Expensive vs Cheap Coffee Maker: Can You Taste The Difference?

[@EuropeanCoffeeTrip]

What's your coffee maker of choice and why? 🔴 This video is sponsored by Standart, Order a yearly subscription with free worldwide shipping and free coffee samples 👉 standartmag.com/ect Timestamps: 0:00 Expensive vs Cheap Coffee Maker 0:33 Coffee Maker Comparison 2:09 Brewing & Tasting Specialty Coffee (light roast) 3:55 Tips for Better Brewing of Light Roasted Coffee 4:48 AD: Standart Issue 25 5:50 Brewing & Tasting Commercial Coffee (dark roast) 7:11 Final Thoughts & Suggestions 8:28 Thank you! ☕️ Say hello to Alan on Instagram 👉 instagram.com/50percentar... ⭐ Find best coffee shops in Europe 👉 europeancoffeetrip.com/mobile... 📺 Watch our documentary about the AeroPress ► geni.us/AeropressMovie 👍

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

A funnel like device I bought from Ikea.... Just finished using my mother's other dutch coffee maker, a Philips. It works very nicely, maybe when I need one for myself I will get a Philps or Bosch although I have to admit the Moccamaster is the best looking one!

[@farisfayedalshebani]

This is our second K-Classic. We had our first one for many years, so when we had to replace it, we wanted nothing else but this exact kzbin.infoUgkxBrV-RbF5Nk0Rlt9i15aao-YMzqzTG8Vf model. We use it for about three people everyday in the morning. The taste and quick brew is one of the reasons we like it so much. There are so many choices of brands of coffee that we would grab what was on sale and test the different brands from there. I would definitely recommend trying different brands of coffee to find the ones you like the most because there are brands that quite frankly taste horrible.

[@7531monkey]

That isnt coffee.

[@brianantnssn5177]

Fair review without a snobbish bias which happens in the coffee world far too often. A cheap brewer with an affordable grinder like a baratza encore for example is a great gateway into good coffee!

[@EuropeanCoffeeTrip]

Thanks, true! We always prefer to spend more on coffee and grinder than on brewers.

[@GrammerPancreas]

One thing I don't like with cheap brewers is that they often produce a burnt taste that I really don't like. That's why I ended up just doing aeropress or cold brew for budget coffee.

[@goodlife2144]

So try the Moccamaster with a good grinder, good coffeebeans and good water. Do the same with an average brewer. You will taste the difference- guaranteed ☕️

[@anonymusmester]

It seems that the "half jug" button was not pressed for the moccamaster during the "light roast" batch (at min 3:00). It is a pity.

[@margaretv1145]

I purchased a Moccamaster due to it being BPA free. To my surprise my organic fresh roasted Guatemalan coffee that I thought could not taste any better, was the best cup of coffee I have ever had. Also, to my surprise, coffee left in the carafe for 15 minutes did not burn. For years I would throw out coffee in the carafe within 5 minutes because it "cooked" on the burner of my old coffee maker. I will never go back to cheap coffee makers - especially ones that are not BPA free (I had cancer (completely gone now) and at the time they discovered off the chart levels of BPA in my body)

[@ljjackson7106]

I have had my moccamaster for over 12 years and it is hands down the best coffee maker I have ever owned! (I no longer have to replace the cheap coffee maker every 2 or so years too!)

[@margaretv1145]

@@ljjackson7106 So good to know the Moccamaster lasts for a long time!

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

Sorry to ask this but why didn't you simple removed the carafe after brewing? Wouldn't that solve the issue? Thanks

[@xin-and-yin]

Most "coffee experts" in youtube don't do blind test, and we all know why.

[@EuropeanCoffeeTrip]

You can always “cheat” if you do a blind tasting for the edited video. It made sense for us in the video, we decided otherwise in some previous episodes.

[@98GuitarTECH]

It cannot be understated how much of a problem electronic waste from low quality household appliances is. You don’t have to go for a top end brewer like a mokkamaster but it’s definitely worth either going for a product from a known, reliable manufacturer or buying second hand :)

[@v1d300]

True. I too believe in investing in something that will last you longer ( and you will value it higher and use it with care ) so that you don't add to waste in this world. Cheaper instruments and equipment often break not because of their bad quality but also because since its 'cheap' one uses them roughly nor care about breaking them. And often repairing cheap goods gets expensive far too quickly, after a few repairs those cheap ones are thrown away to be replaced by the new 'improved' cheap product. That being said cheap is very subjective, for someone the Mokkamaster might be cheap too so its a tough call to make for everyone. I think the idea of valuing what you have and not wanting the need to get new is really valuable too.

[@fahim113]

Exactly. I know its not the same nut I'd rather go for a cheap V60 that will last a lifetime than a rubbish automatic brewer

[@v1d300]

@@fahim113 I agree. And to be fair V60 is not cheap for what the actual hardware it is but really very cheap how good it can brew. I am happy with V60 and will not buying another drip coffee equipment to replace it. Maybe an Aeropress for that kind of pressure for my brew and an espresso machine. But thats about it, buy one of all of decent-good quality ( mid-tier ) and you are set for all.

[@davidperry4013]

Cuisinart coffee makers are of high quality and aren’t that expensive.

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

@@v1d300 Totally agree but there is this thing...Tristar is just cheap chinese crap that they brand with their logo (I think...) but when I started living alone I bought some stuff from them, an electric kettle and a sandwich maker and not only they have lasted and worked fine for more than 10 years, they proved to be more reliable than similar stuff from better estabilished brands that people I know bought after I bought mine. If we are talking about very simple stuff, basic stuff, like a sandwich maker or a coffee drip maker, there isn't much that can go wrong.

[@mannynumber]

I have a 30 euro drip coffee machine and as a dark roast fan it does wonders. Some tips to make great coffee with a cheap model: 1) descale the coffee machine with 1 part vinegar 3 parts water every month 2) wash all removable parts with soap and water every day 3) I do something I call a double extraction method, after the coffee is ready, I pour it again over the coffee in the filter and that solves the channeling issue, the heat issue (hot liquid is touching the coffee no need to use hot water) and increases contact time between the coffee and the water.

[@75egcg]

What brand and model is yours? And which country are you from?

[@luis3g92]

Against the tip: if you need to stir the coffee in an electrical coffee maker that is supposed to do everything by itself, isn't it better to buy a manual coffee dripper as a v60 then? :D at the end you have to do "almost" the same effort! hahaha That's my conclusion on the video :D Thanks for the video guys :)

[@alanjarrar]

You're right, mate :) I jokingly thought the same in the end

[@kaasloo1303]

My boss gives you a moccamaster if you worked at the coffeebar for atleast 5 years

[@TheOpeningstar]

One question I have is how the two compare with a worse grinder. I've found that using really good coffee and a really good grinder will often lead to a pleasant cup even with a cheap coffee maker or imperfect brewing technique when brewing manually. How would the two compare when using an entry level grinder? Would the Moccamaster be able to extract the more unevenly ground coffee "better" than a cheap coffee maker or would the result be the same?

[@alanjarrar]

This is a great point, Colin! And I think we shoould do that comparison on a cheaper grinder. As you said (and the video delivered that conclusion as well), with high end grinder and great coffee, it's hard not to get a good cup.

[@yellahbe]

I bought a used Moccamaster GCS from 2014 for €35. Thoroughly descaled and cleaned it. Best money I spent. Would I pay €200 for it? No way. There are better ways to spend that amount of money. Then again, I guess you buy it for life and in that case it is money well spent. Instead of supporting some Chinese mass producer you're actually supporting a local European company with production in The Netherlands and that counts for something as well!

[@JD96893]

Great review! I love how you did 2 tests! I think an important factor when choosing a cheap product in general over a more expensive one is not just how well it works but also how long it will last. The cheap machine probably won't last more than 6 months. I've used machines like that one and the performance starts to drop off quickly as it gets used and old. Also the plastic filter gets caked with crap and is impossible to clean. The more expensive machine will probably last much longer and make better coffee over that period. It also looks nice and is better to use.

[@EuropeanCoffeeTrip]

You are right! I think Alan sums it up at the end of the video. Also, more expensive brewers are much easier to operate. Our goal was to compare also taste and to our surprise (with a given setup and coffee beans) differences were not huge. Personally, I would still pick Moccamaster. It is expensive in this comparison but it is still a solid price for an iconic design and well-built machine.

[@JD96893]

@@EuropeanCoffeeTrip i think these reviews are also great to show people that you dont need to buy the moccamaster or an expensive brewer to get a decent cup of coffee.

[@groverstudiosinc]

We live in a mountain area with well water. Despite filtering, it has a fairly high mineral content. The water has destroyed several fancy machines and crappy machines alike. Perhaps I should be using bottled water, but I hate the extra waste...so cheap makers are my favorite for that reason.

[@JD96893]

@@groverstudiosinc how exactly do they break? There might be a way to fix them.

[@chottabeamm]

i guess for frugal coffee fans, the cheaper would do alright. i guess the expensive ones can wait when we can afford it lmao

[@Andrew-wp1bz]

I don’t think this is a great comparison, because you didn’t dial in the coffees for each brewer. Of course they don’t need identical grind sizes? That being said,, I’ve always been HIGHLY skeptical of the mokamaster. The water dispersion system does not set you up for success in the slightest.

[@alanjarrar]

Hi Andrew, of course I dialed in for both brewers separately, aiming for similar beverage strength. Delivering the number of clicks, grind sizes etc. just wasn't the intention of the video. There was a simple question that we wanted to answer: Can you brew good coffee on a cheap machine? The answer is yes, with good grinder and great coffee, no problem. Now, using a cheap grinder would be good for comparison in another video.

[@alanjarrar]

I agree, the water dispersion system is terribly outdated and ineffective on the Moccamaster.

[@Andrew-wp1bz]

Oh my bad, I didn’t get that impression from the video. Keep up the great content!

[@DEDAHAH]

Nice video, thank you. What grind setting on C40 do you recommend for light roast for Moccamaster?

[@alanjarrar]

I was moving in a range from 26 to 31 clicks (31clicks for 60g per liter/25,6,7 for 30g per 500ml)

[@lucyfoster4082]

My thoughts are that I’d like to invite Alan into my home to brew a pot of coffee.

[@Submersed24]

Could there be a cheap non bur grinder and cheap coffee maker vs expensive grinder and coffee maker? I feel like that's the best test

[@wross5961]

Just a coffee sock and tea kettle and I received great coffee.

[@MarkNieuwenhuizen]

I bought a secondhand Moccamaster. Used those cheap machines my whole life but often had to discard the for minor problems like a broken switch that could not be replaced. Moccamaster parts are better made but also replaceable with original parts.

[@WanderingMunchers]

I'm content with my phin filter. No hassle brewing.

[@orrinbelcher6593]

Fun and informative video, greatly appreciate your honesty and integrity, superbly done

[@vizzo7]

the best would be to get the wilfa. You can control the bloom by closing and opening the valve, it uses standard coffee filters which you can get everywhere, and its easier to clean since you can remove the water recipient. And the price ist between these 2. Since you already used the wilfa grinder waht are you waiting for ? :)

[@exerion76]

Interesting! What kind of wilfa machine do you recommend??

[@vizzo7]

@@exerion76 the current model is nice. there are several model where you can remove the water container. these are the good ones. the filter(similar to cleverdripper) is as far as i know equal on all the wilfas. depending of how much coffee you make the the drip speed can be changed. Wilfa Performance I would take

[@mechantl0up]

Wait, how does the temperature of the water poured in the tank affect anything?? It won’t enter the dispenser arm of Moccamaster until it boils. Or I am missing something about Moccamaster or physcs or both. Howver, preheating the arm through which the just-boiled water traverses could make a theoretical difference for the first sprouts of water.

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

Tristar is a decent buy if you just want something simple. Like if you are starting to live by your own and are buying your first apliances. When I was at that point in my life I bought some, like a kettle and a sandwich maker and not only do I still have them as it has worked fine for over 13 years. I wouldn't buy something more elaborate, like for instance an espresso machine form them but I would be fine buying a drip coffee maker from them if I had a limited budget

[@Brave_Lion]

It was necessary to achieve the best possible result on each coffee maker. Then compare these best results. Another question: what coffee grinder was used in the first test? Very similar to something cheap. In the second test, a "meh" coffee grinder was used. But on the other hand, these tests are useful for people who don't bother with all this. Who buys "some" coffee and doesn't try to get the maximum taste from it.

[@mechantl0up]

Also seems like (later at least) you may have set the flow rate of Moccamaster to full instead of a half pot despite doing only a half pot.

[@TheOpeningstar]

Hi, great video. A question: You give tips for increasing the extraction. Wouldn't just grinding finer be an option as well, instead of the whole stirring thing? Or would that increase the brew time too much and lead to overextraction?

[@alanjarrar]

Hi Colin, good question! We not only wanted to increase extraction, but to make it more even. Finer grind is indeed a good way to increase extraction. But if we don't stir the brew, the water will have the tendency to just go down from the shower and create channels (water travelling just through one part of the coffee bed). Both brewers have a pretty bad shower screen which doesn't cover the whole brewing area, therefore mixing the slurry with water and soaking everything manually is kinda essential here for better cups, in my opinion.

[@eldabasa]

Most noticeable thing between cheap and expensive one is the serving temperature

[@IMNOTABARISTA]

Godo review Allan

[@Indramardian]

Amazing coffee maker

[@joeymacme]

Love my Moccamster. It's just so easy to make great coffee, reliably. Yes it was kinda expensive, but I wouldn't risk putting speciality coffee into a cheaper machine. If I want anything fancier, I make the trip to a cafe with good coffee and skilled baristas... usually somewhere recommended by European Coffee Trip!

[@justraymond3182]

Yuh done goofed

[@fjaviergl99]

what is the name/website of your roastery?

[@EuropeanCoffeeTrip]

Alan’s roastery is called Jokes Aside Coffee Roasters (jokesasidecoffee.eu/) 🔥

[@tafischilly526]

What’s the name of the song in the beginning of the video ?

[@EuropeanCoffeeTrip]

Happy you like the music! We are using songs from epidemicsounds.com. This one is from Matt Large - Knowledge Is Power 🎬

[@tafischilly526]

@@EuropeanCoffeeTrip Thanks 😊

[@cheekster777]

Excellent idea for a video. Enjoyed this one. 👍🏻 Thanks guys. 🙏🏻

[@wanyeng]

Using a cheap coffee maker, with paper filter, in place of a clever dripper for 0.5 to 1 litre brew. Following your clever dripper brewing method. And i enjoyed listening to Alan impartial views.

[@meyer8199]

I have a Moccomaster and it makes a consistently good cup of coffee without any fuss, just turn it on. I also have a small $25 Mr. Coffee 5 cup machine, all plastic, that makes a good cup of coffee without fuss. I don't notice a taste difference. I have had my Moccomaster for eight months and my Mr. Coffee since college, over twelve years. Both have glass carafes and heat plates, which I seldom use. The Moccomaster is in the kitchen and the Mr. Coffee is in the office. Price aside, the Moccomaster has a nice aesthetic, but the Mr. Coffee is ideal for tight spaces. As a non-coffee snob, I would say it depends on your needs more than the taste. As a side note, we also own a DeLonghi espress/coffee maker two-in-one that cost $200. It can do it all, including pods. But the taste for coffee is similar among all three, which is very good.

[@aryehh7128]

The taste taste you did proved the opposite of your conclusion. Tristar tasted better for the light roast, worse for the dark. Then your recommendation of the Tristar was dismissive as if people who like dark roasts are too stupid to remember to the start of the video that Tristar won, and too stupid to remember two minutes ago when Tristar specifically tasted noticeably worse for dark roast. You basically are wishing your dark roast audience to suffer drinking worse brewed coffee. You clearly and understandably have a commitment to sing the praises of the fancier brand. I applaud that you did include the unwanted (by the company that probably in other videos gives you samples to evaluate, and which gave you a tour of their factory) result. And it made sense to include the fixes to improve them. But why not do the taste test then, using those fixes? For example, maybe the Tristar does not have a valve to stop it draining through when the carafe is pulled out, so you can't stir the coffee. But mainly, that attitude toward people who like dark roasts is snobby. By including the unwanted result you increased my interest in watching more of your videos. But by reaching the confused, insulting conclusion and relegating dark roast drinkers to a losing choice, you lost. The correct conclusion is that Tristar makes sense for a person relatively new to third wave coffee, to reach more "bang for their buck" by saving on the brewer and buying better beans. Out of the box, Tristar did slightly better. Caveat: brew in a 500ml batch to not clog the filter. Bonus value your channel adds: Fill the tank with already boiling water, stir the slurry. I take this much time to give you feedback because I've written in with questions and ECT, you are really responsive and helpful. Also, because I came back from my local roaster some hours ago, and so am having trouble falling asleep. ;-)

[@alanjarrar]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I see you jumped into a lot of assumptions that actually weren't part of the video. :) So let me explain. I did dial in for both brewers separately, each needed a slightly different grind size. I think nowhere in the video did I give the impression that the audience is stupid :) I don't have a commitment to praise Moccamaster, nor does the company sponsor us. The Tristar was very capable of brewing good coffee, some of the cups were even a better cup than from the Moccamaster (8-10 tests in total, just one filmed). But the plastic parts with Tristar were literally falling apart, therefore Moccamaster was much better to work with. The Tristar does have a stopper, same as the Moccamaster. We did a tasting after the tips/adjustment, but instead of another 60 seconds of tasting in the video, we simply delivered the results in a voice over part. Both cups were significantly better. Another factor, probably for a separate video, would be grinding on chaper grinders, because the Comandante grind and a good coffee are too good to brew a bad cup. Testing the specialty with Wilfa would give interesting results. It's important to know that what you see in the video isn't a 1 take, there was a lot of dialing and measuring and tasting before. I'm sorry you felt that way about the video, but you didn't really get the message we wanted to deliver. There‘s absolutely no snobism and devaluation of darker roasted commercial coffees here. I have to say that that is merely your interpretation of what you saw in the video, not what we actually meant, felt and said.

[@aryehh7128]

@@alanjarrar My bad. It's usually a waste of time to give honest feedback when it's not welcome.

[@alanjarrar]

@@aryehh7128 Feedback was appreciated, but the incorrect assumptions explained :) It's usually a waste of time to give an answer when people already have one of their own.

[@dickcheneyx]

Id imagine the moccamaster will last just a little bit longer than the tristar lol.

[@anonymousfuck9320]

I dont believe pouring too hot water in the Cheap coffemaker is good