Braun – MultiServe Drip Coffee – Black/Stainless Steel

Coffee makers are pretty much a standard appliance in today’s modern household with the classic drip being the most popular. One limitation of the traditional coffee maker is that the amount of coffee that is brewed is much more than what you need. This is mostly true especially if you are the only one drinking coffee in your household which actually applies in my case. And while single serve coffee makers have been introduced lately, these tend to use proprietary pods and can be quite expensive. And though other means of making coffee an be utilized such as using a French press, the convenience and affordability of using a traditional drip coffee maker is still the best option for most people. Here comes the Brown MultiServe coffeemaker which addresses those concerns.
The Braun MultiServe coffeemaker is stylish model and offers a lot of features. Most notable here is the ability to masker the exact amount of coffee you need. In fact there are seven sizes to choose from ranging from a small cup of coffee to a ten cup serving. The amount of guesswork to make single or small serving of coffee is already limited since the coffee maker determines the amount of coffee to be made rather than just partially filling the water container.
The Braun MultiServe coffeemaker like most advanced coffeemakers can be programmed to brew coffee at a certain time. Also, it has the capability to make three brew strengths for your coffee. Plus, the Braun coffeemaker also has the capability to make an ice brew too. Brewing coffee from scratch takes around four to eight minutes depending on the amount of coffee being brewed. And like most programmable coffeemakers out there, there is an auto shut off feature for safety concerns.
One this I like about the MultiServe is that the coffee drip part (not sure of the term) is high enough to accommodate coffee mugs that can hold as much as 20oz. This essentially makes brewing your coffee int eh carafe and piping your coffee into your mug making one less item to wash whenever you brew your coffee. In addition a nice feature is also added here. A coding mug tray is positioned on the side of the drip area. This enables you place place your coffee cup or small mug higher so that newly dripped coffee won’t splash.
The included carafe is large enough to hold ten cups of coffee which as a removable and flippable lid. When brewing coffee using the carafe, the warming plate activates to keep your coffee warm. Moreover, there is a freshness indicator to show you how fresh your coffee in the carafe after a period of some time. But personally, I would prefer a thermal carafe as the warming plate tends to “bun” coffee. But then again the freshness indicator somehow helps. Still a thermal carafe will keep your coffee warm without the need for a warming plate.
Lastly, there is a hot water only feature on the Braun MultiServe. The water temperature can be programmed from 185F to 203F. Braun claims that the water passes through a different route in order to prevent residual coffee taste in the hot water. But in my initial use, the hot water tasted coffee. Perhaps this is our tot he fact that eventually the water passes through the drip spout. For now I am avoiding this function and will continue to use my electric kettle for my hot water needs.
The Braun MultiServe coffeemaker is truly a a versatile coffeemaker. And as such this will now replace my single serve coffeemaker that uses expensive proprietary cups. I would truly recommend this coffeemaker.

Awesome everyday coffee maker that has a ton of versatility!!!  Super easy to fill the tank and I really like the water filter in the tank.  The down side to that is the filter is something I will need to keep replacing but worth it for the taste! I mean when it really comes down to it… It’s the taste of the coffee that really matters.  A lot depends on the quality of bean you start with but just as important is the water and temperature and brew time! 
The Braun Multiserve has “exactBrew Technology” and the “SCA certification” well I had to google what that means and as far as the SCA certification it refers to the standard set for specialty coffee makers to meet for proper water temperature, brewing time and their own organizational recommendation.  It’s not just marketing…it’s a real organization!  And it comes through in the taste the Braun Multiserve can produce.  It was a marked and noticeable difference from my regular pot (which I had just cleared the week before).  The coffee is really perfect!!!
I also love the multi size capability from a single cup that drips into a single cup to a whole pot!  In the afternoons, I like a single cup and hated wasting all the grounds for a single cup.  Super convenient ! 
Another great build idea was the hot water dispenser that is independent of the regular brew system!  no residual coffee taste when you just want hot water! Brilliant! It’s marketed for tea which does great but Ramen noodles anyone?  or a cup of instant soup???  Very versatile indeed! 
It has the brew choices of over ice, Light, gold and bold.  I prefer the gold brew.  The gold brew is the SCA certification method and you’re supposed to be sure to use the paper filter which is a #4.  That flavor really pops so smooth and rich!   I also really like the no drip feature!  and finally a beautiful carafe!  It is a little tall compared to my other pot but not a big deal.  It also has a chord storage feature which I like to keep my counter clean looking!  
Just an amazing  coffee pot!  programable, great tasting , well built and well designed!  It’s a wonderful way to wake up!!!  

This Braun coffee maker does not disappoint. It is not cheap, but it also does not feel like a compromise in any way. If you want reliable drip coffee, in a variety of sizes, with convenient auto features, a self-contained water reservoir, and a water filter, this is an excellent machine.
Looks and footprint:
The Braun Multi-serve is a sleek looking unit. It’s not small, but it doesn’t waste space. It has real stainless-steel accents and not fake plastic chrome. The details are all nicely thought out, and the unit is compact and while offering a full raft of features. If you want a small, one cup coffee pot, don’t buy this. It is a little tall, and because of the orientation of the machine, I have to slide it from the back of the counter to the front to open the lid and add coffee. If the coffee basket simply pulled out horizontally, I wouldn’t have to do that, but because the lid pops up, it hits the cabinets above the machine if it is against the back wall. If you don’t have the coffee pot under cabinets, this will not be an issue. Even so, I am definitely willing to move the unit around a little in return for a nice cup or carafe of coffee.
Features:
This is a loaded machine, and that does make me a little worried that eventually electronic parts may fail. My previous (not Braun) coffeemaker had several bad flaws in the design that led to partial failures in less than three months. In that unit, the electronics (the clock/timer and brew settings) were all located at the base of the machine, under the coffee pot. Nearly immediately, liquid damage to the electronics caused the timer to fail, the “strong” brew setting, and even something with the way the machine measures water—so my old machine will make coffee, but exactly how much at any given time, or when, is a little iffy. With the Braun, the electronics are separated and to the side, and I think there is a much lower chance of water damage destroying the machine. It also just seems to have a stouter set of electronics, with a number of settings to choose from controlled by independent buttons. You can: set a timer for auto coffee, set the brew style (“light,” “gold,” or “bold”), set the temperature of the water, set the unit to brew “over ice,” set the water hardness level, and set the altitude (in case you live at high altitude). There is also a “clean” setting for descaling the unit.
In addition to these options, there are also several options for the size. A dial selector offers choices from a 5 oz cup to full, 10-cup carafe, with several increments in between to accommodate larger cups, travel cups, and half carafe sizes (5 oz, 8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz, 20 oz, half carafe (5 cups), full carafe (10 cups)). Because the unit measures the water based on your setting, you fill the reservoir, set the size, and it does the rest. You can’t brew “6 cups” by pouring in that much water like you would with a very basic coffee pot. So, you have to accept the sizes offered, but it’s a lot less messy. However, with this range, I think it’s easy to have any whim accommodated. There is a little shelf that folds out to hold a cup for the smaller sizes. No pods required to make those sizes, either.
The unit includes the glass carafe, a gold permanent filter (awesome!), and a carbon water filter for the water reservoir. I’m not sure how much the replacement filters cost. Probably worth the investment if they also help prevent damage to the machine filtering out some of the minerals, in addition to tastier coffee. As well, they give a dual sided measuring spoon for grounds, and a key in the operating manual for measuring correctly for given sizes.
Finally, there is a little lever right at the drip outlet. This lever is used for “drip stop” if you need to pause the brew (do not just remove the carafe—there is no brewing auto-stop button). The lever also is used to set for “hot water.” The hot water setting allows sending hot water from a separate tap directly into your cup for tea or broth or what have you. It’s a nice little feature if you don’t want to make a whole pot of tea.
Operation:
So far, my experience with the unit has been great. I’ve used the included permanent filter and the directions for measuring according to the Braun measuring spoon and operating booklet. For every size I’ve tried the results have been very consistent (the same ground will result in the same tasting cup regardless of size). A single cup, a travel mug, a half carafe, or a full pot all taste uniformly good and brew correctly. Once set, the brewer has not over or under shot the water measurement; has not stopped brewing prematurely and has made consistently good coffee with all the suggested measurements. I had previously weighed my coffee grounds before brewing, but I have not tried that with this unit. When the brew cycle is complete, the brewer beeps loudly enough to let you know to come get your coffee. Because it auto measures the water, just fill the reservoir all the way; no need to be precise before you make coffee as long as there is enough water to cover your total amount. Using the auto-on feature also worked perfectly as it should. It is nice to wake up to the coffee brewing itself (As long as you set it up right the night before! Forgetting to put the carafe under the coffee would be a real mess with this unit because there is no auto-pause feature.)
With the “travel cup” feature, I was not sure that the sizing would be correct, but so far I’ve not had a problem matching a cup to a pre-set. It’s also really nice to be able to brew right into the mug with the right amount and go. No pouring, no extra too small amounts of coffee left over; just the right cup in a timely fashion. So far, all the mugs have fit under the spigot. A couple are a little tight; very tall mugs might not fit.
Glass carafe: the glass carafe has a nice shape and pours easily. Possibly too easily! It’s also easy to clean. It is not a standard carafe; if I break it, it may be a little aggravating to replace. But—I’ll try not to break it. There is a warmer under the carafe, and it stays on for about two hours and then turns itself off. I’ve had basic brewers without this feature, and I like having it. I don’t want to worry about it when I’m 5 or 500 miles down the road. The machine is also smart. When the dial selector is on the “cup” or the “travel mug” settings, the burner does not come on. That would obviously be bad news with a plastic mug or even a stainless-steel one.
The hot water unit also works well and delivers water appropriate for tea or instant coffee. Probably it could be used for instant soup as well, but that would depend on being able to select the right size. There isn’t just an “on demand” button for this feature; you still have to use the selector dial, so are limited to 5 oz, 8 oz, 12 oz, etc.
“Over Ice” feature:
I was really skeptical about this one. The unit brags that you can just fill whatever vessel you’re using with ice, setup the brewer as usual for the size of that unit and brew up some iced coffee. Amazingly, it actually worked. I filled a mug with ice—to the top—set the size, let it brew, and the first sip provided cold, passable iced coffee. I’d say it’s a little bitter, but iced coffee *is* a little bitter. I’m not sure I’d do this all the time, but it’s superior to any cold brew I’ve managed to make at home. Granted, I do not have any special cold brew equipment, so if you’re a connoisseur of the cold stuff, this feature may not impress you.
Cons:
I have a few very minor issues with the machine. One is that it drips a lot after it’s finished brewing. When you remove your cup or the carafe, there will be some extra drips that make a little puddle on the burner. Not a huge deal, but a dishcloth and quick wipe are needed.
The clean cycle: I accidently turned on the clean cycle, and this was a pain because it cannot be stopped once it’s started. So, I had to wait 20+ minutes to get my coffee pot back to normal because I pressed a button by accident. Be careful!
The manual is needed. Everything works and most of it is pretty intuitive, but you do have to read the directions. This was particularly true for the timer/auto-on setting. However, once you learn the kinks, it’s no big deal.
Glass carafes or nice because you can keep them on the warmer burner; a thermal stainless steel pot would be better. Harder to break and probably wouldn’t need the warmer at all. But, I can always put the coffee in a vacuum carafe turn off the warmer.