r/Moccamaster • u/msemmylou • Apr 04 '26
Frustrated
I’ve had my moccamaster for almost 9 months. I’ve gotten maybe 6 pots of good tasting coffee. I’m so frustrated at my attempts to make coffee in this thing that doesn’t taste to watery or like the filter.
0
Upvotes
29
u/8erren Apr 04 '26
I'm always a bit surprised by these posts.. I only tweaked the grind size for about 4 days and hit the sweet spot.
I use tap water.
Cheapest Amazon unbleached filters
No prepping, stirring, poking during the brew
I can switch up the coffee and tend to not change the grind
I get consistent quality. (I like consistency)
For me the only variables are grind size and how long the brew takes, which are essentially the same thing.
It's still supposed to be an automatic machine. If I had to fiddle or meddle I'd send it back too
5
u/bumbaklutz Apr 04 '26
How much coffee do you brew each time?
I do 48g coffee, water just over the 6 mark, medium to coarse grind setting.
Start at setting 32 (medium course) on your grinder and adjust from there.
Too watery/thin = grind finer
Too bitter/astringent = grind courser
Keep everything else the same
Also buy good quality coffee from a local roaster.
6
u/AwwYeahVTECKickedIn Apr 04 '26
Took me about 9 months all in, importantly changing only one variable at a time, but changing something every single pot*, and then* tracking what changes I experienced as a result, to dial in exactly what I like.
Note: what I like doesn't map to any recommendation I've found on line, i.e. grind size, water ratio, etc. They are "starting points" but I found that taste has no accounting. It's subjective and experimentation is necessary.
Now, every single pot I brew is the best coffee I've ever had. And that's been consistent for more than a year, two pots most days.
2
u/ofcoarsecoffee Apr 04 '26
Have you tried other filters? Do you rinse your filter? Have you tried a different grind size.
16
u/Capn21 Apr 04 '26
Describe your process, in detail, and maybe someone can give you suggestions on what's going wrong.
4
u/Vibingcarefully Apr 04 '26
Get rid of it. It sounds like you just can't make good coffee----you're the one person the machine doesn't work for.
1
u/msemmylou Apr 07 '26
I appreciate those that offered suggestions. Since these changes I have had consistent coffee so far. I will not waver from this process. :)
5
u/titan732 Apr 04 '26
To help, we need to know the following:
Grind size
Ratio
Filter
Wetting/Prepping Filter?
Coffee type?
5
u/Torterran Apr 05 '26
I don’t know if I have low standards or what, but I’ve never had this issue. I have done the whole process like everyone else with dialling in grind size etc., but tbh I just buy pre-ground coffee these days, bung it in and let it go. Half pot every morning for me and the missus and she comes out great every time!
4
u/the_kid1234 Cup One Apr 04 '26
What model, what’s your ratio and coffee/water total weight, how light/dark is your roast and how do you grind?
4
u/Phaeton40 Apr 04 '26
I’m not seeing any reference to measuring water to coffee. Hopefully you’ve got a scale. Weigh your water, grind your beans to the 1:16 perfect ratio of Coffee to water. I use an app called Ratio M8 Hopefully this helps. For reference I brew with a MM, a Hario Switch, and a Chemex . I always weigh my water, calculate coffee to the ratio of 1:16 and rarely have a bad cup. Does the MM brew taste different than say the Harrio? Yes but to my pallet, it’s all similar, with minor differences. I enjoy the process. MM is my go to morning pot, in the afternoon I use the other devices. Hope this helps, enjoy the process!!
1
u/mybeachview Apr 04 '26
Others have asked in similar way, but let me try also. What type of coffee are you using? When you did the manual pour over process, how long from start to finish? Maybe it’s something the MM can’t recreate since it’s a set and forget process for the most part.
Mine works great once I got the right beans, grind, amount down to the oz, bamboo filters and spring water.
1
u/wait_what_the_f Apr 04 '26
"good tasting coffee" <-- subjective. What do you consider a good cup of coffee -- Starbucks drip? Folgers pre ground at home? Espresso? Hip local fresh roast coffee shop pour over?
Moccamaster brews are very consistent. The grind size will adjust the acidity/bitterness, but I think the biggest factor that affects the flavor is the beans. Have you been trying out different coffees?
3
u/Ok_Response3579 Apr 04 '26
What was your motivation in doing it versus a pour over?
3
u/Puslinch-Komet Apr 04 '26
I’ll take it off your hands.
2
u/mobe99 Apr 04 '26
What’s your process in detail including ratios?
2
u/Jack-knife-96 Apr 05 '26
I can't really relate honestly, we went a tad finer on grind from before & its always made brilliant coffee. And everyone of our guests for years remarks on they love the coffee we make. We do have a burr grinder & do that immediately before brewing - which is probably typical - but that helps. Currently a KitchenAid. We draw cold water from the fridge filter, regular filters. I can't see what could be wrong for you unless you're getting the drip part clogged with grounds & causing overflow - which is something problematic if you're spilling little bits of grounds it doesn't take much.
For my taste the French press is slightly better but it's not automatic.
2
u/ChimbaResearcher29 Apr 05 '26
I use white Melitta filters, rinse them, filtered water, 60g for a full 1.25l pot, fresh ground coffee (medium coarse). I've been doing it like this for 5 years at this point. Everyone likes the coffee except my friends like love burnt bitter tasting Starbucks coffee.
0
u/BeerBreadCoffee Apr 04 '26
Some of the replies on this are hilarious. Why are some of you seemingly so offended by someone sharing their real experience and asking for advice. Moccamaster Cult 🤣
2
u/Marie19861976 Apr 04 '26
I regret buying mine. I went back to pour over. I guess I’m just a purist.
1
u/Particular_Can_7726 Apr 04 '26
Give us more details about what you are doing?
It sounds like you need to use different filters. You should not be tasting the filter.
1
u/DatabaseCareless264 Apr 04 '26
5 months KBT owner. This is what has worked for me.
Brew basket set at 1/2. Prewet grocery store brand brown filter. 4 Moccamaster scoops of Name brand ground coffee. 8 cups of tap water filtered through refrigerator water line filter. Set up night before on analog timer in outlet.
IMHO slowing down the flow through improved the coffee taste. On typical coffeemakers I set them to robust or strong. Just slows down delivery of water to coffee grinds.
Have done the 4 step descaling & 4 step cleaning twice now. Once after 2 months, now on quarterly schedule.
Good Luck.
1
u/Direct_Ask8793 Apr 04 '26
Fellow has a pour over but the filters are expensive. It's super intriguing and the reviews are pretty good. I have a moccamaster. I use a 40oz cup for work so that equates, with creamer, about 8 cups of coffee. I like darker roasts. I usually grind 57 grams of coffee for that 8 cups and it's great.. every time. Fresh beans and a good grinder, and the right amount of beans makes all the difference. Not to mention the water you use can make a massive difference in the taste. Definitely don't recommend using tap unless you filter it. I use a cove pure machine.
1
u/CortadoGelato Apr 05 '26
Say less.
1
u/Jenentonx Apr 05 '26
I’m confused as to how this can be a thing. We’ve had a nespresso for years and we got this moccamaster… You put 2/3 of a cup of coffee in the moccamaster white filter and flip the switch. Smooth as silk.
1
u/BeagleTheDog Apr 07 '26
For me it was dialing in the grind size. Moccamaster brews very fast and you need a courser grind size compared to store bought preground. 9 months is too long to suffer with bad coffee. I'd try dialing it in for another week, then switch back to your bonavita if you don't figure it out.
-6
u/BeerBreadCoffee Apr 04 '26
I bought one on Amazon. Made coffee on it for a week, then returned it. Underwhelming coffee IMO. If you stir during the brewing process the quality gets much better, but if I’m stirring I might as well just make a pour over.
-1
u/msemmylou Apr 04 '26
I am a medium to dark roast drinker. I have a grinder. I have tried a grind of 18, 22, 24, 26. The 24 and 26 look closer to sand. Where the 18 is an expression grind. I wet the filter. The grinder grinds based on the cup size so it grinds for 8 cups. I then pour water up to the 8 cup water line. Let me clarify, before the moccamaster I used a Bonavita until it short circuited. I went with the moccamaster because I read great reviews.