Technivorm

In the March issue of Food and Wine, they rated the Technivorm KB471 Clubline drip coffee machine as the best. I have searched high and low in the Chicago area for it. No luck at C and B, Williams Sonoma, Sur la Table. In fact they never heard of it. Next I tried Food and Wine. No response to email and no luck by phone. I then asked a few local coffee shops like Meinl; again, never heard of it. The Technivorm web site has no local contact as it is a Dutch product. A shop in Oregon does stock some models but did not see the KB471. Any suggestions?

Well, assuming you mean 741 rather than 471, there's a link on the Technivorm site to Boyds as their US importer, who seem to sell it directly:

http://www.boydscoffeestore.com/brewing/kb741.php

It better make good coffee, it isn't going to sell based on sleek Italian design.

I've used the Technivorm 741 for about 5 years and it does produce great coffee by virtue of its high water temp. Get it here and while you're at it, get a coffee roaster. Kit recently turned me on to this. Roasting your own beans is so easy and the coffee is orders of magnitudes better. And at $5/pound for the best beans, I don't know why it took me so long to get into this.

Bill/SFNM

I have some vague recollection of having seen a Technivorm for sale at the Intelligentsia cafe on Broadway at one point. It may be worth checking there.

I have the Technivorm Moccamaster. The difference is that it makes more volume than the KB. I decant into an airpot, so I opted for more volume rather than dripping into a thermos. I check the temp every now and then and it is consistent at 202F. These are the best drip brewers ever. Without a good burr grinder and fresh beans, however, you are not much farther ahead.

Food & Wine also mentioned the KitchenAid Proline grinder. I love mine. They also mention the iRoast for roasting your own. According to F&W, I am three for three.

Other good brewers of late interest are the AeroPress Coffee Maker and the Krups Moka Brew. I haven't tried those but they sure are getting a lot of opposable thumbs ups in the fora.

Kit

I purchased a Technivorm Moccamaster at Sweet Maria's website. They are also a great source for roasting supplies. They have the best green beans I've found and a good selection of roasters. Service is excellent.
I roast my own and fix it in a Moccamaster. I'm spoiled now.

http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.technivorm.shtml

Having had a Mocha Master for 2 years, I can provide my experience:

From day 1 I realized I had purchased an expensive machine after falling for the hype of the "golden cup" certification, and rave reviews.
It is a well made drip coffee maker with absolutely no features. I have the SS vacuum carafe, vs the heated glass carafe.

This unit does no more to add taste than any other drip machine. All it does is heat water, and sprinkle it over the grounds.
It uses paper filters (which for some purists is an issue).

Lots of great reasons to buy it - exclusivity, well made, attractive, simple to use and clean (and descale).
Taste enhancement isn't one of them.

After 2 years, I have had an issue where I cracked the fill reservior. Simple you would think to get a new part.
The Canadian and US distributors wont sell parts, but if you ship on your dime ($$) for a flat fee ($$$) they will send you a refurb upon receiving your old one.
Parts are available if you dig deep enough overseas (what I did), and one US site.
That the Manufacturer wont provide customers a cost effective option of shipping you an inexpensive part, but wants you to spend 30-50% of the original value of an expensive appliance is the best reason not to buy one. Read the warranty - not all parts are warranted. Even if you have an accident with a warranted part and just want to buy the part to fixt it - you are hosed.

I have a good grinder, and the coffee surface area, and contact time are all in the control of the brewer based on grind, not the machine.

Good coffee:
- cold activated carbon filtered water
- good whole bean coffee
- experiment with a good burr grinder till you nail the volume and grind of coffee that makes you look forward to that special cup

Avoid the expensive Technivorm with a manufacturer that only wants to take you to the cleaners for the sale, and then for service.
Just my experience and advice.