The Capresso CoffeeTEC combination thermal auto drip coffee brewer and milk frother is one of those "gee whiz" devices on the market. Here's our First Look at it.
Dodge1 Senior Member Joined: 21 Dec 2002 Posts: 205 Location: Omaha Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: GS/3 Grinder: K30 Vario WBC & K10 WBC
Posted Tue Nov 18, 2003, 6:28am Subject: Re: Capresso CoffeeTEC First Look
I’ve been using a CoffeeTec for almost a full year now and along the way I discovered a couple of “tweaks” that keep the coffee extremely hot and seem to improve the brewing process.
I grind my own beans, so before I start grinding I’ll run ~ 6 cups of water through the unit and into the carafe. This step heats up the machine but more importantly, it really heat up the carafe.
Then I’ll start the brewing process, without putting the carafe under the basket and run just a tad more then a cup of water into the basket. I allow this water to “bloom” the grind for a minute or two.
Then I’ll empty the hot water out of the carafe and put it under the basket, only to drain the “blooming” liquid out of the basket.
Then I’ll swing the basket open to rearrange the grinds and resume the full brewing process.
btw – The CoffeTec I own was a “Factory Serviced” unit that I purchased directly from Capresso for $119.95. It came with the following warranty "Factory serviced products bought from this website have the same return and warranty protection as new products.” When we opened the box I was pleasantly surprised to find, what for all practical purposes; was a brand new CoffeeTec. Cool, I saved a fair amount of money and got the same warranty as a new unit.
Posted Wed Dec 24, 2003, 8:17am Subject: Re: Capresso CoffeeTEC First Look
Sincere Thanks Dodge1 - you saved me $80 and I owe you a cup next time ...
I picked up a refurbed CoffeeTEC from the Capresso website for $120. It has a lot of features I will seldom use - I rarely froth or use milk, I never make a half-pot, and I almost never program the auto-drip for a future brew. Still this unit makes the hottest and best tasting auto-drip I've ever had. Ergonomic, easy to use and tastes great.
The device is very attractive and easy enough to use that I can overlook the huge countertop footprint and excess features. I considered the Capresso MT500, but there seem to be reliability (heat) problems and $160 is more than the refurb which has probably been tested and repaired and observed by a competent human. Also the MT500 is a bit ostentatious, while the CoffeeTEC is more understated. I seriously considered the Krups Moka - but it's too small and probably too fussy for my diurnal needs. For what I want - a low-maintainance relationship that provides lots of really *HOT* coffee all day long this is a dream.
espresso_jim Senior Member Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 325 Location: Austin, TX Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Mini Vivaldi II Grinder: Mazzer Mini E Drip: Technivorm Moccamaster... Roaster: Behmor 1600
Posted Sun Mar 7, 2004, 12:04am Subject: Re: Capresso CoffeeTEC First Look
Mark,
Good, solid first look. The article got me looking at the CoffeeTEC. I had a pretty drip brewer that just didn't cut it when it came to brewing at the correct temperature or keeping the coffee warm (it had a baking - uh - warming plate). When a minor part broke, I started the quest for a quality drip maker. From your First Look, I learned about the CoffeTEC. From the consumer reviews, I discovered that you can get it factory serviced for $120 with full warranty. What a deal!
I've had mine for just over two months and I won't go back to a drip brewer that does not brew at the correct temperature or doesn't have a thermal stainless carafe. When I move to Mexico, it is going with me.
I was totally surprised that you could get such a great tasting cup of coffee from a drip maker. The thermal stainless steel carafe does an amirable job at keeping the coffee hot. The "brew through the closed carafe lid" is pretty ingenious.
Overall, you can tell that a lot of thought went into designing the CoffeeTEC. It was as if the engineers really listened to the coffee "experts" when they designed this machine.
Good job to Capresso and great First Look. Again, thanks, Mark.
LiveToEat Senior Member Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 1 Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Mar 27, 2005, 10:54am Subject: Re: Capresso CoffeeTEC First Look
Hi Mark--
I am new to this website and loving it! Based on reviews read here I have bought the Capresso (as well as a burr grinder). I have not been able to get this machine to froth the milk though. The very first time I used it, it frothed well but every time since it just steams the milk with almost no froth. I have tightened every part as instructed in the "tips" and it has made no difference. The milk is 1% and cold (from the refrigerator). I have tried tilting the cup a little to see if that helps, but it doesn't.
(By the way, I paid full retail rather than buy a factory reconditioned one.)
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