Redline MK1 Coffee Brewer (195-205 Optimum Brew Temperature, Pre-Infusion Mode Included).

I'm loving the Redline MK1 it's making great coffee. Obviously I was looking at the Moccamaster kgb or the Bonavita, but after some research and trying to keep in my budget I went with the Redline and I'm happy I did. First the brew, I definitely taste the difference from my (Mr. Coffee BVMC),although I could get a decent cup from my Mr. Coffee strong but not bitter, the Redline coffee has a cleaner more complex taste and just the right strength (I'm using 60g per liter of fresh ground coffee from my Capresso infinity grinder also using Melitta #4 filters white.) I also tested it with pre-ground coffee and no problems although freshly ground taste much better. I also use the pre-soak option on the MK1 which I feel gives better result in taste. The cup sizes are based on euro 5oz. size so at the 1 liter mark I get about 4 large servings or about 6 small servings of coffee, which is a perfect size for wife and I since we usually have a couple cups in the morning or pour a XL serving into a tumbler when we're on the go. I have been using a french press for a while when I wanted a special cup and recently bought a V60 and really liked the results, but I don't want to go though the extra time it takes every mourning to get a great cup of coffee, so this MK1 was the compromise and I think it gets to about 80-90% of how good a French Press/ V60 can get. I think anyone will love this machine if they use fresh quality water/coffee/filter at the right proportions you will have a really nice cup of coffee.PROSMakes Great Coffee!!!Premium Features - pre-infusion mode (like Bonavita) / carafe cover funnel (like moccamaster)Temp control - brewing temperature of 196° - 205° F Gold Cup Standard of ECBC and SCA.Hot Coffee - It's about 190°-195° after I pour it into my mug or tumbler.Fast brew times 6-8 min depending on grind size.Easy to clean - much better than Mr. Coffee. (also Redline recommends you descale every 2 months.)Design - built from a car co. that has nice style, the Metal rectangular reservoir base looks great and the rest of the plastic parts look like good quality, the carafe feels solid.My Wife likes it- My Wife hates complicated gadgets so this simple one button use is prefect.CONS (mostly nitpicks)Hot plate time - It works fine but only last about 40 min. (the manual says 120 min.) this is not an issue for me but I can see how it can be a big deal for others. I don't know if you can adjust the time? you can just press the "on" button and keep it going manually but they say coffee starts to degrade after 30 min. on a hot plate so better to pour into a double wall thermos or tumbler if your going to want it for later. * if your the kind of coffee drinker that wants a big pot of coffee that will be hot for hours on a hot plate, this is not the coffee maker for you.Filter Basket- It's not the easiest thing to insert, you have to line it up correctly and sometimes I have to fidget with it, which is the last thing you want to do when half asleep in the mourning (maybe with practice this will become second nature.)Blinking ON button - when in pre-infusion mode the on button blinks until it turns off, some might find it annoying.Glass carafe handle - not the most ergonomic handle I have used and if held too close to the top the steam might bother your hand.PSNote on the coffee I have used- I have used a variety of beans and grinds. I find that 60 g/1L ratio works good on this coffee makers and gives a strength similar to when you order at a Peet's coffee shop. So on Light/Med roast like a Ethiopian/Kenya you probably want to grind finer to mellow out the bright fruit sour taste. Med/Dark roast like Colombian or French you can go with a medium grind. I'm using an organic African blend med/drk roast for our morning coffee (between medium and fine grind) and then use Tanzania Peaberry at fine grind for afternoon slump if needed. Also I always use filter water and preheat mugs or cups to keep at better temp and weigh my beans before grinding It might be overkill but I get a consistently great cup of coffee this way. (*I also splurged on the 4 Year Protection Plan from Asurion, I know Redline covers for a year but I wanted to have the peace of mind and asurion has a great hassle free quick money back return coverage, compared to the moccamaster 5 year warranty (that makes you send them the unit and have to wait a few weeks to get it back) plus you are still saving a ton of money going with the Redline MK1.

The media could not be loaded.  Looking for a drip coffee maker that won't break the bank and actually makes great tasting coffee? This is it. My wife would say that I have an "obsessive personality." So when it comes time to purchase something, I probably overdo it on the research front. We have been using a $25 drip coffee maker for the last 3 years. It works just fine and has never had any mechanical issues. My wife is happy using it until it dies. For some reason though, I don't share her sentiment for the coffee that comes out of the machine. I wanted something that would give me bold, consistent flavor without being overly bitter. I currently own a french press and that's what I usually make my coffee with. Once again, it does fine, but I wanted more. Here are the top features I wanted in my coffee maker...1. Ease of use - Something I can load up, turn on, and forget about-The MK1 uses #4 cone filters, they fit nicely in the the plastic holder, which slides in and is held in place with a magnet-There is only 1 button on this machine. It can be used 2 different ways...to simply brew a pot of coffee, plug the machine in and press the button. It will do the rest.-The same button, when held for 5 seconds, will put the machine into blooming mode. The cycle will heat up, water will be showered onto the grounds, and then the grounds will bloom for about 3 minutes. After this time, the machine will begin to brew your coffee.-The machine stays in this mode as long as the machine does not get unplugged. To switch the regular mode, simply hold the button for 5 seconds again.2. Ability to produce enough coffee to have leftovers-Some people don't know that a "cup" of coffee in the coffee world is not 8 ounces. It is either 5 or 6 ounces depending on the manufacturer. This is an "8 cup" coffee maker. For this machine, a cup is only 5 ounces. So this will only make 40 ounces (sometimes a little less depending on the ground type) of coffee each cycle. For me, this is plenty to have my cup in the morning, pop it in the fridge, and then have a couple iced coffees leftover. And yes, the coffee it produces is perfect for iced coffee.3. Easy to clean-Toss the grounds and filter, rinse the carafe, done.-There is no "clean mode" on this maker but if you are using purified water, which it suggests, you should never get any build up.4. Produce bold, consistent flavor-The first pot I made, I put 2 tablespoons of beans for every "cup" of water per suggested by many coffee experts. This resulted in one of the best cups of coffee I've ever had...because I enjoy my coffee super bold. When my wife tasted it, she said "OMG that is sooo strong." 15 minutes later, I was bouncing off the wall a little too much. My next pot, I tried a 1:1 ratio, and this was absolutely perfect. The coffee was still strong and bold, but my caffeine buzz was still manageable.5. Looks kind of cool sitting on my counter-This machine looks very nice. Stainless steel and black, minimal design, and not terribly bulky. I also like that it is wider than deep, and almost sits flat against the wall.6. Under $100-Just made it on this one. At first I thought $99 was too much for a coffee maker, but when you get coffee shop results each time, it is completely worth it.I can't think of anything about the MK1 that is a downfall. It checks all the boxes for my preferences and lifestyle. One thing I would recommend, though, is purchasing a "Burr-Style" grinder. You can find multiple different styles on Amazon, but I suggest spending a little extra on one of the more heavy duty ones. You will probably need to spend another 75-100 bucks, but once again, when your at-home coffee tastes better than the local coffee joint, its worth it in the end.Hopefully, if you are like me, this detailed review will help you with your purchase. Thanks for reading.