Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)** PLEASE SEE MY UPDATED COMMENTS ON BOTTOM OF THIS REVIEW **
I was an early adopter for the Krups KM7000 and generally had a good experience, contrary to the negative reviews found here on Amazon for that machine. For the purposes of this review, I will use the KM700 as a comparison.
I pre-ordered the "Saeco Bean To Brew" in July and I was slightly apprehensive about trying such a new product prior to any reviews. Saeco has a tremendous reputation for high end espresso machines. But, they have almost no U.S. presence in consumer level home products, especially for drip coffee. So, it was my hope that their high-end features and technology would trickle down to this product. And I am very happy to report that this wish has been fulfilled! The "Saeco Bean To Brew" is a winner as it outshines the KM7000 in several important areas.
Construction
What I really appreciate are the little details that separate the Saeco from other coffee makers that I've used and seen. The Saeco feels solid and well constructed. It is deceptively heavy. The lids are sturdy and require some effort to snap shut. The bean hopper has a rubber gasket, which when sealed, should prevent air and moisture from entering the container. This ensures that the beans will stay fresh. The water lid swings on a hinge and must be pushed tight to close. This gives me a feeling of security that the water will stay relatively free of impurities when I have the unit preset for a morning brew.
Features
* Steam vent - this ingenious feature reduces condensation during the brewing process by releasing the steam out the front of the unit, away from the beans. This keeps the exterior of the coffee maker nice and dry while keeping the beans away from temperature fluctuation. The Krups KM7000, in contrast, does not have a steam vent. The condensation from that unit would drip down the sides and eventually form a puddle on my counter... and, the beans in the Krups hopper are exposed to the heat and moisture.
* The standard glass carafe is typical for this style of coffee maker. However, a very nice surprise is that the Saeco brew capacity is 12 cups and not 10 cups as advertised here on the Amazon product description.
* Gold tone filter basket included - nice touch that Saeco included this in the box. I had to purchase the basket separately for the Krups.
* Charcoal water filter - another unadvertised feature. Amazon does not mention that the unit comes with a built in charcoal filtration system. Unfortunately, Saeco forgot to include the filter in my packaging, so I had to purchase a set of Cuisinart filters from Bed, Bath and Beyond.
* Noise level - not silent, but significantly quieter than the Krups. On weekends, the Krups grinder would wake me up... the Saeco does not.
User Interface
* Simplicity - the Saeco is dead simple to set and use. The instruction manual is not really necessary for basic use. The Krups was only a little more confusing because the clock is set in 24 hour (military time). The Saeco uses a common 12 hour clock which is easy to program.
* Front Panel - nice, easy to read, blue backlit LCD front panel displays the time, # cups, strength and timer on/off settings
* Audible Feedback - annoyingly LOUD beeps confirm your selections and when the coffee has completed brewing. This is a feature that I could have lived without... but, I guess it's ok if you want to be notified (from across the house) when your coffee is ready.
Cleanliness
I can confirm through experience that the primary complaint about the Krups KM7000 on Amazon was the mess that it would leave on your countertop. I am very happy to report that the Saeco does not suffer from these design flaws. The Saeco is very clean and does not spew grinds or water on my counter. Keep in mind that you probably shouldn't place the Saeco directly under a cabinet because the steam vents upward (like chimney smoke).
Taste
* Strength - I like strong coffee. And the Saeco only slightly disappoints in this area. My wife has always complained that the Krups coffee was too strong. She thinks the Saeco tastes perfect. I think that the primary difference between the two units is the volume of coffee grounds used. The Krups grinds much more beans than the Saeco for each cycle. I have learned to compensate for this by setting the grinder for 2 more cups than the desired amount. Example, I set the grinder for 12 cups but only add 10 cups of water. This results in a cup more to my preference.
* Aroma Setting - The conical burr grinder has about 8 different settings that affect the grind coarseness. Through trial and error, I have noticed that the finest setting (#1) is almost too fine. On this setting the coffee tends to clump together and not push out the shoot quickly enough into the basket below before the automatic door closes. I think that the optimal setting (for strong coffee) is probably #3. The grind consistency on this setting travels much more smoothly into the basket.
Customer Service
I had to call customer service to inquire about the missing charcoal filter. The service rep was very friendly, knowledgeable and apologetic. Unfortunately, she could not issue me a replacement filter because the coffee maker was so new that they did not have any in stock. The filter was on order from Italy... but, she didn't have an estimated delivery date. The service rep recommended that I find another brand filter that would fit in filter basket (Cuisinart).
Conclusion
Overall I am very satisfied with the "Saeco Bean To Brew" coffee maker. I am impressed with the quality and engineering of the product. With a little trial and error, it delivers a delicious cup of coffee. I rate the maker 4 out of 5 stars. I am deducting ½ star for the missing filter and ½ star for the slightly weak taste. It is important to keep in mind that the coffee maker can be tricked into brewing a stronger cup... and that the average person would probably be satisfied with the default settings.
** EDIT 12/6/2010 **
I've had this item a couple of months now and I'm taking another 2 stars off my original rating for two reasons:
1) The beans continually get stuck in the grinder. This results in very little ground coffee landing in the basket... and weak coffee. I was able to temporarily fix this by removing the grinder cover which was restricting the flow of beans into the grinder. Unfortunately the beans recently started getting stuck again. I don't know what else I can tweak to get them flowing without tapping on the side of the machine during the grinding process.
2) Amazon dropped the price of this machine by $70. I pre-ordered at the original full price of $149. I've missed my return window by a couple of weeks... to say that I am disappointed is an understatement.
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Saeco Bean To Brew 12-Cup Automatic Drip Coffee Maker with Glass Carafe and Burr Grinder, Stainless SteelThe sleek stainless steel design of the Saeco Bean to Brew 12-cup coffee maker adds a modern and stylish finish that adapts to any kitchen décor. The sturdy conical burr grinder can grind up to 8.5 oz. of whole beans at the touch of a button. The sealed lid around the bean hopper ensures freshness and protects the machine from the atmosphere. The grind setting can be adjusted using 8 different settings, from fine to coarse. With the large steam ventilation area and easy clean window it allows viewing of the coffee grounds at all times to prevent clogging. The advanced control panel features a large blue backlit LCD and displays the many functions and settings of the machine. Cup selector, aroma selector, 24-hour programable timer, grinder off option and cleaning indicator light are all clearly displayed. Use the cup selector to brew your coffee specifically to the exact quantity you want to ensure freshness and aroma no matter how many cups brewed. The aroma selector lets you choose the strength of the coffee brewed from mild, medium or strong. If you choose to use pre-ground coffee; simply turn the grinder off using the grind off option and use the filter basket instead. When it is time for the machine to be cleaned a reminder icon will appear letting you know when descaling needs to be preformed.
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