.
The most disappointing aspect of such a high-end appliance is the flimsy carafe that comes with it. It is quite flimsy and delicate. In addition, the grip feels somewhat fragile when you hold it. Since I am used to playing on premium servers provided by Hario, Kinto, and Kalita, this one seems a little lacking in comparison. Having said that, this is not a major issue. If the inconvenience is too great for you, you can easily switch to a different brand.
If you go for the version with the thermal carafe or the brand-new Moccamaster Select, you won’t have to worry about as many of these drawbacks. However, the KGB 741 that I used for this review is the most basic model available; despite its shortcomings, I was still able to enjoy the experience. You have options to get around the majority of them.
ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO COFFEE MAKERS THAT DRIP?
The Breville Precision Brewer, which I have previously evaluated, is a natural choice to be considered as an alternative to the Moccamaster. These two types of coffee makers couldn’t be more different from one another. The Breville equipment is extremely sophisticated and adaptable, but it is also completely impossible to repair on your own in the event that you experience any problems.
Controls for both temperature and flow are included on the Breville Precision Brewer, and there are two distinct baskets to choose from depending on the quantity of coffee desired. Therefore, if you are an extreme power user (someone who understands what they are doing when it comes to extraction yield, TDS, and so on) and you need to make HUGE quantities (like 14-16 cups), then the Precision Brewer has something special to offer you.
On the other hand, the majority of regular individuals who brew between 0.5 and 1 liter (4-8 cups) of coffee on a regular basis have some very good arguments in favor of the Moccamaster.
If you follow the instructions to the letter, you will end up with a drinkable cup of coffee. However, if you want to go a little more “advanced,” you may try stirring, pausing, or even playing with different baskets like a Hario V60 or a Kalita Wave. You can do any of these things if you want to.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS IT WORTH IT TO GET THE MOCCAMASTER?
In the realm of coffee, one of the most venerable designs is the Moccamaster KBG 741. It’s a classic style that’s still popular today, like Levi’s 501 jeans or Converse sneakers.
In that regard, you have a gut feeling that it will be successful to a good degree. On the other hand, as a fanatic for speciality coffee, I was surprised to find that it fulfilled many of my requirements. Although the most recent coffee maker I used was the much more advanced Breville Precision Brewer, I can’t say that when I was using the more traditional competitor, I missed very many of the functions that the Breville had to offer.
Even more so when it receives some assistance along the road, the Moccamaster is capable of producing equally delicious coffee.
The classic KGB 741 is a little bit dated in a few different areas, but it seems that Moccamaster has been able to address these concerns with the new and improved Select model.
You may rely on the Moccamaster as your daily car if you are a coffee connoisseur who wishes to brew large amounts of coffee in a stylish manner.
