dalesky's Full Review: Bunn BT10B 10-Cup Coffee Maker
Bunn coffee maker
This is the one to lust after, and is used in many small restaurants. It’s designed to make many pots a day.
This is a machine for coffee lovers, and for those making at least 2 pots a day, in my opinion
The body of the machine is largely stainless steel. The carafe is also stainless, and insulated. There is no warmer, as is the case in general with brewers that use insulated carafes. The idea being that the brewed coffee will be kept hot in the carafe, much like using an insulated decanter.
This machine is unique in how the water is heated. Notice from the picture that there is a large stainless ‘tube’ running top to bottom, with plastic parts to pour the water into, and to hold the carafe. That tube area is actually a holding tank for hot water. It heats up the water inside, and keeps it hot. No other brand does this that I know of, at least not any intended for home use.
A couple of reasons for buying this machine come to mind.
One, I like a stainless insulated carafe. Nothing to break, and no hot plate to cook the brewed coffee and make it burn and taste bad.
Two, the design of this carafe is excellent. . It keeps coffee hot, is easy to clean, and does not have any seams to get grungy with dripped coffee. It may dribble when pouring, unless you rest the edge of the carafe on the cup while pouring. Don’t get me started on dripping carafes. I pre-heat my carafe with hot water before using it.
Three, stainless is easy to clean. I use cleanser to completely remove any coffee stains.
It is the only carafe I have found that is easy to clean. The top lid comes off and goes on with a very slight turn, far less than 1/8 of a turn. This is nice, and different than others I have used. No threads, no cross-threading, and quick to put on or remove. As with the carafe, the lid is easy to clean, very sturdy, and will not warp. The opening of the carafe is large, because the sides of the carafe are not pinched in like most others. They go straight up, creating an opening the same size as the bottom of the unit.
Making the coffee is much as one would expect. Put the grounds in the filter, which is held inside the basket assembly. Insert under the top of the machine by sliding it straight in. Pour a pot of water into the machine. Place the carafe on the bottom, under the basket. Close the lid on top, and the water immediately pours into the basket. A complete pot of coffee takes maybe 1 and ½ minute, total. What happens when you pour the water in is not typically what a coffee pot does. The water you pour in is not the water that comes out. The water coming out is from the heated reservoir. No delays at all for hot water.
This design eliminates the need for a drip stop mechanism. The water comes out so quickly that you are removing the filter and grounds in under two minutes. There is no water drip at all once the brewing is done
The manual has cleaning instructions, and advises that if you are not using the unit for a few days you should unplug it. You don’t want to have an appliance on for days that you are not using. I dump out the water, then when I get home I put one pot of water in, plug it in, and wait for it to heat. The initial heating takes about 10 minutes. There is an on/off switch also, but normally you do not turn it off in day to day operation.
If you are brewing another pot, right after just making one, you need to wait about 5 minutes for the water to heat up again. You will hear it heating.
There are no lights, or flimsy parts of any kind. This machine is made to work well, for a long time, with no confusing adjustments or little springs or swinging grounds holders. It is simply elegant in its design.
A couple of caveats- use Bunn filters, or risk having a filter that is too short. I have used other brands, with no problem, but the grounds come mighty close to the edge of the filter. Also, you will most likely forget that immediately upon closing the lid water comes out. It you do not have a filter basket loaded it pours onto the carafe shelf. If you do have a basket ready to go you have a couple of seconds to open it again before the water soaks through the grounds and filter. It takes a while to get used to a pot like this.
All in all this is the best coffee maker/carafe I have ever had. I expect it to last many years, and I know the carafe will never break.
I found mine at a discount price in Office Max. I get my Bunn filters at Costco.
OK, the dream machine had a problem about 6 months after I got it. It was tripping the GFI outlet I had it plugged into. I opened it up but could find nothing inside to indicate a short. When it was emptied and allowed to dry out thoroughly it was ok. When I put water in it, the short occurred again.
I emailed Bunn (an American company!) and was told to ship it to them for warranty work. It has a 3 year warranty, and the date of manufacturer is on the bottom. To compensate me for the shipping cost I was sent 1000 filters, which are worth more than the shipping. Within 7 days I had a new brew unit back from Bunn, and am again a happy coffee drinker. I sure missed it for that short time it was gone.
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