Buy Capresso 440.05 MT-500 10-Cup Electronic Coffeemaker with Thermal CarafeCapresso 440.05 MT-500 10-Cup Electronic Coffeemaker with Thermal Carafe Product Description:
- Brews up to 10 5-ounce cups in just 8 minutes for maximum flavor, aroma
- Stainless-steel vacuum carafe keeps coffee hot up to 4 hours
- Stainless-steel ThermoBlock heating system reduces calcification
- Brew-pause for mid-brew pour; digital, programmable clock/timer
- Measures 9-3/4 by 13-3/4 by 10 inches; 1-year warranty
Product Description
To achieve a spectacular cup of coffee there are essential steps that need to be taken. The water must be free of chlorine taste (hence the charcoal filter), the machine must be able to brew larger or smaller amounts successfully (this one "knows" to disperse hot water more slowly when the coffee ground amount is less). The coffee must be very hot (right around 192 Degrees F, like the brew from the MT500), and kept fresh, as in a double walled stainless steel carafe with a one way valve that keeps flavor and aroma in the coffee. Now it doesn't hurt if the machine itself is gorgeous either, or that it can output 10 cups of coffee in 8 minutes. Oh and one more thing: this is the only coffee maker in its class that has a stainless steel boiler so your coffee doesn't ever come in contact with aluminum. Normally this type of construction, and a 1200 watt heating element are found only on commercial grade appliances.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
212 of 218 people found the following review helpful.
purchase with confidence...you won't be disappointed!
By mister bob
after months of dealing with burnt coffee from my trusty krups coffeemaker...i decided that there just HAD to be a better way. i launched an exhaustive search for what would be the best (you know this is always a compromise, anyways) machine for the job. i knew i wanted a thermal carafe...and wasn't as concerned with the price as i was concerned with the quality and durability.
i read many reviews here on amazon...including reviews for this machine. after seeing a bunch of negative reviews (based on how difficult to operate, clean, or lack of really HOT coffee from this machine) i decided to look further, instead of just jumping in.
of course...as i searched the web, i finally realized that i was just going to have to try the machine...worst that could happen was that i could experience all the problems that some others had...and i'd have to return it.
expecting problems (i saw an awful lot of buyer whining about operation difficulty (it isn't a problem) temperature of coffee (although quoted as 170 degrees in the manual it generally stays in the carafe at 160 degrees) and all assortment of complaints about adding water to the reservoir (a no brainer), assembly/cleaning issues (also very simple), pause and serve issues (never had a problem)...
i had NO problems whatsoever with this unit. coffee tasted good from the first cup...and still tastes good (i've had the unit for over two months now)
as a matter of fact...the coffee is still hot and drinkable after 3 hours (although the manual does recommend that you dispose of the coffee after 2 hours)
so all in all? a VERY satisfied customer...i rated it at 4 stars because it IS expensive...and for the anal-retentive types out there...yes the coffee rarely exceeds 165 degrees...
but...if you are sitting on the fence (like i was) jump in! you won't be disappointed!
251 of 262 people found the following review helpful.
Great coffee, subpar design
By michaelb1968
I went with 3 stars because of price and design. It is better than 3, but I can't bring myself to call it 4. 3.5 is very fair. The coffee that this machine brews is far superior to any machine I have owned. It easily rivals coffee house machines. However, the carafe was poorly designed and the price tag is way too steep. I won't return it, but I retain the right gripe a bit.
PROS:
- Coffee taste is INCREDIBLE! Unmatched by any home machine I know of.
- Coffee is brewed hot. That is a fact. Do not let bad reviews about temp scare you. This machine brews hot.
- Coffee remains hot. Again, don't be scared. I don't pre-heat the carafe. The hot water heats it fast and since steel is a conductor, the carafe warms quickly. FWIW, I dumped a couple cups this morning after they sat all night. I kid you not when I say if you take it black, the temperature was still passable.- It extracts max flavor from the grinds, therefore less coffee is required.
- The keypad is easy to use and understand. The cord compartment is very handy.
CONS:- One hundred and sixty bucks is too much money. First off, the whole machine is not stainless steel. There is a lot plastic and fake steel. The brew technology is good, but there is no way on earth this machine is worth more than 2x a Braun 180. The coffee is a bit better, but you really have to be a fanatic to taste it.
- The carafe is TERRIBLY designed in the way it receives the brew. YES, YOU WILL HAVE COFFEE POUR ALL OVER YOUR KITCHEN IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL! The entry hole is too small. You can set the carafe in place and it will still overflow. It needs to be set PERFECTLY. The lips should be bigger by about 1/4" to prevent spillage. In fact, I feel this lid should be recalled. It is that bad. Exercise caution and you will be fine, but always be aware. Sometimes the ball sticks so even if it is lined up perfectly, it will still overflow. Make sure the green ball is moving before putting the lid on the pot. Use the tip of a knife to jar it loose if it is stuck.
- The lack of a removable water resovoir is inexcusable at this level. The machine is a little on the heavy side and doesn't slide easily, plus you hide the cord. A removable water resovoir would have been great.
- The carafe does pour slow. Make sure the dot is over the spout for best performance. Turning it past the spout only slows it further, it doesn't make the opening bigger! If it gets annoying, remove the lid, pour normal, then replace the lid.
This review may sound negative, but it isn't. Again, the coffee quality is unmatched. However, you do need to put up with mind-bogglingly dumb engineering and tiny quirks. But, like that lawnmower that only you know how to start, this is a machine you'll grow to love as you figure out how to control it.
58 of 59 people found the following review helpful.
The best coffeemaker I've ever owned
By A Customer
When I ordered the Capresso MT-500, I had mixed feelings. I'd never before bought a coffeemaker that cost more than [$$], and I was nervous about spending so much. But at the same time, I was weary of the ongoing battle with calcification in my old Mr Coffee 'Accel' coffeemaker (we have very hard water here). Furthermore, the coffee never did taste all that great, and after two or three hours on the warming pad the last cup was guaranteed to taste burnt and bitter.
In shopping for a new coffeemaker, my requirements therefore included both a thermal carafe and reasonable assurance that it would make decent coffee -- and that it would do so for at least a few years. Unfortunately, most of the reviews I read reported that the carafes were flimsy and broke, or failed to keep the coffee hot enough.
The Capresso addressed all of these concerns and more, and everything about this coffeemaker says "quality." There's a replaceable charcoal filter that goes in the reservoir to help remove chlorine and other impurities. All of the metal surfaces that come into contact with water and/or coffee are stainless steel. The electronic controls are straightforward and easy to understand, and the brew-through sealed carafe is virtually idiot-proof... Moreover, the carafe, which has a stainless steel liner (not breakable glass), is very easy to keep clean. The clock doesn't lose its settings during brief (<10secs) power glitches (a continuing annoyance with the aforementioned and now idle Mr Coffee). The Capresso is also very spiffy and attractive and looks great on our kitchen countertop.
And did I mention it makes great coffee? It does.
Although not absolutely essential, in my opinion, you will end up with hotter coffee -- and hot coffee for a longer period of time -- if you remember to pre-heat the carafe with some hot water for a few minutes before brewing. Just be sure to remember to -empty- the carafe before you start the cycle! Still, preheating isn't always practical, such as when you're using the automatic timer, and frankly, in my opinion the coffee's stayed hot enough for up to 3 hours even when I haven't prewarmed the carafe. Today, using a prewarmed carafe, my last cup was acceptably hot nearly 4 1/2 hours after I first made it.
I've been using my Capresso for a couple weeks now, and I have no regrets in shelling out premium dollars for a premium coffeemaker. I'd definitely do so again.
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