Elite Gourmet EHC9420 Drip coffee maker: Full Review

The Elite Gourmet EHC9420 is an automatic drip coffee maker that aims to deliver delicious coffee with maximum flavor extraction. This model features a 12-cup glass carafe, durable stainless steel body, and programmable timer for custom brew schedules.

With easy-to-use controls, dishwasher-safe parts, and fast brew speed, the EHC9420 provides a convenient way to make coffee for the whole family or when entertaining. It can brew anywhere from 4 to 12 cups at a time.

This review will cover the pros and cons of the EHC9420, looking at the design, features, performance, ease of use, and value. We'll examine how it compares to other models in this price range to help you determine if it's the right drip coffee maker for your needs.

Design & Build Quality

The Elite Gourmet EHC9420 has a simple yet solid design made primarily of stainless steel and plastic components.

The stainless steel exterior covers the main housing and the water reservoir. This gives it a nice polished look that fits well in most kitchen decors. The steel construction also makes it more durable and resistant to minor bumps and scratches.

Inside the housing, the key components like the filter basket, shower head, and carafe are made of plastic. The plastic feels decently sturdy but likely won't hold up as well over many years of use compared to higher priced models. The pot is made of glass which provides good heat retention but requires more care than a stainless steel carafe.

Overall the build quality is pretty good for the price point. It's not built like a tank but the materials seem reliable enough for regular home use. Just don't expect it to stand up to extremely heavy use over many years. As long as you take reasonable care of it, the Elite Gourmet should hold up fine for casual coffee drinking.

In contrast, the Ninja CM401 is renowned for its versatility and robust build quality. With a sleek design and advanced features, it sets a high standard in the coffee maker market. The dual-brew feature allows users to prepare both ground coffee and pods, making it an excellent choice for different brewing preferences. The stainless steel thermal carafe preserves temperature effectively without the need for a warming plate, ensuring your coffee stays hot for hours. With its innovative brew settings and high-quality materials, the Ninja CM401 is ideal for coffee enthusiasts.

Features

The Elite Gourmet EHC9420 has a good range of features for a drip coffee maker in this price range.

• It has a 12-cup carafe capacity, which is sufficient for most households that drink 1-2 pots per day. The water reservoir can hold enough water to brew up to 12 cups.

• There are 3 brew color settings - mild, medium, and bold. This allows you to customize the coffee strength to your taste.

• An adjustable keep warm plate lets you set the temperature to low, medium or high to keep the carafe warm for 2-4 hours.

• The EHC9420 has a 24-hour programmable timer. You can set it to automatically brew coffee at a certain time each day. This is very convenient for having freshly brewed coffee ready when you wake up or get home from work.

• Other handy features include a removable filter basket, permanent gold tone filter, anti-drip design, and auto shut-off after 2 hours. The water window makes it easy to see the water level as you fill the reservoir.

Another excellent option is the Cuisinart DCC-3200P1. This model offers a 14-cup capacity, making it perfect for larger families or gatherings. With customizable strength settings and a self-cleaning feature, it provides added convenience and efficiency. The adjustable brew temperature and charcoal water filter enhance the coffee flavor, ensuring a delicious cup every time. Its sleek design and user-friendly interface make it a popular choice among coffee enthusiasts.

Brew Performance

The Elite Gourmet EHC9420 brews a full 10 cups of coffee in around 7 minutes, which is about average for a drip coffee maker in this price range. The water is heated to the optimal brewing temperature of 195-205°F before being sprayed over the coffee grounds. This ensures proper extraction for a flavorful cup of coffee.

The coffee comes out with a nice, balanced flavor that stays consistent from the first cup to the last of the batch. The flat-bottom filter basket and showerhead distributor help evenly saturate the grounds for uniform extraction. While not as rich and nuanced in flavor as a French press or pour over, the EHC9420 certainly holds its own against other drip coffee makers.

The brew is smooth without any bitterness or acidic notes. The consistency is medium-bodied, neither watery nor overextracted. Those who enjoy classic American style coffee that is smooth, mildly acidic, and medium-bodied will be satisfied with the EHC9420's performance. It may not have customizable brew settings, but it delivers a solid 10-cup pot of drip coffee.

Ease of Use

The Elite Gourmet EHC9420 coffee maker is designed for simplicity. The controls consist of an on/off switch, brew strength selector, and a programmable timer.

The on/off switch and brew strength selector are conveniently located on the front of the machine. The brew strength selector allows you to choose regular or bold coffee. The programmable timer enables you to set the machine to start brewing up to 24 hours in advance.

The display is very basic but functional, showing the selected brew strength, timer status, and an indicator light for heating.

Setting up the Elite Gourmet is quick and intuitive. First, lift up the water reservoir lid on top of the machine and fill with water. Next, open the filter basket and insert a #4 paper filter. Add your desired amount of ground coffee into the filter basket. Close the filter basket and replace the lid. Then press the on/off button to turn on the machine. Choose your desired brew strength and program the timer if wanted.

Cleaning and maintenance are straightforward. The water reservoir, filter basket, carafe, and lid are all removable and dishwasher safe. The heating plate can be wiped down with a damp cloth as needed. Descaling is recommended every 2-3 months to remove mineral deposits.

Overall, the Elite Gourmet coffee maker is very easy to use with its simple controls, clear display, and ability to program brewing. Setup takes just a few minutes and cleaning is quick with dishwasher safe parts. The intuitive design makes it a great choice for beginners.

Price

The Elite Gourmet EHC9420 has an MSRP of $59.99, though it typically retails for $39.99 from most major retailers. This puts it squarely in the budget drip coffee maker category, making it very affordable for most households.

At this price point, the EHC9420 offers excellent value for money. While it lacks some of the premium features and build quality of higher-end models that cost $100+, it still brews a solid pot of drip coffee. For basic drip coffee, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better machine for under $50.

The bargain price doesn't mean Elite Gourmet has cut corners or compromised too much on quality. The stainless steel body and glass carafe still make this feel like a substantial and durable machine.

Overall, the Elite Gourmet EHC9420 punches well above its weight given its affordable price point. It's an excellent budget option for anyone looking for a basic drip coffee maker without breaking the bank.

Pros

• Fully automatic with programmable timer
• Fast brewing time - can brew 4-12 cups in around 5 minutes
• Removable filter basket and glass carafe are dishwasher safe
• Indicator light lets you know when coffee is ready
• Internal hot plate keeps coffee warm for 2 hours after brewing
• Removable water tank for easy filling
• Brew strength control allows you to customize coffee flavor

Cons

• The brew basket filter is flimsy and can be easy to rip or tear when removing it. Some users reported needing to replace it more frequently than other models.

• The carafe doesn't have a lid or cover, which allows heat to escape and coffee to cool faster than some insulated carafes. You'll need to drink the full pot quicker before it cools down.

• There's no programmable timer or clock feature. The machine will brew immediately when turned on, so you can't schedule it to automatically brew at a certain time.

• Cleaning and descaling needs to be done manually. There's no self-cleaning function or removable parts that are dishwasher safe, which adds time and work to the cleaning process.

• It only has a single brew function and doesn't have options to customize brew time, brew strength, or cup size for a single cup. This can limit the machine's versatility for different preferences.

Comparable Models

The Elite Gourmet EHC9420 has some comparable models worth considering:

Cuisinart DCC-3200

The Cuisinart DCC-3200 is a programmable coffee maker with a glass carafe. It has a 14 cup capacity, brew strength control, and self clean setting.

Pros compared to the Elite Gourmet: - Larger 14 cup capacity - Programmable clock and auto-brew settings - Self-cleaning mode

Cons compared to the Elite Gourmet: - More expensive - Glass carafe instead of thermal carafe

Hamilton Beach 49980A

The Hamilton Beach 49980A is a simple, budget-friendly drip coffee maker. It has a 12 cup capacity and automatically shuts off after 2 hours.

Pros compared to the Elite Gourmet: - Very affordable price point - 12 cup capacity

Cons compared to the Elite Gourmet: - No temperature control - No programmable settings - Carafe is glass instead of thermal

BLACK+DECKER CM2035B

The BLACK+DECKER CM2035B is a 12-cup programmable coffee maker with thermal carafe. It has a brew strength selector and 2 hour auto shut-off.

Pros compared to the Elite Gourmet: - Programmable clock and auto brew - Thermal carafe keeps coffee hot - 2 year warranty

Cons compared to the Elite Gourmet: - Smaller 12 cup capacity - Lacks temperature control

Conclusion

The Elite Gourmet EHC9420 is a solid mid-range drip coffee maker that brews 5 cups to 12 cups at a time. It has a metal exterior and includes several useful features like adjustable keep warm temperature, programmable 24-hour start timer, auto shut-off, and brew pause.

The EHC9420 produces hot coffee with nice flavor. It's simple to operate, though the water tank could be easier to fill and the clock isn't backlit. The stainless steel exterior looks sleek on the countertop.

Overall, this Elite Gourmet model offers good performance and a nice set of features in an affordable package. It's a decent option for people wanting a programmable coffee maker without paying a premium price. The carafe design works well and keeps coffee hot. The EHC9420 brews smooth, balanced coffee pot after pot.