Capresso MT600 10-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Thermal Carafe Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Capresso MT-600 was introduced to replace the older MT-500 model. Both models have essentially the same functions and features, but there are two differences:

* The MT-500 has an aluminum die-cast housing. The MT-600 has a milled steel housing.
* The MT-500 was made in Portugal. The MT-600 is made in China.

I recently purchased the MT-600 to replace a Mr. Coffee automatic drip that served me well for over 15 years. I decided on the MT-600 because I wanted a thermal carafe and a built-in water filter. I also had faith in the Capresso brand because both my sisters have owned the Capresso CoffeeTEC model for many years, and their machines make absolutely fantastic drip coffee.

So I was very disappointed when I found that the Capresso MT-600 makes weak and lukewarm coffee. I read the directions carefully to make sure I was using the machine precisely as designed. I tried different beans and grinds to strengthen the coffee. I pre-heated the carafe prior to brewing to increase the temperature. But no matter what adjustments I made, the coffee always turned out weak and tepid.

I called Capresso to ask why the coffee comes out weak even when I double the standard amount of grounds. They told me that it has to do with how the water is dispersed (or rather, not dispersed) over the grounds during brewing. I went back and looked at the filter after brewing a pot, and sure enough, there was a deep divot right in the center of the grounds. So the problem seems to be that the water is driven down the middle of the filter rather than dispersed evenly over the grounds, leaving the grounds along the perimeter largely unbrewed.

I also measured the temperature of the coffee immediately after brewing, and as another reviewer mentioned, the coffee hits the carafe at 180 degrees. But even when the carafe has been pre-heated with boiling water, it loses its heat FAST. The other problem with the carafe is that even when you line up the dots exactly as directed, the coffee flow is more of a heat-depleting trickle than a pour. So while the coffee brews at 180 degrees, the temperature is much lower by the time it hits even your first cup.

I've been thinking about why my experience has been so different from that of veteran Capresso owners, and I can only conclude that the newer machines are not of the same quality as the older machines. Take a read through the user reviews posted for the MT-500 model and you'll notice that it's those people who have had their Capressos for more than 2 years who love and rave about their coffee makers. The same is true for the Capresso owners in my own family. My sisters' machines are going strong after 5+ years of heavy use, whereas my brand new Capresso has been a non-starter.

So sadly I will be returning the Capresso MT-600 in favor of a better machine. I doubt I'll find anything more beautiful in appearance, but there has to be a machine that makes better coffee, especially at this price!

(One final point... there seems to be some confusion about the materials used to build the MT-600. The heating block is lined with stainless steel to prevent water from coming in contact with the machine's aluminum components. So if you have aluminum concerns, the MT-600 has you covered. But like almost every drip coffee maker on the market, the water reservoir and filter holder are made of plastic. If you want to avoid plastic altogether, a French press or standard percolator may be your only options.)

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Product Description:
Brew up to 10 cups of delicious, full-flavored coffee in under eight minutes with this programmable coffeemaker. The machine provides an illuminated, 24-hour, LCD digital clock and timer with soft-touch controls for easy operation. Set the timer so that fresh, hot coffee awaits dinner guests when it's time to serve dessert or so that the aroma of a freshly brewed pot fills the house a few minutes before the alarm goes off in the morning. The coffeemaker supplies a 10-cup stainless-steel thermal carafe with an ergonomic stay-cool handle, brew-through lid, and drip-free pouring spout. Removing the carafe from the coffeemaker stops the flow of coffee and allows for sneaking a quick cup before the end of the brewing process. Simply replace the carafe to restart the flow of coffee. Another thoughtful detail includes its special smaller-amount setting, which ensures maximum aroma when brewing just 3 to 5 cups at a time. For added convenience, the coffeemaker features a stainless-steel-lined heating system that eliminates contact with aluminum and reduces the need for decalcifying, the ability to retain programming during short power outages, and automatic shut-off after two hours for safety and peace of mind. Other highlights include a handy water-level indicator, a washable gold-tone filter (no need for disposable paper filters), a charcoal water filter that removes up to 82-percent of chlorine and other impurities from tap water, and an electronic indicator that shows when to replace the charcoal filter, as well as milled steel housing for superior strength and style and concealed cord storage to keep countertops looking tidy. The coffeemaker measures approximately 9 by 8 by 14 inches.

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