The KitchenAid KCM0802 Brewer: SCAA Certfied & Color Coordinated

The Bottom Line

A custom pour over done automatically? Yes, please!

This KitchenAid automatic pour over model provides the consistency of pour over flavor by mimicking the coffee-making process just the way an experienced barista would.

KitchenAid KCM0802OB Pour Over Coffee Brewer in Onyx Black available on Amazon

From allowing for the “bloom” to intermittently pouring the water over the grounds, this KitchenAid controls the process in order to extract the best possible flavor from your coffee beans.

At a Glance

• Roast Selector
• Brew Basket Clip
• Advanced Heating Technology
• Programmable to 24 hours (but your coffee will taste better if you don’t use this feature!)
• Cup Selector (2-8 cups)

Amazon reviewers almost universally agree that the KitchenAid Pour Over is a well-loved machine that is simple to use, and that provides the flavor of a hand-poured cup of coffee fresh from a barista.

The progress bar offers an easy-to-read visual display of each step of the brewing process, to keep you informed on exactly what is happening with your coffee at any given moment.

Advanced heating technology allows for the water to be heated to between 198 and 204ºF. This happens at the top of the brewer, in order to minimize the loss of heat during the process of extraction.

Although the user is not completely able to choose the exact temperature (as you can with the Behmor Brazen Plus), you do have the option to choose between two temperature settings.

KitchenAid KCM0802CU Pour Over Coffee Brewer in Contour Silver available on Amazon

Also, for some strange reason, these temperature settings are labeled “medium roast” and “dark roast.” The medium setting brews at a higher temperature than the dark, but the exact temperature difference is not clear. This makes me think the engineers designed this device for coffee aficionados, and then the marketing department stuck their noses into the labeling.

A clip on the brew basket allows the filter to be held in place, as well as providing recommendations for the amounts of coffee grounds to use — which can be helpful if you’re feeling lazy and don’t want to weigh out your beans.

A critical part of the pour over process is this machine’s ability to pre-wet the coffee grounds (in order to allow for what’s known as blooming) in order to begin the process of extracting the flavor from the beans. It then pours the water over the grounds at appropriately timed intervals in order to extract the best flavor, just like your barista would do.

KitchenAid KCM0802ER Pour Over Coffee Brewer in Empire Red available on Amazon

A cup selector allows you to brew between 2 and 8 cups, which is comparable to the volume of a standard sized pour over just for yourself versus a Chemex to share. However, there may be some question as to how accurate the measurements for these cups really are.

The Gold Cup standard from the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) means the KitchenAid KCM0802 is on the high end of specialty coffee brewing.

Unlike most other SCAA brewers, this KitchenAid is available in black, red, and silver for those who want their coffeemaker to match their kitchen decor.

Dimensions

Fifteen inches tall and 8.75 inches wide, this should fit nicely under most standard kitchen cabinets. With a depth of eleven inches, it isn’t tiny, but it won’t take up too much counter space.

It weighs 9.8 pounds, so you probably don’t want to move this in and out of storage every time you want to use it, if you’ll be brewing your morning cup of joe with this machine on a daily basis.

Pros

• Pre-Infusion Blooming phase prepares the coffee grounds by saturating the beans and releasing the carbon dioxide.
• Pulse Brew means water is released at intervals to mimic the water flow that a real life barista would use.
• Programmable timer allows you to set up brewing the night before (although your coffee will taste much better with freshly ground beans).
• Two brew setting temperatures (medium and dark roast) allow you to choose between hot or hotter temperature settings.
• Serving size selector allows you to choose to brew between 2 and 8 cups.
• Brew Pause option allows you to suspend brewing — but this isn’t recommended for extended periods or the flavor won’t be optimal.
• 1-year warranty from KitchenAid.

Cons

• Slow Brew Time at up to 12 minutes, although this is close to the amount of time a hand pour over would take.
• Large area takes up significant counter space.
• Warming plate cannot be turned off without unplugging the unit.

Comparison to Similar Products

In the same price range as the Behmor Brazen, this unit has less bells and whistles (i.e. no altitude settings or exact temperature selection) but it is a bit easier to use.

It definitely outranks the Bunn Phase Brew for flavor as well as for the availability of features such as Brew Pause. But the Bunn model is faster than this pour over version — which accounts for the superior taste provided by the KitchenAid.

Techniques, Tips & Tricks

Programming the auto setting can be a bit complicated and there is no “Auto” button. You need to hit the “Menu” and “Set” buttons in order to get the program adjusted each day.

In order to set the pot for a delayed start, press the Menu button two times to get the Auto indication. Then press the Set button to get it to the time you want.

The warming plate stays on for an hour and there is no “off” button for it, so you have to unplug the coffee maker if you want to turn it off. Unplugging it, however, means your time is reset and you will have to start over with your automatic programming, so that’s a bit inconvenient.

Conclusion

The KitchenAid KCM0802 offers a tasty cup of coffee brewed as it says — in a pour over method. It’s a bit more time consuming than some automatic brewing models, but it’s worth the wait.

This is an affordable model that is easy to use, and includes some extra features that can be used for convenience, such as auto programming and the plate warmer. But these won’t necessarily make your cup of coffee taste any better.

Explore the various colors, check prices and read customer reviews on Amazon now

If you’re in the market for a reliable coffee maker that’s approved by the SCAA and that will make you a tasty cup of coffee without too many complications, the KitchenAid KCM0802 is for you.

Want more choices? Make sure to read Foodal’s Buying Guide for the Best Drip Coffee Makers as well as all of our product reviews and “how-to” articles.