Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 Drip coffee maker: Full Review

Elite Gourmet is a brand owned by Elite Platinum, a company known primarily for manufacturing small kitchen appliances like coffee makers, blenders, slow cookers and more. They have a range of affordable products targeted at home users who want an easy to use appliance without all the extra bells and whistles.

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 Electric Coffee Maker is one of their automatic drip coffee machines aimed at delivering simple operation and reliable performance. As a more budget-friendly model, it focuses on the basics like brewing a hot pot of coffee without breaking the bank.

Design

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 has an attractive and modern stainless steel design that looks great on any countertop. It has a footprint of 9.8 x 7.8 x 12.6 inches, making it a nicely compact size without sacrificing brew capacity.

The stainless steel exterior houses a durable BPA-free black plastic water reservoir with clear water level markings for accurate filling. The water reservoir has a generous 50oz capacity.

The drip coffeemaker body comes in 3 classic finish options - black, red, and stainless steel. The black and red models have accents in the respective color, while the stainless steel is a uniform brushed silver look. All colors have a sleek and elegant appearance.

The EHC-5055 employs a simple user interface, with just 3 buttons for main functions. The buttons have a smooth finish that complements the overall aesthetic. The control panel contains a blue backlit LCD screen that clearly displays vital brewing information.

Overall, the coffeemaker has a premium fit and finish that looks far more expensive than its affordable price tag. The combination of stainless steel, plastic, and glass elements gives it an eye-catching modern style perfect for any kitchen.

Another excellent option to consider is the Ninja CE251. This coffeemaker features advanced boiler technology, a 12-cup glass carafe, and a 60-ounce removable water reservoir for easy filling. It offers 24-hour programmable delay brew and adjustable warming plate settings to keep your coffee hot for up to 4 hours. The sleek and modern design makes it a versatile addition to any kitchen decor.

Features

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 has a number of useful features that make it a great choice for the home or office.

Large Capacity

With a 50-ounce water reservoir, the EHC-5055 can brew up to 10 cups at a time. This is perfect for families or offices where multiple people want coffee at once. The large capacity reduces the need to brew pot after pot.

Multiple Brew Settings

There are three brew settings to choose from - regular, bold, and iced coffee. The regular setting brews a standard cup, while bold brews a stronger, bolder cup. The iced coffee setting is great for brewing hot concentrated coffee that you can pour over ice for delicious iced coffee anytime.

Adjustable Temperature

Not all coffee tastes best at the same temperature. The EHC-5055 allows you to select your ideal temperature between 170-204°F. Dialing in the optimal temperature helps bring out the subtle flavors and aromas of your favorite coffee.

Programmable Timer

The built-in programmable timer allows you to set the coffee maker to start brewing up to 24 hours in advance. Just add coffee and water the night before and wake up to a freshly brewed pot.

Indicator Lights

There are indicator lights for power, programmed time, and clean which let you know the status of the coffee maker at a glance. The clean light reminds you when it's time to descale the machine.

Another excellent option for coffee enthusiasts is the Ninja CFP301, which offers a range of advanced features. With its dual brew capability, it can handle both pods and ground coffee, providing versatility for different brewing preferences. The Ninja CFP301 also includes a fold-away frother to make specialty drinks and a removable water reservoir for easy filling.

Ease of Use

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 drip coffee maker is designed to be very user-friendly. The control panel is straightforward with buttons for regular and bold brew, programmed brewing, and an on/off switch.

Setting up the coffee maker is simple - just add water to the water reservoir, fill the basket with ground coffee, and press the appropriate button. The water reservoir is clearly marked with cup measurements, making it easy to fill to the desired level.

The instruction manual provides clear step-by-step directions for getting started and operating all the functions. Icons on the buttons help identify their purpose at a glance. The brew basket and carafe are easy to insert and remove for cleaning.

Overall, the intuitive control panel, detailed instructions, and hassle-free setup allow even novice users to start brewing great-tasting coffee without any complications. The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 achieves convenience and simplicity when it comes to ease of use.

Brew Performance

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 brews a full pot of coffee (10 cups) in around 7 minutes. This is slightly slower than some models that brew in 5-6 minutes, but the brew time is still reasonable for a budget drip coffee maker.

The coffee yield is consistent, with the EHC-5055 producing the advertised 10 cups per brew cycle. Some owners noted the coffee comes out a bit weaker than expected, likely due to the combination of a large brew batch and short contact time between water and grounds. But overall, the coffee output is decent.

The EHC-5055 maintains an adequate brewing temperature of around 195-205°F. While not piping hot, this temperature range is hot enough to properly extract flavor from the coffee grounds.

The resulting coffee taste gets mixed reviews. Some owners find the coffee smooth and flavorful, while others describe it as weak or watery, especially when brewing a full pot. Taste perception seems to depend on the coffee beans used. Light roasts tend to come out under-extracted, while darker roasts fare better. Using a coarse grind can also help bolster the flavor.

Overall, the Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 offers middling brew performance. It lacks some of the precision and control of higher-end models, but can produce an enjoyable cup of coffee with the right beans and grind size. For the price, its brewing capabilities are reasonable.

Additional Features

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 drip coffee maker comes with several handy additional features that improve the user experience.

Auto-Shutoff

One of the most useful features is the auto-shutoff, which turns the coffee maker off automatically after 2 hours. This prevents the burner from staying on indefinitely if you forget to turn it off, saving energy.

Pause and Serve

The pause and serve function allows you to temporarily stop the brewing process to pour a cup before the full pot is done. Simply lift the carafe off the warming plate and the flow of coffee pauses. Return the carafe within 30 seconds and brewing resumes. This is perfect for grabbing a quick cup in the morning.

Removable Parts

The Elite Gourmet coffee maker has several removable parts for easy cleaning, including the filter basket, carafe, and drip tray. The carafe lid, filter basket, and perk tube are top-rack dishwasher safe as well. The removable parts make cleaning simple.

Maintenance

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 is designed for easy maintenance to keep your coffee maker running smoothly for a long time.

Cleaning

Keeping your coffee maker clean is important for great tasting coffee and longevity of the machine. The EHC-5055 has a removable filter basket and carafe that are dishwasher safe, making cleaning a breeze. The heating plate and housing can be wiped down with a damp cloth as needed.

Descale the coffee maker every 3-6 months to remove mineral deposits from water that can build up over time. Simply fill the water reservoir with descaling solution or a mix of half white vinegar and half water. Run a brew cycle and let the descaling solution sit for 30 minutes before running another cycle with just water to rinse.

Descaling

Over time, mineral deposits from water can build up in your coffee maker and affect performance and taste. Descaling the EHC-5055 every 3-6 months helps remove these deposits and keeps your machine running optimally.

To descale, fill the water reservoir with descaling solution or an equal mix of white vinegar and water. Run a brew cycle and let the descaling solution sit for 30 minutes before running another cycle with just water to rinse. Repeat as needed for heavy mineral buildup. This easy process keeps your coffee tasting great.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Makes 12 cups of coffee
• Programmable 24-hour start timer
• Keep warm function keeps coffee hot for 2 hours
• Removable drip tray for easy cleanup
• Automatic shut off safety feature
• Brew strength control for regular or bold flavor
• Permanent filter included - no need for paper filters

Cons

• Lid does not have a viewing window to see coffee brewing
• Water reservoir could be larger than 50oz capacity
• Brew time is slower than average at 7-10 minutes
• No automatic pause and serve function
• Only available in black color

Overall, the Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 electric drip coffee maker has many convenient features at an affordable price point. The brew performance delivers a reliable pot of coffee, though customization options are limited compared to pricier models. For basic drip coffee, it gets the job done without many bells and whistles.

Comparable Models

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 stacks up well against other popular drip coffee makers in a similar price range. Here's a brief comparison to some comparable models:

• Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker - The Mr. Coffee is a simple, no frills drip coffee maker that reliably brews a decent pot of coffee. It lacks some of the extra features of the Elite Gourmet like the strength selector and auto shut off. The Elite Gourmet produces a more flavorful brew.

• Cuisinart DCC-3200 14-Cup Glass Carafe - The Cuisinart is known for quick brew times and ease of use. It has a bit more programmability than the Elite Gourmet but doesn't have the indicator lights or removable filter basket. The Cuisinart carafe is glass while the Elite Gourmet uses a thermal carafe.

• Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Coffee Maker - This budget model from Hamilton Beach doesn't have the same build quality or extra features as the Elite Gourmet. But it gets the job done for a lower price point. The Elite Gourmet produces a fuller-bodied and more flavorful coffee.

• BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker - BLACK+DECKER is a well-known brand for affordable kitchen appliances. This model has a fast brew time but lacks some of the useful features of the Elite Gourmet like indicator lights and a strength selector. The Elite Gourmet seems to have better durability according to reviews.

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 presents a solid value for a programmable drip coffee maker with useful extra features compared to other options. It delivers great tasting coffee for the price.

Conclusion

The Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 is an excellent option for those seeking an affordable and user-friendly drip coffee maker. It brews a tasty pot of coffee and has useful features like a programmable timer, pause and serve, and keep warm function.

The stainless steel body looks sleek on any kitchen counter and is easy to keep clean. The water window and brew basket are thoughtfully designed for convenience. While it lacks some bells and whistles of pricier models, it delivers where it counts - brewing a hot, flavorful pot of coffee.

Overall, the EHC-5055 punches above its weight class. For an entry-level drip coffee maker, it produces a surprisingly good cup of coffee. The simple interface and programmable timer make it easy for anyone to use. If you want an inexpensive, no-frills coffee maker that doesn't compromise on performance, the Elite Gourmet EHC-5055 is a recommended option worth considering.