Braun KF600 Impressions 10-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker, Brushed Stainless Steel

I'm very pleased with the Braun KF600. First, let's get one issue out of the way: Rated cup capacity: This is a standardized measurement system manufacturers' use. It's based on a small cup size. You should use this rating to select and compare models. You SHOULDN'T use it to determine how many big mugs of coffee it will brew. If you're disappointed with Braun's 10 cup size, you'll be disappointed with other 10 cup size machines as well. Now, specifically about the Braun KF600: This is the third thermal coffee maker I've owned. (I DO wish they lasted a little longer. Seems that two years is about the expected lifetime for any electric drip coffee maker.) The Braun compares very favorably to the others in terms of: 1) Simplicity: Braun has left off the 'programmable timer' that just about every other model has. I prefer to grind my beans and start the brewing when I get up, so the programmable function isn't missed. It also seems that the timer is the first thing to malfunction on a coffee maker, so leaving it off is a smart thing in my view. The on/off switch at the base of the Braun has a nice feel and leads me to believe it will last a while (despite the fact the switch swivels to turn on and automatically swivels back when it turns off). 2) Caraffe Design: Thermal pots are still a young science and it seems everyone has their own design. Some use a spring loaded spout closure; the last model I had (Krups) had a top that had to be screwed off and on, and you had to screw it down tight to keep the coffee warm between pours. None that I've used up 'til now has been very impressive. I love Braun's design: The lever action flip up top is very easy to manipulate and pour with; it also pours a narrow, gentle, directed flow so spills are pretty well eliminated. The top returns to position after pouring simply via gravity, and the pot maintains temperature better than any I've used (especially since it's easy to forget to 'close' a manual close model after pouring). 3) Ease of use: Both the reservoir and cone holder are easily accessed and easily filled. Believe me, you can't always say that about other models. 4) Overall looks: A nicely designed unit that will compliment most any kitchen. 5) Most importantly, the coffee it makes!: Coffee temperature is perfect when brewed (and holds up well for hours in the thermal carafe). Flavor extraction is also excellent. Once you've determined your grind consistency and quantity, you'll brew a perfect cup of coffee with this machine.

After using this coffeemaker for a year and a half, I am even more convinced that this is one of my best purchases. The pot does not drip when pouring and the quality of brewed coffee is excellent. I like the way the entire upper basket swings out and comes off for cleaning and I really like the overall appearance of the coffeemaker. It brews fast and I find that I need less beans than with my former coffeemakers. It seems to extract greater flavor from the coffee. I have not had the experience of any overflow during brewing IF you simply don't overfill the water tank. I have used a paper filter inside the goldtone one without problems and I grind my beans very fine with a Krups burr grinder. I've also just used the goldtone filter with great results. I like the water filter and feel the extra expense is worth it to achieve a better cup of coffee, but the coffeemaker also works without the filter, which could be a plus to those using bottled water. Although a timer and a larger carafe would be my suggestions for improvements, I knew these were not present before making my purchase. I don't mind preheating the pot for a few minutes to guarantee a longer lasting hot cup of coffee (this is one of the neccessary steps with all thermal carafes) and the size of the pot is big enough for our needs. It brews so quickly that simply making another fresh pot if you drink the first is not such an unreasonable consideration. The trade off for such a great cup of coffee and a thermal carafe so reasonably priced is worth this small "inconvenience", but the three large mugs it makes are often enough to start our morning. I highly recommend this item to anyone looking for a standard coffeemaker with a thermal carafe that doesn't need all the "bells and whistles" or a 12 cup pot. Update: 9/15/08 So I've had this for about two years now and it's performed without a hitch, until recently. The on/off switch started to work intermittently. Sometimes it turned off before the brew cycle was done, which wasn't a huge problem as I just flipped it back on, but it got worse, and this morning would not turn on at all. I'll admit, I've run the pot over a few times when I overfilled the water chamber, but it should not have effected the switch as it should be sealed from this (shouldn't it?). Next day: I drained the maker and let it sit overnight. Today, it's brewing once again, but the switch does not work. It stays on and I unplug it when it's done. I'm limping through with it until I choose and obtain another coffeemaker. I'm thinking of investing in a Bunn as I've had one in the past and it was very reliable. This Braun still makes great coffee but the filters are rather expensive and I've read that they are becoming difficult to find when the model is discontinued. One of the reasons I bought this unit was because of the simplicity and even that seems to be too much for this company to make reliably. I'm disappointed! A $80.00 coffeemaker should last longer than 2 years. From now on, I'm thinking the warranty will be a bigger influence for my purchases. Cuisinart and Bunn both have 3 years on their coffeemakers.

This is one great looking coffeemaker! And it worked well for me...for about 6 months. Made in Germany, it reminds me of Mercedes Benz cars: it looked great and worked great when new. But over time (not that much time, actually), it became trouble prone. Last week I threw it in the trash. I have no complainst whatsoeveer about how well it worked. I will miss it. The durable carafe keeps coffee warm without electricity for most of the day. And it's easy to use. But one morning about one month after I bought it, I returned to the kitchen to get my cup of java, and there were coffee grounds and coffee all over the counter. Seems the door opened itself during the brewing cycle. The next morning, the same thing happend. Then, I had a great idea: Put a Velcro strap on it to keep it closed. I went to the hardware store, and it worked! Unfortunately, though, not for long. About 6 months later, a tiny fragile piece broke off the part that holds the coffee. Now, the pot's useless, because the grounds just fall out. I hope Braun engineers do better on future products. This one's going to the dump.