Grindmaster GPOD PrecisionBrew

Introduction

Design Overview

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In comparison to other brewers, the {{product.name}}'s design appears to be flimsy, but takes up less space.

Brewing Chamber

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The brewing chamber is located at the top of the {{product.name}} and users need to pull down the "open" tab and lift up the chamber lid to open it up. The chamber uses a T-Disc tray that accepts all types of discs.

Controls

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There are three buttons on the {{product.name}}, all at the bottom of the front: the on/off button, brew button, and coffee strength selector. Though you can choose between mild, medium, strong, and tea options, our performance results indicate there isn't much of a difference between mild and strong.

On that same console, there are LED back lights that help indicate when the water reservoir needs to be refilled and when it's ready for brewing.

Reservoir

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A 1.1 liter reservoir (about eight cups) means you're going to be refilling the {{product.name}} more often than you'd like.

In the Box

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All that came with the {{product.name}} in the box was an extra T-Disc tray and a stand to be placed in the dispensing area for smaller cups. Unlike most other pod brewers, it came with no pods so we had to use Senseo T-Discs in our testing.

Brewing

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Using a refractometer to calculate the total dissolved solids (TDS) of each cup, we determine how strong of a brew you're going to get from the {{product.name}}. There are two brewing trials for the strongest and weakest settings on the device.

Since the brewer didn't come with any of its own pods, we used extra Senseo T-Discs in our lab. It didn't matter if we used a strong roast on the {{product.name}}'s "strong" setting: the coffee was still very weak.. The first test (a cup of mild coffee) calculated 0.53% TDS, which is a poor figure. Our second test with Senseo's dark roast didn't come up with much better results, though, with 0.63% TDS. These numbers are among the worst we've come across in our pod coffee brewer testing. More on how we test the brewing process.

Time to Brew

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One of the {{product.name}}'s best traits is how quickly it can brew coffee. It took only 38 seconds to brew a cup, which is one of our quicker times for an eight ounce cup.

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Quantity

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There are three strength settings on the {{product.name}} - mild, medium, and strong - but only one cup size (eight ounces). Tea can also be brewed in a 4 1/2 cup.

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Brewing Process

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The {{product.name}} doesn't require a whole lot of intuition on the user's part and coffee can be brewed in a few, short steps.

Step 1

To begin the brewing process, be sure that the water reservoir is filled to maximum capacity. The brew button will be flashing red until it's full, then it will turn green. You then need to open its brewing chamber by hitting the "open" button and lifting the chamber lid.

Step 2

Place the pod inside the T-Disc tray and close the brewing chamber.

Step 3

You then decide how strong you want you coffee - mild, medium, or strong - by turning the dial on the right side.

Step 4

Next, once it's flashing green, hit the brew button in the middle.

Step 5

The machine should start brewing your cup and take less than 40 seconds to finish.

Cleaning & Maintenance

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Since there aren't many features on the {{product.name}}, it won't take long to wash at all. The T-Disc tray is dishwasher safe or you can hand-wash it.

Other Features

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There is an automatic shut-off button after 36 hours of inactivity.

Comparison Overview

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Don't expect strong coffee from either brewer. The {{product.name}} had a TDS high of 0.63% and Mr. Coffee topped out at 0.70%. Mr. Coffee, however, took almost twice as much time to brew at more than two minutes. The PrecisionBrew also has the edge in usability because it allows you to choose brew strength. Both brewers have major flaws, but if you're concerned with just getting a cheap brewer, Mr. Coffee ($79.95 MSRP) is the better deal because it costs almost half of {{product.name}}'s $150 price tag.

Comparison Overview

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While the {{product.name}} is in the same price range as the Dolce Gusto Melody II ($130 MSRP), the Melody II trounced it in our TDS test with a 1.08%. The Melody II doesn't have user controls to adjust cup size, strength, or temperature, but this capability doesn’t mean much if it tops out at 0.63% TDS. The Melody II would fit best for those seeking a fairly strong brew at an affordable price.

Comparison Overview

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The SunCafe Single Serve Brewer ($129 MSRP) barely edged the {{product.name}} in TDS scores - 0.69% to 0.63% - but neither are going to brew you a great cup. The {{product.name}} lets you pick cup strength while the SunCafe allows you to chose size (5-12 ounces). For customers looking at the bottom line, the SunCafe is $20 cheaper while offering many of the same benefits and is likely a better option.

Conclusion

The {{product.name}} doesn't have a whole lot to offer customers in terms of coffee quality or aesthetics. Those who are looking at a range of brewers will consider it a bargain-basement machine with a $150 price tag. However, there are other brewers out there that cost less money and provide stronger TDS performance, better builds, and more user controls. Among the only advantages to owning a {{product.name}} should be picking between mild, medium, and strong brews and a quick brew time. You'll get a fast cup with the PrecisionBrew, but don't expect strong coffee.