Great Looks - Solid Construction - Easy to use - Great Taste

Author's Rating:

Pros: Ease of Use, Makes great Coffee and Great Style

Cons: Pricey - Unless you shop around. Mesh filter should have a folding handle.

The Bottom Line: 
If you demand great tasting coffee and high style - this is the machine for you

Author's Review
It just arrived today and I was immediately impressed with the solid construction. The brushed aluminum body uses a heavy gauge and rigid material. Much nicer than SS units. No problem with finger prints like stainless.

I made two mistakes out of the gate.

I made three disappointing small batches of coffee because of these 2 factors:

I did not first season the unit by running vinegar and water solution through it.

Also I missed the recommendation that the minimum brew size should be 4 cups, I was making 3 cups.

The specs state that the machine heats the water to 200F for proper brewing. It's true. I checked the temperature of the grounds with an instant read thermometer as soon as the brew cycle ended and it read 190F. One word of caution, do not immediately pour and gulp down the coffee immediately after brewing, it is very hot and you will not experience the full flavor until if cools just bit.

This unit is replacing a DeLonghi I just purchased from Starbucks (which I will be returning)the DeLonghi produced a so so cup of coffee at least in part because it does not heat the water anywhere near that of the Bosch.

I like a full bodied and smooth coffee. I use a Vienna roast bean and grind it on the medium setting of a Solis Maestro Plus grinder. I use about 12 grams of beans per cup when brewing four cups. I will probably try 10 grams per cup when I make the full 8 cups.
If you like you coffee weaker then you get using the standard 10 grams per cup formula, do not use less coffee or more water. Brew according to direction and add hot water to your cup to dilute the strength. Using less coffee or extra water will cause the coffee to be over extracted and be bitter and acidic.

This unit is not cheap, retails for $199.00 and more. I purchased mine on Ebay and paid $166.00 delivered.

A few weeks have now gone by and now I am convinced I made a good purchase decision. I liked the styling at first now I love it looks. It's edgy and classic at the same time.

But coffee it why we purchase coffee makers and I could not ask for a better tasting cup.

With use, I find that my advice that 4 cups should be the minimum batch size now no longer applies. I now get consistently great results with 3 cup brewing, which is the perfect amount for my thermal travel mug. I guess even coffee maker have a break in period.

It is important to press the two position start button correctly. This button controls the speed at which the water is sprayed over the grinds. A small batch (3 - 4 cups) requires a slower flow of water to allow for proper extraction time. Pressing the lower half of the button does just that. For larger batches press the top portion for a faster flow into the grinds.

Everything is better and easier with this unit: loading water and coffee, pouring with out spills, great taste and cleaning is a snap.

If you entertain a lot you may want to consider purchasing a second carafe.

If price is not an issue and you want style - quality and great tasting coffee, this one's for you.