Braun AromaDeluxe KF 580 10-Cups Coffee Maker
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- Max. Power: 1100 Watts
- Operation: Electric
- Type: Coffee Maker
- Capacity: 10 Cups
Similar in Espresso Machines & Coffee Makers
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Braun AromaDeluxe Coffee Maker -- An ode to my favorite kitchen appliance
Pros
Long lasting, makes great coffee, programmable, permanent filter, auto-timer, auto-shutoff, short brew time
Cons
Water filters are expensive to replace, darn carafe spills a bit when you pour
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Do you like good coffee? The Braun AromaDeluxe Coffee Maker is easy to use, clean, maintain and it lasts for years... did I mention it makes great coffee, too?
I've had my coffee maker for years. I honestly can't say how long we've had our coffee machine -- it has to be three years at the very least and it could easily be five years old. The other day I was bouncing around on Epinions, looking at reviews on various home appliances when I started looking at coffee makers. I didn't mean to cheat on my coffee maker, but I figured mine was getting old and my family is always pestering me about what I want for Christmas (they never listen when I say NOTHING) so I decided to flirt a little bit with the idea of getting a new, shiny kitchen appliance. Needless to say, I was shocked. I couldn't believe the ratings on systems under the names of Cuisinart and KitchenAid -- coffee machines that cost well in the mid-hundreds for price and carry the weight of good name brands. I was surprised that premium brands carrying a premium price tag could perform as horrifically as the reviews were making them seem -- especially since I was sitting there sipping a perfectly good cup of coffee that had just come from my constantly-used Braun.
Time to write a review.
Instant Human... just add coffee
I'd like to think my family is like the vast majority of coffee drinkers out there -- we don't have to grind our own coffee, but we would like a nice tasting, fresh cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Actually, in our home... coffee is a necessity. It has to be made every morning so I can have one cup and my husband can have the rest. We're also a fairly low-maintenance family, so we want something that's easy to use, easy to clean and easy to maintain.
Braun Specs
The Braun AromaDeluxe KF580 Coffee Maker is a programmable coffee maker that retails at places like Linens N Things and Bed, Bath and Beyond for $69.99. I know we bought it using a BB&Beyond 20% off coupon, so we got it for $56 -- good deal. It comes in either black or white, and I find the black to be stylish enough to be paired with any kitchen decor. It even fits in well with stainless steel. It doesn't take up much space on the counter and actually has a little compartment in the back for cord storage. The carafe is a heavy-duty glass pitcher that holds up to 10 cups. I believe you can buy replacements for $19.99.
This coffee maker has the following features:
*Permanent gold-tone coffee filter (replacements cost $9.99)
*Braun Water Filter (replacements cost $14.99 for two)
*Digital clock
*Automatic basket filter release
*Water level indicator
*Adjustable auto-shutoff
*Automatic coffee timer
*Pause and serve function
*Filtration reminder dial
*Cord storage compartment
*10 cup glass carafe
Why we love this coffee maker
First off, we've had this coffee maker for three years and have experienced NO problems. No coffee overflowing, no grinds in the coffee, no operating problems whatsoever. Braun recommends you use a medium grind coffee, because fine will cause the machine to overflow... but I honestly couldn't tell you what grind our coffee is and we've never had a problem. We use Folgers for the most part (so take that as you will). The entire unit still looks brand new -- even the hotplate and carafe (no stains). We've never replaced the gold-tone filter and it still performs the same as day one. Actually, the filter shows no wear and tear at all.
One extremely nice feature is the programmable timer -- that way you can set up your coffee the night before, press the auto button and have a fresh cup waiting for you when you wake up. I don't know about you, but nothing smells better in the morning than coffee. Even better -- the timer is simple to use. You don't need to reset it every morning, once you have the timer set... you're done. You just need to keep turning the timer on every night. We've never had any problems with the timer working improperly, so we always wake up to fresh coffee.
The pause and serve feature is also fairly convenient, in case you can't wait until the entire pot is finished. Just remove the carafe and the machine stops brewing until you return it. The manual recommends you return it ASAP to prevent the machine from overflowing, but who ever leaves the carafe off for a long time anyway? The name of the game is brewing coffee. We rarely use this, but even when the need has been desperate enough to warrant one of us removing the carafe there have been no drips, spills or messes of any kind to clean up. Isn't it nice when a feature actually works the way it's advertised?
The Braun AromaDeluxe also has a number of features that simply makes it easy to use in general. The water container has a fill level, so you know how many cups you are brewing without having to measure first. The water input is accessed by flipping open the back of the machine and it's completely separate from where you put the actual coffee, so you won't ever have to worry about accidently mixing the two. The filter is accessed by pushing a button; the whole container just pops out. Very easy to pour your coffee into. The timer is easy to program, time easy to set and it even has a feature which holds the time (and programmed timer info) for 10 minutes in the event power is disconnected (through a power outage or whatever). In a household that experiences random power flickers quite often, it's nice to have something I don't have to reprogram on a regular basis. The auto-shutoff feature is also fantastic -- it shuts your machine down after 2 hours unless you reprogram it (it can be set anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours). This alleviates a lot of stress because I'm the type of person who has to rush out of the house... and then sits, worrying, that I left the iron on (or whatever). Again, like everything else with this machine, the shutoff feature is easy to program.
Oh, and what a joy it is to clean. I've heard horror stories about having to take apart coffee makers after every use. Maybe it's just me, but I'd die if I had to do that. It's coffee, not manual labor here people. While it's different because I'm at home, when we were both working... that machine would sit dirty until we cleaned up after dinner. Grinds would sit, wet, in the filter and coffee would sit in the carafe (get off that high horse there, I know you do it too). With other machines (and their paper filters), the filter would dissolve into mush and crud up the entire filter compartment... however, my Braun is as easy to clean at the end of the day as it is to clean 20 minutes after breakfast is over. The top of the carafe pops off easily and the filter compartment can be removed from the machine for easy washing. While I always wash it with nonabrasive soap, the manual actually says the filter only needs to be rinsed in water. The filter, filter compartment and the carafe can be put in the dishwasher. Then I simply wipe the rest of the machine down with a Clorox wipe and I'm done.
Unless you change your water filters every other month (which I don't do), there is absolutely no maintenance on this coffee maker. Rinse the filter out, throw it in the dishwasher occasionally, wash the carafe... and that's it. If you use filtered water (or the Braun filter in your machine) you won't ever need to decalcify it. It's been three years and I haven't needed to decalcify yet, so there's truth to Braun's statements. Even if you do need to decalcify the machine, the user manual (also available online) is clear and concise about the proper procedure. Actually, the entire manual is user-friendly (which is nice for those not-so-technologically-savy consumers out there).
Finally, the coffee brews quickly -- the manual estimates one minute per cup and I'd have to say that's pretty accurate. It takes anywhere from 10 to 12 minutes to brew a full pot. I'm not sure how it compares to other machines, but I'd have to say that's a good time.
What's kinda iffy about this coffee maker
The only thing I have a small issue with is the Brita Water filters. While I think it's a great idea, especially for those with hard water, it's a big money pit. Consider that you need to replace the water filters once every two months (making that SIX times a year) and each filter costs $7.50... that's a lot of money to be shelling out to keep your coffee machine in good working order.
Don't get me wrong, if I didn't have filters on my tap water (or a water cooler)... I'd be purchasing and replacing the Brita water filters regularly... but if your water is as bad as mine, you probably have one or two filtration systems in place that will cost less than this. Some people could even justify this purchase because you don't have to buy coffee filters ever... but I still think that's a lot of money for a replacement water filter on a coffee machine.
In addition, the carafe has a hard time getting all the coffee into your coffee mug on occasion. It doesn't happen all the time, but most of the time you will spill some on the counter. It's not much, just a drop or two... but it is irritating. I will give them somewhat of a pass on this because every single other coffee machine I (or anyone else I've known) has ever owned has done this. Can't someone come up with a no-spill coffee carafe?
Overall...
You know, the one thing I haven't talked about is the coffee... Is it any good?
You bet. Heck, this machine even makes Folgers into a nice, smooth-tasting cup of coffee. It never has grounds in it, it's never bitter and it has a great finish to it... no matter what brand we've used (Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Barneys, Folgers, Maxwell House). Ours never comes out overly strong. It's easy to fill, clean, maintain, and use. To think about it, we've used it AT LEAST once a day for the past three years, it's produced some of the best coffee we've made at home and we've have never had the slightest bit of trouble with it... if that's not the best recommendation for a product, then I don't know what is. I don't think the cost is unreasonable either -- $70 for a quality machine that has few maintenance costs (unless you actually replace the filters) and will last you for years is a good deal in my eyes... especially when you read reviews trashing coffee makers that cost double.
I never really thought that Braun was a leading name in kitchen appliances, but the Braun AromaDeluxe KF580 Coffee Maker is one of the best appliances I've ever owned. It does have a few drawbacks -- with the carafe spilling and the water filter replacement costs -- but the positives of this coffee maker really make it a great machine; heck, I'm even proof that you can have a perfectly fine cup of coffee with this machine even without changing the filter. Add to that the price tag of $70, half the price of many machines on the market, and not only do you have a great appliance... you've got it at a great cost as well. I give this coffee maker Five Stars and a If-you-like-coffee-you-need-this-machine Recommendation.
Pros:
*Makes a nice tasting cup of coffee
*Digital clock keeps the time for up to 10 minutes in the case of a power outage
*Automatic timer is reliable and easy to program
*Machine is easy to clean
*Coffee Filter never needs to be replaced
*Only takes around 10 minutes to brew a full pot of coffee
*Glass carafe is pretty heavy duty
*Has lasted for at least three years
*The water and coffee are easy to pour, and the compartments are separate so you don't have to worry about mixing the two
*Adjustable auto-shutoff
*Pause and serve function really does work well
*No coffee grinds in coffee and never spills on the counter
*Priced at $69.99 (though even better with a 20% off coupon), this coffee maker is a bargain
*Braun's website has the manual for those who lost it
*The manual is easy to understand and follow
*Can find it at stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond, Linens N Things and various online stores
Cons:
*If you do replace the water filters, that can be pretty expensive
*The carafe does spill when you pour it out
Time to write a review.
Instant Human... just add coffee
I'd like to think my family is like the vast majority of coffee drinkers out there -- we don't have to grind our own coffee, but we would like a nice tasting, fresh cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Actually, in our home... coffee is a necessity. It has to be made every morning so I can have one cup and my husband can have the rest. We're also a fairly low-maintenance family, so we want something that's easy to use, easy to clean and easy to maintain.
Braun Specs
The Braun AromaDeluxe KF580 Coffee Maker is a programmable coffee maker that retails at places like Linens N Things and Bed, Bath and Beyond for $69.99. I know we bought it using a BB&Beyond 20% off coupon, so we got it for $56 -- good deal. It comes in either black or white, and I find the black to be stylish enough to be paired with any kitchen decor. It even fits in well with stainless steel. It doesn't take up much space on the counter and actually has a little compartment in the back for cord storage. The carafe is a heavy-duty glass pitcher that holds up to 10 cups. I believe you can buy replacements for $19.99.
This coffee maker has the following features:
*Permanent gold-tone coffee filter (replacements cost $9.99)
*Braun Water Filter (replacements cost $14.99 for two)
*Digital clock
*Automatic basket filter release
*Water level indicator
*Adjustable auto-shutoff
*Automatic coffee timer
*Pause and serve function
*Filtration reminder dial
*Cord storage compartment
*10 cup glass carafe
Why we love this coffee maker
First off, we've had this coffee maker for three years and have experienced NO problems. No coffee overflowing, no grinds in the coffee, no operating problems whatsoever. Braun recommends you use a medium grind coffee, because fine will cause the machine to overflow... but I honestly couldn't tell you what grind our coffee is and we've never had a problem. We use Folgers for the most part (so take that as you will). The entire unit still looks brand new -- even the hotplate and carafe (no stains). We've never replaced the gold-tone filter and it still performs the same as day one. Actually, the filter shows no wear and tear at all.
One extremely nice feature is the programmable timer -- that way you can set up your coffee the night before, press the auto button and have a fresh cup waiting for you when you wake up. I don't know about you, but nothing smells better in the morning than coffee. Even better -- the timer is simple to use. You don't need to reset it every morning, once you have the timer set... you're done. You just need to keep turning the timer on every night. We've never had any problems with the timer working improperly, so we always wake up to fresh coffee.
The pause and serve feature is also fairly convenient, in case you can't wait until the entire pot is finished. Just remove the carafe and the machine stops brewing until you return it. The manual recommends you return it ASAP to prevent the machine from overflowing, but who ever leaves the carafe off for a long time anyway? The name of the game is brewing coffee. We rarely use this, but even when the need has been desperate enough to warrant one of us removing the carafe there have been no drips, spills or messes of any kind to clean up. Isn't it nice when a feature actually works the way it's advertised?
The Braun AromaDeluxe also has a number of features that simply makes it easy to use in general. The water container has a fill level, so you know how many cups you are brewing without having to measure first. The water input is accessed by flipping open the back of the machine and it's completely separate from where you put the actual coffee, so you won't ever have to worry about accidently mixing the two. The filter is accessed by pushing a button; the whole container just pops out. Very easy to pour your coffee into. The timer is easy to program, time easy to set and it even has a feature which holds the time (and programmed timer info) for 10 minutes in the event power is disconnected (through a power outage or whatever). In a household that experiences random power flickers quite often, it's nice to have something I don't have to reprogram on a regular basis. The auto-shutoff feature is also fantastic -- it shuts your machine down after 2 hours unless you reprogram it (it can be set anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours). This alleviates a lot of stress because I'm the type of person who has to rush out of the house... and then sits, worrying, that I left the iron on (or whatever). Again, like everything else with this machine, the shutoff feature is easy to program.
Oh, and what a joy it is to clean. I've heard horror stories about having to take apart coffee makers after every use. Maybe it's just me, but I'd die if I had to do that. It's coffee, not manual labor here people. While it's different because I'm at home, when we were both working... that machine would sit dirty until we cleaned up after dinner. Grinds would sit, wet, in the filter and coffee would sit in the carafe (get off that high horse there, I know you do it too). With other machines (and their paper filters), the filter would dissolve into mush and crud up the entire filter compartment... however, my Braun is as easy to clean at the end of the day as it is to clean 20 minutes after breakfast is over. The top of the carafe pops off easily and the filter compartment can be removed from the machine for easy washing. While I always wash it with nonabrasive soap, the manual actually says the filter only needs to be rinsed in water. The filter, filter compartment and the carafe can be put in the dishwasher. Then I simply wipe the rest of the machine down with a Clorox wipe and I'm done.
Unless you change your water filters every other month (which I don't do), there is absolutely no maintenance on this coffee maker. Rinse the filter out, throw it in the dishwasher occasionally, wash the carafe... and that's it. If you use filtered water (or the Braun filter in your machine) you won't ever need to decalcify it. It's been three years and I haven't needed to decalcify yet, so there's truth to Braun's statements. Even if you do need to decalcify the machine, the user manual (also available online) is clear and concise about the proper procedure. Actually, the entire manual is user-friendly (which is nice for those not-so-technologically-savy consumers out there).
Finally, the coffee brews quickly -- the manual estimates one minute per cup and I'd have to say that's pretty accurate. It takes anywhere from 10 to 12 minutes to brew a full pot. I'm not sure how it compares to other machines, but I'd have to say that's a good time.
What's kinda iffy about this coffee maker
The only thing I have a small issue with is the Brita Water filters. While I think it's a great idea, especially for those with hard water, it's a big money pit. Consider that you need to replace the water filters once every two months (making that SIX times a year) and each filter costs $7.50... that's a lot of money to be shelling out to keep your coffee machine in good working order.
Don't get me wrong, if I didn't have filters on my tap water (or a water cooler)... I'd be purchasing and replacing the Brita water filters regularly... but if your water is as bad as mine, you probably have one or two filtration systems in place that will cost less than this. Some people could even justify this purchase because you don't have to buy coffee filters ever... but I still think that's a lot of money for a replacement water filter on a coffee machine.
In addition, the carafe has a hard time getting all the coffee into your coffee mug on occasion. It doesn't happen all the time, but most of the time you will spill some on the counter. It's not much, just a drop or two... but it is irritating. I will give them somewhat of a pass on this because every single other coffee machine I (or anyone else I've known) has ever owned has done this. Can't someone come up with a no-spill coffee carafe?
Overall...
You know, the one thing I haven't talked about is the coffee... Is it any good?
You bet. Heck, this machine even makes Folgers into a nice, smooth-tasting cup of coffee. It never has grounds in it, it's never bitter and it has a great finish to it... no matter what brand we've used (Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Barneys, Folgers, Maxwell House). Ours never comes out overly strong. It's easy to fill, clean, maintain, and use. To think about it, we've used it AT LEAST once a day for the past three years, it's produced some of the best coffee we've made at home and we've have never had the slightest bit of trouble with it... if that's not the best recommendation for a product, then I don't know what is. I don't think the cost is unreasonable either -- $70 for a quality machine that has few maintenance costs (unless you actually replace the filters) and will last you for years is a good deal in my eyes... especially when you read reviews trashing coffee makers that cost double.
I never really thought that Braun was a leading name in kitchen appliances, but the Braun AromaDeluxe KF580 Coffee Maker is one of the best appliances I've ever owned. It does have a few drawbacks -- with the carafe spilling and the water filter replacement costs -- but the positives of this coffee maker really make it a great machine; heck, I'm even proof that you can have a perfectly fine cup of coffee with this machine even without changing the filter. Add to that the price tag of $70, half the price of many machines on the market, and not only do you have a great appliance... you've got it at a great cost as well. I give this coffee maker Five Stars and a If-you-like-coffee-you-need-this-machine Recommendation.
Pros:
*Makes a nice tasting cup of coffee
*Digital clock keeps the time for up to 10 minutes in the case of a power outage
*Automatic timer is reliable and easy to program
*Machine is easy to clean
*Coffee Filter never needs to be replaced
*Only takes around 10 minutes to brew a full pot of coffee
*Glass carafe is pretty heavy duty
*Has lasted for at least three years
*The water and coffee are easy to pour, and the compartments are separate so you don't have to worry about mixing the two
*Adjustable auto-shutoff
*Pause and serve function really does work well
*No coffee grinds in coffee and never spills on the counter
*Priced at $69.99 (though even better with a 20% off coupon), this coffee maker is a bargain
*Braun's website has the manual for those who lost it
*The manual is easy to understand and follow
*Can find it at stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond, Linens N Things and various online stores
Cons:
*If you do replace the water filters, that can be pretty expensive
*The carafe does spill when you pour it out
