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The History of Moccamaster
Find out how the moccamaster was created and how it reached its current popularity.
Published January 19, 2022
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Johan Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Most people will know about the Technivorm Moccamaster, and it’s likely everyone has seen one – in fact, if you grew up in certain parts of the world, chances are you even have one at home. And while many people believe that Technivorm, the company behind the Moccamaster, is relatively new to the market, it actually has a long-running history, and its owners have been steadily making their climb to the top for over half a century at this point. The Moccamaster comes in many different models with a naming scheme that may seem confusing to newcomers, but actually makes a lot of sense once you get the hang of it. But how did they get here in the first place?
What is the Moccamaster?
If you’ve never had coffee made in a Moccamaster, you’ve been missing out on a lot. The famous coffee machine line is known for its unique, easily identifiable taste, and traditional Dutch attention to detail in its engineering. It’s a complex device – more than the typical home coffee machine – but for good reason. Some people insist on only having Moccamaster coffee and nothing else, and once you’ve tried it, you’ll know why.
The Moccamaster coffee maker creates a perfect, consistent brew every time, with minimal effort required on the user’s part. It’s easy to clean and maintain, and it comes in several different models suitable for each user’s preferences. This is not your average coffee maker – the Moccamaster coffee machine will take your brews to the next level. Some coffee enthusiasts enjoy it for its predictability, as each cup is guaranteed to come out exactly the same, provided you’ve used the same beans. This can be a huge benefit when creating more complex recipes where coffee is just one of the ingredients.
How It All Started
Not many people know this nowadays, but Technivorm wasn’t always a coffee maker company. Their original direction was quite different, manufacturing step ladders and shelving systems, according to the official history on Technivorm’s website. It wasn’t until 1965 that the company started eyeing the coffee maker market, and several years later, in 1969, the Moccamaster 68 arrived on the market. The machine was special, as Gerard Clement Smit, Technivorm’s founder, had taken it as a personal challenge to create the perfect coffee maker, especially in terms of engineering and craftsmanship.
The first model was a huge success, partly due to partnering with famous coffee brand Douwe Egberts, who took up the product’s distribution. Sales shot way past initial estimates, selling the first batch of 150,000 machines in just one year, as opposed to the six that Douwe Egberts had originally anticipated. In a couple of years, the brand started to expand internationally, gaining more popularity outside of the Netherlands.
1976 was a special year in the company’s history, and an important year for many avid coffee enthusiasts. It marks the release of the Moccamaster KB 741, one of the most famous models the company has ever released. The KB 741 is still produced to this day and remains the favorite of some coffee lovers. Some might argue that it’s not the best model the company has to offer right now, with some preferring the KBT and CDT, but if you have a chance, it’s worth checking them all out. This comes down to personal preference for the most part, and there are enough differences between the various models that it’s hard to say which one a person might like best.
What Makes the Moccamaster so Good?
There are several aspects of the Moccamaster’s design that allow it to produce such a fine, consistent brew each time. Those require expensive parts and fine craftsmanship, which is why your average Moccamaster costs so much more than standard coffee makers. For one thing, the machine doesn’t just blast your coffee with water – it gently sprays the grounds, allowing for much better extraction, and resulting in a richer flavor.
It also controls the brewing temperature through the entire process, instead of just setting it to predefined levels at several steps like most other coffee machines do. This scales with any brewing time settings, making the Moccamaster coffee machine the most consistent device on the market for those who want to experiment with different flavors.
Last but not least, the company is known for its extensive warranty policy. Technivorm clearly prides itself on the design quality of its products, and this shows in the company’s attitude to customer support and long-term service. As long as you pay attention to all necessary maintenance steps, don’t attempt to make any repairs yourself, and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on every aspect of using the machine, it can last for several decades. Some people are still using their old Moccamasters from many years ago, and it’s not hard to get there with yours if you’re just a little bit careful.
Choosing the Right Moccamaster
If you’ve decided to buy a Moccamaster, you’ll quickly find that it comes in many different models, and the naming scheme can make it a bit difficult to know what exactly you’re buying at a glance, without reading into the specs in detail. Don’t worry though – once you know what those letters stand for, it actually makes a lot of sense!
Basically, the abbreviation in each Moccamaster model name indicates the presence of certain features, or which option was chosen when there are alternatives available. For example, any model with a T in the name will have a thermal carafe, as opposed to a regular glass one. G models have an automatic drip stop system.
KB means that the body has a rectangular form, while CD means cylindrical. V indicates that the model has a volume control feature. There are other letters, but those are the most important ones you should remember first. Keep in mind that there are some regional differences between models, and certain letters might not be available in your country. For example, European models used to be the only ones with the cylindrical option, though the company seems to be changing its approach in recent years, making a wider range of products available to more countries.
Can You Substitute a Moccamaster Brew?
Some people seem convinced that the Moccamaster is nothing but a fancy drip coffee maker, but it goes far beyond that. There are lots of intricate details in the design of every Moccamaster model, and there is no viable substitute for the coffee it produces. You can get close with a manual brew if you pay attention to every individual detail of the process and use an adjustable hotplate. But part of the beauty of the Moccamaster coffee machine is that it makes it so easy to do this with just the push of a button.
If you want to try a good Moccamaster brew but don’t want to invest into one of their more expensive models, you should start at the lower range of their pricing spectrum. There are many different versions of the Moccamaster on the market, and you don’t necessarily have to start with the best ones straight away.
Even the cheapest Moccamaster will likely still be a significant step up from the coffee you normally make at home, and it will open your eyes to a whole new world of possibilities. From then, you can start researching what the different models of the Moccamaster bring to the table exactly and narrow down your search to those that fit your criteria. Take your time with this – it can take a while to figure out what Moccamaster will work best for you.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Moccamaster
Technivorm provides detailed guidelines on taking care of your Moccamaster. The specific maintenance requirements of each model are quite individual, and you should familiarize yourself with the instructions as best as possible before starting to use your newly bought Moccamaster. In most cases though, it takes very little effort to keep the machine in check in the long run, other than the obvious cleaning requirements. You might have to descale it from time to time, depending on the water you’re using, but that should be the most difficult part. The Moccamaster is a thing of engineering beauty, and one of the great things about it is that it does all the hard work for you – including when it comes to maintenance.
If you’re still not convinced, ask around your friends and family – someone is bound to have a Moccamaster. Check it out and see if it works for you. Some people don’t enjoy the taste outright but grow to appreciate it over time. But if you’re like most of us, you’ll probably fall in love with your very first cup of coffee brewed in a Technivorm Moccamaster coffee maker. And it only gets better from there – there are tons of possibilities for mixing that perfect brew with other ingredients once you know you can rely on its consistency.
About the author
Johan Hedlund
I´m living in Karlstad, Sweden with my family. Been working the last 25 years with several start ups in the tech industry. Coffee has been an integral part, both professionally and privately. Eager to learn new things and happy to be a member of the era of we community.
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