Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 Drip coffee maker: Full Review

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 is an automatic drip coffee maker that aims to provide delicious, hot brewed coffee with an easy-to-use design. This coffee maker features a 12-cup glass carafe and a permanent filter, eliminating the need to purchase paper filters. With dishwasher safe parts for easy cleanup, the EHC-5055 offers programming options like auto shutoff and a freshness timer to help keep each brew hot and flavorful. The coffee maker has a compact footprint designed to fit well on most kitchen counters. Overall, the Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 provides solid performance and convenient features in an affordably priced automatic drip coffee machine.

Design and Build Quality

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 coffee maker features a stainless steel exterior that gives it a sleek, modern look that will complement any kitchen décor. The stainless steel not only looks great, but also makes the coffee maker durable and resistant to fingerprints and smudges.

Beneath the stainless steel exterior is a strong plastic housing that contains the inner workings of the machine. The water reservoir and various parts like the filter basket are made from good quality plastics that feel sturdy in hand.

In terms of build quality, the Elite Gourmet coffee maker does not disappoint. All of the parts fit together nicely with no gaps or misalignments. The buttons provide good tactile feedback and the handling knob for the water reservoir turns smoothly.

Overall, the materials and construction give the impression that this coffee maker is built to last. While not as heavy duty as some pricier models, it should hold up well to daily use for many years. The combination of stainless steel exterior and rigid plastic parts makes this an attractively designed and solidly constructed drip coffee maker.

Features

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 has several useful features that make it a versatile drip coffee maker.

• Capacity: The water reservoir can hold up to 55 ounces, allowing you to brew up to 10 cups of coffee at a time. This is great for larger households or entertaining guests.

• Brew settings: There are three brew settings - regular, bold, and iced coffee. The bold setting slows down the brewing process to extract more flavor from the grounds. The iced setting brews hot coffee directly over ice to prevent dilution.

• Temperature control: You can choose between low, medium, and high temperature settings. The high setting reaches up to 205°F for optimal extraction.

• Delay brew timer: You can program the coffee maker to automatically brew coffee up to 24 hours in advance. This allows you to wake up to freshly brewed coffee.

• Auto shut-off: For safety and energy savings, the unit shuts off automatically after 120 minutes.

• Removable filter basket: The filter basket lifts out for fast and easy cleanup. No need for wasteful paper filters.

• Pause and serve: You can pause mid-brew for a quick cup before the full pot is done.

• Drip-free carafe: The carafe has a no-drip spout and comfortable handle for easy pouring.

Overall the features allow you to customize your brew for convenience and taste preferences.

Ease of Use

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 drip coffee maker is designed to be simple and intuitive to operate. The controls consist of an on/off switch, brew button, and keep warm button.

The on/off switch and brew button are located on the front panel for easy access. To brew coffee, simply add ground coffee to the filter, fill the water reservoir, select the number of cups using the marked water window on the side of the machine, and press the brew button. The coffee maker will automatically shut off after brewing.

The EHC-5055 has a bright blue backlit LCD display that shows the clock and programming settings. You can program the 24-hour start timer to automatically brew coffee at a set time. The keep warm button lets you toggle the warming plate on and off to keep brewed coffee hot for 2 hours.

Cleaning the EHC-5055 is straightforward - the removable filter basket, carafe, and water reservoir are dishwasher safe. The heating plate can be wiped down with a damp cloth to keep tidy. Descaling is recommended every 3-6 months depending on hardness of water.

Overall, the intuitive controls, programmable timer, keep warm function, and dishwasher safe parts make the Elite Gourmet coffee maker simple to operate and maintain on a daily basis. The included user manual provides clear instructions for setup, brewing, and care.

Brew Performance

The Elite Gourmet coffee maker brews a full 10 cups in around 10 minutes, which is pretty standard for a drip coffee maker in this price range. The brewed coffee comes out at an ideal temperature, around 195-205°F, hot enough to extract the best flavor from the grounds without scorching the coffee.

The flavor of the brewed coffee is quite good, extracting a balanced, rich cup that isn't too bitter or acidic. The flat-bottom filter basket and showerhead distributor help extract a very even and full-bodied coffee. The brewer makes a slightly weaker cup than some higher-end drip coffee makers, but the flavor is smooth and flavorful for a basic machine.

You can expect around 15 fluid ounces per cup brewed. This is decent but again weaker than some other drip coffee makers that yield closer to 16-18 ounces per cup brewed. For someone who prefers a stronger brew, you may find the coffee drinkable but lighter bodied than ideal. But overall the Elite Gourmet brewer makes a very respectable pot of drip coffee for the price.

Pros

• Large 50 oz removable water reservoir - only needs to be refilled occasionally making brewing convenient
• Programmable auto-off function lets you set the coffee maker to shut itself off after brewing so you don't have to worry about turning it off
• Holds 10 cups of coffee so it can brew large pots for families, gatherings, or office use
• Permanent gold-tone filter included so there are no paper filters to buy or change
• Brew strength selector for regular or bold coffee depending on your taste preferences
• The pause-and-serve feature lets you pause mid-brew for a quick cup before the full pot is done
• Timer allows you to program delayed brewing so coffee is ready when you wake up or get home
• The keep warm plate keeps coffee hot for over 2 hours after brewing is complete

Cons

While the Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 drip coffee maker has many great features, it does have some drawbacks to consider:

• The water reservoir is on the smaller side at just 12 cups. This means you'll have to refill it more frequently for larger households or if making multiple pots back-to-back.

• The build quality is mostly plastic, lacking the heft and durability of some competitors with metal components. The plastic may be prone to scratches over time.

• There is no programmable timer, so you have to manually turn it on each time you want to brew. This isn't ideal if you want to wake up to already brewed coffee.

• The hot plate only stays warm for 40 minutes after brewing. This may not keep a whole pot hot enough if you want to slowly drink it over a longer period.

• While it includes a reusable gold tone filter, there is no option to use paper filters. The gold tone filter can allow more sediment into the brewed coffee versus a paper filter.

• The water level indicators on the reservoir are difficult to see. You have to bend down to check them rather than easily glance at the side.

• It lacks some of the more advanced features of higher end models, like a brew strength adjustment or pause and serve function.

Price and Value

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 electric drip coffee maker typically sells for around $25-35 USD. This puts it at the lower end of the price spectrum for drip coffee makers, making it a great budget option.

For the price, the EHC-5055 offers excellent value for money. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles of more expensive coffee makers, it brews a solid pot of drip coffee and has useful features like a removable filter basket and keep warm function. The stainless steel design also makes it more durable and long-lasting than cheaper plastic models.

Given its low price point, the performance and feature set of the EHC-5055 is impressive. The ability to brew up to 10 cups at once provides plenty of capacity for families or offices. It doesn't compromise on brew quality either, extracting robust and flavorful coffee consistently.

For shoppers looking for an affordable but capable drip coffee maker, the Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 is a fantastic choice. It delivers great coffee and useful functionality without breaking the bank. Overall, it's an excellent value purchase.

Comparison to Alternatives

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 stacks up well against other drip coffee makers in its class and price range. Here's how it compares to some of the top alternatives:

• OXO Brew 8 Cup Coffee Maker - The OXO is a bit more expensive but offers a rainmaker shower head for better water distribution. However, the Elite Gourmet brews faster and has a larger water reservoir. The OXO has a backlit LCD while the Elite Gourmet uses simple button controls.

• Cuisinart DCC-3200 - Cuisinart is known for quality but their DCC-3200 is comparable in price to the Elite Gourmet. The Cuisinart features a glass carafe and looks a bit more stylish. However, the Elite Gourmet takes up less counter space with its more compact footprint. Both offer similar features and performance.

• Hamilton Beach 49980A - This budget Hamilton Beach model is often significantly cheaper than the Elite Gourmet. You sacrifice some carafe quality, brew pause, and auto shutoff. But it gets the job done for basic drip coffee. The Elite Gourmet is worth spending a bit more for nicer features.

• Bonavita BV1900TS - For a premium drip coffee experience, the Bonavita is hard to beat. It brews at the optimal temperature and has a shower head for uniform saturation. But it costs nearly twice as much as the Elite Gourmet. The Elite Gourmet punches above its weight given its lower price point.

Overall, the Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 offers excellent value compared to competitors. It delivers solid performance and conveniences without breaking the bank. For shoppers wanting an affordable but capable drip coffee maker, the Elite Gourmet is a great option.

Conclusion

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 offers an efficient, economical, and easy-to-use drip coffee maker for home brewing. With straightforward controls, durable construction, and useful features like a programmable timer and auto-off, it delivers quality results without complexity or high cost.

The stainless steel carafe keeps coffee hot for hours, and brews a full pot in under 10 minutes. The water tank is easy to access and fill. The basket-style filter and included permanent filter allow you to use either paper or reusable filters.

Overall, the EHC-5055 is a great budget-friendly option for people who want delicious drip coffee without fuss. It makes up to 10 cups, includes useful programming options, and delivers solid performance. For an affordable, no-frills drip coffee maker, the Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 is an excellent choice.