Are you a coffee snob on a quest for the best cup of coffee? Or maybe just a homebrewer with a hankering for something delicious? I have two brands that I think you’ll agree are exactly what you’re looking for: Wilfa and Moccamaster.
You may not have heard of these java giants, who both hail from the European coffee brewing center. But both claim to be coffee brewing experts and to make a cup of coffee that you can’t resist.
The Norwegian Wilfa has manufactured a single beautiful design for the United States since 1948: the Wilfa Precision Coffee Maker. Meanwhile, the Technivorm Moccamaster hails from the Netherlands and produces a variety of machines for coffee drinkers of all shapes and sizes.
What’s up, Wilfa?
Wilfa established itself as the leader in electric appliances for the Nordic region in 1948. They produce everything from waffle irons to coffee grinders to their Wilfa Precision Coffee Maker. Every one of their products has a sleek, pleasing design, which is part of what makes them so popular.
Brief History
In the United States, this Norwegian company only offers one machine: the Wilfa Precision Coffee Maker. This automatic filter brewer was designed by the world champion of coffee: Tim Wendelboe.
Wendelboe has received the World Barista Champion, World Cup Tasting Champion, Nordic Roaster for three years in a row, and an award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the European Coffee Industry.’ He partnered with Wilfa to create a sleek, beautiful, reliable coffee brewer.
The Nordic tradition of coffee runs deep, and Wilfa prides itself on being a frontrunner in quality coffee. They want their glass carafe brewer to be the central part of the home, and their design and simplicity reflect this.
They have an entire product series called Wilfa Black to streamline the technique of coffee brewing.
As part of the product series, you’ll find coffee grinders (both electric and manual), a scale measuring the perfect coffee to water ratio, and a stainless-steel thermos for keeping coffee warm throughout the day.
Their products feature the same sleek, modern design standard of any Nordic coffee house.
Why Choose Wilfa?
If you’re looking for a beautiful, sleek coffee machine that combines form and function, the Wilfa Precision Coffee Maker may be the perfect addition to your morning routine. And it’s been winning awards, including the Award for Design Excellence from the Norwegian Design Council.
They also strive to meet the standards set by the Specialty Coffee Associations of America and Europe for the Golden Cup. The Four T’s of the perfect brewing are coffee contact time, the temperature of the coffee, turbulence, and total dissolved solids.
The Wilfa Precision Coffee Maker consistently strives to reach these standards with every coffee pot.
So, when you purchase a Wilfa, you’re getting high-quality coffee and construction.
Meet the Moccamaster
The Technivorm Moccamaster is a force to be reckoned with, producing a variety of coffee machines that each brews flavorful coffee.
Brief History
This Dutch-based company, Technivorm Moccamaster, has been hand-making their iconic coffee maker since 1968, perfecting the entire coffee brewing experience. As a result, they have earned the right to call themselves Moccamaster.
And Moccamaster believes so strongly in brew quality that they back every coffee brewer with Technivorm’s excellent 5-year product warranty and lifetime repair guarantee.
Why Choose Moccamaster?
If you know you want a machine that makes delicious coffee with zero fuss, the Technivorm Moccamaster may be the answer to your morning routine.
The SCA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) awarded the Golden Cup Standard to Moccamaster, not just once or for a single machine, but twelve separate models. That means no matter which precision brewer you purchase, you’re buying a quality machine.
This certification only comes after rigorous quality control and laboratory testing. The Technivorm Moccamaster excels at the four T’s of the perfect coffee brew: the temperature for coffee brewing, coffee contact time, turbulence in the grounds of coffee, and total dissolved solids. In other words, fantastic coffee.
And Moccamaster comes in various shapes and sizes to suit every coffee drinker. They make an office-sized model, the CDT Grand, and the single-serve Cup-One Brewer.
One of my favorites, the KBG Coffee Brewer, includes the hot warming plate and glass carafe, while the KBT features a thermal coffee pot and no hot plate.
No matter which machine you purchase, you’ll be happy with that perfect coffee bloom.
Check out all the best Moccamasters we’ve reviewed!
The Showdown
Technivorm Moccamaster Review
Every Technivorm Moccamaster includes incredible features that make it a stand-out choice for your kitchen.
Showerhead Outlet Arm
The 9-hole showerhead outlet ensures an even saturation of water to the coffee ground, which contributes to less bitter coffee. It also imitates the pour-over coffee style that even the pour-over coffee purist will appreciate.
Copper Heating Element
Every Moccamaster includes a copper element that rapidly heats the water to 196°F – 205°F. This range is the ideal temperature for coffee extraction, and it contributes to overall coffee quality that helps earn its certification from the Specialty Coffee Association.
This precise temperature control delivers a perfect cup of coffee every time.
According to the National Coffee Association, the 4-6 minute brew time is ideal for fresh coffee bean water contact.
5-Year Warranty
I put my coffee maker through a lot by brewing multiple times a day, every day of the year. However, Moccamaster offers a fantastic warranty unparalleled in the coffee industry. Along with their 5-year warranty come lifetime repairs.
I feel like it’s a company that stands behind its products.
Manual Versus Automatic Drip Stop
The most significant decision about a Moccamaster that you’ll need to make is the manual versus drip-stop brew basket.
The Moccamaster KB and KBT
The Moccamaster KB coffee brewer is a machine for the avid coffee lover who craves a hands-on experience. It includes a 10-cup glass carafe and hot plate switch.
The KBT coffee brewer also features the manual drip-stop brew basket and a 10-cup thermal carafe. This carafe will keep your coffee hot for an hour and warm all day long with the travel lid.
The manual drip-stop acts like flow control. I like to open the brew basket during the brewing process and stir up the grounds. But you can also let the coffee steep longer for a strong, black coffee or brew a half carafe or single cup.
The Moccamaster KBG and KBGT
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBG coffee brewer comes with an automatic brew basket, a 10-cup glass carafe, and 25 different color choices.
The KBGT coffee maker includes the automatic drip-stop brew basket and a 10 cup thermal carafe with a travel lid.
The automatic brew basket is perfect for the coffee drinker that doesn’t want to fuss around in the morning.
The Downsides
The Moccamaster does not include a detachable water reservoir, and the plastic, though absent of any harmful chemics, does have a cheap feel. All parts of the machine have to be hand washed.
Unfortunately, you can’t program this machine to wake you with a carafe hot and ready to drink in the morning. These machines are made to be easy to use, and they don’t feature any fancy controls.
Things We Like
- Five-Year Warranty
- Thermal Carafe Model
Things We Don’t Like
- No Detachable Water Reservoir
- Cheap feeling plastic
Wilfa Svart Precision Coffee Maker Review
Wilfa only produces one exceptional machine, the Wilfa Precision Coffee Maker. You will love this machine, from its unusual and sleek design to the quality standard coffee it brews.
Coffee to Water Brew Ratio
The gorgeous glass water tank on the Wilfa Precision Coffee Maker features a visual coffee ground ratio, so you know the correct coffee to liters of water ratio you need. This coffee measurement built right in makes for fantastic-tasting coffee.
Detachable Water Tank
I love removing my water tank and filling it in the sink, and the Wilfa Precision Coffee Maker features a refillable tank that lets me do that.
Did you know? Coffee beans contain oils that will remain in your coffee pot and affect the flow of coffee and coffee taste. So instead of filling your water tank with your carafe, use a separate water jug.
Water Control Lever
The flow control adjuster not only looks sleek and beautiful but lets you brew any size, from a single cup to an entire pot of coffee.
The Downsides
Because of the unusual design of this machine, some plastic pieces in the heating tower are exposed daily to high temperatures. With too much use, the heating tower can crack. But Wilfa has excellent customer service.
The Wilfa Precision Coffee Maker also only comes with a glass carafe, which means the temperature of your pot might be at risk. And like the Moccamaster, there aren’t many programmable features. Nevertheless, it’s a straightforward machine that brews delicious coffee.
Things We Like
- Detachable Water Tank
- Flow Control
- Aesthetic Design
Things We Don’t Like
- Heating Tower Issues
- No Thermal Carafe Model
Wrap Up
No matter which brand you choose, both the Technivorm Moccamaster and the Wilfa Precision Coffee Maker are excellent choices. However, if you’re considering the price, these are some of the most expensive drip coffee makers on the market.
Check out our review on all the Best Drip Coffee Makers available to find one at an affordable price that meets your needs. I love the OXO 8-cup Brewer.
Overall, the quality of coffee is about equal for both, but I always choose a thermal carafe when I can. Because of that, I lean slightly towards the Moccamaster.
Happy Caffeinating!
