Braun BrewSense Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Braun BrewSense | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Drip Coffee Maker for Most People | Best Bang for Your Buck | Best Drip Coffee Machine on a Tight Budget | ||
Price | $100 List $99.95 at Amazon | $80 List $69.99 at Amazon | $70 List $69.99 at Amazon | $40 List $34.99 at Amazon | $25 List $24.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | This machine includes many great features capable of brewing large pots of middling coffee | Easy to use, programmable options give you the tools to brew your coffee to your liking | This inexpensive machine gives you a few key features without breaking the bank | An inexpensive brewer that makes decent coffee with programmable functions | While we think this machine gives a mediocre cup of coffee, it is convenient to use and affordable |
Rating Categories | Braun BrewSense | Ninja 12-Cup Progra... | Hamilton Beach 2-Way | Black+Decker 12-Cup... | Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mi... |
Brew Quality (35%) | |||||
User Friendliness (30%) | |||||
Ease of Cleaning (20%) | |||||
Consistency (15%) | |||||
Specs | Braun BrewSense | Ninja 12-Cup Progra... | Hamilton Beach 2-Way | Black+Decker 12-Cup... | Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mi... |
Average Brew Temperature | 197.0 °F | 202.5 °F | 191.9 °F | 192.2 °F | 194.1 °F |
Average Time to Brew 6 Cups of Coffee (minutes) | 8.57 | 8.48 | 7.9 | 7.88 | 8.09 |
Scheduled Brewing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Preinfusion | No | Yes, not adjustable | No | No | No |
Footprint Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.3" x 8.0" x 8.0" | 14.5" x 9.5" x 8.3" | 13.9" x 12.2" x 11.1" | 8.2" x 12.2" x 11.0" | 10.0" x 6.5" x 8.0" |
Cup Capacity | 1 - 12 cups | 1 - 12 cups | 1 - 12 cups | 2 - 12 cups | 1 - 5 cups |
Single Serve | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Filter Shape | Cone | Cone | Flat | Flat | Flat |
Power Draw | 1000 watts | 1100 watts | 950 watts | 975 watts | 650 watts |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Braun BrewSense has many great features, including automatic brewing, auto-off, and a one to four-cup option. We also appreciate how easy this brewer is to use. The design is straightforward and intuitive, with separate buttons for each function. This coffee maker is a decent option for those looking for programmability and auto-off. However, the brew quality was lacking, with uneven water distribution resulting in a less-tasty pot of joe.
Performance Comparison
Brew Quality
To score the brew quality, our team tested each coffee maker, assessing the water temperature, water distribution, and brew features. The BrewSense scored below average in this test with coffee that tasted somewhat watered down.
The average brewing temperature was 197.0°F, just within that optimal brewing range of 195°F to 205°F. After brewing, the grounds receded along the edges, with a large divot in the middle. This suggests the middle of the grounds was over-extracted, resulting from uneven water distribution. The water reservoir has a carbon filter, but we still found the BrewSense gave us a cup of coffee that left a lot to be desired.
User Friendliness
The BrewSense scored well in our user friendliness test with a simple and intuitive design. The brewer has many customizable features, including a 24-hour timer, auto-off, and a one to four-cup option. Our testers appreciated the auto-off feature with shutoff options that range from 15 minutes to five hours. We were also pleased to see the sneak-a-cup feature included in this design.
The BrewSense brews up to 12 cups into a non-insulated carafe that rests on a heating plate. The carafe design allows for larger pours without needing to angle the pot in an unnatural way, giving a satisfying pouring experience. However, we also found the machine makes a lot of odd clicking and popping sounds while brewing; not a dealbreaker, but we definitely found it a little off-putting. We also had a bit of trouble getting the brew basket to click into place. The water reservoir is also hard to get to — it's a bit small, and you have to come in from the sides to access it.
Ease of Cleaning
The BrewSense excelled in our cleaning test, impressing our testers with its simplicity. Cleaning was pretty straightforward as all the removable pieces are dishwasher safe. The carafe is large enough to fit a hand in and wipe the walls without trouble. We appreciate the clean button as it indicates when descaling is needed, so you don't have to keep track of this yourself.
This brewer lost a few points since touching the metallic parts of the machine left highly visible fingerprints. What's worse, those fingerprints didn't easily wipe off either, requiring a decent amount of effort to remove them.
Consistency
We tested five pots of coffee to determine the consistency of brew temperature and brew time. The Braun BrewSense performed just about average in this test. This machine brewed a bit faster with each pot, but still was below average on speed, averaging 8 minutes and 34 seconds. Brew temperature was inconsistent and varied a couple of degrees in either direction but averaged right within the optimal range — 195°F to 205°F — at 197°F.
Should You Buy the Braun BrewSense?
The Braun BrewSense is a good option for those who are interested in features like a 24-hour timer and auto-off. This brewer is easy to use and simple to clean. However, it produces just an average-tasting cup of coffee.
What Other Drip Coffee Makers Should You Consider?
For a more impressive machine, check out the Ninja 12-Cup. This machine is more affordable, has many of the same features, and brews an excellent cup of coffee.