Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine: Looks 10, Works 3
Written: Dec 27 '01 (Updated Dec 27 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Krups, Looks Good, Tastes Good
Cons: Leaky Pitcher
The Bottom Line: Not unless you like the idea of dripping and spilling coffee!
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| marytara's Full Review: Krups Crystal Arome Plus 467-71 |
This is a product that's been on my counter top now for several years. My husband and I received the Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine as a wedding gift. In fact, we selected this very coffee machine to grace its presence on our gift registry.
Why we registered for the Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine ?
Simple Question... Simple Answer
I had always heard good things about Krups and this one looked the coolest. Apparently other customers think the same because the Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine is the "number one selling upscale coffee maker in upscale channels".
Form
The Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine is very stylish. It stands about a foot high and the footprint is about 8 inches. Ours is black, but its available in white too. The unit is very simple, and I hate to say it but it just looks very cool.
The unit is essentially shaped like a canister and features a perfectly rounded pot that slides into the front of the canister. There is a simple console on the front of the canister. On the side their is a clear panel that shows water level. Aside from that clear panel and the small control console ours is completely black, shiny plastic. The top of the unit is cut at an almost 45 degree angle with the front of the unit being lower than the back. I think it looks almost spacelike. Krups prefers to call it European styling, however.
Features
-10 cup capacity
-built-in water filtration system said to enhance the flavor of the coffee. (Crystal Filter to reduce chlorine) Plus a filter replacement indicator telling you when to change the filter. Also a water-level indicator.
-24 hour programmable timer/clock with auto shut-off and Stop & Serve feature.
-Deep brew switch for small quantities of coffee. You can either make the full 10 cups or a smaller quantity.
-Drip free hermetically sealed carafe/"Flavor-Saver Lid" to reduce heat loss and keep flavor in.
-1 yr. warranty
Function
There is no doubt that the coffee that comes out of this machine tastes good. Coffee from this machine is very smooth and not bitter, very clean. It uses a charcoal 'crystal' feature similar to a BRITA and cleanses the water used to make the coffee.
The Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine is also relatively easy to use. If I can figure it out, anyone can! We don't use the timer feature very often, but when we have it was easy to set and worked fine. Coffee was made at the prepared time, of course that didn't help with us hitting the snooze bar on the alarm clock! Thank god for the auto-shut off which keeps the house from setting aflame!
This machine takes cone style filters, due to the shape of the machine. At first I bought the wrong kind of filter and that didn't work very well. Just a heads up!
Flaws
The attractive and round pitcher that comes with the Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine has a lid that is hermetically sealed. It does a fine job of keeping your coffee warm and tasty. It better, since this was the reason I liked the machine so much.
Unfortunately, this attractive round pitcher has let me down. Coffeemakers are supposed to drip while making the coffee. The Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine also drips during any attempt at pouring coffee as well. This makes for messy counters, tables, and unfortunately clothes and laps. I've been told that if you slow down while pouring its better. Not for me, though.
Cleaning the drippy but attractive round pitcher is also less than ideal. While its dishwasher safe it always comes out of the dishwasher looking dirty. And if I handwash the pitcher its really tricky and challenging to manipulate inside of it to wash and to rinse as well.
As a result, our coffee intake has substantially decreased over the past few years we have been married and had this machine in our kitchen. I think this machine would be fine for someone with a bit of extra discretionary income who doesn't plan on drinking a lot of coffee but who wants a great occasional cup. For that, personally, I think its too pricey (around 100 dollars) and I'm glad i received it as a gift and it wasn't my own money spent.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
marytara
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 in Education, Kids & Family |
 - Top 50 |
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Member: MT
Location: Jersey Shore
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