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Today we pit two of what I would consider are the leading home electric coffee filter brewers head to head. In one corner we have an all star original, the Moccamaster KBG coffee maker. The other, a newer modernistic interpretation of filter coffee brewer, the Wilfa Classic+. Both good enough for home, office and light commercial use they hit a good base level for batch brewer quality. Yet which is better and which should you go for?
Moccamaster vs. Wilfa
In terms of brand they’re similarly solid. Well established and known for a number of coffee appliances. They’ve stood the test of time whilst building a notable brand reputation.
Moccamaster
For many decades, Technivorm-Moccamaster have been the number one coffee maker in the world. All of their coffee makers are manufactured, assembled, and tested by hand in the Netherlands. This unique personal touch allows them to be a specialist in craft. Over time this has built trust in their products to give you the best coffee experience.
Wilfa
Wilfa is a Norwegian owned company established in 1948. Today it’s one of the leading suppliers of small electrical items to thousands of homes. They like Moccamaster have a strict focus on coffee with a selection of coffee brewers and awesome grinders such as the Wilfa Svart. The random blender they produce i’ll pretend doesn’t exist.
Moccamaster KBG vs. Wilfa Classic+
Both brands having an array of coffee makers. However, the two most popular and comparable are the Moccamaster KBG and Wilfa Classic+.
The Moccamaster KBG Coffee Maker
The Moccamaster KBG Select is certified for 10 and 6 cups. Thanks to the new select switch, it’s possible to easily switch between a full or half jug. For many the Moccamaster was considered a game changer as one of the first electric coffee makers to hit the big time. The Moccamaster KBG has always been recognised as a solid brewer, producing an aromatic cup of coffee full of flavor, regardless of the amount of cups. The Moccamaster KBG Select is just the latest in a long line of already great coffee brewers by Moccamaster.
Highlights
- Brew basket with automatic drip stop
- The brewing element switches off automatically after brewing
- The hotplate keeps the coffee at 80°-85°C and automatically switches off after 40 minutes
- High quality recycable materials, BPA free
- Removable parts easy to clean and easy to be replaced
- SCA & ECBC certified
- 5 years warranty
The Wilfa Classic+ Coffee Brewer
The Wilfa Classic+ is an easy to use automatic coffee batch brewer that embodies aesthetically-pleasing design, seamless operation and technical excellence. The Classic+ takes filter coffee brewing into stylish new realms. Simply add the desired amount of fresh ground coffee, water, press the button and wait. The brewer will heat the water and distribute this over the coffee, which proceeds to drip into the server below. In less than five minutes, you will have one to ten cups of coffee ready to enjoy.
The Wilfa Classic+ also includes smart features such as a cleaning indicator, automatic switch-off and manual drip stopper to prevents spills on the hotplate.
Highlights
- 1 litre tank
- Detachable filter element
- Manual drip tray
- Flow control with adjustable extraction time
- Automatic cleaning reminder
- Automatic turn off after 40 minutes
- Hot plate with self- resistor
- Approved by European Brewing Centre
Head to Head Comparison
To compare these coffee guzzling machines I’ve pulled together a selection of relative areas. All which are pivotal when buying any coffee brewer and will decide which brewer should be victorious.
Brew Ability
The most important criteria of any coffee maker is knowing whether it can produce a sublime cup of coffee. The ability to create the perfect brew is most significantly down to brew quality. However, I’ve added brew speed and brew capacity since practicality and convenience are more important when brewing for groups.
Brew quality
Both coffee brewers deliver a high quality cup of coffee, largely because they have similar features. The pair boil water to an ideal temperature range of 92-96 degrees. At this temperature the water dissolves the aromatic oils resulting in an ideal balance between sweet and bitter. They also use the same paper filters. Post brewing, both coffee makers use hotplates to keep the coffee warm whilst you finish the brew. Top marks for the two of them on quality.
In recognition they’re approved by the European Coffee Brewing Centre (ECBC) with the Moccamaster also endorsed by the Speciality Coffee Association (SCA).
Brew capacity
Brew capacity is clearly displayed on the side of the water tanks when filling them for ease of use. However in terms of capacity, the Moccamaster takes the lead marginally with a 1.25 litre capacity of water. This allows it to produce 5-6 cups (up to 208ml each). Making it better suited for larger groups, those seeking a larger or more regular cup of joe. Conversely, the Wilfa Classic+ produces up to 5 cups (200ml each). Not far off the Moccamaster but still 1 cup short of it. On a seperate note it does beg the question why they’re geared for 5-6 cups? when most families fall into the 2-4 group category.
Brew speed
Both brewers at full capacity produce coffee at similar ranging times from 4-5 minutes. Based on the Moccamaster having a higher capacity it is marginally faster, but only just.
Maintenance
Splashing the cash on a coffee brewer worth easily over £100 deserves a level of sustainable quality. Both brewers have alternating approaches here.
The Moccamaster oozes confidence with a 5 year guarantee warranty, which whether used or not will support its longevity. As with any machine that boils water, limescale and water hardness deteriorate parts over time. Wilfa adopts a clever automated highlight feature to remind the user to clean the machine. This feature delays the inevitable replacement of parts, not forgetting keeping you coffee brews on point.
In terms of similarities, they comparably have an auto switch off features upon brew completion and auto shut off when not in use. Negating them as fire hazards, but also stopping heater part overuse.
Style
As much as cup quality is the biggest deciding factor of any coffee drinker, looking good as you do it can only boost appeal. The Moccamaster as one the first major filter brewers to hit the spotlight naturally awards it with classic appeal. This is bolstered by a huge range of 21 colours for the Moccamaster KBG. Conversely, Wilfa has gone for the modern sleek approach coming in black or silver colours to fit nicely on any kitchen counter.
Price
Moccamaster is steeper in price at around £188 (lowest price I could find online) vs Wilfa Classic+ at £145. Despite the higher price tag don’t forget brand reputation is an important factor here. Moccamaster is an OG brand. Older, wiser and likely more known than Wilfa make it carry more weight as a tried and tested entity. Conversely in terms of bang for your buck the Wilfa can do everything the Moccamaster and more, making it better value for money.
Bonus features
Whilst the Moccamaster plays on its simplistic ease of use, Wilfas features allow for more control when brewing with an added water flow adjuster. Some may consider this an unnecessary function. However, to the growing number of speciality drinkers being able to manage the brew it can be important. Whether it involves changing the grind, brew ratios or now water flow, it gives more control to perfect your brew. This perk could make a nice cherry on the top when purchasing.
Which is the best coffee maker?
Not to sound like a cop out, but the truth is both of these coffee brewers would make a great addition in any home. On the assumption you enjoy filter coffee and drink a fair share of coffees. By now you’ve probably realised no mention of faults for either, largely because we didn’t experience any with our tests. That being said we have had feedback to avoid the older versions of these brewers with the black spout arm due to leakages. They both do good jobs brewing coffee with a high quality in cup (excluding the obvious requirement of great speciality coffee). Likewise coffee is made in a timely and efficient manner on either one. Once that base is made clear, it all comes down to your personal tastes and situation. Just as the Moccamaster KBG holds OG status as a bonafide classic, the Wilfa Classic+ is a valiant interpretation for its better value and bonus features. Only you can be the judge and jury on this one. In conclusion, you are likely winning at life if you have either.
I’ve returned three of these with the black arm because they spat boiling water from the connection at the pump end. The plastic top just “peeled back” like a banana when it got hot allowing water leakage. I was interested to know if your review model had the silver arm because I suspect they fixed the problem with this redesign. That aside, the coffee from them was great but I wasn’t living with a health hazard like that!
The wilfa is so awkward for normal practical use… you need to twist the shower head away to put the basket in place. If you’re like me and not too awake in the morning you may forget to put the shower head back in place and find yourself with boiling water spouting all over your kitchen counter. Also the auto drop stop… this is a technology that’s been around for years… one second of not paying attention and you either have coffee all over your hotplate, or if you forget to open the setting a basket bathing fully in water… In all not a brewer to use for any normal human beings in the morning.