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(More customer reviews)Bunn Coffee Makers are very high quality coffee makers, and one typically needs to spend money to get this kind of quality. However, there are a few costs you should be aware of before you purchase a Bunn Coffee Maker. I'm not saying that it may not be worth it to you, but you may as well know all of the costs before purchasing.
They both have to do with how Bunn delivers such a fast pot - 3 minutes as opposed to 4-8 minutes of other makers. The first way they do it is to have what amounts to two sets of water tanks: one you fill, and the other is preheated. The preheated water tank is delivered to the spray head, and because it is preheated, it doesn't require any time to heat it up. The problem is that it is preheated 24/7, and that can be costly. I'm guessing they use a 40 watt heater. If it takes 8-12 cents per day in energy costs, you are looking at $20-$40 per year. You can, after you are done brewing for the day, shut off the "vacation switch" which is the switch to the tank heater, and this will save the cost and energy, but if you forget to turn it back on at least 15 minutes ahead of when you need it, you are looking at a 15 minute wait for the tank to reheat before you can brew. You can also use a timer to limit the time of day the unit stays preheated, but that's an additional cost and timers use energy to run all day.
Furthermore, if you are having guests, if you brew a pot of caffinated, followed by a pot of decaf, you may need to wait 15 minutes between pots. The Bunn commercial brewers keep three preheated tanks, so this isn't a problem for them. But the consumer models keep only one tank preheated.
Note that they work on gravity: the water you put in pushes the preheated water out. Some of the preheated water will evaporate, so you have to put in more water than you want out.
The second thing they do to get a fast brew is to increase the amount of water that pours in to the filter basket, far greater than other coffee makers. The amount of water would collapse other filters, but because these filters are taller and sturdier, they stand up. But that means you are stuck with their filters, which, if you don't have a supply nearby, and few stores carry them, means paying for the filters plus shipping.
Bunn builds coffee makers to last, unlike other coffee makers that will wear out after a year or two. Virtually all programmable models seem to only last a year or two. So by buying this brand, you'll save money on coffee makers, to partly make up for the extra energy and filter costs.
You'll have to decide whether the extra energy and filter costs (which can be dealt with, but might be troublesome) are worth saving the cost of buying a new machine every couple of years.
Next, the carbon footprint of a machine that consistently wastes energy is somewhat (but not all) counterbalanced by the fact that it is made in America , and does not require shipping halfway around the world like some of the better brands (UPDATE: it WAS made in America, now it's made in China, so this benefit does not apply). Additionally, these coffee makers will easily outlast 5x other coffee makers, and that's a lot of plastic you save buy buying something only once.
Finally, the quality of coffee from a flat bottom filter is generally not as high as that you can get from a cone filter, though the differences will be subtle, and if you are used to the flavor of a flat bottom filter, then you may never care. This brand is considered the best of the flat bottom makers, so there may not be as much of a difference as there are for other brands.
As for the heated base keeping your coffee hot, it is also *ruining* the flavor from almost the very first minute. Any real coffee geek will immediately take the pot off the heater and pour it into a thermal carafe or thermos or will order a model with a thermal carafe to start with. Ideally, there is no heated base at all. So people complaining that it doesn't keep the coffee hot should invest in a thermal carafe or buy a model that comes with one.
In summary, the design of these coffee makers is suited to the standard donut shop, where they are brewing coffee around the clock and it is worth it to them to keep extra tanks of water heated so that they can shave 1-3 minutes off the brew time during their peak buying periods. Whether it is worth it for a consumer who makes one or two pots of coffee in the morning to do something like this is something only you can answer for yourself. They are very good coffee makers: well built and they make good coffee. But they cost a lot in terms of energy and filters, though partly balanced by the reduction in number of coffee makers you'll buy over the life of this product and the local nature of the product that reduces the energy required to ship them. It's one thing to have a high cost, but to have the high energy waste these coffee makers will generate for most consumers is something everyone should think about.
Finally, what did I buy instead? I settled on the Frieling USA C104943 Cilio Porcelain No. 4 Coffee Filter Holder. I bought the #4 size and use a #4 filter (though you can use a smaller filter for whatever size you buy) and make 16 ounces of coffee right into a Thermos Stainless King SK1005MB4 16-Ounce Leak-Proof Travel Mug, Midnight Blue. Cheap, simple to use, lightweight (less energy used to ship than an electric coffee maker), lasts forever, cleans in five seconds, no plastic chemicals in my coffee and wastes zero energy when not in use.
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Bunn NHBX-B Contemporary 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer, BlackHoused in commercial-grade materials with stainless-steel accents, this unique reservoir-style home-brewing system makes up to 10 cups (50 ounces) of coffee in just three minutes, plus it keeps hot water available for tea or other uses as needed. The coffee brewer's specially designed stainless-steel water tank features an internal thermostat, which keeps water at an ideal temperature for maximum flavor and fast brewing. In addition, the unit's patented sprayhead design improves coffee-flavor extraction, while its porcelain-coated warming plate with a lighted "on/off" switch helps keep brewed coffee at the optimal serving temperature for hours. Other highlights include a convenient sliding lid for easy addition of brew water, a durable glass decanter with a generous handle, and a vacation switch to turn the tank heater off when the brewer will not be used for a long period of time. The home coffee brewer measures 11-3/5 by 9 by 13-2/3 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.
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