Let me start by saying two things:1. I love coffee. Personally, not counting my wonderful wife and staff at the office, I drink at least two _pots_ of coffee per day. Yes, that is over 120 fluid ounces every day, seven days a week. Needless to say I was pleased with each of the new health benefits announced regarding excess coffee consumption!
2. After researching reasonably priced, reliable coffee makers, we bought two of these Krups FME2-14 units: One to replace our aging Braun, and the other for our daughters' apartment. This review encompasses experiences from both households.
There are many things to love about this coffeemaker, and a few (3) minor issues. I'll touch on the issues first: With typical German precision, the water reservoir is designed to hold 60 fluid ounces, or 12 5-ounce cups worth. Not more, but I'm sure it can handle less, being well equipped with a 1-3 cup "small pot" mode. However, if (1) you launch into cleaning it and brewing coffee without really reading the user manual, and (2) you have the tendency to brew the fullest possible pot (as a conspicuous consumer such as myself might), you will quickly discover that the overflow port in the back wall of the water reservoir works exceedingly well. I did. As I wiped up the extra few cups of water rapidly dispensed upon my counter I made the mental note to only fill it with 12 cups henceforth. This is, obviously, a user issue; others who are experienced with pots brewing less than advertised will be pleased to note that 12 cups of water in really translates to 12 cups of coffee out. You do not need to overfill this coffeemaker's reservoir, but you may have to relearn some behaviors.
The glass carafe, while well made and shaped in handling terms, is thinner walled than previous pots we've owned. This has two effects: First, the coffee cools faster when the hot plate turns off. Not that my coffee sits around too long, but if this is a potential issue for you I would buy the insulated carafe model. Second, it does not withstand much rough handling, as indicated by our need to purchase a replacement already for the daughters. One "light bump" in the sink was sufficient. It did make me wonder if the same engineer who designed windshields for the 60s VW Beetle was involved... regardless, don't whack it or you'll be picking up the pieces as well as the tab. My wife also adds that the replacement carafe, at over $20, was more costly than expected. Again: Exercise care in handling!
The final issue I have is the engineer's choice of material for making the feet: Two round plastic knobs (in front) and two square rubberized feet (in back) give the coffeemaker a firm grip on your countertop. Unfortunately too firm if you keep the unit under a close overhang as we do. It does mean you have to lift the unit slightly when moving it in or out, something that's easier to do when empty than full due to the overflow port mentioned earlier. Again, this is easily fixed with something slippery (like a silicone glide pad) that the machine can rest upon.
And as you can tell, none of these issues are true defects. In every other regard the Krups FME2-14 has been the best under $100.00 coffeemaker I have ever owned. The controls are logical and easy to operate, and it makes great brew. Unlike many inexpensive units, the steam does not readily escape from vents or cracks in the heating chamber or drip basket, so you can place it in a more confined space than others (bearing in mind the rubber feet) and it blends well in a modern kitchen. Most importantly, the product itself the coffee is consistent time after time. Whatever your personal formula for the perfect cuppa you'll get it here!
In my search, I read a LOT of negative reviews about the new Krups product family. Really not a surprise cause even the Pro Aroma had its many quirks, but still.....the coffee. So, after reading a bunch of bad reviews on Braun, Mr Coffee, Cuisinart, and Krups coffeemakers, I figured $60 was worth the risk to plunk down on this model. My first impression when I opened the box was that the coffemaker was solid and well constructed, but that the carafe was too light and thinly formed. But after two weeks of use I really cant find anything to complain about.
Yes, the carafe is very light, but I like it. And it pours well with no drips. I havent yet attempted to program the machine cause thats not a necessity for me, but hit the "ON" button and in about 5 minutes you have a fast, hot, and extraordinarily flavored pot of coffee. And this is honestly the best coffee I've ever had from this machine, even much better than my old Pro Aroma from the same manufacturer.
I dont know how Krups does it, and I dont care, this machine is just one of the best on the market today, and probably thee best when we're talking about the quality of the end result...which is all that matters. 5 beansAfter a gazillion (happy) years with the Krups ProAroma, I decided to contemporize. Committed to staying in the Family Krups, I read bundles of FME-2 reviews and dismissed the negative, too-hard-to-program complaints, figuring that it's a coffee maker -how hard can it be? I ordered the coffee maker, and after devoting waaay too much time to trying to understand the instruction manual, I decided to just eat the money spent and search for a different brand. But after seeing complaints of one sort or another about all brands/models, I decided to baby-step the FME-2 manual ... and now I've got it.
The automatic-on part was the trickiest, but it's not as bad as some reviewers report: if you use the auto-on, let's say, M-F, just tap the "h/min" just once after the coffee is made on Friday to deactivate the auto-on. Then (still with me?) on Sunday evening after you do the coffee/water thing, tap the "prog" button 3 times (think Kansas if it helps): you do NOT need to reset the time. It will hold the time you have already set, and you'll see 6:30 AM (or whatever) flash before your eyes as you do it. The little clock icon will light, and you're good to go.
True, the clock, itself, does not stay lit, and there is something sort of weird about not seeing the friendly glow as you waltz past the kitchen; but there's always the stove clock, cable box clock, and microwave clock all aglow to reassure you that time is still marching on in the kitchen.
And ... the coffee is great, hot, and as long as the warmer plate is on, so is the ever-so-pretty blue clock (noting "on"). If the handle on the pot holds out (it does not have the "hook over the pot top" feature that we're all used to), this seems to be yet another Krups success. (I still have to wonder, however, if the designers sat around a table deciding how to complicate the set-up process that had been so sensible on the ProAroma.)
May 2006 addendum: So much for being clever. To reactivate the automatic set time after deactivating it, tap the "prog" button 4 times, not 3: the first tap shows "PROG," the second shows the hour, the third shows the minutes, and the neglected-to-mention fourth completes the reactivation. Sorry about the error. So instead of thinking Kansas, think, um, the Beatles. Or the corners of the world. Or just try to remember it's 4 taps....I had a Krups purchased in 1999 that lasted 7 years it was the best coffee maker I have ever owned. After it died, I noticed that Krups was not making the same model so I bought a Braun KF510 (which I love and highly recommend).
I bought this Krups as a Christmas gift for my parents, and I was disappointed in the quality. The pot itself feels extremely thin (much thinner than my $35 Braun machine). It did not come with a gold mesh filter (or any filter)and the filter basket does not really fit properly with the machine, so it snags every time you close it.
Another problem is that you cannot turn the pot back on once it turns off: the machine tries to brew all over again, and then turns off after indicating there is no water. So, you must program the coffee pot to stay on longer, and if you want to keep it warm after it turns off, you cannot. I have never seen a coffee pot do this.
Overall, my Braun KF510 machine is sturdier and more well-made than this one. The Krups does make a good-tasting cup of coffee, and my parents seem happy with it. I think a better machine could be purchased for less money. I do not think it is worth the price.
Note: In all of my research while looking for decent coffee makers, Braun and Krups are the best on the market.When my old roommate moved out with the fancy coffeemaker, I began searching for a replacement. Timer functions, 8+ cup capacity, and ease of use were indispensable features, but I just couldn't afford a $100 machine. After a few weeks of comparison-shopping, I managed to find this model the only reputable one under $60.
Usage:
I have owned this for 1 year, and I use the machine every day, setting the timer function to brew a 2-cup pot every morning (for which the "1-3 cup" button is helpful). Occasionally I have brewed a full pot for company, and that's worked fine.
The Good:
Brews well! The coffee may not be scaldingly hot, but it brews hot enough to retain heat in a mug while drinking, and if left in the pot on the hot plate it's still the perfect drinking temperature 2 hrs later. Also, no strange flavors are imparted on the coffee.
Brews FAST! Seriously, the coffee is ready ten minutes before the toast unless I time things perfectly.
Very easy to clean and maintain the filter.
Very easy to settle pot onto hot plate, ensuring the coffee drips directly into carafe (unlike the comparable Cuisinart I tried, which resulted in dribbling coffee unless placed perfectly).
The Bad:
The carafe IS thin. I was initially very concerned about breaking it, but I have accidentally banged it several times in the sink and no chips yet...
The swing-out basket is a little cheap (well, compared to the $150+ mahcines). Sometimes if it's not placed perfectly, I have to push it in with a clunking of plastic that doesn't sound too elegant. But, it functions perfectly, so I don't mind taking the time to set the basket in properly.
Higher-level programming is not intuitive. You really do need to read the manual for programming the timer, etc, although it's not complicated, and you'll remember it after 1 or 2 times.
The steam vent is quite strong, and if tucked away under a cabinet can warp the finish on the underside.
Common Complaints Addressed:
"The water level indicator on the front traps air and is inaccurate." Unfortunately, this is true. However, the gradations on the side of the carafe give me a fairly decent idea of how much water I'm adding, so I don't feel the need to refer to an additional indicator.
"The machine will turn on automatically if the timer function is set." Well, yes it does. That's why I just turn off the timer when I'm going out of town or don't want coffee I drink it often enough that not having to set it every time is actually helpful. Some reviews have expressed concern of this being a fire hazard, but when there is no water the machine will not brew and instead display an error message, so I don't think this is a danger.
"The machine/no-drip lid dribbles coffee while percolating/pouring." Huh... this has also never happened to me, not even when I brewed the full pot. Occasionally the "pause" mechanism doesn't engage quickly when the pot is removed, and some coffee dribbles down, but this cleans up very easily afterwards. I have never had the lid leak while pouring a cup, or while the coffee was just sitting and percolating.
Summary:
For ~$60, I am very pleased with the performance of this model. It probably wouldn't end up on a wedding registry, but for the basic needs of a daily coffee drinker, this is a great bargain. In fact, the only drawback I have encountered from using this coffeemaker is that I find myself drinking far too much coffee because it's a breeze to make!
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