Krups doesn't like Lefties!!!
Written: Feb 27 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Built-in water filter system, 24-hour timer, non-spill carafe
Cons: Expensive and not designed with a lefty in mind. hard to pour water into.
The Bottom Line: Great features, but lefties will have a tough time with this unit because of the poor design.
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| pweisenberg's Full Review: Krups Crystal Arome Plus 467-71 |
Krups coffee makers have become synonymous with excellence in home coffee brewing. At least that is what they think. While I would agree they make a great cup of coffee, their coffee maker designs are often very puzzling. Questions like “Why would you fill up the water reservoir right next to the coffee grinds” Also, Why is it almost impossible for a left handed person to fill up the carafe and successfully pour the coffee into the reservoir” While I don’t have all the answers, the KRUPS Crystal Aroma Plus Time coffee maker is still a nice addition to my kitchen.
What you get:
KRUPS Crystal Aroma Plus Time 10-cup electronic coffee maker features a unique DuoFilter water filtration system and filtration indicator to alert when the water filter should be changed for optimal coffee brewing. The DuoFilter water filtration system offers improved removal of chlorine taste and odor for a more flavorful, aroma-rich cup of coffee. Reduces mineral deposits for longer machine life and less frequent descaling. The filter meter indicates when water filter should be changed. My filter was missing when I opened the box, but it should include one filter.
This Krups has a 24-hour programmable clock and timer for "wake up" coffee and a hermetically sealed carafe that KRUPS says will reduce heat loss by 20 percent. The drip free hermetically sealed carafe and lid keeps flavor and heat locked in.
The Crystal Aroma Plus Time also features a non-stick warming plate and Stop 'N Serve feature that allows for serving coffee in the midst of the brewing cycle. This lets you remove the carafe at any time during the brewing cycle for up to 20 seconds, serve, then replace it on the warming plate for continued brewing.
The programmable clock lets you set the coffee maker for brewing up to 24 hours in advance. The programmable auto shut-off feature lets you program the coffee maker to shut off from 1-5 hours after brewing. This is the best feature off all, assuming you remember to put coffee and water in the night before.
Putting it to use:
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While the carafe in the KRUPS is only 10-cups, the unique round shape and spout does an excellent job in preventing spills. I used to have the 12 cup ProAroma from KRUPS, but if you started to pour from the carafe in a hurry, you usually made a mess all over the counter. I have yet to spill any coffee or water with the Crystal Arome Plus Time.
The DuoFilter does a good job at removing the impurities from the water before brewing and the coffee really tastes great. But, it is another items that need to be purchased and replaced on a regular basis. If you already have filter water at home, than this is really unnecessary. Changing the filter isn’t that difficult but you do have to remove the inside casing to check on the filters useful life status.
The biggest gripe I have with KRUP’s Crystal Arome Plus Time coffee maker is the difficulty I have pouring the water into the top. There is only one lid where the water, filter and the coffee grounds go. The downspout where the water goes is particularly small and near the lid. This makes it hard to pour water in the unit unless you are right on top of it. I have accidentally poured some water on a few occasions, on the coffee grounds. Therefore, I now must think to put in the water first and then the coffee.
Another annoying point for me “a lefty” is that the carafe only has the water level markings on one side. Therefore when I’m holding the carafe in my left hand, I can’t see the markings. That is probably the reason that I have to pour the water over the grinds too, because If I was right handed, I wouldn’t bring the carafe over the top, I would pour from the right side instead.
Conclusion: I really like some of the features of this coffee maker and it really does an excellent job at brewing coffee, but with the strange configuration for filling up the water and ground coffee, I can’t give this a high recommendation.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
pweisenberg
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Member: Peter Weisenberg
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Reviews written: 261
Trusted by: 445 members
About Me:
Enjoying the ride, only 19 more years til I retire!
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