Review: Moccamaster Cup One

Have you ever managed to make near-perfect cup of coffee, but find it difficult to get the same results the next time you brew it? Or, have you tried to dial in your new or expensive beans, but wished that your dial in would be so precise that you actually learn more about grind size and dose according to the coffee you use? Or, do you wish you understood more about the beans you use, and had to worry less about brewing technique? Well, you’re not alone. As I continue working in the specialty coffee industry, I usually think I am constantly improving my taste and my brewing techniques. However, sometimes when I want to compare different coffees under the exact same circumstances or brewing techniques, I struggle. I have to admit that sometimes I am inconsistent with my pours, even if it is just a couple of grams here and there. And sometimes, I forget to put my kettle back on its heat and then I lose a degree or two and my whole brew ends up tasting different. These reasons and more are why I am becoming a bigger fan of automated coffee pouring and brewing systems. Not only does it make my brewing easier, but it helps me to be more consistent each time I brew. Recently, I had the opportunity to experiment with the Technivorm Moccamaster Cup One machine and…well, it shook my world. At first I thought Why would I need a coffee machine that only brews one cup? But trust me, it’s so worth it!

Moccamaster Cup-One First of all, let’s talk about the specs of this cutie. The Cup-One is a single-serve filter coffee brewer that features a specially designed brew-basket, brewing one 300mL cup of coffee in just four minutes.  Its design is based on its big sisters, the Moccamaster KB and KBG models. It looks and functions very similarly to these larger models, which is great since the 10-cup version is known for its performance and consistency. You can learn more about this machine via my tutorial video.

Technical Specification Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 11 x 12 inches / 16.5 x 27.9 x 30.5 cm Item Weight: 4 pounds / 1.8 Kg Shipping Weight: 8.4 pounds / 3.8 Kg Manufacturer: Technivorm Moccamaster Item model number: 69212 Auto off: Auto off once the reservoir is empty Brewing Capacity: 10 oz / 1.25 cup / 0.33 L Brewing Temperature: 196°- 205°F / 92º – 96ºC Brew Time: 4 minutes Power: 1200 W Using the machine When I unpacked the new machine, I saw that it came with a number of other parts. In addition to the machine itself, it also comes with 2 porcelain cups (that fit perfectly underneath the spray arm), a coffee scoop, cleaning products, 80 cup one paper filters (bleached) and 10 single use cups with lids. In addition to its gorgeous design, it’s extremely easy to operate. The water reservoir has a mark at 300 mL. Once you turn it on, it will only start working when you have added the water. It will automatically switch off when the water is empty, which is very energy efficient and super safe as it can’t overheat. To make a cup of filter coffee, you just have to add the filter paper in the filter basket, add your ground coffee, pop it in the basket holder, add the water and turn it on. The water is heated quickly by the unique copper boiling element, maintaining temperatures between 91-96°C for ideal extraction. The cone-shaped brew-basket design allows a perfect saturation of the grounds for a total extraction of flavour and aromas. Thanks to the temperature range, and the pre-infusion cycle that preps the coffee ground before brewing, you will always end up with an excellent cup of coffee. ‍ After 4 minutes the brew will be finished and you can enjoy your coffee.

Brewing recipe After playing around with the machine and trying a range of recipes, I found that my ideal ratio was 20g of coffee with 300mL water. My recipe was as follows: - 20g coffee (Mexico hidro natural coffee from Heilandt coffee roasters) - 300mL filtered water - 28 clicks on the Comandante - Click on the machine, et voila! My cup was bright and clean, sweet and juicy. I have brewed this same coffee a few times using a Hario V60, with the same brew ratio. However, I found that each of my brews was slightly different, most likely due to my pouring technique and ranging temperature. With the Moccamaster Cup One, I was able to brew two cups in a row that tasted exactly the same!

Why do I think the machine is perfect for the specialty coffee sector? When you brew a hand brewed coffee, there are a lot of things that can go wrong - like I mentioned earlier, I have trouble brewing consistently and even small details like not reheating your kettle can drastically change your brew. By minimising these risks with an automated brewing machine, your brew will be more controlled and consistent. Water temperature, volume and brewing time are nothing to worry about anymore, which is great because now I can focus 100% on my grind size and understand how variances in grind size can change my filter brews. For my filter brewing with the Moccamaster Cup One, I use a Comandante Grinder with settings from 25-32 clicks. I have only had this machine for a couple of days now and will definitely experiment more. However, my first impression is that I love it! Although hand brewing is a lot of fun and can be very meditative, as a professional barista I’m always looking for the best way to get the most out of the coffees I’m using. Using a consistent and efficient machine like the Moccamaster Cup One enables me to better understand my coffees and helps me get closer to the perfect cup, without wasting any coffee. Thank you to the team at Moccamaster Australia and New Zealand for allowing me to use and review this machine - I look forward to lots of happy brewing for years to come! If you have any questions or would like to discuss this machine, send me a message via my contact page, or message me on Instagram at @nbattefeld. Happy brewing!