Brewing Temperature Test, Braun KF-157B Automatic Drip Coffeemaker

Tonight, July 7, I slid the FootLoose Clarity to the back of the counter to make space for the next test victim. This is my Braun KF-157B drip coffeemaker that I bought some time in 1998 from Turnpike Appliance in Jeriko, New York. This machine has a claimed power consumption rating of

120V/AC, 60 Hz, and 1200 watts, and a claimed 12-cup capacity. Of course, In most of the European continent, a coffee "cup" is considerably smaller than what most Americans think of as a "cup" of coffee these days. A full tank in the back means a little over 66 ounces or so. We're apparently talking about something around, or slightly less than a 5-ounce cup. I did not have one of Braun's carbon granule filter cartridges installed, so that space was available for water, since I also did not plug in their "space compensator" for when you don't have the water filter.

This is a simple beast, a small 2-position switch for On/Off, and one just like it and positioned right under it, for NOrmal brew or "small batch". A small batch is defined as brewing four cups or less. I'll use the Normal switch setting.

All the stuff I used in the other tests are the same: Same voiced-output cooking thermometer with the five-inch long, nail-like steel probe; same Sony WM-SR1 cassette recorder to tape the action for later dictation; same batch of Eight O'clock coffee beans, which would be ground fresh just before brewing.

This KF-157B, (the designated Black), was made in Mexico. Only the design and the old-style top-reinforced carafe, were made in Germany.

I'm going to have two very small problems right away. The Flavor-Guard flap over the flat-channeled spout in the carafe means the cover on the carafe will need to be raised slightly when I insert the thermometer's probe to get the water temperature in carafe on warmer plate a couple minutes after brewing. Also, this design has a rather tight fit for the brew basket under the top cover that contains the drip spout. To get that stiff probe in there during brewing, I'll be leaving a fairly nice gap; which I"ll have to keep as tightly closed as possible by using a finger to keep a steady pressure on the basket to hold it in place, and to keep the thermometer's business end positioned at a good angle so the tip is well inserted down into the ground coffee in the filter. This model puts out some serious hot and heavy steam in the last three or four minutes of its brewing cycle.

Temperature in the test chamber, (my kitchen): 71.4 degrees Fahrenheit THe air conditioner is working nicely tonight. Maybe that's because it is not so hot outside this evening. Temperature of water in fill tank, 75.5 degrees The coffee is a bit chilled, because it has been recently in the freezer: Temperature in ground coffee in filter basket, 59.4 degrees.

Start watch:

5 seconds, throw switches on coffeemaker 10 seconds, 58.9 degrees pumping noises 20 seconds, 92 degrees 30 seconds, the thermometer kept its voiced reading to itself, I can not see to read the LCD readout; 40 seconds, 168.3 degrees 50 seconds, 177.3 degrees 1 minute, 180 degrees 1 minute 10 seconds, 181 degrees 1 minute 18 seconds, 180.9 degrees 1 minute 28 seconds, 177.3 degrees Stronger pumping, heavy dripping of coffee into carafe 1 minute 37 seconds, 183.1 degrees 1 minute 44 seconds, 185.4 degrees 1 minute 51 seconds, no voiced reading 2 minutes 7 seconds, still no announcement 2 minutes 14 seconds, 188.1 degrees 2 minutes 22 seconds, 189.4 degrees 2 minutes 28 seconds, 190.2 degrees 2 minutes 34 seconds, no announcement 2 minutes 38 seconds, 190 degrees 2 minutes 45 seconds, 19.4 degrees 2 minutes 54 seconds, 190.9 degrees 3 minutes, 190.4 degrees 3 minutes 10 seconds, 190.9 degrees 3 minutes 19 seconds, 192 degrees 3 minutes 28 seconds, 193 degrees 3 minutes 35 seconds, 193 degrees 3 minutes 46 seconds, 194 degrees 3 minutes 57 seconds, 194 degrees 4 minutes 4 seconds, no announcement 4 minutes 9 seconds, 194.8 degrees 4 minutes 15 seconds, 195 degrees 4 minutes 22 seconds, no announcement 4 minutes 26 seconds, 194.1 degrees 4 minutes 32 seconds, ---; 4 minutes 36 seconds, 192.8 degrees 4 minutes 44 seconds, heavier sputtering 4 minutes 47 seconds, 192.4 degrees 4 minutes 54 seconds, 191.6 degrees 5 minutes 1 second, 190... the voice wimps out before finishing the readout 5 minutes 10 seconds, 191 (wimpout) 5 minutes 17 seconds, 192...(wimp-out) 5 minutes 27 seconds, 192... 5 minutes 38 seconds 193.1 degrees 5 minutes 45 seconds, 193.6 degrees 5 minutes 52 seconds, strong pumping, heavy gurgling, lots of steam 5 minutes 56 seconds, 193... 6 minutes 6 seconds, 193.7 degrees 6 minutes 12 seconds, no voice 6 minutes 16 seconds, 193? 6 minutes 25 seconds, 192? 6 minutes 43 seconds, 193.6 degrees 6 minutes 50 seconds, 193.9 degrees 7 minutes 2 seconds, 194.3 degrees 7 minutes 8 seconds, 195.3 degrees 7 minutes 18 seconds, 196.4 degrees 7 minutes 22 seconds, 196.3 degrees 7 minutes 34 seconds, this thing is hot to hold! 198. 7 minutes 43 seconds, 198.8 degrees 7 minutes 49 seconds, 198. 8 minutes, 199.1 degrees 8 minutes 9 seconds, 202 degrees Fahrenheit 8 minutes 13 seconds, 202 degrees 8 minutes 18 seconds, no voice 8 minutes 22 seconds, 202.4 degrees (heavy gurgling 8 minutes 28 seconds, 202.9 degrees, louder gurgling, near end 8 minutes 34 seconds, 205 degrees What a steamer! 8 minutes 48 seconds, 203.3 degrees, switch shuts off 8 minutes 59 seconds, 201.7 degrees, still gurgling 9 minutes 5 seconds, 202.4 degrees 9 minutes 12 seconds, 202.4 degrees, still dripping into carafe 9 minutes 21 seconds, 201.1 degrees 9 minutes 28 seconds, 200.7 degrees, still dripping 9 minutes 35 seconds, 200.7 degrees 9 minutes 41 seconds, 199.9 degrees, solid hot coffee grounds This brew has essentially ended. 9 minutes 50 seconds, 199 degrees 10 minutes, remove thermometer from filter, wipe off, place into carafe 10 minutes 16 seconds, 180.9 degrees 10 minutes 24 seconds, 184.4 degrees 10 minutes 31 seconds, 185 degrees 10 minutes 37 seconds, 185.3 degrees 10 minutes 46 seconds, no voice 10 minutes 50 seconds, 185.4 degrees 10 minutes 58 seconds, 185.3 degrees 11 minutes 5 seconds, 185.4 degrees 11 minutes 12 seconds, 185.3 degrees.

It is a smooth brew, but not quite as strong as I like. This unit needs a finer grind with this coffee than the Clarity likes; I also should have used more coffee. It's not a sink drink, but this machine has done, and can do, better. I think temps would have been higher inside the brewing basket had the basket been propperly closed.

This KF-157B does take longer to reach brewing temps within that magical

194-203-degrees Fahrenheit range, (90 to 95 degrees Celsius) than do either my Presto or my Clarity, but it still manages to hold its own in brew flavor and quality once I fiddle out the optimum grind setting, something we also must do with the other machines.

It's no joke, guys! Unless you like and can and will settle for the pre-ground choice from the big food packaging companies and you usually use and like their products, if you're going to experiment with different varieties and roasts of whole-bean coffees, a good-quality grinder is absolutely essential, even for brewed coffee.

A good-quality burr-type grinder is not important just for espresso. A helicopter-blade-style chopper-type grinder really is not good enough, even for drip coffee. It may not be as critical as for a mid-priced or higher pump espresso machine, but if you skimp out on the grinder, you'll be cheating yourself out of a coffee experience that will bee all that it can be.

Brent Reynolds, Atlanta, GA USA Email: snipped-for-privacy@bellsouth.net Phone: 1-404-814-0768

Reply to
dososaurus
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Absolutely true! We tried and were unhappy with a variety of machines before our current Solis Maestro Plus, with which we are quite pleased. One oddity: to get the grind (we normally use French Roast) the consistancy of granulated sugar for use in our older TechniVorm Clubline (w/multiple dripper and permanent gold filter basket), it must be set about halfway between DRIP and FR. PRESS.

-Gene Halaburt Newton Center, MA

Reply to
Gene

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