From the manufacturer
Brewed better, and kept that way:
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Pre-Infusion CycleEvenly wets ground before brewing, allowing them to bloom for perfect extraction of flavor and aroma. |
200°F High Brewing TemperatureHeats water to the right temperature to brew flavorful coffee (when brewing using Time Saver mode). |
Time Saver ModeThis optional mode delivers hot coffee faster by reducing brewing time. |
Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel CarafeKeeps coffee hot for hours without the ‘burnt’ flavor caused by heating plates. |
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Removable Water TankMakes filling easy, and is fully washable. |
Permanent Stainless Steel Mesh Coffee FilterIncluded permanent mesh filter is reusable and washable. |
Swing Basket and Filter BasketEasy-to-access baskets lift out for thorough cleaning. |
Special Feature for Brewing Iced CoffeeIced coffee water measure lines adjust the water-to-coffee ratio for a stronger brew that doesn’t taste watered down when poured over ice. |
Tapered design carafe with thumb-activated pouring makes serving smooth and easy.
It doesn't fail. Coffee is consistently better than going out to buy it at any shop. The insulated container keeps the coffee hot for hours on end. Quit enough that I usually don't even know anything is happening.
If you are researching a drip machine that can keep your coffee hot and fresh for a long time just get this. It will not disappoint.
My only complaint is that the warmer only stays on for an hour, then you have to push the button again for another hour, which is a hassle if you work early and you’re spouse sleeps in.
Definitely recommend though if this isn’t an issue.
I want the machine to stop brewing at water level 5 given start of 10. I don't think there's any way to do it automatically. If I want only that much coffee/water, I have to be there to stop the machine or start at level 5 then run the machine until the tank is empty.
I can't find the function in the manual. I've gone through it many times looking for it.
This one is well made, well engineered and has an excellent stainless steel insulated carafe. Bought this on recommendation of older brother who has 5 cup version.
It is also easy to clean and set up. Has a built-in timer, so coffee's ready when you get up. You will not be disappointed!
I’ve had it two weeks now (so 14 pots). What I can say is that it is big. Bigger than my previous machine. Having the water bin be detachable is a huge plus. Much easier to fill. It is super simple to use with just a few buttons. The coffee is amazing. Super smooth and great tasting even at the end of the pot. In the end that’s what matters the most.
I followed the directions to the letter for my first few pots. Oddly I think their recommendation for the amount of grounds is too much. I never thought I would say the coffee is too strong, but I went down to 10 scoops and it’s fantastic.
I have not used the iced coffee attachment. I’m just not that into iced coffee.
The coffee comes out around 158 degrees. I took a temperature measurement for my second cup an hour after brewing and it was still approximately 149 degrees.
I haven't had any issues with the display lights failing.
To clean, the instructions tell you how to remove the rubber seals from the lid and how to pull the central rod out that opens and seals the lid. I wish the lid could be further disassembled, but you can clean it by pouring water through or with a pipe cleaner.
I use the proposed amounts of coffee grounds from the scoop that comes with it.
I would highly recommend this coffee maker, I am considering spending the extra money to get a second one to replace my work coffee machine.
The coffee maker gives an option of faster brew time (Time Saver function), which is nice because this shortens brew time, and the brew time is closer to the recommendation by the Specialty Coffee Association (if you care about things like this). This make and model does not have the SCA endorsement, but I don't really care because we get consistent excellent brew results.
We use more coffee than what Zojirushi recommends. If you use Zojirushi's table in its manual, the coffee:water weight ratio is almost 1:30. This brews weak coffee. The recommended ratio is around 1:20 or greater. We use about 1:18 ratio, i.e. 1 g coffee to 18 mL water; or if you are used to US imperial measurements, 1 oz coffee to 2.1 cups water (*** the cup here refers to your kitchen measuring cup and NOT the "cup" markings on the coffee maker. The volumes of "cup" markings on coffee makers vary widely among manufactures, but EC-YTC100's markings based on its manual is 1.5 L for 10 "cups" or 150 mL per "cup" marking or 0.6 standard kitchen measuring cup in the US). But you can always adjust to your taste. However, this present a potential problem. At maximum brewing volume of 10 cups (1.5 L), we would need 83 g of coffee (Zojirushi recommends 51 g for 10 cups). This may well be over their design capacity and cause the coffee grounds to overflow. We have not brewed at maximum as we stop at 8 cups (1.2 L) and use 67 g of coffee.
EC-YTC100 claims a brewing temperature of 200 deg F, and I measured 196 F out of the "shower head". The "shower head" is the distribution of water as the hot water is dispersed over the grinds. This model has a piece that disperses the water and the water drips over the entire basket instead of a narrow concentrated stream. This allows for better percolation of the hot water through the grinds.
With the cap on, the thermal carafe keeps the coffee hot all morning and well into the afternoon. I like this carafe model because the glass coffee model with a warmer tends to burn the coffee as it sits on the warmer.
Attention to details is excellent as with all Zojirushi products. The shower head piece, the brew basket, and the water tank can all be easily removed and cleaned. The various silicone gaskets around the carafe cap and the valves can all be removed and cleaned if needed. The removable water tank is extremely nice for ease of filling. The permanent filter works well, but my wife still prefers using paper filter.
Occasional descaling is needed using citric acid. The unit will alert you when it needs descaling. Do yourself a favor, buy food grade 100% citric acid in bulk, and you can buy it cheaply here at Amazon with resealable bag. Buy a cheap food scale (I bought Amazon brand for $10). Now you don't have to pay the outrageous price of Zojirushi branded citric acid (30g pouch). You can clean/descale to your heart's content. The scale is nice also to measure out your coffee. It's a kitchen gadget I didn't think I needed, but now that I have it, I really need it.
Overall, we are very satisfied with this coffee maker, its design, functionality, and most importantly, the quality of the brew. With proper maintenance, I anticipate another 10 years of ownership.
Some things I like:
Removable water reservoir - make is easy to fill without additional filling containers (because you should not use the pot to refill the water reservoir since it may have oils from brewed coffee). The removable reservoir also fits in my older refrigerator thru the door water dispenser! So I am able to get at least semi-filtered water.
The Carafe keeps coffee hot for about 4 hours, and it is still warm for up to 8 hours (though your coffee may be bitter after that long).
This maker gets the coffee to the correct (hot, 200 deg F) temperature and soaks the grounds really well. I have never seen dry spots in my grounds. The maker also pauses briefly to allow the coffee to bloom.
Makes a reasonably flavorful cup of coffee. It's not quite as good a my Chemex or Aeropress, but it's pretty close for an automatic drip machine.
Filter basket and holder are all removable for easy cleaning. Also includes a mesh filter basket which works well, but I use paper filters and those work well too.
Has an auto start feature, but I have not used this as I like to grid my coffee fresh and don't really need it made ahead of time. But it's there if you need it!
Some not so likable things:
The coffee maker takes a while to brew a pot! By a while, I mean 10-15 minutes. While this may not seem like a long time, most brewing methods should not have the water in contact with the grounds for more than 6 minutes max. Although the brew time for this machine doesn't seem to affect taste too much. Most coffee comes out slightly more bitter than when I brew with my Chemex, but it is still pretty tasty. There is a "time saver" button, but I think this only bypasses the bloom feature which only seems to save 30 seconds or so.
The carafe opening is too small making it a bit harder to clean. Plus there is a ridge where the lid connects to the stainless steel body which collects water and is nearly impossible to drain. Placing the pot upside down to drip dry over night will still have a bit of water trapped. It is easy to wipe this water out, but it would be nice if the water could drain out and drip dry completely.
There is no carafe sensor. It is possible to brew without the carafe (yes, I have done it). The maker will brew and eventually overflow the filter basket causing a big mess. For the (regular) price of this maker, a switch for the carafe would be nice to prevent a huge mess. Yeah, I know this was my fault, but still would be nice.
While you CAN pour yourself a cup while brewing...the filter housing and carafe have a well made shut off valve and has not dripped/leaked...you should know that IT DOES NOT STOP BREWING. So if someone poured a cup mid-brew and forgot to put the carafe back, you may be cleaning your counter!
I have not used the iced coffee method, but there are lines on the water reservoir for doing so.
March 31, 2022
Three years in we have learned to live with and love this coffee maker. It is true that other makers made coffee hot enough that the carafe could keep it for longer. Our new normal became warming our creamer in the microwave for 20 seconds or so so that it doesn't cool off the coffee. We didn't have to do this with other makers, but we also replaced those other makers nearly annually! This one is still kicking 3 years in like it never skipped a beat.
A feature I learned to use when I am in a hurry is the fast brew. If you are pressed for time it will make the coffee in like 3/4 of the time it usually takes. Nice option. The timer works great although we seldom use it also. Overall I am very pleased. This pot was more expensive than the ones we usually buy but the fact it has lasted 3 years now easily makes it worth every penny.
I was pretty hard on this maker in my first review. Reading it again I stand behind every word, but once I overcame the primary challenge of cold creamer cooling down the coffee I have to say that I love this coffee maker. I can not pronounce its name, but I love it!
The following is our March 2019 review:
I want to like this coffee pot. In every way but one it is exactly what we are looking for, but that one drawback is crucial for a coffee lover. The coffee just isn't hot enough. We have used thermal carafe coffee makers exclusively for at least 15 years and each has had its own set of challenges. Most just don't keep the coffee hot enough, but they at least make hot coffee. I think this one just doesn't make coffee hot enough to start with. If you don't take cold creamer from the refrigerator then you might be okay.
We understand that the carafe has to be filled with hot water and emptied before brewing so the cool carafe is not cooling the coffee as it is made and we have done this with all of our thermal carafe coffee makers. Some coffee makers will make hot coffee but the carafe is poorly made and cools too quickly. It is a little hard to judge this carafe's ability to keep coffee hot since it seems the coffee might not be hot enough to begin with.
There are some cons to owning it, and I will get into that later, but for now I want to focus on the quality coffee this unit makes.
So, with two uncles who are chefs, I learned a long time ago that an oil slick on top of black coffee is not good. Apparently, the oil slick occurs when the water temperature is not well regulated. Indeed, this machine makes coffee with almost no oil slick at all -- even with inexpensive beans.
I do not grind my own coffee. I buy it ground on the spot or pre-packaged. I purchased five different varieties of coffee ranging from $6 to $23 per pound to use with this machine and all have been excellent when brewed with this masterful piece of equipment.
I drink black coffee. This is an expert machine for preparing black coffee. I am sure with cream or sugar it is just as exceptional.
The pros: The detachable water tank makes filling so easy. It is beautifully designed for filling and placement. The lid is rigid and goes on or off without any hassle and the tank is wide enough inside to clean easily.
There is a speed mode that makes the same quality coffee as the full length cycle. The manual refers to it as being noisier, which would be an issue maybe in a one room Japanese apartment, but is not loud enough to even consider here in a big house. The coffee finishes well on either setting.
The coffee this machine makes is just wonderful. Enough said.
Now to the cons: So, when I read the manual I learned that water for this machine needs to be less than 200ppm mineral -- meaning my local tap water is no good - I would end up with scale, clogs and a useless machine. So, I purchase distilled water for .99 a jug and that makes four pots of coffee (8 cup) approximately - I can live with that.
The permanent basket in the machine is very good, but it has a really fine mesh and it takes a bit of extra effort to fully clean it each day. I would not change this, but I make coffee at 5AM - and maybe it would be a bit more ideal if the machine came with a cleaning brush that would get particulate out of the filter quickly.
The stainless steel carafe is double walled, somewhat insulated, and will keep coffee hot for the typical amount of time most households would want. I would say it stays up to temperature for a bit more than an hour before it starts to cool. I like that there is no glass pot with a heating element, but if I were having a party and needed hot coffee over a longer period of time, this might prove a bit of a challenge. For me, ordering a second carafe will probably make it so I can have a fresh run all through the party.
Summary: I would recommend this coffee maker to anyone who enjoys good coffee. The most impressive thing about it is the ability to make lovely coffee out of cheap beans. I will probably never buy expensive coffee over ten dollars a bag again, as the difference in this maker between $10 and $23 coffee is negligible.
If you are using expensive beans today, this coffee maker will pay for itself by allowing you to enjoy more economical coffee over the course of its life.
Using distilled water with less than 2ppm mineral, I am confident this machine will last a minimum of five years with daily use. I am super thrilled with it.
To save you time on research, here's why we rank the Zoji Rushi Programmable coffee maker 5 STARS:
EASE OF USE:
This Coffee Maker is intuitive and easy to use and also comes with a manual. The reservoir is removable for easy filling, as is the coffee basket. PLUS it comes with a metal filter that you can remove if you prefer paper filters.
PRO-TIP - Filters: The manual warns not to use both metal filter and paper filter together. Simply choose one way or the other. This is because "double filtering" on any coffee pot will result in water not passing into the carafe, and thus grind/coffee overflow will happen. Easy to avoid: Don't double-down on your filters. :)
PRO-TIP - Water: Use filtered water, and do not EVER use your coffee pot to fill your reservoir. This is because you do not want oils from your cofee to get into your machine. That will decrease the life-span of the machine and will make your coffee taste bitter.
PROGRAMMABLE TIMER:
It is programmable up to 24 hours, so your coffee is ready before your clock alarm wakes you. I don't know about you, but Monday mornings are always a little bit easier if my coffee is ready as soon as I step out of bed. It beeps once when the coffee has finished brewing, so you'll hear it.
HOW LOUD? Like a microwave sounds when it's done.
INSULATED STAINLESS STEEL METAL CARAFE:
The ZOJI thermal pot has kept our coffee hot for (at least) 3 hours. We drank it all during that time, so we can't attest to a longer period.
HOW HOT? If you're a coffee connoisseur, you'll know that coffee shouldn't be McDonald's grade hot, as that can harm the actual taste of your beans (and lead to burns). The ZOJI Rushi kept it hot enough for "latte style" creamer amounts, without reducing the heat level that much. Still warm and delicious.
SMOOTH COFFEE THAT'S NOT BITTER:
Due to the precise heating of the ZOJI, and the use of filtered water, the coffee tastes so smooth and rich without a bitter aftertaste. It would taste even better, once we upgrade our grinder to a conical burr grinder. So, if you're a serious coffee lover, and you've found a burr grinder you love, please let me know in your comments!
MAKES ICED COFFEE:
Just tried it and it's rich, not at all bitter. Drinking mine black now. No sugar needed.
PRO-TIP - iced coffee brewing: If you make iced coffee in the metal carafe, DO NOT put the ice in the carafe before brewing. Wait until after brewing to add the ice. (They explain in the guide.) Stir. Then add more ice to your glass.
EASY TO CLEAN:
PRO-TIP - gentle cleaning. Use a dedicated soft-bristled bottle brush for your coffee pot interior, lid, and basket. This ensures that no other flavours are introduced to your pot. Use a minimal amount of soap.
When rinsing, do 1 rinse, dump out the water, then a 2nd rinse where you "swirl" the carafe as you pour out the water. This makes sure that no soap remains around the "lip" of the pot. Repeat this "2nd rinse" method until the pot shows no more soap bubbles.
DURABILITY:
We just got it this week, so time will tell. However, I can confirm that the parts look durable and if you follow the cleaning/care directions, I'm guessing they will last a while. I'll let you all know if/when this new ZOJIrushi coffee maker stops working.
Enjoy your brew and I hope this was helpful.
Update 2/23/18 Classic example of how to take a good customer support experience and make it bitter. I received a response within a couple days from customer support, as follows :
Thank you for contacting Zojirushi America.
I apologize that you are missing a part from your unit.
Zojirushi America Corp. warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original retail purchase. Commercial products have a six month warranty from the date of purchase. In both cases a valid copy of the purchase receipt is required.
Non-electric parts are not covered under the warranty.
However, a replacement gasket that holds the valve set in place will be issued to you as a one-time courtesy.
I checked the Warranty statement on their web site, and it does state that mechanical parts are not covered. So much for a one year warranty. The gasket is not available as a spare part, only the entire basket, for $9.40. Attached is a photo of the gasket - they actually sent two, bravo for that. It appears to cost about 1 cent. So why kill the entire flavor of the good support with the "one-time courtesy" crapola. This phrase is a favorite of many companies, and make a customer feel they've been done a huge favor for buying the product. Don't do that!
Thank You for reading.
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