Braun Aromaster KF400 Review

What the reviewers like:
The Braun Aromaster KF400 has an on/off switch, and that's pretty much the end of its features. But reviews say that its coffee tastes great and that the carafe is well designed. Overall, owners say the Braun coffee maker outperforms its low price.

What the reviewers don't like:
The biggest negative concern in reviews for the Braun KF400 coffee maker is durability, with some owners reporting that its plastic components are flimsy.

Braun Aromaster KF400 review highlights

The Braun Aromaster KF400 is the best no-frills coffee maker on the market, according to the reviews we read. This simple coffee maker gets satisfaction ratings on par with the more expensive Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200 (*est. $100). This basic Braun coffee maker doesn't have a brew-strength setting, water filter, adjustable hot plate or even a clock/timer, but if you want a basic inexpensive coffee maker, reviews say the Braun Aromaster KF400 merits first consideration.

The inexpensive Braun Aromaster KF400 isn't included in many professional comparative reviews, but it is included in Consumer Reports survey of over 30 automatic-drip models. Editors at Consumer Reports evaluate coffee makers more on features, value and ease of use than on the taste of the coffee. However, we found plenty of comments on coffee taste on Amazon.com, where about 150 owners rate the Braun KF400 coffee maker. We also found a few reviews at Epinions. Though the Braun Aromaster KF400 is included on a list of top coffee makers at About.com, it only gets a one-line endorsement.

Also see full report: Coffee Makers

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Consumer Reports
Coffeemakers
Editors of Consumer Reports
Jan. 2007

Consumer Reports evaluates over 30 coffee makers, including the Braun Aromaster KF400. Editors focus on convenience, including ease of filling the reservoir, pouring and cleaning. Taste and temperature don’t appear to factor into the ratings as much as value and ease of use.

2. Amazon.com
Braun Aromaster KF400
Contributors to Amazon.com

The majority of the 150 owners of the Braun KF400 coffee maker give it high ratings, especially when it comes to value. Most say the Braun Aromaster has a well-designed carafe that doesn't drip, and some owners say the coffee stays good-tasting longer. A few owners indicate that coffee isn't as hot as it could be.

3. Epinions
Braun 10-cup Aromaster Coffeemaker KF400 review
Contributors to Epinions

Only a handful of owners on Epinions have rated the Braun KF400, compared to the hundreds of owner-written reviews at Amazon.com. Opinions are evenly split. Some say the Braun coffee maker is great for the money, and others say it’s flimsy and breaks easily.

4. About.com
Top 6 Large Drip Coffee Makers
Sean Paajanen

The Braun Aromaster coffee maker is included on this short list of six coffee makers. Though Editor Sean Paajanen gives the Braun a second-place rank, he doesn't compare it to others or give it a detailed evaluation. Paajanen merely says the Braun is a good basic model.

Also see full report: Coffee Makers