Melitta Look IV DeLuxe Filter Coffee Machine - Review 🏆

The Melitta Look IV DeLuxe is a stylish and user-friendly filter coffee machine perfect for the home or office. With a sleek brushed stainless steel design, it will look great on any kitchen countertop or breakroom.

This 10-cup machine allows you to brew delicious filter coffee in just a few minutes. It has a simple and intuitive control panel with just two buttons - one to turn it on/off, and another to start the brewing process. The water tank is easy to access from the front and has clear markings to show the number of cups being brewed.

Melitta is a well-known German brand that has specialized in filter coffee for over 100 years. The Look IV DeLuxe incorporates their decades of coffee experience into an elegant but functional machine. It's a great choice for people who enjoy smooth, full-flavored filter coffee.

Design and Build Quality

The Melitta Look IV DeLuxe has a stylish and modern design with a matte black finish and chrome accents. It is made of durable plastic which feels sturdy. The machine measures 28 x 23 x 37 cm so it has a nice compact footprint that won't take up too much counter space.

The water tank is made of clear plastic so you can easily see the water level. The bean container, filter holder, and drip tray are all made of black plastic. The materials used feel decent quality but not premium.

Overall the look is sleek and contemporary. The matte black finish resists fingerprints. The chrome accents on the control panel, spouts, and tray give it a nice touch of elegance. The dimensions make it well-suited for home kitchen use.

Features

The Melitta Look IV DeLuxe has a number of useful features that make it a versatile coffee maker.

• It has an adjustable timer that can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance, allowing you to wake up to freshly brewed coffee. The timer can be set in 5 minute increments.

• There is a strength selector with three settings - mild, medium, and strong. This allows you to customize the flavor to your tastes.

• The water tank has a 1.25 liter capacity, which is enough to make about 10 cups of coffee. The tank is removable for easy filling.

• An insulated thermal jug keeps coffee hot for longer. It has a capacity of 1.25 liters.

• The warming plate can keep coffee warm for up to 40 minutes after brewing. There is an indicator light that shows when the plate is activated.

• Other features include a removable, washable filter, drip stop to pause mid-brew, and a keep warm function.

• The Melitta also has an automatic shut off and cleaning program to descale the machine.

Ease of Use

The Melitta Look IV is very easy to set up and use on a daily basis. Initial assembly just requires attaching the water tank and filter holder, which click into place seamlessly. Filling the water tank is simple, and the water level is clearly marked on the side of the tank.

Operating the machine only requires placing a #4 cone filter into the holder, adding ground coffee, and sliding the holder into place. The selector switch can then be turned to the desired brew size, and a button pressed to start the brewing process. The brewing stops automatically when done, so there's no need to monitor it constantly.

Cleaning up is straightforward - the filter holder slides out easily after brewing for disposal of grounds and filter. The drip tray can be removed and rinsed out as needed. Descaling is recommended every 2-3 months, and involves mixing descaling solution with water in the tank. This is cycled through the machine by starting a brew cycle without ground coffee.

Overall, the Melitta Look IV is designed to be simple and intuitive to use for anyone familiar with basic drip coffee machines. The process of making great tasting coffee requires minimal effort on a daily basis.

Coffee Quality

The Melitta Look IV produces coffee with a rich, full-bodied taste and aroma. The stainless steel thermal carafe does an excellent job at retaining heat, so the coffee stays piping hot for hours after brewing.

The filter cone allows for proper water dispersion and extraction, resulting in a balanced flavor profile. The coffee has nice hints of sweetness, acidity, and roasted notes. The paper filters also help produce a clean cup without any sediment or grit.

The Look IV brews a smooth and velvety crema on top. While not as thick as espresso crema, it's more than many drip coffee makers produce and adds to the visual appeal. The aroma while brewing is intense and appetizing.

Overall, the Look IV makes a very enjoyable and flavorful pot of filter coffee. The carafe keeps it hot for serving, and the taste is bold and nuanced without any bitterness or harshness. The coffee quality rivals premium coffee shops.

Capacity and Brewing Speed

The Melitta Look IV has a decent capacity and brewing speed for a home coffee maker. It can brew up to 10 cups of coffee at a time, which is great for larger households or entertaining guests.

The brewing speed is relatively fast, able to brew a full 10 cups in around 6-8 minutes. This is quite quick for drip coffee makers in this price range. The water tank holds 1.25 liters of water, so you can brew multiple batches before needing to refill.

Some users may prefer a larger 12-cup capacity, but the 10-cup size should be sufficient for most households. The brewing speed is fast enough that you won't be waiting too long for a fresh batch of coffee. Overall, the capacity and speed make the Melitta Look IV a convenient choice for everyday use.

Accessories

The Melitta Look IV comes with the essential accessories needed to get started making great coffee. In the box is the stainless steel filter holder that securely holds #4 cone filters, a measuring spoon, and the glass carafe.

The carafe has an ergonomic handle and drip-free pouring spout for easy serving. It has clear markings up the side showing the number of cups, making it easy to gauge how much coffee you want to brew. The carafe has a 10 cup capacity.

Some nice extras included are a cleaning brush to help keep the filter basket clean, and Melitta coffee filters to get you started. The filter holder and carafe are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Overall, the Melitta Look IV has all the key accessories you need, with the addition of some useful extras like the cleaning brush and starter pack of filters. The carafe design makes serving easy and mess-free.

Pros

• Programmable timer: The Melitta Look IV has a programmable timer that allows you to preset the brew start time up to 24 hours in advance. This is extremely convenient if you want to wake up to freshly brewed coffee.

• Pause and serve function: The pause and serve function allows you to pour a cup of coffee mid-brew cycle without the filter dripping or the brewing process stopping. This helps avoid coffee wastage.

• Keeps coffee hot: The Melitta Look IV has a keep warm plate that keeps the brewed coffee hot for 2 hours after brewing. This ensures you can come back to a hot cup of coffee even a while after the brew cycle completes.

• Easy to use and clean: The Melitta Look IV has an easy to navigate control panel and very simple setup. The removable parts are dishwasher safe making cleanup very convenient. The drip stop allows you to remove the carafe mid-brew without any mess.

Cons

• The water tank capacity is quite small at 1.2 liters. This means you'll have to refill it more frequently for multiple cups.

• There is no automatic shutoff feature. The machine will stay on until manually switched off, which can be a safety concern if forgotten.

• The hot plate does not have a temperature control. It heats the carafe at maximum heat, which can lead to bitter or burnt tasting coffee if left too long.

• The filter holder is made of plastic rather than metal. It may be more prone to cracking or warping over time with regular use and cleaning.

Verdict

The Melitta Look IV DeLuxe is a solid option for those looking for an affordable, easy to use filter coffee machine. It offers a good set of features, including a programmable timer, anti-drip system, and automatic shut off. The stainless steel thermal jug helps keep coffee hot for longer.

In terms of coffee quality, the Look IV produces a smooth, balanced cup of filter coffee. The cone-shaped filter and flow control valve allow for optimal extraction. However, coffee enthusiasts may find the lack of control over water temperature and brewing parameters limiting.

For the price, the Look IV DeLuxe provides good value. It's simple to operate, even for beginners, while still having some customizable options. The build quality feels sturdy and durable. Overall, it's a reliable choice for making up to 10 cups of filter coffee at a time.

The main downsides are the plastic parts and lack of precise brewing control compared to higher-end models. But for casual coffee drinkers who want an automatic drip machine, the Melitta Look IV DeLuxe is easy to recommend. It delivers tasty filter coffee with little fuss.