Capresso 441.05 MT-500 Plus 10-cup Coffeemaker with Metallic Alloy Body and Stainless Thermal Carafe
by Capresso
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: CapressoBrand: Capresso
Release Date: 2005-11-15
Model: 441.05
Color: Silver
Product features:
- Coffeemaker brews up to 10 cups of flavorful coffee in just 8 minutes
- Stainless-steel vacuum carafe keeps coffee hot for several hours
- Stainless-steel ThermoBlock heating system reduces calcification
- Brew-pause for mid-brew pour; digital, programmable, 24-hour clock/timer
- Measures 9-3/4 by 10 by 13-3/4 inches; 1-year limited warranty
- Capresso 4440.90 3-pack Charcoal Water Filters
- P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor
- Hamilton Beach 04251P TrueAir Plug-Mount Odor Eliminator
- Capresso 4440.01 10-cup Stainless Steel Vacuum Carafe with Lid for Capresso MT500 and MT500 Plus Coffee Maker
- Jura 66281 Descalling Tablets for Jura-Capresso Automatic Coffee and Espresso Centers, 9 Pack
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Capresso 441.05 MT-500 Plus 10-cup Coffeemaker with Metallic Alloy Body and Stainless Thermal Carafe
Customer Review: HOT, Perfectly Brewed Coffee with the MT500 Plus (don't forget fresh roasted beans and a burr grinder!)
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a little cautious purchasing a replacement for my Starbuck Barista Thermal coffee maker which had been like a member of our family for the past decade (heating element was going out which gave us luke-warm coffee at best). Considered getting it repaired, but decided to research what was new on the market. My requirements were simple: HOT (200 deg F) brew temp, a thermal carafe to keep it hot, and good looks. Guess I should have put affordable on the list, too, because I was in for serious sticker shock.
(Of course, as fellow coffee-snobs know, the brewing machine is only 0ne part of the entire equation. You gotta have a good conical burr grinder to grind up fresh-roasted beans immediately before brewing. All of these elements work together to get that perfect cup of joe! This review assumes you're following that guideline).
Extensive research kept pointing us to the SCAA-approved Technivorm - but there was no way I could justify paying $250 (or more) for a drip brewer (one that is ugly to boot). My original budget was more like $100 or so (like I said, I initially suffered from serious sticker shock). So we split the difference when we found that the CAPRESSO MT-500 PLUS could MORE than handle the job!
First looks, out of the box, the Capresso MT-500 Plus is gorgeous. Fits into any kitchen design. Sort of strange that the body is brushed stainless and the carafe is shiny. But I guess I can live with that. The thermal carafe seems small but is actually quite hefty and does indeed hold more than my previous thermal pot (10 cups vs. 8 cups). Buttons are well laid out, easy to read and use. The filter snaps right into place (not sure if I'll use that feature since I already always use filtered water). But a nice feature for those who do not have filtered water available. I like that the water reservoir and coffee filter holder is accessed from the front - and the lid, when lifted, stays open and in place until closed.
I read the directions thoroughly (and thus have yet to experience any over-flow or mis-alligned carafe issues that others have warned may happen). We've brewed at least two pots of coffee every day for the past week and EVERY POT IS PERFECT. I opened up the top lid during the brew cycle to measure the brew temp (perfect - 200 deg F) and noted that all the grounds were evenly saturated. It brewed pretty fast - about 6 or 7 minutes for a full pot - again, PERFECT timing. The thermal carafe keeps the coffee pretty hot (between 185 to 190 F depending on how full the carafe) for at least an hour (no doubt longer, but we go through the pot pretty quick). The entire unit is very easy to clean. LOVE the permanent goldtone filter (also easy to clean and no more paper filters!). Also like the 3-5 cup brewing option - worked just fine and still brewed hot when tested. The "5 cup" measure actually gave us two large cups of coffee - that feature will be nice to use when it's just one of us in need of mid-day pick-me-up.
So far, we are VERY HAPPY. And because we're happy, it was worth the investment (we actually paid $165 on sale at a major retailer using their coupons).
ONLY flaws were design issues (well, not exactly flaws, but if I were the designer, I would have done a couple of things differently). First, like I said, I wish the carafe matched the body. Second, the lid has a small, raised plastic black "dot" that must be in one position (closed) for brewing and then partially opened and lined up with the spout to pour. It can be kinda hard to see that little black dot when it's time to line it up with the spout and pour - especially first thing in the morning when I'm half awake with no contacts or glasses. My previous thermal pot had a better designed lid that not only fit more snugly into place while brewing, but just required a push of the top button to open/close. That's about the only thing I'm going to seriously miss about my old machine.
But neither of these issues - nor the price - will keep me from giving the Capresso MT-500 Plus less than a 5-star review. Because what is most important is I'm happy I finally found an automatic drip coffee maker under $200 that will make a PERFECTLY BREWED, HOT, cup of coffee EVERY TIME! And looks really good on my counter, as well.
More Capresso 441.05 MT-500 Plus 10-cup Coffeemaker with Metallic Alloy Body and Stainless Thermal Carafe reviews:
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Description of Capresso 441.05 MT-500 Plus 10-cup Coffeemaker with Metallic Alloy Body and Stainless Thermal Carafe
With its sophisticated look, the new MT500 Plus ties in beautifully with today's metallic kitchen trends, while adding a classic accent that works with a variety of kitchen decor options. This is the only 10-cup electric coffee maker with a stunning metallic alloy body, stainless steel thermal carafe and a stainless steel lined heating system. The new MT500 Plus adds a brushed metallic filter holder for a sleek look. It features a convenient side panel with easy access soft-touch controls, plus an illuminated LED display that is easy to see from any angle in any light. Convenience features include easy-to-clean polished surface, GoldTone Filter, easy-to-read external water level indicator, drip free spout, 24-hour programmable clock/timer, concealed cord storage and automatic safety shut-off after brewing.Employing a stainless-steel vacuum carafe instead of a warming plate, this coffeemaker brews up to 10 cups in under eight minutes for maximum flavor and aroma, and the carafe then keeps the coffee hot for several hours. The carafe prevents coffee from turning bitter, as it can when sitting on a warming plate, and doesn't have to remain with the machine for coffee to stay hot. The machine also offers a setting for brewing three to five cups without diluting the flavor or aroma. The unit's charcoal water filter removes up to 83 percent of the chlorine in tap water, and its electronic indicator shows when the water filter needs replacing. To reduce calcification, Capresso's stainless-steel ThermoBlock system prevents water from contacting aluminum inside the machine.
For added convenience, the coffeemaker's digital, programmable, 24-hour clock/timer makes it possible to have coffee ready in the morning, while its brew-pause function allows for pouring a cup midbrew. Other useful features include a handy side panel with easy-access soft-touch controls, an illuminated LED display, a drip-free spout, a permanent Gold Tone filter, automatic shutoff after brewing, an external water-level indicator, and concealed cord storage. Made of high-gloss aluminum alloy with black, plastic accents, the coffeemaker measures 9-3/4 by 10 by 13-3/4 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty against defects. --Fred Brack
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