The Zojirushi Fresh Brew Stainless-Steel Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker EC-BD15 is sleek and stylish with a black plastic housing and brushed stainless-steel components.

The first thing we noticed about this machine is how tall it is. It stands a full 16-7/8 inches tall with a 10-3/8x12-1/4 inch base. The machine's shiny finish, pushbutton control panel with electronic LCD display and sideways profiling give it a sophisticated appearance.

The Zojirushi Fresh Brew Coffee Maker is also loaded with specialty features. Its electronic clock/timer can be programmed to begin brewing at a specified time. The pause-to-serve feature temporarily stops the flow of coffee as you lift the carafe so you can pour some coffee into a cup, rather than waiting for the entire cycle to brew.

The unit also has a full-view front water-level indicator, which shows at a glance how much water is in the coffee maker's internal reservoir. The front-view water-level indicator is particularly handy for two-person households so each person can readily see whether the water has been added for the morning brew cycle.

We were extremely impressed with the unit's stainless-steel thermal carafe, which kept the coffee hot and fresh tasting for hours. We barely noticed a temperature change from the initial brew time through tasting up to five hours later, when the pot was emptied. The outside of the carafe stayed comfortably cool, while its contents retained nearly all the initial heat. The carafe has an adjustable lid, which can be tightened to close the pour spout during travel or opened for easy pouring.

The removable filter basket is also made from stainless steel and helps retain the heat and aroma as the coffee is brewing.

The Zojirushi Fresh Brew Coffee Maker uses #2 or #4 cone-shaped paper filters and recommends about 1 tablespoon of ground coffee per cup. The machine brews up to 10 cups of flavorful coffee in about 15 minutes. The temperature of the coffee -- 185 degrees Fahrenheit upon brewing -- dropped several degrees each hour. Keeping the carafe lid tightly closed helps retain heat.


Pros: 10-cup stainless-steel thermal carafe, programmable clock/timer
Cons: Extra tall design won't fit under low-hanging cabinets

Warranty
1 year, limited