Zojirushi EC-BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker
Zojirushi EC-BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker Lots of folks dislike the burnt flavor that coffee gets when it sits in a glass pot over a heating element. To avoid this, coffee shops often brew right into large thermal pots to keep the coffee warm without it becoming overcooked. The Zojirushi Fresh Brew does that, too, but in home-sized batches. It looks great, too, with a glossy black body and stainless steel carafe and brew basket.
To brew, lift the lid and swing the water outlet spout to one side while the filter is being loaded; the spout will return to its proper position when the lid is closed. A small red ball in the water gauge makes it extra simple to read. And an electronic clock module also serves as a timer that will start the brewer at a specified time. The carafe’s lid is designed to be on during brewing, with a small cap to help keep the heat in after it’s ready. The Fresh Brew also has a pause-and-serve function that stops the flow for 30 seconds while a cup of coffee is served.
To clean the brewer unit, use a solution of white vinegar and water, following the instructions in the accompanying booklet. The unit is not immersible. The exterior can be wiped with a damp soft rag; do not use abrasives or scouring pads. The filter reservoir is removable; clean with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly. The coffee brewer measures 15 by 12 by 9 inches (includes carafe handle when unit is completely assembled), and it uses #3 cone-shaped disposable paper filters. The Fresh Brew comes with a detailed instruction booklet. Zojirushi guarantees its products with a one-year limited warranty. –Garland Withers
Customer Review: Worth it
Love the automatic brew setting and the carafe which I take to work with me and the coffee stays hot for hours. I agree with the reviewer who had a hard time opening the lid- that feature could be improved. Looks nice on the counter, cleans up well, brews up a tasty pot of coffee. I probably would not have spent this much money on a coffee maker made in China had I known but here it is and I really like it so I hope it lasts a long time.
Customer Review: Good coffee but design quirks.
CU give this product a good review so I bought it - I’m now doubtful about how Consumer Reports evalutes products. It does make a good cup of coffee but the overall design leaves a lot to be desired. The lid of the coffee maker is poorly designed - thin with fins that protrude. It is very uncomfortable, almost painful, to open and close. If you close it too tight you’ll need to get a towel to protect your hand from the fins in order to open it. If you don’t “perfectly” line up the carafe when brewing you’ll come back to a countertop full of coffee - we’re VERY careful now to be sure it’s just right. In order to add coffee you have to move the drip arm out of the way and then back again after you fill the water - not a big deal but another annoyance. It comes with a separate cover that you must put on the carafe to keep the coffee hot - something else to clutter your counter. It’s also too easy to accidentally push the time buttons and realize too late that your coffee didn’t get made the next morning because the time was off. I really don’t feel that, considering all the problems with this machine, that the coffee was that much better to deal with all these quirks.
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