Coffee & Espresso Makers Tips

Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time 467 10-Cup Coffee Maker Key FeaturesTypeCoffee MakerBuilt-in Water FilterWith Built-in Water FilterCapacity10 CupOp...

Shame on Krups……….. Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time 467 10 Cup Coffee Maker I loved this coffee maker for over a year. It makes a great tasting cup coffee. The programmable feature was ex...

Confused by my title? Well, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with this device almost since my purchase.

I got this Krups unit in a local home goods retailer last year to replace another ailing Krups unit that was over ten years old. The contemporary design and sale price hooked me in, plus I would be able to use my washable gold-mesh filter in it. I brought it home, put away the old unit, set up the new one, and started my first pot.

First the good news. The quality of the coffee rivals anything I have ever tasted. I am something of a snob when it comes to my java. I sneer at Starbucks and cannot tolerate Dunkin’ Donuts unless it’s between 7 and 8 AM. I am happy to say that even with run-of-the-mill Maxwell House drip grind, this Krups unit can hold it’s own with the best, perhaps even better.

Now the bad.

First, the machine takes a very long time to brew a full carafe; perhaps 12-14 minutes or more. It has a timer, but who really uses them? The sneak-a-cup feature works, but I don’t like using it because the coffee is often too strong or too weak, depending on when you sneak. My old Krups was done in half the time.

Second, the carafe design is just plain bad. It is very difficult to pour coffee without spilling, and the cover is difficult to remove and replace after cleaning. Even worse, the round carafe is like a bowling ball and tends to roll around on my drying tray next to the sink. I have replaced it once already ($25) when it crashed into the sink after being bumped.

Third, cleaning the unit is difficult. The top flips open for filling, and the hot water drips out of it into the filter. Unfortunately, the underside of the lid gets dirty from steam and coffee grounds and is a nightmare to clean. You have to take it apart by squeezing plastic tabs and pulling the inside of the cover off in order to get to where the crud is.

And fourth, the water filters (which are essential) do not last long and can be pricey. You could probably use bottled water to get around them, but the cost factor is just as bad.

Like I said; love-hate. I would not recommend this unit based on the cons I have listed, but should you decide to get one,once you get used to propping the carafe with utensils to keep it from rolling, turning the machine on before going in to the shower, and pouring coffee over a paper towel, the Krups will provide one of the most satisfying cups around.

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