One minute review
If you're looking for one of the best coffee machines (opens in a new tab), choosing a capsule coffee machine doesn't necessarily guarantee you the best coffee. But what you can count on is consistent coffee that's quick and easy to brew and with minimal mess.
The Moccamaster KBGV Select (known simply as the Select in Australia or KBG Select in the UK) is a thoughtfully designed product inside and out, making it a surefire contender for our top list of coffee makers. But Moccamaster isn't one of your run-of-the-mill generic brands; in fact, it may not be a brand you've heard of, so let us enlighten you.
Moccamaster is made by the European brand Technivorm and its coffee makers are all handmade in the Netherlands. This is a brand that values quality and longevity, offering only a handful of coffee makers in its lineup. The shape and style of this coffee maker are unique. In particular, Moccamaster offers the KBGV Select in up to 21 colors, allowing you to add a striking pop of color to your kitchen. But if that's not what you're looking for, you can opt for one of the more subtle shades and let the device speak for itself.
The coffeemaker has a 10 cup or 40 oz / 1,25 liter capacity and requires paper filters. There are only two switches and an automatic hot plate, so you really can't go wrong making coffee on this unit. We enjoyed deliciously flavorful coffee in a jiffy. Those looking for automatic timers and a variety of adjustable settings should look elsewhere.
The Moccamaster Select is an expensive option; But its excellent build quality and eye-pleasing design are well worth it in our opinion. Plus, as it meets the European Coffee Brewing Center standard, as well as the Specialty Coffee Association's "Gold Cup" standard, you're virtually guaranteed a premium cup of coffee.
- Moccamaster KBGV Select (Silver) at Best Buy for €349 (opens in a new tab)
Moccamaster KBGV Select price and availability
- List price: € 359 / € 229 / AU € 515
The Moccamaster KBGV Select is listed as the KBG Select in the UK or simply as the Select in Australia. It's available direct from Moccamaster and Amazon in the US for €359. In the UK, the price varies depending on which color you choose, but starts at around €229 from Amazon.
If you're in Australia, it's available direct from Moccamaster, but there are fewer color options on offer, with only six colors listed at the time of writing.
The price includes a five-year warranty and replacement parts are readily available, so while it's an expensive option, there's no reason this coffeemaker shouldn't last long.
Price and availability rating: 4.5/5
Moccamaster KBGV Select design
- Many color options
- minimalist modern design
- Spare parts readily available
It's probably fair to say that its styling is one of the Moccamaster Select coffee maker's main selling points, although we'd describe it as a love it or hate it design. For those who love it, the large selection of color options will be a delight. We won't list every available color here, but with up to 21 colors to choose from depending on the region you buy it in, there's bound to be something for everyone. And with the right color choice, this coffee maker can become a real talking point on your kitchen counter.
When we took it out of the box, the Moccamaster was more compact than expected at 14 x 12,75 x 6,5 inches / 36 x 32 x 17 cm (H x W x D). It has a 10-cup, or 40 oz/1,25 liter, brew capacity, and there are clear markers on the water reservoir at 2-cup intervals.
Sobre los controls, no hay mucho que decir: solo tienes dos interruptores para llevar en la mano. Hay un interruptor de encendido/apagado y otro donde puedes elegir si vas a preparar media jarra o una jarra completa. When brewing is finished, the warming plate stays on for 100 minutes (40 minutes for the UK and Australian versions) and then switches off automatically, although you can turn the power switch back on if you wish to keep it on but time.
However, don't be fooled into thinking this coffee maker is all about the pretty colors and quirky shape; there is a lot going on under the hood. Fitted with a copper boiling element that rapidly heats water, the resulting boiled water flows through a glass tube into the stainless steel spout arm. The water pulses over the ground coffee, causing it to bloom in what Moccamaster says is a "hand pour" style.
In terms of installation, the stainless steel spout arm needs to be put in place, after which the lid can be attached to the water tank. Then the removable filter holder and lid, as well as the carafe, are inserted into their respective positions. Before use, the manual recommends running a few brew cycles with just water, no coffee or filter paper, but after that, you're good to go.
We were pleased to see that three filter papers were included to get you started, along with a teaspoon in the box. See the manual for details on the ideal amount of ground coffee to add for the perfect brew.
The Select is not only a high quality handcrafted device, but Moccamaster is proud to offer replacement parts to keep it working for many years.
Design Score: 5/5
Select Performance of Moccamaster KBGV
- Easy to use
- quick preparation
- tasty coffee
This is probably the simplest coffee pot we've ever used. The instruction manual gives guidance on how much ground coffee you'll need to make a full carafe, so that's what we did. The filter holder is removable, making it easy to add filter paper and grounds; you can even put it on the scale if you want to weigh the right amount of coffee. We add 2,65g/75g, which is the recommended amount of coffee for a full carafe, according to the European Coffee Brewing Center standard.
A full pitcher takes just under six minutes to prepare. The temperature of the coffee immediately after serving was 181ºF / 83ºC. An anti-drip system allows the carafe to be removed immediately at the end of the infusion without any drop of coffee touching the hot plate.
We poured a large cup and returned 30 minutes later, by which time the coffee temperature had dropped slightly to 171ºF/77ºC. Since the iron only stays on for 40 minutes (we tested the UK model), when we returned for our third cup of coffee an hour after its initial brew, the temperature had dropped to 136°F / 58°C. The hot plate for hours is not recommended, as it can make the coffee bitter. As such, it's better to prepare smaller amounts more frequently; but you can turn the power switch back on if you want it to stay warm longer.
We really enjoyed the delicious taste of the coffee, which was fruity with smoky notes of licorice, but not burnt, bitter, or overly acidic, and we only used store-bought ground coffee. If you use freshly ground coffee, the results will be even more flavorful.
As you would expect from a well-designed coffee maker, the carafe pours cleanly without dripping. Our only complaint is that when you pour the last coffee, the carafe lid tends to pop open. Also keep in mind that if you have decent size mugs like ours, you'll only get four cups of coffee from a full carafe.
Brewing a half carafe only takes 3,5 minutes. The temperature of the coffee immediately after serving was around 176°F/80°C. We used half the amount of ground coffee compared to brewing a full carafe, but the coffee tasted a little off, a little more strong, so you may have to play around with the amounts.
Preparation is a quiet process, with sound levels around 50dB on our sound level meter. In fact, you'll probably only hear a low, bubbly hum from the water running through the coffee pot.
The grounds are easy to remove from the coffee maker thanks to the filter paper that keeps them contained, but also because the removable filter holder can be returned directly to the bin or compost. None of the parts in this machine are dishwasher safe, so you'll have to hand wash the pitcher. And after every 100 cycles/3 months, descaling will be necessary to remove minerals from the heating element. It's a simple process that only requires you to run a cycle with a descaling solution in water.
Performance rating: 5/5
Moccamaster KBGV Select Scorecard
Swipe to scroll horizontallyAttributesNotesRatingPrice and AvailabilityAn expensive coffee maker, but it's crafted with a five-year guarantee and well designed, also widely available in a range of colours.Design Rating 4.5/5This designer coffee maker is well built and sturdy with simple controls .5/5Performance ScoreIt's fast, quiet, and makes tasty coffee effortlessly.5/5I should buy?
Buy it if...
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- First review: November 2022
Moccamaster KBGV Select: price comparison