Braun BrewSense Review: Is It Worth It?
Welcome to another drip coffee makers review from my shop, I'm Sam. My Midwood shop has served coffee for 12 years, and I judge coffee makers by my own shop.
The Braun BrewSense is a 12-cup programmable drip coffee maker with a glass carafe, a hot plate and a 24-hour timer. Braun sells the KF7150 for about $100 to $130, and the model suits households that brew large pots.
The machine reaches about 197 F (92 C) at the basket and brews a full pot in 7 to 14 minutes. Testers disagree on the cup, since CNET praised the taste and TechGearLab found uneven wetting. The parts clean in the dishwasher, and the brew cycle runs quietly.
The water tank is fixed, and the glass carafe sits on a hot plate. The body is mostly plastic. The verdict weighs these limits against the low price, the quiet brew cycle and the easy cleaning. My coffee shop years and my research support this review, with no sponsor.
What Is the Braun BrewSense Coffee Maker?
The Braun BrewSense coffee maker is a 12-cup programmable drip brewer with a glass carafe and a 24-hour timer. The hot plate keeps pots warm. Braun sells it to buyers who want large pots at about $100.
The pot size comes from the cup measure. Each cup is 5 oz (148 ml), so a full pot holds 60 oz (1.8 L). Consumer Reports measured the capacity of the KF7000BK at 61 oz (1.8 L).
A large pot does not need a large machine. The body stands 14.2 inches (36 cm) tall, 7.9 inches (20 cm) wide and 7.9 inches (20 cm) deep. The narrow footprint fits under tall cabinets, and the machine weighs 7.1 lb (3.2 kg).
The housing is mostly lightweight black plastic with a thin stainless steel skin over about three quarters of the chassis. Braun sells three stainless designs and an all-black version.
The Braun name on the machine does not mean Braun runs this business. De'Longhi runs the Braun household business under a perpetual license from Procter & Gamble, which still owns the Braun brand. De'Longhi took operating control of that business in January 2013. Coffee machines fall under the license.
Which Braun BrewSense Models Exist?
Three Braun BrewSense models exist as 12-cup programmable drip makers: the KF7150BK, the KF7170SI and the KF7000BK. The KF7150BK pairs black plastic with a stainless skin, and the KF7170SI is the silver version.
Retailers vary the finish and the name of these machines. For that reason, the model code on the box is the surest way to identify which one is being sold. The table below lists each code with its finish.
The KF7150BK first went on sale on May 31, 2016. It runs on 110 volts (V) and comes from China.
Video reviews also show a BrewSense KF7370 with a touch screen. The other models use a button panel with a small LCD clock, so the touch screen sets the KF7370 apart.
Lab results in this review come from tests of the KF7150 and KF7000 models. The KF7150BK was tested by CNET, and the KF7000BK was tested by Consumer Reports.
Model codes:
| Model | Finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| KF7150BK | Black with stainless skin | Tested by CNET |
| KF7170SI | Silver | Support page lists the silver version |
| KF7000BK | Black | Tested by Consumer Reports |
| KF7370 | Stainless with touch screen | Shown in video reviews |
How Does the Braun BrewSense Brew Coffee?
The Braun BrewSense brews coffee by heating water and dripping it over grounds in a cone-shaped filter basket. The carafe sits on the keep warm plate and fills as the water drips through.
The water starts in the reservoir, where a charcoal water filter sits. Business Insider reports that the filter removes chlorine and other deposits from the water before brewing.
A new charcoal water filter soaks in cold tap water for at least 15 minutes before it goes in. Braun recommends a new one every 2 months, and more often with hard tap water.
The cleaned water drips over ground coffee in the basket. Braun suggests 1 tablespoon or 1 scoop of ground coffee per cup. The basket takes a maximum of 15 scoops.
The grounds sit in a filter, and the basket holds one of two kinds. One is the bundled gold-tone permanent filter, which is reusable. The other is a #4 paper filter, which is thrown away after each pot.
Coffee drips into the carafe the whole time the machine runs. An anti-drip system lets the owner pull the carafe mid-brew. Business Insider poured a cup early without spills.
What Features Does the Braun BrewSense Have?
The features the Braun BrewSense does have include a 24-hour timer, auto off, a strength selector and a three-level hot plate. A 1 to 4 cup mode and a clean light round out the list.
The timer starts a brew at a set time. A user can set it up to 24 hours ahead, so coffee is ready at a chosen hour.
Once the pot is brewed, the hot plate keeps it warm. It has low, medium and high settings. Auto off shuts the plate down after 15 minutes to 5 hours, and the default is 2 hours.
The strength button changes the taste of the coffee. It switches between standard and bold. Business Insider found the bold pot notably more robust than the standard pot.
The small-batch mode suits smaller needs. It brews 1 to 4 cups, so a user does not have to make a full pot.
The machine also has a clean light for descaling.
Key features:
- 24-hour programmable timer
- Auto off from 15 minutes to 5 hours
- Regular and bold strength
- 1 to 4 cup small-batch mode
- Low, medium and high keep warm plate
- Clean light for descaling
How Do You Program the Braun BrewSense?
The Braun BrewSense programs through the CLOCK, AUTO ON and AUTO OFF buttons, each held for 3 seconds. The LED panel flashes 2:00 AM when the machine first gets power.
To set the clock, hold CLOCK for 3 seconds. Then hold SET to scroll to the hour. Press CLOCK again and set the minutes the same way. Press CLOCK to save. The PM light shows after 12.
To set auto on, hold AUTO ON for 3 seconds and pick the time with SET. Press AUTO ON to save, then press it once more to arm the timer. A green light confirms it. The machine must be switched on first.
Auto off moves in 5 minute steps. The range runs from 15 minutes to 5 hours.
A 60-second power loss back-up keeps the clock and timers after a tripped breaker or an unplug.
Steps to arm the timer:
- Switch the coffee maker on.
- Set the clock with CLOCK and SET.
- Hold AUTO ON for 3 seconds and pick the time with SET.
- Press AUTO ON to save the time.
- Press AUTO ON again to arm the timer and light the green LED.
How Well Does the Braun BrewSense Perform?
The Braun BrewSense can perform well as a budget brewer, though testers disagree about the cup. Scores run from 56 overall at one site to 7.6 at another.
TechGearLab gave the machine the lower score of 56 overall. Brew quality earned 4.5, and consistency earned 5.1. The machine did better on use and cleanup, with 6.1 for user friendliness and 7.2 for ease of cleaning.
CNET reached a very different view. It scored the KF7150 at 7.6 and said the cup matches gourmet machines that cost three times as much. Business Insider ranked it first among 12 budget makers.
Noise also differs by tester. Business Insider calls the brew cycle nearly silent, while TechGearLab heard odd clicking and popping sounds.
Tester results:
| Tester | Result |
|---|---|
| TechGearLab | 56 overall, brew quality 4.5 |
| CNET | 7.6, excellent temperature control |
| Business Insider | Best of 12 budget makers |
| Consumer Reports | Temperature fell short of guideline |
What Temperature Does the Braun BrewSense Reach?
The Braun BrewSense reaches a brewing temperature of about 197 F (92 C) at the basket in lab tests. That sits inside the 195 to 205 F (91 to 96 C) range for good drip coffee.
TechGearLab measured this over five pots and averaged 197.0 F (91.7 C). The temperature moved a couple of degrees either way from pot to pot. The average shows the typical result and not a fixed number.
CNET found nearly the same figure, 197.6 F (92 C) at the basket, within 64 to 65 seconds. Temperatures hovered near that mark for the 7 minute brew. They never passed 201 F (93.3 C), so the machine stayed under the top of the good range.
Consumer Reports looked at the KF7000BK. The guideline is 195 F (91 C) or more, held for five or six minutes. Consumer Reports found the KF7000BK fell short of its guideline.
How Long Does the Braun BrewSense Take to Brew?
The Braun BrewSense takes about 7 to 14 minutes to brew a full pot, depending on the test. The three tests used different pot sizes and methods, so the times do not match.
CNET timed a 7 minute brew for 40 oz (1.2 L) of water.
TechGearLab timed an average of 8 minutes 34 seconds across five pots. Each pot brewed a little faster than the one before. The average still stayed below par.
Business Insider timed a standard pot at about 14 minutes. It called this the longest brew time in its group.
Brew times:
| Tester | Brew time |
|---|---|
| CNET | About 7 minutes |
| TechGearLab | 8 minutes 34 seconds |
| Business Insider | About 14 minutes |
Does the Braun BrewSense Make Good Coffee?
Yes. The Braun BrewSense makes good coffee for a budget machine, though testers disagree on how good.
CNET called the cup rich and pleasantly sweet, with no bitterness. Its refractometer read 1.5 percent total dissolved solids (TDS). Extraction reached 23 percent, just above the 18 to 22 percent target. The test used 65 g (2.3 oz) of coffee to 40 oz (1.2 L) of water.
TechGearLab found uneven wetting. The grounds receded at the edges and left a large divot in the middle. The coffee tasted somewhat watered down.
Business Insider found the bold setting clearly stronger. Every pot tasted smooth across repeated tests.
The Specialty Coffee Association sets a TDS target of 1.15 to 1.35 percent for brewed drip coffee. CNET's 1.5 percent reading sits above that target, so the pot ran stronger than the standard.
How Easy Is the Braun BrewSense to Use and Clean?
The Braun BrewSense is easy to use and clean, with labeled buttons and dishwasher-safe parts. TechGearLab rated the design simple and intuitive.
Each function has its own labeled button, and a separate power button sits apart from them. CNET counts nine buttons on the panel under a small LCD clock.
TechGearLab scored ease of cleaning at 7.2. The carafe opening is wide enough to fit a hand for wiping the walls.
The glass carafe pours smoothly in TechGearLab's test. CNET saw liquid spill and drip along the side when the carafe tilted at a sharp angle.
How Do You Clean and Descale the Braun BrewSense?
The Braun BrewSense cleans in the dishwasher and descales with a built-in program of up to 45 minutes. The CLEAN light turns solid green when descaling is due.
The filter basket, gold-tone filter, carafe and lid go on the dishwasher upper rack or wash in warm soapy water. Scouring agents are off limits. The base never goes in water.
The charcoal filter holder and the gold-tone filter come out first. The descaler goes into the machine, and the empty carafe sits on the plate. CLEAN then BREW starts the program. Once started, the program cannot be stopped.
Two full 12-cup brews of fresh water then flush the machine. Braun recommends its own Descaling Solution. Any descaler must be safe for aluminum.
What Are the Braun BrewSense Drawbacks?
The Braun BrewSense has drawbacks in its fixed water tank, its glass carafe and its fingerprint-prone finish.
The water tank does not come out. CNET calls the opening a small target, and TechGearLab found the tank hard to reach from the sides. The carafe doubles as the fill jug.
The glass carafe is not insulated or airtight, and the hot plate keeps heating it. CNET says coffee left sitting for hours loses its subtle flavor.
The machine can attempt to brew with the carafe out of place. TechGearLab had trouble clicking the basket in, and the metal finish shows fingerprints that resist wiping.
Main drawbacks:
- Fixed water tank
- Small fill opening
- Glass carafe on a hot plate
- Clicking and popping noises
- Fingerprints on the metal finish
Is the Braun BrewSense Built to Last?
No. The Braun BrewSense is not built to last like a premium brewer, since the body is mostly lightweight plastic.
CNET notes that the stainless steel is only a thin skin over plastic. The machine does not feel as sturdy as luxury models.
That weak build shows up in owner reports. Daniel Norris reports leaks near the reservoir, cracked carafe handles and failing hot plates after some use. These reports come without lab data.
Broader reliability data would help check those reports. Consumer Reports rates predicted reliability for drip coffee maker brands from a survey of 27,742 purchases. Braun's score sits behind a membership.
A warranty is the other protection against early failure, but its length is unclear. Braun's site says warranties vary by product and gives no term for the KF7150. Retailer listings state 2 years at one seller and 3 years at another, so the warranty card in the box settles it.
How Does the Braun BrewSense Compare With Rivals?
The Braun BrewSense compares well with rivals on price and features. Testers name the Ninja 12-Cup, the KitchenAid 12-Cup and the Moccamaster as alternatives.
TechGearLab calls the Ninja 12-Cup more affordable. The Ninja has many of the same features and brews an excellent cup.
Business Insider points to the KitchenAid 12-Cup at about $100. A spiral showerhead wets the grounds evenly, and the parts come off for the dishwasher.
CNET set the BrewSense beside the Bonavita BV01002US at $140 and found a similar cup. Consumer Reports lists Amazon Basics 12-cup makers at $24 and $35.
Rival prices:
| Machine | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Braun BrewSense KF7150 | $100 | CNET |
| Bonavita BV01002US | $140 | CNET |
| Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741 | $299 | CNET |
| Amazon Basics 12-cup | $24 to $35 | Consumer Reports |
How Does the Braun BrewSense Stack Up Against the Moccamaster?
The Braun BrewSense stacks up against the Moccamaster as a cheaper and less sturdy brewer.
The Technivorm Moccamaster is hand-built in the Netherlands with an aluminum housing and a metal brew basket. The BrewSense body is mostly plastic. The Moccamaster also carries a 5-year warranty, and sellers state that it covers parts and labor for household use.
Brewing performance differs too. Daniel Norris says the Moccamaster brews at 196 to 205 F (91 to 96 C). It finishes a full carafe in 4 to 6 minutes. In TechGearLab's tests, the BrewSense averaged 197 F (92 C) and took 8 minutes 34 seconds. Its temperature falls inside the Moccamaster's range, but it brews more slowly.
Price is where the BrewSense gains ground. CNET priced the Moccamaster KBT 741 at $299 and the BrewSense at $100. The BrewSense costs about a third as much. A buyer who accepts a plastic body and a slower brew pays far less.
How Much Does the Braun BrewSense Cost?
The Braun BrewSense costs about $100 to $130, depending on the finish and the seller.
TechGearLab lists $130 in its December 2022 review. Business Insider shows $99.95, marked down from $129.95, which is 23 percent off.
Consumer Reports lists the KF7000BK from $119.95. CNET called the KF7150 the $100 BrewSense at its review.
Finish changes the price. Business Insider notes that the stainless steel versions cost more than the all-black version.
Reported prices:
| Source | Price |
|---|---|
| Business Insider | $99.95 |
| Consumer Reports | From $119.95 |
| TechGearLab | $130 list |
Is the Braun BrewSense Worth the Price?
Yes. The Braun BrewSense is worth the price at about $100 for a quiet programmable 12-cup brewer.
CNET says few automatic makers brew a pot this tasty at this price. Business Insider named it the best budget coffee maker of the 12 it tested.
The price buys five features:
- Timer: The brewer is programmable, so it can be set to brew at a chosen time.
- Auto off: The brewer shuts itself off.
- Bold setting: The brewer offers a bold setting.
- Small-batch mode: The brewer has a mode for small batches.
- Quiet brew cycle: The brewer runs quietly while it brews.
TechGearLab scored it 56 overall and pointed to the Ninja 12-Cup, which costs less.
Is the Braun BrewSense Worth It?
Yes. The Braun BrewSense is worth it as a quiet and simple 12-cup brewer near $100.
The machine brews quietly, offers a bold setting and a 1 to 4 cup mode, and cleans in the dishwasher. The timer and clean light add convenience.
The water tank is fixed, the carafe is glass, and TechGearLab found uneven wetting. Brew times run from 7 to 14 minutes across the tests.
Buyers who want a timer and easy cleaning at a low price get what they need. Buyers who rank taste first should look at the Moccamaster or the Ninja.
Pros:
- Quiet brew cycle
- Bold setting
- 1 to 4 cup mode
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Compact 14 inch height
Cons:
- Fixed water tank
- Glass carafe on a hot plate
- Uneven wetting in one lab test
- Mostly plastic body
Who Should Skip the Braun BrewSense?
Thermal carafe fans, taste-first buyers and speed-first buyers should skip the Braun BrewSense.
Each of the three groups has its own reason to skip it:
- Thermal carafe fans: CNET says fans of thermal carafes will not like the glass pot and hot plate. Coffee left on the plate for hours loses flavor.
- Taste-first buyers: Daniel Norris and TechGearLab point these buyers to the Moccamaster or the Ninja 12-Cup. TechGearLab's uneven wetting finding backs that advice.
- Speed-first buyers: Business Insider timed a standard pot at about 14 minutes, the longest in its group. A pot that slow is a poor fit for rushed mornings.
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