‎Russell Hobbs ‎24390-56 Filter Coffee Machine - Review 🏆

The Russell Hobbs 24390-56 is a filter coffee machine designed for home use. It has a simple and compact design, making it suitable for most kitchen countertops. This model offers programmable functionality, allowing you to set the machine to brew coffee at a desired time. The Russell Hobbs 24390-56 uses a permanent filter basket, eliminating the need to buy paper filters. Overall, it provides an easy way to brew filter coffee at home.

Design and Build Quality

The Russell Hobbs 24390-56 filter coffee machine has a sleek and modern design that looks great in any kitchen. It is made of black plastic with stainless steel accents, giving it a nice contrast and premium feel. The materials used seem durable and sturdy enough for regular use.

The coffee maker feels solidly built, with no flimsy or weak parts. The water reservoir, filter basket, and carafe are all made of glass, which allows you to monitor the brewing process. The handles and control buttons have a nice tactile feel when pressed.

Overall, the Russell Hobbs filter coffee machine has a simple but elegant look. The combination of the black plastic body and stainless steel accents gives it an attractive, contemporary style. While made mostly of plastic, the unit does not feel cheap and seems like it would hold up well over time. The mix of materials provides a good balance between form and function.

Features

The Russell Hobbs 24390-56 filter coffee machine comes equipped with several useful features that enhance the coffee brewing experience.

• Programmable Timer: This allows you to schedule the coffee maker to start brewing at a certain time, so you can wake up to freshly brewed coffee. There are 24-hour programmable settings.

• Keep Warm Function: After brewing coffee, the keep warm function maintains the temperature so the coffee stays hot for longer before serving. This is useful if you don't drink the full pot right away.

• Water Level Indicator: There are interior water level markings so you can easily see how much water you've added for brewing. Fill lines for 1-12 cups are included.

• Anti-Drip Valve: This valve prevents annoying drips and spills when pouring coffee, allowing for neat and mess-free serving.

• Removable Filter Basket: The filter basket lifts out, making it convenient to dump coffee grounds and clean after brewing. It's dishwasher safe too.

• 1.25L Capacity: With a 12 cup capacity, this coffee maker can brew over 5 cups of coffee at a time. Great for families or entertaining.

• Compact Footprint: Despite the large capacity, the coffee maker has a compact and slim profile that doesn't take up much counter space.

Ease of Use

The Russell Hobbs 24390-56 filter coffee machine is very easy to set up and use on a daily basis. The water reservoir lifts out for easy filling, and slots securely back into place. The filter holder lifts out for placing a #4 cone filter inside, then you simply add your desired amount of ground coffee and slide it back into the machine.

Operating the machine is straightforward with the control panel on top. There are buttons to choose between a regular or bold brew, set the number of cups, start the brew, and activate the keep warm plate. The LED display clearly shows your selections. Brewing begins automatically once you close the lid.

Cleaning is also simple on this model. The filter holder, carafe, and lid are all dishwasher safe. The heating plate and housing just need an occasional wipe down. Descaling is recommended every 2-3 months depending on local water hardness, which involves mixing a descaling solution and running it through a brew cycle.

Overall, the Russell Hobbs filter coffee maker achieves a high level of convenience and ease of use for a daily coffee routine. The intuitive controls and removable, dishwasher safe parts allow for simple operation and maintenance.

Brewing Performance

The Russell Hobbs 24390-56 filter coffee maker brews a pot of coffee in under 5 minutes, which is quite fast for a programmable coffee maker. The coffee comes out nice and hot, around 190-200°F depending on your water temperature, which is the ideal serving temperature.

The coffee flavor is clean and balanced, without any bitter or burnt notes. The paper filters do a good job of trapping fine grounds and oils for a smooth cup of coffee. You can adjust the strength by changing the amount of coffee you use. With the right coffee to water ratio, it can produce a full-bodied and rich cup of coffee.

One downside is that the brewing temperature is not adjustable, so you are limited to how hot the coffee comes out. But for most users, the standard temperature produces a tasty pot of coffee. The brewing time is also not adjustable, but 5 minutes is reasonable.

Overall, the brewing performance is very solid for a programmable filter coffee machine at this price point. It delivers a hot pot of flavorful coffee at the touch of a button. Just be sure to use quality coffee grounds and the right amount for your preferred strength.

Capacity

The Russell Hobbs 24390-56 filter coffee machine has a generous 1.25 liter capacity, which translates to 10-12 cups depending on your cup size. This makes it a great option for brewing coffee for families, gatherings, and office settings where you need to make coffee for a group.

The large capacity stainless steel carafe can keep the coffee hot for longer. Once brewed, the coffee stays hot in the thermal carafe for up to 2 hours. This is really convenient if you want to brew a large batch first thing in the morning and drink cups of coffee throughout the morning without having to rebrew.

Overall, the sizeable 1.25 liter capacity carafe is one of the standout features of this coffee maker, making it easy to brew for multiple people while keeping the coffee hot.

Accessories

The Russell Hobbs 24390-56 filter coffee maker comes with several handy accessories to get you brewing coffee right away.

• It includes a plastic scoop for measuring out ground coffee. The scoop holds approximately 1 tablespoon of grounds.

• The coffee maker comes with a removable filter holder that fits #4 cone filters. It does not come with any paper filters, so you'll need to purchase those separately. The filter holder has a release button to easily remove it for cleaning.

• To help with cleanup, a cleaning brush is included. You can use this to scrub the filter holder, carafe, and other parts.

• The water reservoir has clear measurement markings in ounces and cups to help you get the right amount of water.

• It also comes with a user manual that provides brewing instructions, cleaning tips, troubleshooting, and other guidance.

The accessories provided are fairly standard for a drip coffee maker in this price range. Having the scoop, holder, and brush is convenient for getting started. You'll just need to get paper filters to brew your first pot.

Pros

The Russell Hobbs 24390-56 filter coffee machine has several excellent features that make it a great choice for coffee lovers.

• Programmable timer: This machine has a 24-hour programmable timer, allowing you to set the brew time in advance so your coffee is ready when you want it. The auto-off feature also helps save energy.

• Large capacity: With a 1.25 litre capacity, this coffee maker can brew 5-12 cups in one go, perfect for families or entertaining. No need to brew multiple batches.

• Removable filter holder: The filter holder is removable for easy cleaning and maintenance. The permanent filter means you don't have to buy disposable paper filters either.

• Keep warm function: The hotplate will keep your coffee warm for up to 40 minutes after brewing. No need to reheat tepid coffee.

• Mid-brew pause function: You can pause mid-brew to pour a cup if you don't want to wait for the full carafe to finish.

• Drip-stop: The drip stop allows you to pour a cup mid-brew without any drips or spills.

• Easy to use: With intuitive controls and settings, this coffee maker is very easy to operate even for beginners.

• Compact size: Despite the large capacity, this coffee maker has a compact footprint that won't take up much counter space.

Cons

The Russell Hobbs 24390-56 filter coffee machine has a few drawbacks to consider:

• Plastic build - While the exterior has a stainless steel finish, the main housing is plastic. This feels less premium than an all-metal construction.

• Noisy operation - The pump and brewing process is quite loud. This could be disruptive early in the morning.

• No brew strength control - You're limited to the default brew strength, with no way to adjust the coffee concentration.

• No thermal carafe - The included glass carafe doesn't retain heat well. The coffee cools down fast after brewing. A thermal carafe would maintain temperature longer.

• No backlight - The LCD display lacks a backlight, making it hard to read in low lighting conditions.

• Small water reservoir - At just 1.25 liters, you may need to refill the water tank frequently when making multiple cups.

• No permanent filter - It doesn't include a reusable filter, only disposable paper filters. This ongoing expense adds to the long-term cost.

Verdict

Overall, the Russell Hobbs 24390-56 Filter Coffee Machine is a solid choice for those looking for an affordable and easy-to-use drip coffee maker. Its simple interface and programmable timer make brewing hassle-free, while its glass carafe and keep warm plate help maintain an optimal drinking temperature. The water filtration and permanent washable filter are handy features that improve convenience and reduce waste.

In terms of brew quality, the machine produces a smooth, balanced cup that is on par with other drip coffee makers in this price range. Flavor is decent but unremarkable. Those who prefer richer, more nuanced coffee may want to opt for a French press or pour over setup instead.

For casual coffee drinkers who want a fuss-free, programmable machine that reliably churns out pot after pot, the Russell Hobbs 24390-56 is a great option. However, enthusiasts looking to finely tune extraction or produce coffee shop quality brews may want to keep looking. Overall, it's a solid budget filter coffee machine that gets the job done.