Great coffee but takes a bunch of counter space. People who say it's hard to use are...well, wrong. We haven't had any trouble. The auto-start is hard to set when you are exhausted at midnight, but outside of that, this is a great value.

Capresso 490.05 ST600 Stainless Thermal Coffeemaker
This is a very good coffee maker. I read the previous reviews and dissagree with some of the critism. This system makes a consistant cup of coffee. Like any coffeemaker you have to experiment with the grind and amout of coffee grind but once figured out this makes a great cup of coffee. I did not have a drip or leak problem and one reviews said and the parts are plastic so some care has to be taken but they are not better or worse that any other coffee maker I have seen. I have had no trouble with assembly or diss-assembly, cleaning, filling or brewing. The result is a great cup of coffee and that is what I was looking for! I recommend this coffee maker if you want a better and consistant cup or coffee!

After reading reviews of all the thermal coffee makers, I was left with no real choices, so decided to try this one. I don't know what the problem is with all the negative reviews. Never leaked, always hot. Only problem is that even though it fit under my cabinets, I worried that the steam would damage them, so now it resides on my kitchen island.
Hope this one doesn't break in 1 year like the Cuisinart, as I love this coffee maker. The price couldn't be beat!

I've read a lot of the reviews here before I purchased the Capresso ST600 3 weeks ago and I had hesitated before making the purchase because of some of the reviews. We are heavy coffee drinkers and the machine has to double as an office machine, making 4-5 full pots a day, anything that dribbles or leaves grounds in the pot does not cut it around here.
When we received the Capresso I ran it through several brew cycles with just water, and all the bad reviews seem to be true. It dribbled, dripped, and finally flooded the counter; after the second run I had to actually mop the floor.
THEN I read the instructions. Since we are heavy coffee drinkers and have been through about 6 - 8 machines and 4 burr grinders in the past 10 years alone, I thought myself above such mundane thing as reading the instructions for a coffee maker, after all, what could possibly be in there that I don't know?
Well, I strongly recommend reading the instructions and following them meticulously. Do one or two trial runs with just water (saves you coffee and it is easier to clean up), until you got the hang of it.
No dribbles, no flood, no pushed away carafe, no grinds in the pot, the coffee maker also just stands free on the counter (not on pads) and it brews really good and hot coffee!

It looked cool; that's why I bought it. I should have known, since some great Amazon writer/reviewers said the thing was problematic.

The design is about 40% wider than it needs to be, first off. But the biggest flaw is trying to seat the coffee pot into the lip to catch the drip. It wasn't uncommon for the pot to unseat itself, 1/2 cup into brewing, and just stop. The brewing is really slow, which makes for rich coffee, but the pot also fills full of grounds. I've tried both the gold filter and paper ones, same problem.

After using this for 2 weeks, I am packing it up and sending it back.

This product overall is a great coffee maker. Yes, its bigger; did anyone stop to think that to make hotter coffee, which is the Capresso advantage, (and why I would think most people would consider it in the first instance) the thing requires a bigger and more robust pump? Duh. And, the real problem with this is simply the handle to the filter basket; put it the wrong way and close the lid, you are asking for trouble. Solution? Remove the handle, you do not need it.
This baby makes hot coffee, and keeps it hot. Dribbles? Well, then don't go with a carafe model. Too lazy to cooperate with the design, then get one of their other models.
All in all, a great step forward in coffee makers. And at this close out price, a bloody bargain.

Well so far I love this coffee maker and you can't beat the price! I would have given it 5 stars but when we recieved it the handle for the gold tone filter was broken. Doesn't affect the coffee at all!

I recently purchased the Capresso ST-600 and have to say I am so glad I did. The high brew temperature and accurate spray mechanism really produces a great cup of coffee. I have owned Cuisanart and Kithenaid both broke within a year and the coffee would seem to get cold very quickly. The stainless steel carafe on the Capresso keeps coffee really hot for hours with zero loss of flavor. Yes it has a few quirks like having to remove the carafe slowly so it won't drip but we are talking a few seconds more of your life. If I had a request to improve the unit it would be to add a lighted water meter you could read the water level better but other than that for the price you can't get a better high end maker producing a better cup of hot coffee.

This has been in my kitchen only a few weeks but I think this is a winner.
This machine is very simple to operate and does everything i want it to do. I have not had the problems noted in some other reviews, everything works well. It is larger than really necessary but the dimensions are in the ad and looks are subjective. I like it.

After researching coffee makers my wife and I decided to go with the Capresso ST600. We purchased it from WholeLatteLove for $170.00. It worked great for six months. It has recently started leaking water out of the base. At the start it was just a small amount, but over the last week it has become a flood. A complete waste of money. Now everywhere you look the ST600s are on sale, another bad sign.

The issues about dripping, leaking, running, making a puddle seem to be hotly contested. Those who experience it say this thing is not good and those who have not say that the former group can't follow directions.

Having returned a first unit due to blemishes (but no dripping) and a second because of dripping (but no blemishes), I can tell you what the problem is. The removable plastic coffee filter holder has a spring-loaded stopper. This spring is about as strong as one on a ball point pen -- certainly it will not hold several ounces or cups of coffee from dribbling through. It seems that the variability in spring tension probably accounts for the radically different comparisons. If you have a unit that dribbles, then I suggest going to a hobby store or hardware store and buying a stronger, thicker, more resistant spring to keep the valve tightly shut unless opened by inserting the carafe below it.

The coffee stays hot for a long time. Have to figure out how to use it properly. The coffee maker will not work if the lid of the carafe is not screwed on properly, but it won't go in unless you do. Broke the cheap plastic filter piece the first day (but that isn't a big deal). You should place something under the carafe otherwise it will slip out of the slot since it is free from the coffee maker. This stops the brewing process. My wife used the non slip shelf liner and it worked great. Makes great coffee.

This coffee maker brews coffee a little hotter than other brands(it tastes better for me). Although the size is a bit big if you have a small kitchen space, it is well made, and works well.

I really don't understand what people are making a fuss about....have people really forgot how to make coffee?! I have not had any problems with the carafe moving during the brewing cycle. This thing is solidly built, really not sure how people are breaking parts on it. Stop being so physical. Some of the reviewers are also complaining that it has too large of a footprint for a 10 cup machine, well, it takes up less space than my old BUNN did. Its shorter and not as deep as the BUNN models. I have been a BUNN owner and user for the last 15 years and finally decided that it was time for something new. The coffee made from this machine is to die for, I feel like I have missed out on coffee for the last 15 years after tasting what can be made with this beauty. Ingenious design of having an insulated thermal holder instead of a hotplate. Goodbye burnt coffee!! This coffee is brewed freaking hot, too!!! I will be recommending this machine to many people. Definitely worth $80...sorry I missed it for cheaper, though...

WARNING! This beauty is not worth $10. It is so poorly engineered it is shocking. First, the pot will not stay put for the brewing process unless you back it up to the wall or something to hold it in place. The beautiful lid starts to pop up unexpectedly every 5 or 6 uses, no matter how conscientious you are about closing it right. It bought it for $39- it isn't worth trying to overcome it's engineering flaws just to make a pot of coffee.
It still looked pretty when I threw it into the dumpster!
W

I purchased this machine from Amazon after reading the reviews on Amazon and other sites. This is a great coffee maker and offered on Amazon at a very good price. Other sites had prices starting at $169 and up. I have granite counter tops and have had no issues with the carafe sliding away from the machine. Insert the carafe into the slot at an angle and it locks in place. It fits under my cabinets but I pull it out when making coffee due to the steam escaping during the brewing process (I have done this with my previous coffee makers). This machine makes excellent coffee and really looks good doing so. Any issues noted by other reviewers can simply be avoided by reading and following the instructions that come with the machine.

I picked this up when it was offered on a fri sale for~$50. At that price its a steal. I will say it is more finicky than other coffee makers and it is ESSENTIAL that you read the directions and prepare your coffee accordingly. It is clear that after reading some of the negative reviews some people don't do this. I do agree with the reviewer that mentions if you have granite counter tops the carafe can slide away from the machine inadvertently shutting off the brew process, but I have found this easily remedied by applying a grip to the bottom of the carafe. Overall it make tremendously hot flavorful coffee, but operation takes some getting used to.

Yea... ok. The machine is pretty large for a 10 cup pot, but it does fit under the cabinets when it isn't brewing, it is beautiful, it brews a Great cup of coffee, and the coffee is Hot!
Yea... it will dribble if there is coffee left in the basket, so it is best to let the machine finish brewing before you take a cup, but it brews a Great cup of coffee, and the coffee is Hot!
I haven't had a problem filling the machine with water, I use the extended sprayer from the sink, and I can read the gage just fine. Besides, it brews a Great cup of coffee, and the coffee is Hot!
I have found that the pot will slip on my counter and shut off while brewing, so I just put a dish towel under the pot and that took care of that. It does make a lot of noise, and takes a bit longer the some cheaper pots to brew... but! Have I mentioned it brews a Great cup of coffee, and the coffee is Hot?!
I am happy to put up with the minor inconveniences for a very hot cup of coffee that has all the flavor you would expect from a good coffee pot. The carafe is top notch and keeps the temp for a very long time. My only complaint is that it only brews 10 cups.

I am so glad I took a chance on this coffee maker. This Capresso was one of the coffee makers my husband and I had considered before we purchased a Cuisinart several months ago. The primary reason we bought the Cuisinart over the Capresso was price - the Capresso was much more expensive at the time - plus the Cuisinart had very good reviews. I wasn't unhappy with the Cuisinart, although I would say it made rather ordinary coffee. (We only use whole beans and grind them with a burr grinder, so we expect any machine to make a fairly decent cup of coffee.)

When I saw the Capresso for a really good price on Amazon, I decided to go ahead and get it, even though some of the previous reviewers had noted some troublesome issues - like the thermal carafe sliding away from the machine. After thoroughly reading the instruction manual, I prepared the first pot. It wasn't but a few seconds later, that, sure enough, the carafe started to slide away. I thought to myself, no wonder it was such a "good deal" - this is a major problem. Checked the manual again, as it has specific instructions for inserting the carafe into the machine, and carefully reinserted it. No more sliding!! The instruction manual covers all of the "issues" that some of the previous reviewers have had trouble with and tells you how to avoid them. I have not experienced any of those other issues.

I am so glad I gave this machine a chance as it is not only great-looking but also makes absolutely the best tasting coffee I have ever had!!

i would like to thank all the people who could not figure out how to use this machine. it is amazingly simple to operate, ihave had none of the "problems" that others have had. i hope this same mindset will bring about more great amazon bargains.(an over 200 dollar machine for 39.99, get real?)

This coffee maker is not only strylish but it makes a great cup of coffee. I will be honest the first 2 pots of coffee were a little hectic because of the brewing process (properly placing the caraffe in front of the maker) but after that it makes coffee in 2 seconds and i love it. the coffee also satys hot for approx. 14 hours from my experience!! i highly recomend this coffee maker to match your stainless steel appliances and even if you just want a great cup of coffee!!

This is a great coffeemaker and I got it for 39.99 off of Amazon. Can't be beat for that price. I'm a bit of a coffeesnob, and have been happy with my Aeropress for more than a year now. But I needed something I could set upon waking. My two requirements: 1) that the brew temp is correct; 2) that it could correctly brew a smaller amount of coffee (6 cups or less).
Let me also say that if you want to see the ultimate review of this product, the coffee geek site has a great first look and gives you everything you need to know to make an intelligent choice (it goes well above and beyond any comments posted here). As far as the people who gave it negative comments, they did not read the directions properly or just didn't know what they were getting (didn't check the size of the machine).

So, does it address the issues I mentioned above: yes, with flying colors. The brew temp at that magical 200 - something a lot of other brewers can't match. It makes a great small batch of coffee (I usually brew only 5 cups) and keeps it hot for hours. And unlike some other coffeemakers, it does saturate all of the grinds. It's simple to program so I have coffee upon waking, and it's very sleek to boot - fits in with our modern design kitchen.

After reading reviews on various websites, I began watching this item on Amazon because of the low price. My opinion was that purchasing a quality item for 20% of its list price would override any of the "design flaws" that I had read about. I definitely wouldn't pay list price but the deal Amazon was offering was too good to overlook. I eventually purchased the item, have been using it for one month and have not been disappointed. The equipment is solidly built with quality parts. It is rather large for a 10-cup maker but if the carafe is removed when not in use, it really doesn't seem to take up that much space. The bottom line in reference to all of the complaints is that if you read the manual before using, you shouldn't have any problems at all. I've had no problems with leaking from the front, but then I always wait until the brewing cycle is complete (the button is no longer lit); if you don't have the need to steal a cup during the brewing cycle, leaking shouldn't be an issue. Also, placing the carafe correctly with the base unit is rather easy. I can't relate to complaints about lack of grip on the countertop resulting in the safety switch deactivating the brew cycle. The only thing that bothers me a little is that when the lid is opened after a brew cycle in order to remove the filter/basket, condensed steam on the inside of the lid will drip down the back of the unit and collect on the base. This is only a minor nuisance though when you consider all of the positives about the unit. The bottom line is that it makes the richest, most flavorful coffee that will retain its qualities and stay hot until the last cup. The last cup after several hours tastes just as fresh as when it was first brewed. For me, this outweighs any of the minor design issues, and for the sale price that Amazon frequently offers, it was a no-brainer for me when considering other similarly priced units.

I have to echo many of the other reviews. Capresso is about the most premier coffeemaker companies, but sometimes beautiful design gets in the way of everyday usability.

First off, yes, it's way too big for a 10 cup maker. I'm not bothered by the fact that you have to carefully make sure the carafe is properly seeded; that's not the problem.

The problems are;

1) the opening to pour the water into is narrow and it's easy to spill.

2) the guage is hard to read and is located in an inconvenient spot

3) when the unit's working properly, it sputters all through the brewing process and give off much too much steam (KEEP IT AWAY FROM WOOD CABINETS OR YOU'RE CABINETS WILL GET THAT WHITE SCORCH ON THE SURFACES)

4) the coffee basket's stop 'n por mechanism isn't any better than the cheapest Mr. Coffee-like coffeemakers. When you remove the carafe to pour coffee during the brew process, it dribbles alot

5) the brewing is especially slow on all Capresso units, so one gets to sit and watch the machine brew until you can safely pull the carafe and pour yourself a cup of joe

It's very well made, but one needs useful features that this machine doesn't have.

As regards the above person who had breakage, Capresso is VERY helpful about sending replacement parts, but the brewing dribbles is a design flaw and cannot be fixed by another coffee basket.

All in all I'll keep mine until it dies, but it's not a definitive machine, darn it.

Update - Capresso Customer Service 4-7-08


I just contacted Capresso and explained my problem. I was handled very efficiently and politely. They are sending me a new coffee maker and a label so I can return the machine with the problem. I would give their customer service ***** Thanks to Nike, the employee who helped me out!







UPDATE: 4-1-08 I have had none of the problems pointed out but after 2 weeks, the machine quit dispensing all the water out of the tank. No matter what I tried, once the machine shuts off after the 11 minutes, there is always an inch or so of water left in the tank. I have to push the start button and let it go another 5 minutes to get all the water out of the tank and into the pot. I have tried unplugging overnight, using the 4-6 cup function (because it is supposed to go back to 10 cup function automatically) but nothing works. I am dissappointed and will go out and buy myself a new Bunn like I should have in the first place. I am glad I only spent $39.99 on this pot!




I ordered and a few days ago received the Capresso. I was lucky as it was priced at $39.99 with free shipping. First thing I did was read the manual and hi-lite main instructions. At first I got scared as it was dripping down the front of the pot until I reallized I had not put the gold coffee filter back in after washing all the parts. Stopped the pot, inserted the filter and I have had no problem with dripping. It was simple to set the clock and to set the time I want the coffee to start in the morning. As I have my own good well water, I will probably not purchase more charcoal filters to use. I did have to adjust the amount of coffee grounds I use for my taste. I don't like weak nor do I like strong coffee. I am very satisfied with this product so far. JudyCapresso 490.05 ST600 Stainless Thermal Coffeemaker

We've owned this coffee maker for 2 months and have had absolutely no problems. I set it every evening, and wake up to perfect coffee every morning. I agree with all of the "pros" others have listed - makes a great strong cup that stays hot for hours, uses a bit less coffee to do so, and looks spiffy. I also see why some people might have issues with it. It's a bit delicate - you need to fit the lid and set the pot carefully. My 83 year old mom steers clear of it, but the rest of us are just fine. Our counters are matte so we've had no trouble with the carafe slipping. On granite, it might be a bit dicey. The coffee is delicious, and I think it's a pleasure to use. If you have the counter space, like the look, and don't mind fiddley gadgets, this is the machine for you. If not, pass. Bottom line - you have to love a bargain, and this machine at this price is certainly that. (Deans Beans Berkeley Shark Bite, 10 scoops/10 cups = coffee bliss!)

Make sure you read the instructions carefully. I didn't and had coffee spill on the counter as others have noted. After reading the manual I realized that the lid shouldn't be fully twisted closed; doing so doesn't line up the carafe opening with where the coffee comes out of the machine. Second, and this is the tricky part, you have to put the lip of the carafe at the botton of the machine opening and slide the lip up until it engages with the machine's opening and the botton of the carafe pushes in the safety button at the bottom of the machine. Since learning to do these two things I've had no spilling problems since.

Some limitations:

1) You gotta le the coffee fully brew. If you try to get some coffee midbrew, there's gonna be some spillage.

2) It's a big machine and takes up a lot of room

3) Steam comes out of the top and fogs up your cabinets (can be an issue if you have glass cabinet doors). My wife looks at it as an opportunity to steam clean. :-)

But at the end of the day it doesn what it supposed to do best, make great coffee-- especially if you are brewing less than 6 cups with it's extended brew cycle-- and keep it hot for a couple of hours.

I certainly wouldn't pay list price for it, but for the $60 I paid for it on during Amazon's one-day sale it's afantastic buy.

P.S. the same coffeemaker sells for $169 at our gournet shop here (Southern Season in Chapel Hill, NC).

This makes a great cup of coffee. Others complaining about spillage are not using this properly.

Pros:
This is a great coffee maker the coffee tastes great and the carafe keeps the coffee hot for a long time. It looks great and we love it!

The cons:
It is a little large and the clock for auto start is hard to set.

Conclusion
It a great coffee maker and for the Amazon $80.00 price you can't go wrong.
We owned it for about a month and no problems with drips as mentioned in other reviews. Now after two months it drips if you take the pot out before the brewing cycle is finished. Still love the pot.

I was looking for a coffeemaker to replace our still functional 8-cup Braun thermal carafe coffeemaker because we wanted the extra 2 cups of coffee in the morning. I was enthralled by another reviewer's claims that this coffeemaker looked like a piece of art from the MOMA. However, it is an incredible counter top kludge. The worst part (and I've been brewing coffee for many, many years) is that the coffee produced by this coffeemaker was nowhere near the quality of the Braun no matter how much or little coffee I used and no matter how fine or coarsely ground the coffee beans. It looks like soon Amazon will be paying us customers to take this item away (I bought it when it cost thirty dollars more on sale), and with good reason.

A joke! Takes up a huge amount of space and makes mediocre coffee. Makes more noise than any coffee maker I've ever had. A ostentatious appliance that demands to be seen and heard. I made a "huge" mistake buying this!

There are many negative reviews about this coffee maker. However,I have had a very good experience with this appliance. All it takes is care in preparation and placement of the pot. I have used this for only one month, but am quite satisfied. If my opinion changes, I will add an addendum.

If you're like me, even when you don't buy from Amazon you include its reviews when buying a product, and in the process, you're often left wondering what and who to believe with a product that has mixed reviews and a big discount. I don't usually write reviews, but given the doubts I had before this purchase due the negative reviews, I thought I'd help others out and set the record straight.

Cutting to the chase, this is a great coffee maker, especially for the price. With all due respect, I cannot for the life of me figure out how people have any issue with this machine. Learning curve? Are you kidding me? Slip the carafe in, push the on button. If you can figure out how to plug it in, you can figure out how to use it. There are several aspects to its design that keep coffee from ending up on your counter. It won't fit in place unless the lid is lined up the right way and if it doesn't fit in right, coffee doesn't flow.

Does it take a moment or two to figure out the alignment, or maybe a quick read of the manual if it's not immediately obvious to you? Sure. Probably. It's not like any other coffee makers you or I have used. But some of the reviews made me think I'd be living through countless messes before getting the hang of it. I found the design to be very consumer centric (the politically correct way of saying idiot proof)

One reason I wanted to write this review is that years ago I purchased a vacuum coffee maker that originally sold for a $200 but was being given away by Starbucks for under $50. I was convinced there had to be something wrong with it given the huge discount, but they told me that it was just too "complicated" for some people and they didn't get it (makes coffee much differently than drip). Same deal. Best maker I owned but enough people returned it that it was discontinued. Never had a single issue with it until it gave out after 4 years.

I can't comment on defective units or longevity, but I can tell you the design is sound, the coffee is great (I too notice I don't need to use as much coffee for a great, strong brew, which means also a less bitter one), the unit looks great, the thermal carafe keeps the coffee hot, and I like the uniqueness of the design aesthetically and mechanically.

Snap this puppy up while you still have the chance, ESPECIALLY when its at the $60 Friday sale price.

I have had the Capresso grind and brew for years, we love it! So, I chose this for our vacation home, but the clock didnt work right and the top kept opening during brewing. I contacted Capresso and they sent a replacement immediately. The new one works great! Coffee stays warm for hours~

Another winner from Capresso. The thermal carafe keeps the coffee at an ideal temp for at least 4 hours and it tastes as fresh as the minute it was brewed. The machine is elegant and exact in its design and looks great on the counter. I highly recommend.