Technivorm Moccamaster Review

I remember my family’s old drip coffee maker. Unfortunately, it always made extremely bitter coffee. And the glass carafe had a big chip in it, so it never kept the coffee hot for long. The brewing process was agonizingly slow and messy, too.

When my brother brought home a new Technivorm Moccamaster two years ago, my life changed. And so did my standards for a great cup of coffee.

In this Technivorm Moccamaster review, I’ll take a look at how this home brewer can make superior quality coffee. 

Why The Technivorm Moccamaster Rocks

I won’t forget the first time I saw the Moccamaster’s brewing process. I watched the coffee grounds bloom as the brewer showered them with water. Even before I tried the coffee, I was mesmerized.

And by the time I tasted my first cup, I was smitten. The coffee had a great body, zero bitterness, and even some sweetness. I remember even thinking that it tasted more like a pour over than brewed coffee. 

Immediately, my benchmark for home-brewed coffee jumped to the sky.

Since that day, my brother’s Moccamaster has met those standards with every cup, every morning. And if you won’t believe me, maybe you will if you heard it from the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).

The SCA’s Home Brewer Certification is the most prestigious in the world of home brewers. I’d say it’s the coffee maker equivalent of being knighted.

Only the best of the best are able to meet the SCA’s rigorous requirements for what makes a great coffee maker. Thankfully, the Moccamaster far exceeds any requirements and then some.

Things like water temperature, brew time, and brew strength must be within each brew’s optimal ranges. Even how long the carafe can keep your coffee hot is measured.

When a coffee maker can consistently stay within the SCA’s optimal ranges, it’s given this prestigious certification.

SCA certification is proof that you can expect high quality from every cup of a specific home brewer. But that’s not all that goes into deciding whether or not it’s worth buying. Let’s review the other criteria that are worth considering.

Design

One of the first things you notice about the Moccamaster is its design. The stainless steel body and thermal carafe are simple but very elegant. I remember thinking it looked much sleeker than our clunky old coffee maker.

It also has a water reservoir made with BPA-free plastic. But while using this doesn’t affect the brew’s taste or quality, some coffee drinkers are not comfortable with this particular feature.

At 12.8 x 6.7 x 14 inches, the Moccamaster coffee maker isn’t the bulkiest option you’ll find. You’ll still have to clear some space for it on your countertop. But after seeing its premium aesthetic, there’s a good chance you’ll want to.

The Moccamaster is handmade in the Netherlands. In terms of design, you can expect a quality level that truly sets it apart from other cheaply made coffee makers.

The Features

How does the Technivorm Moccamaster make high-quality coffee in every cup? Here are the secrets of this premium drip coffee maker.

First, the Moccamaster has a copper heating element that rapidly heats the water in its reservoir. It takes the water from room temperature to between 196oF and 205oF in less than a minute. Then, it keeps it at this temperature range for the duration of the brew.

This same copper heating technology is what’s used to control water temperature in premium espresso machines. And if it’s good enough for an espresso machine, you know it’s good enough to be in your home brewer.

Another feature that deserves a mention in this review is the 9-hole showerhead of the Moccamaster.

The coffee from the Technivorm Moccamaster tastes more like a pour-over than your typical brewed cup of coffee. And its 9-hole showerhead is a big reason for that.

Through this, all your grounds are fully saturated for maximum flavor.

The showerhead also pours water on your grounds a little at a time, almost similar to how a pour over is performed. This makes sure you don’t drown your beans and end up over extracting them.

Pouring water in intervals also gives your coffee time to bloom and release carbon dioxide. This helps unmask the flavors in your coffee, allowing them to shine through in your cup.

The Moccamaster also has a brew basket that’s compatible with both permanent and cone paper filters for ultimate flexibility. 

Lastly, the Technivorm Moccamaster includes a 40-oz, 10-cup thermal carafe. This one’s pretty tall and lean compared to the usual short and stout glass carafe.

It also has a concave detachable lid/funnel that makes sure your coffee doesn’t leak or spill throughout your brew.

The brewer also comes with a sealable travel lid, so you can take your carafe with you and keep your coffee hot wherever you go!

The Brew

The coffee from the Technivorm Moccamaster almost tastes like a pour over. So how does it do this?

Obviously, the pouring technique isn’t identical to that of a real pour over. But the water in the coffee maker hits 205oF in under a minute, for a total brew time of under 6 minutes.

This makes sure that you get optimal extraction and balanced flavor in every carafe you brew.

The SCA even has measurements to prove this exact point. The brew strength, extraction, and consistency of the Moccamaster are all subject to the highest standards.

The proof that this drip coffee maker is one of the best in the world isn’t in all its fancy features; it’s in the coffee it makes.

Ease of Use

The Technivorm Moccamaster is a very user-friendly home brewer. The only things it can’t do for you are: grind your beans, pour water into its own reservoir, and clean itself.

If you have the budget for it, I’d really suggest that you invest in your own grinder; if you’re on a tight budget, the right manual hand grinder works wonders.

This way, you can grind your beans yourself and have freshly ground coffee each brew. There’s a night-and-day difference in quality between freshly ground coffee and pre-ground coffee.

If you care about how your coffee tastes, the Moccamaster is 100% worth the investment. If not, then you likely shouldn’t be investing in an SCAA-certified coffee maker in the first place!

As for cleaning, the plastic that the Technivorm Moccamaster uses isn’t dishwasher-safe. However, the parts are still super easy to clean. Just wipe the brew basket, rinse your carafe, and let them dry!

Ease of use, in general, is entirely subjective. But as long as I don’t have to heat the water myself, I consider all coffee machines easy enough to use.

Value for Money

If you’re on a super tight budget, the Moccamaster might not be for you. The main benefit of getting SCA certification is that it gives home brewer manufacturers an excuse to increase their prices.

Good coffee is a viable business option, after all. Because of this, the Moccamaster is more pricey than its peers.

But make no mistake: I think it’s well worth the price difference. Because it’s worth more than the cost of its raw parts. SCA certification is proof that the Moccamaster is better than most of its competition. And that difference in expertise often exceeds the difference in price.

One thing you can be sure of when buying an SCA-certified coffee maker is that it’s going to be worth your investment. It has a level of quality, consistency, and durability that few other drip coffee makers have.

And to guarantee high-quality coffee every morning for the next couple of years, I’d be willing to pay a little extra!

The Moccamaster Isn’t For You If…

…you’re on a tight budget

If it’s not apparent yet, I’m a huge fan of the Moccamaster. But I don’t think everyone should buy one.

You should buy a coffee maker that best suits your financial situation. It’s wise always to have money set aside for emergencies.

Please don’t burn through your savings so you can brag about a new coffee maker on Instagram! Know how much you can afford to spend and select accordingly.

…you don’t need to brew more than a couple of cups at a time

Moccamaster’s 40-oz carafe is perfect for families and small offices. But if you live by yourself, you might be better off with a drip coffee maker that makes no more than a few cups at a time.

One alternative is to buy a single-serve coffee maker instead of a drip coffee maker. It’s much easier to operate, and the cleanup is a lot faster too.

If you just want to get your caffeine fix every morning, a single-serve coffee maker can get the job done, albeit it isn’t my favorite. 

But if you really care about the quality of your coffee, I feel you. Instead, I’d buy a more affordable coffee maker with a smaller capacity than a single-serve coffee maker.

…you want an all-in-one solution with a built-in burr grinder

That exists? Yes, because science knows no limits! If you want a grinder-and-coffee-maker in one, there are better options for you than the Moccamaster. Just check out our list of brewers with grinders for a detailed look.

However, if you haven’t decided which you prefer, I would suggest buying a separate grinder from your coffee maker.

Any affordable coffee maker that also grinds your beans likely won’t be the best at either of those things. In fact, none of the SCA-certified home brewers are grinder-and-brewer hybrids.

But if you think grinding and brewing on the same machine is just the coolest concept ever, I don’t blame you!

Don’t expect to get better quality coffee from an all-in-one coffee maker than from a Moccamaster, though.

Ultimately, I think you’ll save money in the long run if you buy a good quality grinder and coffee maker separately. They’ll both last a long time, and you’ll be spreading your risk between two machines instead of just one!

The Final Verdict

The Technivorm Moccamaster is one of the best coffee makers you’ll find. And while it’s a bit pricier than other drip coffee makers, I think the quality in every cup of coffee speaks for itself.

Somehow, the Moccamaster is able to add a human touch to its coffee. Every brew tastes like a real barista prepared it. If the taste of your morning coffee is important to you, this drip coffee maker is an excellent investment.

However, there are a lot of other coffee makers out there. Don’t let a single positive review dictate which one you should get. Read up on your other alternatives, and compare their features. You might find something that better suits what you’re looking for!

A good place to start is our favorite SCAA-certified coffee makers. Including the Moccamaster, all coffee makers on this list passed the SCA’s rigid standards for a quality coffee maker.

Frequently Asked Questions