I guess it's the sleek look of this stainless coffee maker that first attracted me to it, but I was also wondering if I would like a thermal jug, rather than a glass carafe.
Product Description
- Zojirushi Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker EC-BD15BA
- 10-Cup capacity (1.5L)
- 1025 Watts
- Thermal stainless steel carafe
- Size: 10-1/2 x 8-3/4 x 15-1/4 inches
- Pause-to-serve feature
- Electronic Programmable Timer Clock
- Easy to read water level indicator
- Automatic shut-off
- Takes a standard (10-12 cup) #4 cone-shaped filter
- Learn more from the manufacturer
- Retails in the $80.00 range
How the Zojirushi Fresh Brew Performed
August 22, 2010
This Zojirushi coffee maker has a nice style - slim if positioned with the clock/timer on its side or wider if placed with controls visible from the front. Either way, it looks very nice on the counter. The carafe is 10-cups, handles well and fits snugly under the basket holder. The water reservoir has a large channel and a floating indicator making it easier than most to fill. I found it very easy to use and set, and I especially like the carafe's polished stainless finish that is mostly fingerprint-free.
As for flavor, the Fresh Brew makes excellent coffee and the carafe kept it reasonably hot for at least three hours in the thermal carafe - that's impressive. There's no loss of flavor and it is not reduced to a concentrate, since there's no warming plate and the liquid does not evaporate (with small lid on). Though you cannot see how much coffee is left in the thermal carafe, it's super convenient to take coffee out to the patio, car and boat (not spillproof) or to serve at the table. The carafe handles well, but the lid tends to tighten during brewing. I often had to use a cloth or grip liner to turn the lid to pour coffee immediately after brewing. This might be difficult for those with problem hands.
This Zojirushi coffee maker has a nice style - slim if positioned with the clock/timer on its side or wider if placed with controls visible from the front. Either way, it looks very nice on the counter. The carafe is 10-cups, handles well and fits snugly under the basket holder. The water reservoir has a large channel and a floating indicator making it easier than most to fill. I found it very easy to use and set, and I especially like the carafe's polished stainless finish that is mostly fingerprint-free.
As for flavor, the Fresh Brew makes excellent coffee and the carafe kept it reasonably hot for at least three hours in the thermal carafe - that's impressive. There's no loss of flavor and it is not reduced to a concentrate, since there's no warming plate and the liquid does not evaporate (with small lid on). Though you cannot see how much coffee is left in the thermal carafe, it's super convenient to take coffee out to the patio, car and boat (not spillproof) or to serve at the table. The carafe handles well, but the lid tends to tighten during brewing. I often had to use a cloth or grip liner to turn the lid to pour coffee immediately after brewing. This might be difficult for those with problem hands.
Overall Impression
The Zojirushi Fresh Brew certainly has style and some nice features, but it's the coffee that rocks. Coffee flavor is excellent. This coffee maker has a cone-shaped filter and shower-style brewing head. Brewing is reasonably quick and thorough - it works hard to suction all the water from the reservoir so it's not the quietest, which isn't a problem. The carafe does not drip while pouring. One feature that could be improved is the Pause-to-Serve. When removing the carafe during brewing, there's always some dripping on the base - pausing does not stop the coffee entirely. It's best to wait for brewing to be complete before removing the carafe.
We usually brew a full 12 cups in our regular coffee maker for no justifiable reason, so I really enjoyed this smaller 10-cup capacity. There was enough coffee for two and less waste overall. Where the warming plate on a coffee maker is often the first thing to go with heavy use, the Zojirushi Fresh Brew has none to worry about. This coffee maker cleans up nicely and requires little care. The cord is a very nice 34" long. Overall, except for the Pause-to-Serve which does not work well, the excellent coffee flavor is this coffee maker's best feature along with the thermal carafe.
We usually brew a full 12 cups in our regular coffee maker for no justifiable reason, so I really enjoyed this smaller 10-cup capacity. There was enough coffee for two and less waste overall. Where the warming plate on a coffee maker is often the first thing to go with heavy use, the Zojirushi Fresh Brew has none to worry about. This coffee maker cleans up nicely and requires little care. The cord is a very nice 34" long. Overall, except for the Pause-to-Serve which does not work well, the excellent coffee flavor is this coffee maker's best feature along with the thermal carafe.
Related Resources
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Compare prices of Zojirushi appliances
Read Coffee Maker Reviews
Coffee Maker 101
Splurge or Save on a Coffee Makers
Cone vs Basket Style Coffee Filters
Before You Buy a Coffee Maker
Coffee Grinder Buying Tips
Go to Home Page
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
