To see the Kaboodle selling price for this item, simply click on the "Add To Basket" lnk next to the price above.

If you've raised your standarrds for what constitutes good coffee; if "good enough" is no longer good enough, there's a new generation of coffeemakers that's made for you. Bonavita calls its coffeemaker the Exceptional Brew, a name that does not over-reach. The Exceptional Brew is one of only three electric drip coffeemakers to be certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of America as being able to create a, well, exceptional brew.

There are three criteria by which to measure a good coffeemaker: temperature, time and saturation. The German-engineered Bonavita coffeemaker is up to snuff in all three criteria to meet the exacting SCAA standards. A 1400-watt heater raises the water temperature to the ideal of 205 degrees F. A showerhead water outlet ensures complete saturation of the ground coffee and leadis to optimal extraction, while the time the water stays in contact with the coffee is limited to about six minutes. It seems simple, but the Bonavita Exceptional Brew is one of the very few coffeemakers that can do it.

The Bonavita thermal coffeemaker brews 40 ozs. of coffee, eight cups by the standard 5-oz. cup measure. It features a glass-lined, insulated, stainless-steel carafe for maximum heat retention. The Exceptional Brew comes with a 2-year limited warranty.

The Exceptional Brew is so different than most coffeemakers that it may take some getting used to, in terms of the amount and grind of the coffee you use and the volume of the water. Here's a tip from Stefan Hersh of Buzz Killer Espresso in Chicago on how to get the most out of your Exceptional Brew. "As with most electric brewers we have encountered, we don't necessarily think that the manufacturer's instructions optimize performance. Our recommended departure points for experimenting with the Bonavita Exceptional Brew coffee maker are:

* 30grams (beans), medium grind setting, 14 ounces of water in to yield approximately 12 ounces of liquid * 40grams (beans), medium grind setting, 17 ounces of water in to yield approximately 15 ounces of liquid * 50grams (beans), medium grind setting, 23 ounces of water in to yield approximately 20 ounces of liquid * 55 grams (beans), medium grind setting, 25 ounces of water in to yield approximately 23 ounces of liquid.

For more body, adjust the recipe using more coffee, for more brightness and concentration adjust the grind finer. For a smoother, less bitter cup, adjust the grind courser, and to allow for more nuance in aromatics and fruit flavors adjust the recipe for less coffee. One thing to note is that the efficiency of the Bonavita can highlight some of the negative features inherent in inferior coffee. With some experimentation and adjustment of the basic parameters, flaws in the coffee can usually be masked at least as well with the Bonavita as with any other brewer, but of course, we would simply choose to use better coffee. Happy brewing!"