It’s not hyperbole to say that finding the perfect coffee maker is key to the…
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Coffee. Hot, fresh, delicious. This is what BUNN coffee makers are all about. Whether you want a single serving or enough to satisfy an army, BUNN has a brewer for you. Here we’ll take you through the ins and outs of the company and what they offer for both the home and commercial brewer.
In short, BUNN coffee makers make excellent coffee. Bunn has been making beverage dispensing machines since 1957. It started with George Bunn engineering, hand assembling, testing, and perfecting reliable, fast coffee brewers. The company still adheres to those meticulous standards.
And above all else, the coffee must taste good. Through the decades, BUNN has developed many innovative technologies to perfect the art of pour-over coffee. The machines are made to precisely control water temperature. They also feature carefully designed spray heads to ensure even saturation.
All BUNN equipment is assembled in the U.S. While some parts are manufactured overseas, BUNN carefully oversees its supply lines to ensure the highest quality.
Today, they offer over 100 coffee-making products for the commercial clientele, including fully automated espresso machines. They also produce dispensers for brewed tea, juices, frozen drinks, and hot chocolate. To complete the lineup, they offer grinders, filters, and other accessories. Chances are you’ve had many drinks from BUNN machines over your lifetime.
BUNN’s Respect Earth initiative has a focus on preserving resources for future generations. It checks that these principles are followed out throughout their supply and distribution lines. Diversity is important in the supply line, and they support organizations that work in important coffee- and tea-producing areas.
Bunn coffee makers are reliable and long-lasting. Now that you’ve decided to get one, how do you know which one? We offer these reviews to help you find the best BUNN coffee maker for you.
If you want your pot of coffee fast, this Bunn Speed Brew Classic can deliver. It can brew a 10-cup carafe of coffee in four minutes. If you want your coffee on the go, it can fill a 20-ounce travel mug in two minutes.
The secret is the commercial-grade water tank that keeps the water hot at 200 degrees F. The BT model has a more commercial look because the cylindrical stainless-steel water tank is not enclosed in plastic housing.
This home coffee brewer is similar to the discontinued Bunn bt velocity brew line. But it has one major difference: the BUNN Speed Brew coffee maker makes better-tasting coffee. The Speed Brew allows an extended extraction time to allow for more flavor. That is why the Speed Brew takes one minute longer to brew than the previous Bunn bt velocity brew models.
This brewer features a double-walled thermal carafe. This will keep your coffee hot for two hours. It has a single water heater on/off switch on the left side near the bottom. The brew basket is taller than most other brands. Therefore, you need to use the taller BUNN filters.
You may run into a problem if you use pre-ground coffee. Some pre-ground coffee is finer than what this brewer needs. As a result, the brew basket could overflow. But, since we know that you grind your own coffee, this shouldn't be a problem. Right? Pre-ground coffee can be stale before you even get it home.
The GRB Speed Brew coffee maker has a homier look. The stainless steel water tank is enclosed in plastic housing. This also prevents any potential burns from touching the outside of the tank.
The GRB Speed Brew comes with a glass carafe. The carafe has a unique spout to prevent drips and spills. Its spout is arc-shaped to wick the coffee back into the pot. The wide-mouth carafe is easy to clean. The switch to turn the burner on and off is located on the upper front of the machine. The water tank on/off switch is on the left side near the bottom.
Like the BT Speed Brew, the GRB model keeps the water hot, so it's ready when you are. It features a showerhead-style spray head to evenly saturate the grounds. This home coffee brewer also has a taller brew basket than most other brands. Therefore, you need to use the taller BUNN filters.
The Speed Brew Elite has an updated look that might be more pleasing to the modern coffee drinker. The basket and glass coffee pot both have chrome handles. It has a black plastic housing with a chrome band. The chrome backsplash is a nice accent.
This model features the always hot water tank and can brew a full 10-cup pot in four minutes. The on/off switch for the warmer plate is on the front bottom of the machine. A small blue light indicates when the burner is turned on. The water tank heater switch is on the right side of the coffee brewer near the bottom.
An added feature of the Elite model is that it has an indicator of how much coffee you'll be brewing. When you lift the lid, the indicator shows how much water you are adding: 4, 6, 8, or 10 cups. Again, remember to use the taller BUNN filters.
Another exciting thing about the Elite home coffee brewer is that there is a high-altitude model. The thermostat is calibrated for those higher places like Denver.
The Speed Brew Platinum has the same appealing aesthetics as the elite with one difference: it has a thermal carafe. The carafe is double-walled and vacuum-sealed to keep coffee hot for two hours.
It functions identically to the Elite coffee brewer, so please see the review above for more information. You can also find the Speed Brew Platinum in a model designed to be used at high elevations.
This brewer is designed to brew directly into an insulated server. The insulated airpot server keeps coffee hot and fresh for hours. The system brewer does not come with an airpot. You can get airpots in a range of shapes and sizes from 1.9 liters to 3 liters. While the price is a bit steep, these machines are built to last with solid stainless-steel construction.
This system has the always-on water tank feature for fast brewing. These are great to have for a busy office or retail location. You can have the brewer out of sight and transport the full airpot server to meeting rooms, waiting areas, or wherever you need.
You have the option of manually filling the water tank or having it plumbed. When it is plumbed, you also have an instant hot water dispenser. When plumbed, you can brew up to 7.5 gallons of coffee per hour.
The Heat N' Brew BUNN coffee maker offers a contemporary design and features that make it ideal for the home coffee brewer. It does not have the always-on water tank that most BUNN brewers do. But it still uses BUNN's traditional concept of bringing water to the ideal temperature (between 197.6 and 204.8 F) before sprinkling it over the coffee grounds.
The water reservoir for the Heat N/ Brew machines is located above the coffee grounds. While this makes the machine quite tall, it has a very small footprint on your kitchen counter. The water reservoir and grounds basket are held aloft by two slanted pillars. While looking dramatically different from other BUNN brewers, it is built to last with stainless steel construction.
This home coffee brewer is programable. Just fill the machine with water and coffee grounds. Set the digital clock to have the coffee ready when you wake up. Even if you don't have it programmed, this brewer can go from cold water to hot fresh coffee in about 10 minutes for a full pot or six minutes for 20 ounces.
This home coffee brewer comes with a glass carafe that has BUNN's signature drip-proof spout. The warming plate will keep coffee warm for two hours, then automatically turn off.
If you prefer to brew coffee by the cup, you might want this Single Serve BUNN coffee maker. This single serve brewer uses the tried-and-true always hot, internal, stainless-steel water heater. By pouring cold water in, it pushes the hot water through the top and delivers steaming coffee in about a minute. You can make anywhere from 4 to 14 ounces at a time.
This single serve home coffee brewer is much more flexible than most other single-serve brewers. It comes with four different trays that you snap into place. Depending on which tray you use, you can brew coffee grounds, soft coffee or tea pods, loose tea leaves, or a K-cup. One tray is designed for delivering straight hot water.
You'll find two buttons on this machine, one marked Brew and the other Pulse. Pressing the brew button sprinkles hot water continuously over the coffee or tea. For a fuller flavor, use the pulse button. This pauses the water to prolong the brewing time, allowing for a deeper extraction.
The Fast Cup brewer from BUNN is designed for businesses to meet the needs of discriminating customers. It can deliver 80 bean-to-cup servings of coffee per hour. Each cup takes about 30 seconds to brew. Each cup can be customized to your customers' requests. One of the fastest bunn coffee makers you can get.
You can keep costs down with the Fast Cup. It takes very little labor to operate. You'll also enjoy almost no coffee waste because it is brewed on demand.
Once programmed, this machine requires very little training. The 10-inch touchscreen can proudly display whatever logos you choose. With a tap or two, this coffee machine will grind and brew the coffee beans and deliver the drink to a waiting cup. It has a 9.1-inch clearance to fit most travel mugs. It has three hoppers, so you can offer a variety of coffees It can even deliver iced drinks.
To make things even easier, you can use the optional VirtualTOUCH technology. This allows you to use a mobile device to send the order to the brewer, making the process touch-free. You can also utilize the BUNNlink technology to remotely monitor machine statistics and alerts.
This Coffee Maker is ideal for settings where you need a high volume of coffee but won't compromise on taste. It can brew 19.3 gallons per hour. It also has an energy-saving mode that reduces water temperature when the machine sits idle.
Programming allows you to store your recipes. You can adjust the water volume, pulsing, and pre-infusion timing to get the perfect flavor profile. The machine can brew a half-gallon, one-gallon, or one and a half gallons at a time.
This coffee brewer has several safety features to prevent burns. The funnel is designed to decrease the risk of splashes. The coffee brewer will not operate if either the funnel or server is not in place. It is a great high volume speed brew system from the family of bunn coffee makers.
This coffee brewer is designed for medium-volume brewing in commercial settings. It has three burners to keep coffee continuously available. BrewWIZARD technology ensures the quality of every pot.
You can choose the perfect brew profile with BUNN's Digital Brewer Control. Settings include water tank temperature, pre-infusion timing, and pulse brewing. For safety, the SplashGard funnel protects hands from burns.
The Axiom-3 has energy-saving features. The temperature in the water tank will lower when it sits idle for a period of time. It also has an automatic burner shut-off feature. BUNN machines are built to last, but when problems arise, this brewer has electronic diagnostics and a convenient tank drain to make maintenance and repairs easier.
One size does not fit all when it comes to coffee makers. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re considering your purchase.
Commercial BUNN coffee makers have been around for a long time. As a result, most of these machines are designed to brew a lot of coffee every day. Some of these commercial BUNN drip coffee makers can brew over 19 gallons of coffee per hour! Others can deliver up to 80 bean-to-cup individual cups of coffee per hour.
Homebrewers can also deliver a large volume of coffee in a short time. Their always-hot water tank system ensures that you can brew a pot of coffee quickly. If you need hot, fresh coffee in about four minutes, then you’ll most likely want one of the BUNN Speed Brew models.
But what about those who just want a cup or two? Maybe you want a cup of coffee in the morning and brewed tea in the afternoon? For these scenarios, the BUNN My Café® Multi-Use Coffee Maker is ideal. This is a flexible brewer that can deliver exactly what you want, one perfect cup at a time. It can even brew a K-cup.
Then there are those who love to wake up to the smell of freshly-brewed coffee. Heat N’ Brew from BUNN coffee makers are programable. You can set it to brew up to 10 cups of coffee automatically.
Almost all BUNN coffee makers feature a showerhead-style spray head to ensure even extraction. They are also made of durable stainless steel for durability. Here are some features that can vary between BUNN coffee maker models.
BUNN started out as a commercial coffee maker company. Many of their models do have a decidedly industrial look to them. They also tend to take up a considerable amount of space. That’s great for a bustling restaurant where coffee brewing is behind the scenes. But what about brewers designed for the home?
The Speed Brew Classic line of BUNN coffee makers still retains a squarish, industrial feel. The Elite and Platinum Speed Brew machines have an updated look. But the Speed Brew machines still take up a considerable amount of space. For a truly modern feel, the Heat N’ Brew has an eye-catching design that looks great on the kitchen counter. And it has a small footprint.
By now it should be clear that drip BUNN coffee makers have a distinct separation between commercial and homebrewers. The needs of the bustling restaurant vs you sitting at home are vastly different. But there are some in-between areas. Offices, small-to-medium-sized businesses, and homes with many coffee drinkers can go either way.
BUNN has smaller commercial brewers with two or three burners that might work even in a large home. Small offices may want the home-line BUNN My Café or may choose to go with the BUNN Airpot Coffee Brewer. So be sure to check out all your options.
A high-yield commercial coffee maker will require more cleaning and maintenance than a coffee maker for home. Be sure to faithfully follow the procedures outlined in the manual to keep these precision coffee makers operating for many years. For home brewers, here are basic guidelines for keeping the coffee brewer in the best condition.
Coffee oils can build up in the funnel and inside your carafes. This buildup can make coffee taste bad. Always dump coffee grinds and rinse the funnel immediately after brewing. The carafe should also be rinsed after use. Regularly give all these parts a deeper cleaning with mild dish soap and warm water. Some of them are dishwasher safe.
Minerals can build up inside the water tank and on the spray heads. Left unchecked, these can make coffee taste bad and can eventually make the coffee maker stop working. A general guideline is to descale the coffee brewer every two to three months, depending on use.
Coffee makers with the always-hot water tank require a bit more effort to thoroughly cycle the vinegar or cleaning solution through and to completely rinse after. Be sure to consult your manual for proper instructions.
While the Heat N’ Brew BUNN coffee maker works like your basic automatic drip brewer, the Speed Brew coffee makers operate very differently. Here are the steps to prepare and use your Speed Brew coffee brewer.
Yes. With proper maintenance, your BUNN coffee maker will brew excellent coffee for many years to come.
In this coffee maker, it starts with water temperature. Precise technology means that the water will be at the optimal temperature for brewing coffee. Then, the water dispersal method is designed to get even saturation. Some Bunn coffee makers include pause brewing and pre-infusion timing.
Most BUNN coffee makers have a large, internal tank that keeps the water at the optimal brewing temperature. Cold water is siphoned to the bottom of the water tank, pushing the hot water up and into the funnel.
Most BUNN coffee makers come with a three-year warranty. However, many coffee brewers last anywhere from five to 10 years.
Most BUNN coffee makers are designed to leave on so you always have hot water at the ready. That’s why they brew so quickly.
The BUNN Heat N’ Brew is usually considered to make the hottest coffee. It automatically turns the warming plate on before brewing so the cold glass won’t cool off your drink.
One of the most common causes of a leaking coffee maker is a buildup of mineral deposits. Cleaning and descaling often fixes the problem. If the leak is coming from the brew filter, you might be grinding your coffee too fine.
Yes. Bunn funnels are taller than most coffee makers. So, it’s best to use BUNN coffee filters that are taller. Using regular coffee filters can cause coffee grinds to overflow the filter and slip into your morning brew.
The main culprit is usually mineral deposits. Try a thorough cleaning and descaling your coffee brewer to fix the problem.
The carafes that come with BUNN home coffee brewers are usually 10-cup models. Some of BUNN’s commercial lines do use a 12-cup carafe.
You can find a BUNN coffee maker for nearly every need. While we’ve covered many solid brewers, we feel that our top pick for the best BUNN coffee machine in the average home is the BT Speed Brew Classic Thermal Carafe, a coffee maker. With the always-hot system, it takes just four minutes to brew a full pot of coffee. The temperature control and spray head design ensures that the coffee tastes good. We also like the thermal carafe. Why ruin perfect coffee by heating it to death? The two hours it keeps coffee hot gives plenty of time to linger offer those first few morning cups. This brewer also offers a good value for your dollar.
The GRB Speed Brew Classic Coffee Maker is a close second. We do prefer the spray head design of the Speed Brew for overall taste.
If your company hosts a lot of meetings where you would like to quietly offer coffee, we suggest the CWTF15-APS Airpot System. This keeps the brewing process out of sight, so all your clients know is the hot, fresh coffee coming out of the server.
Whichever brewer you choose, if it’s a BUNN, you’re going to get quality. So check one out and see for yourself why this company is still going strong after all these years.
