Monday, October 14, 2024

KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker (KCM0801)

KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker (KCM0801) Review

Coffee Makers

Product Grade
Report Card Grade
0 Reviews
Best Feature:
SCAA certified brewer
Worst Feature:
Small water tank opening, short warming window
Best Uses:
Daily high-quality coffee production
Pricing:
$169.99
Manufacturer:

Where to Buy

Store Name
Price
$149.95
$149.95
$169.99
$179.95
$179.95

Overview

We thought the SCAA certified KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker was a good automatic drip home brewer with a classic look. In our blind taste test, it ranked only 5th out of 10 in overall taste, but scored the highest of any machine in both body and color. This is the coffee maker for people who want an SCAA certified brewer and prefer the glass carafe and warming plate technology. The only drawbacks we found with this machine were its short warming window and its water tank, which was a little harder to fill than others that we tested.

The KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker is an SCAA certified home brewer.
The KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker is an SCAA certified home brewer.
Credit: Mary Griffin
You can compare the KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker (KCM0801) to other coffee makers in the Coffee Maker Review.

Photos

The KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker is an SCAA certified home brewer.
This SCAA certified home brewer utilizes glass carafe and warming plate technology.
The KCM0801 features indicator lights to let you know where in the brew cycle you are.
The Pour Over Coffee Maker has a water window to let you know how full the water tank is.
We used a paper filter in the KitchenAid's cone shaped brew basket.
We found that the water reservoir was difficult to fill.
We liked the look of the KitchenAid on our counter.
The KCM0801 reached an optimal brewing temperature of 199°F.
Getting ready for some coffee!

 
This Product
Overall Winner
Overall Score
74%
94%
93%
Our Awards
Date Reviewed
July 2016
July 2016
July 2016
Pros
SCAA certified; includes pre-infusion step; brews at optimal temperature
Coffee brewed at optimal time/temperature; SCAA certified; excellent warranty; brew-through lid and internal mixing tube
Coffee brewed at optimal time/temperature; SCAA certified; programmable; includes pre-infusion step; brew-through lid has internal mixing tube
Cons
Water tank is hard to fill; long brew time; warming plate turns off after 1 hour
Very expensive; not programmable; no auto-off
Expensive
Brewing Quality (30%)
Taste Test Results (35%)
Construction and Design Quality (20%)
Ease of Setup/Cleanup (15%)
Bonus Points - Extra Features (+10)
Type
Automatic Drip/Pour Over
Automatic Drip
Drip and Pour Over Technology
Brewing Capacity
40 oz
40 oz
45 oz
Price (MSRP)
$169.99
$340
$199.99
Warranty
1-year Full
5-year Limited
2-year Limited
Product Width
8.7"
12.8"
14.2"
Product Depth
11.3"
6.8"
6.7"
Product Height
15.1"
15.3"
15.2"
SCAA Certified
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tested Brew Temperature
200°F
198°F
198°F
Tested Brew Time Until Empty Water Tank
11 minutes
5 minutes 30 seconds
7 minutes and 45 seconds
Carafe Temperature After Brewing
180°F
177°F
177°F
Carafe Temperature After 1 Hour
162°F
163°F
167°F
Filter Design
Can accommodate a reusable Gold Tone cone filter or a #4 disposable filter
Recommends using a #4 disposable, cone-shaped filter
Recommends using a #4 disposable, cone-shaped filter
Carafe Style
Glass
Thermal
Thermal
Programmable
No
No
Yes
Automatic Brew Strength Settings
No
No
No
Automatic Off
Yes (after 1 hour)
No
Yes
Brew Stop
No
Yes
Yes
Built-In Water Filter
No
No
No
Dishwasher Safe
Yes (upper rack)
No
No

Product Background

The KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker is an SCAA certified home brewer that brews at the optimal temperature of 200°F. This machine utilizes pour over and drip brew technology that includes a pre-infusion step to help ensure complete saturation and excellent extraction. It has a "progress indicator light" that allows you to monitor the brewing process, and you'll have a hot pot of coffee ready in 10-15 minutes. The 8-cup glass carafe sits on a warming plate that automatically turns off after 1 hour.

We liked the look of the KitchenAid on our counter.
We liked the look of the KitchenAid on our counter.
Credit: Mary Griffin

ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review


Specifications

Performance Comparison

Brewing Quality

Combining pour over and drip brew technology, the KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker is designed to maximize flavor extraction. We confirmed that it brews within the optimal temperature range according to the SCAA, but during our test, it took slightly longer to brew than the SCAA's recommended 4 - 8 minutes. The machine beeped to indicate a complete cycle at around 11 minutes, and it took another 2 minutes for all the coffee to drain through the cone shaped brew basket. However, the pre-infusion step may have been a contributing factor to the longer brew time. Immediately after brewing, the temperature of the coffee in the carafe was 180°F, and after an hour it was down to 162°F. We thought this was a significant temperature loss considering the warming plate, but at least we knew that the coffee's flavor wasn't going to be compromised by continuing to "cook" on the plate.

The KCM0801 reached an optimal brewing temperature of 199°F.
The KCM0801 reached an optimal brewing temperature of 199°F.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Taste Test Results

The KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker came in 5th out of 10 machines in our blind taste test. We asked 31 coffee drinkers to rate samples of black coffee on overall taste, flavor, body, acidity, and color. The KCM0801 ranked highest of any machine in both body and color. It received its lowest marks for acidity. Although it was the lowest ranked SCAA certified home brewer in our taste test, we still felt like it brewed a tasty cup of coffee. To learn more about how we tested the KitchenAid against other coffee makers, please read our How We Test section.

Getting ready for some coffee!
Getting ready for some coffee!
Credit: Mary Griffin
Design Quality

The overall feel of the KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker is a bit "plasticy." Although we liked the look of the design, we didn't feel like the machine was constructed with the highest quality material. We are also partial to the look and function of a thermal carafe. That being said, the glass carafe pours well and doesn't leak.

This SCAA certified home brewer utilizes glass carafe and warming plate technology.
This SCAA certified home brewer utilizes glass carafe and warming plate technology.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Ease of Set Up and Clean Up

The KCM0801 is intuitive to set up, as it is the familiar automatic drip brewer with glass carafe system. Filling the water tank can be tricky due to the small opening, but the water level measurements are clearly marked. The removable parts, including the carafe and brew basket, are top-rack dishwasher safe.

We found that the water reservoir was difficult to fill.
We found that the water reservoir was difficult to fill.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Bonus Features

The KitchenAid KCM0801 isn't programmable. It does feature a "progress indicator light" that lets you know where in the brew cycle the machine is, and it beeps when the brew cycle is complete. We thought the 1-hour warming window was a little short, but we do really like the fact that it turns off automatically. If you want the KitchenAid brand, this technology, and a machine that you can program, you can pay a little more for the KCM0802.

The KCM0801 features indicator lights to let you know where in the brew cycle you are.
The KCM0801 features indicator lights to let you know where in the brew cycle you are.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Best Uses

The KCM0801 is excellent for daily brewing and ideal for people who want a classic glass carafe and heating plate system.

Value

At $170, the KitchenAid KCM0801 is a more affordable SCAA certified brewer, and we thought it was an okay value considering it comes with a 1-year full warranty.

Conclusion

The KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Maker is the perfect choice for people who want an SCAA certified brewer but prefer the glass carafe look and functionality. Notable drawbacks are the lack of programmability, the small water tank opening, and the one-hour limit on the warming plate. For a little more money, you can get it all (meaning programmability and a thermal carafe too) in the OXO On Barista Brain. For more information about our award winners and other machines we tested, please visit our Coffee Maker Overview.

Alternatives

OXO On Barista Brain

  • $200
  • SCAA Certified Home Brewer
  • Programmable

Bonavita BV1900TS

  • $190
  • SCAA Certified Home Brewer
  • Manual Operation
  • Editor's Choice Award Winner

Technivorm Moccamaster Thermal KBGT 741

  • $340
  • SCAA Certified Home Brewer
  • Manual Operation
  • Overall Award Winner
We suggest that you check out our Buying Advice for Coffee Makers to get an idea for what machine will best suit your needs.

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