The Krups FME4 12-Cup Coffee Machine makes a great cup of coffee. This sleek black and brushed stainless steel appliance is both easy to use and easy to program. It features a powerful 1,100-watt heating element, auto-on and auto-off settings, a cascading brew head, a dual-action water filter, a 1-3 cup flavor setting and a dishwasher-safe 12-cup glass carafe.

This unit measures 8-1/2 inches wide by 10-1/2 inches deep by 13-3/4 inches tall. An LED control panel is backlit with a blue light when the machine is on or during programming. The clock/timer allows you to set the brew cycle start time and is used to set the length of time the warming tray stays hot. Although the heating plate can keep coffee warm for 5 hours, for best coffee flavor a shorter interval is better. When not programmed, the machine will automatically turn off after 2 hours. A series of beeps alerts you when the brewing cycle is complete. You also have the option of deactivating this signal.

If you are in a hurry for that first cup of coffee, the brew cycle can be interrupted at any time with the pause and serve feature. The dripping stops when the carafe is removed and resumes once it is replaced. We also liked the 1 to 3 cup setting, which provides optimal flavor with smaller batches of coffee. This machine uses #4 cone shaped paper filters. The cascading brew head ensures full saturation of the ground coffee in the filter basket. The lightweight glass carafe has a no-drip spout, which pours easily and is dishwasher safe.

An optional water filtration "DuoFilter" acts to filter out chlorine in the water and provides an anti-scale action. The filter needs to be replaced every 2 to 4 months depending on the water hardness level. An electronic limescale detection indicator lets you know when descaling is necessary. The display will read "CALC "indicating the need to clean the machine by using a simple vinegar solution.

One nice feature for the vision impaired is a magnified water level indicator, which resembles a thermometer with easy-to-read numbers. Filling the water reservoir is easy, but air pockets can sometimes get in the tube making it difficult to gage the amount of water in the reservoir.

The Krups FME4 12-Cup Coffee Machine, when paired with flavorful ground coffee beans and the recommended water to coffee ratio, makes a great tasting cup of coffee. Its automatic programming is easy -- one touch of a button allows you to make coffee without using any of the programmable modes.


Pros: Programmable clock/timer, water filtration, brew pause, adjustable time for warming plate operation, auto shut-off
Cons: Air bubbles can get trapped inside the tube making it difficult to gauge the correct amount of water

Warranty
1 year, limited