In a way, each of my coffee machines has represented a certain period in my life. The Bodum French press was my introduction to the home coffee game. Quick forward Aeropressgiven to my husband and me on the occasion of our engagement. Barza Encore Grinder which we moved to after our wedding. And Chemex when we settled in our first apartment, right after it Buddy kettle with a gooseneck. For a while there was a turn towards Aeropress and takeover Comandante hand grinder. Then, rapid forward to what has become one of my favorite kitchen products: Moccamaster Technivorma(Our countertop has since collected Gaggia coffee machine and all that extra stuff, but that’s not the point.)
As a design editor, I can’t facilitate but be drawn to household items that not only work well but also look really good. First spotted many years ago at the home of a coffee-loving friend, I initially lusted after this chic, architectural brewer for its enduringly stylish, utilitarian form, range of colors, and attractive decanter. It’s the kind of product that to want on display, not hidden in a closet. We bought one at the beginning of the pandemic, when there was no contact, and we haven’t stopped brewing it since. But don’t believe me. Gwyneth Paltrow stocks her Montecito bed and breakfast with one, and cookbook author Dan Pelosi swears by his (check out the radiant orange frame in the background of his portrait). There’s even an adorable, radiant pink version in the kitchen of this Australian innovative couple’s home.
Some background: Mocha Master has been produced in the Netherlands since 1969, five years after the Technivorm brand was founded, the name of which is derived from a combination of the Dutch words technology AND design (“form” and “function”)—was founded. The company started out making other functional household items (think ladders and shelving systems) in the mid-1960s. It then branched out into a coffee grinder, which prompted Dutch coffee brand Douwe Egberts to work with Technivorm on the machine. After refining the design, the basic KB model went into production in the delayed 1970s and has remained largely unchanged since. It’s still handcrafted in Amerongen, like the rest of its products.
Aside from its aesthetic appeal, the Moccamaster makes incredibly good coffee, better than any other drip coffee maker I’ve tried. This is partly due to its manual control system, which lets you control the speed of the basket’s brewing or stop it altogether (we tinker with this part, but you don’t have to). It’s also thanks to the copper boiling element, which quickly heats the water and keeps it at the right temperature for extracting the coffee grounds. The heating plate keeps it there and turns itself off after 100 minutes for safety reasons, giving you more than enough time to drink each cup, or you can simply turn it back on. Other things I love about the Moccamaster are that it brews quietly and quickly, is made of BPA- and phthalate-free metal and plastics, and comes with a glass carafe. There are a variety of carafes, from thermal pourers to squat, cylindrical options. A huge bonus: every machine comes with a five-year warranty, and the brand will repair yours for life.
Compared to other manufacturers, Moccamaster is not a budget choice. Whichever way you look at it, you will pay $330. Of course, there are many imitators of this style, including Coffee shop version AND Zwilling’s takewhich are cheaper. Other designer coffee machines include Smeg retro style, Pleats Alessi elegant shape and Bodum’s Technicolor Optionwhich is available exclusively at the MoMA Design Store (and costs less than $100). While it may not be an impulse buy, the Moccamaster is the most timeless, tough, and high-quality drip coffee maker on the market. It will always have a place in my home, no matter what era I live in.
More Moccamaster coffee accessories
Technivorm Moccamaster KB Coffee Maker, Amazon
329 PLN
Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 Burr Coffee Grinder, Nordstrom
$339
$254.25
Technivorm Moccamaster KBT Thermal Coffee Maker, Nordstrom
Coffee machine Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select, Williams Sonoma
$349.95
