Stylish automatic coffee brewer with 1.5-liter thermal carafe
Stainless-steel carafe keeps coffee hot for hours
1025 watts; electronic clock/timer with preset function; auto shut-off for safety
Clever brew-and-serve lid design; easy-to-read water gauge
Editorial Review:
Zojirushi Fresh Brew Coffee Maker EC-BD15 features a 1.5 liter stainless steel vacuum insulated carafe with excellent keep-warm performance for fresh tastingcoffee. Unlike other coffee makers with a burner that quickly bitters the taste of coffee, the Fresh Brew Stainless Steel Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker comes with a stainless steel thermal carafe that keeps the coffee hot for hours without altering the taste. It also features an electric timer clock module to set the coffee to complete brewing by the desired time.
Lots of folks dislike the burnt flavor that coffee gets when it sits in a glass pot over a heating element. To avoid this, coffee shops often brew right into large thermal pots to keep the coffee warm without it becoming overcooked. The Zojirushi Fresh Brew does that, too, but in home-sized batches. It looks great, too, with a glossy black body and stainless steel carafe and brew basket.
To brew, lift the lid and swing the water outlet spout to one side while the filter is being loaded; the spout will return to its proper position when the lid is closed. A small red ball in the water gauge makes it extra simple to read. And an electronic clock module also serves as a timer that will start the brewer at a specified time. The carafe's lid is designed to be on during brewing, with a small cap to help keep the heat in after it's ready. The Fresh Brew also has a pause-and-serve function that stops the flow for 30 seconds while a cup of coffee is served.
To clean the brewer unit, use a solution of white vinegar and water, following the instructions in the accompanying booklet. The unit is not immersible. The exterior can be wiped with a damp soft rag; do not use abrasives or scouring pads. The filter reservoir is removable; clean with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly. The coffee brewer measures 15 by 12 by 9 inches (includes carafe handle when unit is completely assembled), and it uses #3 cone-shaped disposable paper filters. The Fresh Brew comes with a detailed instruction booklet. Zojirushi guarantees its products with a one-year limited warranty. --Garland Withers
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Very good coffee...major flaw:
Had this for years. Filters impossible to find (#3). Makes very good coffee, but where it drips through gets easily clogged (although washed after each use) and then the coffee overflows from the filter as it's being made. We got sick of cleaning coffee and grounds off the counter and floor and bought a Cuisinart. Too bad - really liked the coffee.
Good coffee, but a poor design:
I bought this coffee maker about three weeks ago. It brewed a good cup of coffee and the coffee stayed warm in the carafe for a long time. However, I returned the coffee maker because the carafe lid was just too hard to open and close. Opening and closing the carafe was like struggling with a difficult jar lid. There were two other design flaws that annoyed me as well, but were not necesserily "deal breakers". (1)There is an arm on the coffee maker that must be moved into position before brewing. This arm... more info
Zojirushi Coffe Thermal Carafe:
Used the product for two weeks and quality of the coffee is acceptable but encountered an unwelcomed surprise this morning---freshly brewed coffee on the counter, floor, drawers and behind the frig. Seems that the carafe lid and the valve in the grounds holder will no longer stay aligned.
It's OK for its Price:
The Good: Coffee is brewed quickly, tastes fine, and it stays hot.
The Bad: It doesn't pour well. The lid is crazy and hard to line up. The #4 filters the mfg. recommends have to be cut down because they're too tall. The Bunn stainless steel pour-over is a much better coffee maker but it's also twice the money.
