Low water temps Narrow water fill access area Can't read the digital clock Can't read the buttons without direct light on them
Detailed Commentary
This is for the Melitta MEFB2B model - 12 cup auto drip Fast Brew coffee machine. Not going to be a detailed review due to only kept the unit for one evening and just wanted to pass on the relevant info.
Has one of the highest rated heating elements out there for a consumer auto drip coffee maker - 1450W. This power contributes to the speed of brewing and usually the temperature of the heated water. To pass my test it must reach 195*F or higher by the mid-way of the brew cycle. Using a digital thermometer (verified fairly accurate by boiling water measurement) inserted into the spray head and running 3 full brewing cycles it brews at a nominal temperature of ~184*F. At the beginning it is a deplorable ~122*F which will underextract the coffee resulting in added bitterness. At the end of the cycle (last 2-3 cups it does hit 200* but that is only because the water is mixing with steam so the temp jumps around significantly and is not an accurate measure of the water entering into the grounds. Measuring the water in the filter basket verifies low 180*s.
Very disappointing due to the explicit advertising that this unit brews at the correct water temp (states 200*F) and has the power to do so. There is an obvious design flaw (perhaps it could be the cheap flexible plastic tubing that runs back thru the water reservoir from the heating element to the shower head?) that keeps this unit from being a very good buy for the money.
Buying Experience
Amazon easy buying experience. A little late getting here due to DHL handoff to USPS. Doubled box which is very good. Excellent return as I stated the unit was defective and not able to reach it's stated brewing temperatures and Amazon paid for the return shipping.
