Redline MK1 Coffee Brewer (195-205 Optimum Brew Temperature, Pre-Infusion Mode Included).

I'm loving the Redline MK1 it's making great coffee. Obviously I was looking at the Moccamaster kgb or the Bonavita, but after some research and trying to keep in my budget I went with the Redline and I'm happy I did. First the brew, I definitely taste the difference from my (Mr. Coffee BVMC),although I could get a decent cup from my Mr. Coffee strong but not bitter, the Redline coffee has a cleaner more complex taste and just the right strength (I'm using 60g per liter of fresh ground coffee from my Capresso infinity grinder also using Melitta #4 filters white.) I also tested it with pre-ground coffee and no problems although freshly ground taste much better. I also use the pre-soak option on the MK1 which I feel gives better result in taste. The cup sizes are based on euro 5oz. size so at the 1 liter mark I get about 4 large servings or about 6 small servings of coffee, which is a perfect size for wife and I since we usually have a couple cups in the morning or pour a XL serving into a tumbler when we're on the go. I have been using a french press for a while when I wanted a special cup and recently bought a V60 and really liked the results, but I don't want to go though the extra time it takes every mourning to get a great cup of coffee, so this MK1 was the compromise and I think it gets to about 80-90% of how good a French Press/ V60 can get. I think anyone will love this machine if they use fresh quality water/coffee/filter at the right proportions you will have a really nice cup of coffee.PROSMakes Great Coffee!!!Premium Features - pre-infusion mode (like Bonavita) / carafe cover funnel (like moccamaster)Temp control - brewing temperature of 196° - 205° F Gold Cup Standard of ECBC and SCA.Hot Coffee - It's about 190°-195° after I pour it into my mug or tumbler.Fast brew times 6-8 min depending on grind size.Easy to clean - much better than Mr. Coffee. (also Redline recommends you descale every 2 months.)Design - built from a car co. that has nice style, the Metal rectangular reservoir base looks great and the rest of the plastic parts look like good quality, the carafe feels solid.My Wife likes it- My Wife hates complicated gadgets so this simple one button use is prefect.CONS (mostly nitpicks)Hot plate time - It works fine but only last about 40 min. (the manual says 120 min.) this is not an issue for me but I can see how it can be a big deal for others. I don't know if you can adjust the time? you can just press the "on" button and keep it going manually but they say coffee starts to degrade after 30 min. on a hot plate so better to pour into a double wall thermos or tumbler if your going to want it for later. * if your the kind of coffee drinker that wants a big pot of coffee that will be hot for hours on a hot plate, this is not the coffee maker for you.Filter Basket- It's not the easiest thing to insert, you have to line it up correctly and sometimes I have to fidget with it, which is the last thing you want to do when half asleep in the mourning (maybe with practice this will become second nature.)Blinking ON button - when in pre-infusion mode the on button blinks until it turns off, some might find it annoying.Glass carafe handle - not the most ergonomic handle I have used and if held too close to the top the steam might bother your hand.PSNote on the coffee I have used- I have used a variety of beans and grinds. I find that 60 g/1L ratio works good on this coffee makers and gives a strength similar to when you order at a Peet's coffee shop. So on Light/Med roast like a Ethiopian/Kenya you probably want to grind finer to mellow out the bright fruit sour taste. Med/Dark roast like Colombian or French you can go with a medium grind. I'm using an organic African blend med/drk roast for our morning coffee (between medium and fine grind) and then use Tanzania Peaberry at fine grind for afternoon slump if needed. Also I always use filter water and preheat mugs or cups to keep at better temp and weigh my beans before grinding It might be overkill but I get a consistently great cup of coffee this way. (*I also splurged on the 4 Year Protection Plan from Asurion, I know Redline covers for a year but I wanted to have the peace of mind and asurion has a great hassle free quick money back return coverage, compared to the moccamaster 5 year warranty (that makes you send them the unit and have to wait a few weeks to get it back) plus you are still saving a ton of money going with the Redline MK1.

**** UPDATE ****Well it finally bit the bullet..Brewed a pot this morning and it leaked all over the counter ( 3/6/23 ) and am back to order another one...just can't live with out the Redline coffee maker...if I can get another 7 yrs out of it I'll be happy !I would like to add, that there seems to be people out there that think the lid is not removable,it is, just give a lite twist to the right or left and it comes off.Im still enjoying this machine and would buy another when its time to replace it.For the price this a GREAT coffee maker.I had forgotten what good coffee tastes like.I stopped using drip years ago because of bitter coffee,so I tried a french press and wasn't happy.Then I remembered the percolator pot my mom used,and it was way better then the others,but it was missing good flavor.This coffee maker is incredible with the blooming feature,it makes such a great cup of joe.I also had picked up the #4 cloth filters which are easy to use and never have to buy paper filters again.Only thing is the MK1 only stays on for-about 40 mins,but I use an air pot and pre-heat it with boiling water,then brew the coffee and add it to the air pot.I made coffee at 5:30 am and Im having a cup at 5:00 pm and it is still hot.I make 2 pots to add to the air pot for weekends so I can enjoy coffee all day and hot with no burned flavor.I would recommend this maker to anyone,looking for a wonderful cup of coffee.What are you waiting for,your missing a great cup of coffee if you don't get this machine!EDIT*******1/15/18I have had the MK1 for about a month and its been great.I found I could make a 10 cup pot.I put in enough coffee in the filter to make 10 cups,then add 8 cups of water.Once the container drops to 6 cup water line I fill it up to the 8 cup mark.I also started using a Thermal pot and pre-heat it before adding the coffee.Now I have great coffee, nice and hot with no burnt taste for hours.Update 2/25/18Well its been over 2 months and its still making great coffee,its time to do a descale and see how it turns out.I used Urnex and added a filter to see if deposits ended up in the filter and it was clean,so I'm not sure if Urnex worked all that great.I'm going to order up some Durgol Swiss Espresso Decalcifier which seems to have great reviews for the next cleaning and see how well that works.I will post back when Ive done the cleaning with Durgol in the next few months.Thanks for reading !!Update 3/2/18Well just got durgol and March 7th would be 3 months of owning the MK1.I used the hole bottle and topped it off with water to the 8 cup line.Ran it till it got to the 4 cup mark and shut it off for 15mins,so it could soak in the tank and heating element and shower head.Turned it back on and o my gosh all kinds of black stuff was floating in the carafe,it looked really nasty.Then it was time to flush it out with 3 more tanks of cold clean water,so far Ive ran 2 full tanks with 5mins in between before adding water to the tank and am still having black stuff come out in the carafe and now the 3rd tank still has that crap coming out.....time to try a 4th tank and see how it looks.Well more of that black stuff is still coming out.I'm now starting to think this maybe coming from the shower head,but who knows.Time to try a 5th tank of water to see what happens.Well stilling having some more of that crap come out.Durgol is amazing, because on 2/25/18 I used urnex and it didn't do crap nothing,nada,zip in the pot or filter.Now I'm on the 10 pot and it still has some crap floating in the water.Well 19th pot was clear and so was the 20th pot of water.Id recommend cleaning it about once a month,as this looks like growth in side the heater tank or the shower head.Give Durgol a try and see what you think !!!Larry