Caraway has launched a new coffee maker designed to eliminate plastic components by using a stainless-steel water path and a glass carafe. the appliance, which can brew up to ten cups, was recently put to the test in a multi-week review to evaluate its perfomance and design.
The $700 espresso machine dilemma and the plastic standard
The coffee industry has long relied on plastic due to its low cost and functional performance. As the report notes, finding a machine without these materials is difficult; most plastic-free options are manual, such as French presses or Moka pots. Even in the high-end market, the review points out that one $700 espresso machine still utilized a plastic water reservoir.
This prevalence of plastic is not just a matter of convenience but a structural industry standard. According to Zhao, the material remans common even in premium machines because of its cost-effectiveness and performance capabilities. This creates a significant opening for brands like Caraway to challenge the status quo by applying their plastic-free cookware philosophy to the complex world of electric brewing.
A stainless-steel showerhead for ten-cup extractions
Caraway’s approach centers on a stainless-steel water path that directs water through a stainless-steel showerhead to ensure even extraction. According to the review, this design results in coffee that tastes "clean, balanced and full-bodied," performing on par with the best drip coffee makers previously tested. The machine is designed for high-volume utility, featuring a one-button interface and a reusable stainless-steel fine-mesh filter, though users can still opt for disposable paper filters.
The machine's capacity allows users to fill a glass tank with up to ten cups of water at a time. This makes it a viable contender for households that require large batches without the manual labor associated with pour-over methods.
Glass carafes versus the heftier stainless-steel alternatives
Design choices extend to the carafe, where the reviewer found that the glass model offered a cleaner pour than many stainless-steel versions. While stainless-steel carafes often feature heavier rims—sometimes made of plastic—the Caraway glass carafe uses a silicone gasket to secure the lid. This design choice aims to maintain temperature while providing a more elegant liquid stream when pouring into a mug.
Maintenance for the Caraway machine is designed to be striaghtforward. The carafe, lid, basket, and filter insert are all dishwasher safe, and the machine can be cleaned using a descaer or a DIY white-vinegar solution via a dedicated "clean" setting.
The 90-minute window for hot-plate heating
One point of contention in the coffee community involves the use of hot plates to keep coffee warm.. While some professionals argue that hot pllates can cause coffee to taste burnt compared to insulated stainless-steel carafes, the reviewer did not detect any off-flavors after letting the coffee sit for the full 90 minutes. However,the report leaves some questions regarding the long-term experience of the user.
It remains unverified whether the hot plate eventually compromises the coffee's flavor profile if left on for periods exceeding the 90-minute mark. Additionally, the review does not clarify how effectively the single "clean" setting handles heavy mineral buildup in the stainless-steel path compared to professional-grade descaling methods.
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