shopaholic_man's Full Review: Bunn GRX-B 10-Cup Coffee Maker
I needed a new coffee maker, and reviews I read about earlier Bunn coffee makers indicated that this was THE coffee maker to get. I had it down between that and the pricier Cuisinart coffee machine. However Bunn seemed to garner more five star reviews, so I found a newer model Bunn, the GRX in white at my local Target. I tried my local Wal-Mart but they didn't carry anything by Bunn.
Price
At Target, the Bunn GRX cost $100.00. Another Bunn model that had a larger metal carafe cost $150.00. Quite a lot more than the run of the mill coffee maker, but in the same range as many of the fancier coffee makers.
Set Up
Set up wasn't terribly difficult. You take the carafe, funnel and coffee maker out of the packaging and set it up. DON'T PLUG IT IN YET! You follow the instructions to fill the water reservoir with water. Only after the water reservoir is full do you plug it in and turn it on. This is because the Bunn keeps water hot (200 degrees) to deliver a perfect cup of coffee.
Operation
Once you have it set up and the water is ready the first time (I set it up the night before, I don't know how long it actually takes the first time, but I believe it is about 15 minutes), all you do is put your ground beans into the filter and in the funnel. Bunn recommends one overfilled table spoon per cup. So if you want 4 cups of coffee (which is realistically 2 mugs of coffee), use four table spoons. Then fill your carafe with the amount of water you want for coffee. You cannot use less than four cups and this maker is designed for a maximum of ten. I have found that realistically, four cups means two. I drink two regular coffee cups of coffee in the morning, so the "four" cup minimum works just great for me. If I have guests, I will use all 10 and get a good five cups of coffee. I don't know what sort of cups coffee maker manufacturers use, I suspect they are tea cups, not big morning sized coffee mugs.
You open a lid conveniently located in the front top of the coffee maker, and pour in the water. My old Mr. Coffee Maker had the water reservoir in the back where it was difficult to reach.
Well, after you have poured in the water, you put the carafe back on the hot plate. Then, and only then, shut the door on the top where you poured in the water. Why? Because shutting the door starts the water flow. That is why you put the coffee grinds in first, then the water, then put the carafe back in place. If you do the water first, it is too easy to automatically shut the top when you put the carafe back into the machine. Of course you then will have the water flow through an empty funnel. Fine if you want hot water for tea, but if you want coffee, remember to put it in first.
How Long Does it Take to make Coffee?
Three minutes later, you have your coffee. It actually takes me less, because I only brew four cups. It does NOT have one of those little switches that lets you interrupt the coffee flow to get a cup before its done brewing. Frankly the less than two minutes it takes to brew my morning cup is quick enough for me.
What makes Bunn Different
Bunn says that the high temperature water, the short three minute brew cycle and the spray method of distributing the water into the filter makes a better cup of coffee. This coffee maker should be left on, it actually keeps the water at a constant 200 degrees and it is supposed to be kept on unless you leave on vacation.
So, MOST IMPORTANTLY - HOW IS THE COFFEE???
First, my test procedure. I used Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla whole beans and ground enough for four cups in my Cuisinart Coffee Bean Grinder. I then dumped the freshly ground beans into the filter in my new Bunn. I poured four cups worth of water into my carafe and poured it into the Bunn. The town I live in has very good water, I enjoy the taste right from the fountain. It is also pretty clear of impurities, I am able to use it for my fish tank without any treatment at all. Bunn recommends good water.
I shut the lid, and in a couple minutes I had my first cup of Bunn GRX brewed coffee. Literally, less than two minutes my four cups of coffee were done! (that is two mugs) I poured myself a cup and....
The COFFEE IS GOOD, VERY GOOD! I use Carnation French Vanilla creamer with my coffee, and this coffee has a rich smooth taste to it. No acidic or bitter flavor whatsoever. In fact, it tasted pretty close to Dunkin Donuts coffee itself! You may note that I used Dunkin Donuts beans, but I can tell you from previous experience that the beans alone DO NOT guarantee a Dunkin Donuts like cup of coffee. I had learned that their coffee tastes so good because they use high temperature water.
In short, the Bunn made me a much better cup of coffee than the cheaper coffee makers I had been using. It is as good as a nice restaurants coffee or as Dunkin Donuts coffee (which is my favorite).
Clean Up Procedure
Bunn advises cleaning out the carafe and the funnel after use to keep any residue or coffee grounds from building up and destroying the taste of the coffee. This is very easy to do, the funnel slides right out so you can dump out the grounds and rinse it. For longer term cleaning, Bunn recommends running vinegar through the unit once every three months or so, and rinsing out the entire unit.
Hot Plate
The Bunn also features a warming plate that you may switch on or off to keep your carafe of coffee hot. Bunn recommends not leaving it sit for more than 30 minutes to avoid destroying the taste of your coffee. This model DOES NOT have an automatic shut off switch for the warmer plate.
Other Info
The Bunn is a large White (or Black if you choose) coffee maker that stands about 15" high. The water reservoir is in the rear of the unit, and the fill tank is conveniently located in the front. The on off switch is way in the back which is good, because the unit should always be on to keep the water hot. If it was easily located in the front, a guest might turn it off, thinking you accidentally left the coffee maker on. If you shut it off, it will take 15 minutes to warm back up or you will get cold coffee. There is no timer that allows you to set the machine the night before.
Summary
The Bunn is a coffee maker that has no bells and whistles. It doesn't have a timer, it doesn't make cappucino or expresso or froth your milk. What it does do is deliver 4 to 10 excellent cups of coffee in three minutes or less. Myself, I would rather have an excellent cup of coffee than fancy features. Therefore I give the Bunn GRX five stars.
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