Aarke Coffee Maker Review: Stylish, Scandinavian and Spendy

I’m always on the lookout for the best drip coffee maker, which is why I’ve decided to write an initial Aarke Coffee Maker review. This elegant Swedish drip coffee maker has been causing quite a stir of late, and if other reviews are anything to go by, it really delivers the goods.

I definitely plan on buying this Scandinavian beauty to test out for you, and I’ll update this Aarke Coffee Maker review once I’ve got some observations to share. In the meantime, let’s take a first look at what this drip machine is all about.

Overview: Aarke Coffee Maker Review

The Aarke Drip Coffee Maker is a relatively new addition to the drip brewer universe. In fact, I think it’s only been available in North America for a few months. Still, as I already mentioned, it’s turning heads left, right and center.

To be honest, it’s easy to see why; the Aarke Coffee Maker is certainly an attractive appliance that’d steal the show in any kitchen. Featuring a shiny chrome exterior and a stylishly minimalist silhouette, the Aarke looks very premium indeed. However, this thing isn’t just an alluring piece of eye candy. Rather, the Aarke Coffee Maker is a sophisticated brewer that’s been Golden Cup certified by the specialty Coffee Association (SCA).

As you may already know, that places the Aarke among a select crowd of exceptional automatic coffee machines. It also guarantees that the Aarke Coffee Maker has been rigorously tested to make sure it produces the highest quality coffee possible.

Costing $379.00, the Aarke Coffee Maker is far from cheap. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive drip machines I’ve ever reviewed. Just for reference, my beloved Ratio Six Coffee Maker is a wee bit cheaper at $359.00, and it makes some of the best coffee I’ve ever tasted.

So, can the Aarke Drip Coffee Maker compete with the likes of Ratio and Technivorm? Well, I won’t know until I’ve tested the thing. Still, by the end of this initial review I aim to have a better idea.

Background on Aarke

Before embarking on this Aarke Coffee Maker review I knew absolutely nothing about the Swedish manufacturer. But all it took was a quick gander at the Aarke website to learn everything I needed to know about the company. Founded by a couple of industrial engineers in 2013, Aarke decided to focus on products that would be both useful and beautiful.

Check out this quote from the website: “It’s not just about appearances; what sets us apart is the way we integrate design and engineering – the synergy of aesthetics, functionality, and durability.”

How very Scandinavian! Jokes aside, though, Aarke is actually a very cool company that produces a variety of high-end appliances that are meant to last. Aside from the coffee maker in today’s review, these include a stainless steel water carbonator and a stainless steel electric kettle.

Oh, and there’s also a burr coffee grinder that can integrate with the coffee maker, forming the Aarke Coffee System. Unfortunately the Aarke coffee grinder isn’t available on Amazon yet, but I’ll keep an eye out.

Aarke Drip Coffee Maker Features

Although the Aarke Coffee Maker is a “no bells and whistles” kind of appliance, that doesn’t mean there’s plenty to discuss. After all, this thing has been carefully engineered to produce excellent coffee. So, let’s continue this initial review by taking a closer look at what makes the Aarke tick.

Materials and Design

As I already mentioned, the Aarke Coffee Maker is beautiful to behold. That is as long as you’re a fan of Scandi minimalism. The left side of the machine comprises a 42-ounce (1.2-liter) water tank and a powerful stainless steel boiler.

On the other side, there’s an exposed shower head and sturdy filter basket holder, below which sits the glass carafe.

The machine’s body is made of high-quality polished stainless steel and die cast aluminum, which really does look incredible. And clocking in at 8.2 pounds (3.7 kilograms), the Aarke coffee maker is reassuringly weighty.

One thing you should be aware of is that the Aarke rises to 14.8 inches (37.6 centimeters), and you’ll need extra headroom to fill the water tank. So, while this drip machine will look great in your kitchen, it might not be an ideal fit if you have overhead cabinets to deal with.

User Interface

I’ve reviewed plenty of drip coffee makers with complicated control panels offering all manner of different settings. That’s all well and good, but first thing in the morning it can feel overwhelming.

Well, I’m happy to report that the Aarke Drip Coffee Maker features just one solitary button. With that said, you will have to press and hold the button for three seconds if you want to activate the blooming function, which gently pre-wets the coffee grounds to help develop aroma before brewing.

Personally, I’m a little surprised that the Aarke doesn’t offer a wider range of functions, especially given its substantial price tag. In comparison with a machine like the Breville Precision Brewer, this coffee maker seems perhaps a little too basic.

SCA Certification

If you’ve read my guide to the best SCA coffee makers, you’ll know that there’s an elite collection of brewers that have been rigorously tested and certified to produce coffee that adheres to Golden Cup standards.

As it happens, the Aarke Coffee Maker is one of these special machines, meaning the manufacturer went above and beyond when designing the thing. What’s really cool about the Aarke is its built-in water sensor, which maintains the optimal brewing temperature of 197-205 degrees Fahrenheit (92-96 degrees Celsius) during brewing. The machine also carefully adjusts the flow rate based on the number of cups being brewed.

Finally, the Aarke consistently brews a full pot of coffee in around six minutes, which is an integral requirement for SCA certification status.

Shower Head

As with any high-end drip coffee maker, the Aarke is equipped with a specially designed stainless steel shower head. The shower head has been carefully calibrated to evenly distribute water across the bed of ground coffee, meaning the Aarke will achieve a consistent extraction with each brew cycle.

Oh, and I already mentioned the optional blooming phase, which is super important if you want the best-tasting coffee. Just like when you’re brewing coffee with a pour over coffee maker, a short pre-infusion stage allows gases to escape, resulting in a more well-rounded cup of coffee.

Filter Basket

I was really happy to see that the Aarke Coffee Maker comes with a stainless steel filter basket. The 360-degree basket fits seamlessly onto the coffee maker, and apparently features overflow protection.

There’s also a drip stop feature which means coffee won’t flow if the carafe isn’t mounted in place below the filter basket. And while I know some of you may be tempted to take advantage of this and sneak a quick cup before the brewing process is complete, just remember you’ll be drinking improperly extracted coffee if you do so!

There’s also some kind of lid, although I’m not entirely sure what purpose it serves. Incidentally, the filter basket requires #4 paper filters, which aren’t included in the box.

Glass Carafe

As my regular Coffeeness readers already know, I’m not the biggest fan of glass carafes. You can read my guide to the best thermal carafe coffee makers to find out why. Still, the Aarke carafe certainly looks the part and even includes a plastic ‘coffee stirrer” attached to the lid that prevents separation as the coffee sits.

Incidentally, the manufacturer also sells a thermal coffee carafe, which might be worth the investment if you like to enjoy a full pot over the course of the day. Alternatively, if you already own a coffee thermos, you can use that to keep your coffee nice and hot.

Smart Hot Plate

Again, coffee maker keep-warm functions are a no-no in my book. I mean, there’s no escaping the fact that your pot of freshly brewed coffee will cook slowly on there, becoming bitter and acidic in no time.

The Aarke Coffee Maker is equipped with a so-called “Smart Hot Plate” that adjusts the holding temperature according to how much liquid is in the carafe. It also shuts off after 40 minutes. Let’s just say I’m more than a little skeptical about this, but I’ll be sure to investigate its effectiveness during my hands-on testing.

Personally, I’d recommend either brewing the amount of coffee you want to drink in one sitting or investing in the thermal carafe to keep your coffee warm.

Illuminated Water Tank

The Aarke Coffee Maker’s 42-ounce (1.2-liter) water tank isn’t removable, which may or may not be a dealbreaker for you. Then again, I have found that the connection between a removable water reservoir and the coffee maker can fail over time, so perhaps a fixed tank is better.

Anyway, the Aarke water tank features a prominent window with easy-to-read level markers, ranging from 2 to 10 cups. Oh, and the thing is illuminated, which is a classy touch.

How to Use the Aarke Drip Coffee Maker

If you’ve made it this far into my Aarke Coffee Maker review, you will have cottoned onto the fact that this machine is all about simplicity. So, this section won’t be very long.

Of course, I should remind you to thoroughly rinse all removable parts before making coffee for the first time. Once that’s done, plug the coffee maker in and pop a #4 coffee filter into the brewing basket.

Next, add cold, filtered water to the reservoir. I’d recommend using the best coffee beans for pour over, seeing as this machine has been designed to replicate manual brewing techniques. Oh, and make sure you’re using the best burr coffee grinder possible and grinding your coffee right before you brew.

As for brewing ratios, feel free to experiment – accurate weighing will be essential here, so check out my best coffee scale guide for inspiration. Alternatively, you can follow the manufacturer’s instructions, which suggest using the included coffee scoop.

Once you’re ready to make coffee, press and hold the button for three seconds. This will activate the blooming function, after which the machine will begin brewing coffee.

Aarke Coffee Maker Cleaning

Regular coffee maker cleaning is just a necessary part of life if you want your machine to last. Plus, a grimy coffee machine isn’t going to produce tasty coffee. So, make sure to keep your Aarke Coffee Maker in good working order by regularly rinsing the coffee filter basket, wiping off the shower head and washing the glass carafe with mild detergent.

As for descaling, you’ll need to take care of that no matter how well-filtered your water may be. Fortunately, the machine will let you know when it’s time to descale via a blinking LED indicator. You’ll need to descale after every 60 brew cycles by filling the water tank with a descaling solution and pressing and holding the button for seven seconds. Oh, and once the cycle is complete, I’d recommend brewing a full pot using water only.

Aarke Drip Coffee Maker Specifications

Aarke Coffee Maker vs Moccamaster

Not having yet put the Aarke Coffee Maker through its paces, I can’t really say how it compares with the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select. That said, it’s going to have to really impress me, seeing as the Moccamaster is my favorite coffee maker of all time.

Costing $349.00, the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select is only slightly more affordable than the Aarke. However, this awesome Dutch masterpiece has been going strong for decades with very few changes to its core design.

I love everything about the Moccamaster, from its iconic design to its selector switch for different brew sizes. What’s more, this is another SCA-certified brewer that consistently produces sublime drip coffee.

To be honest, the Aarke strikes me as somewhat of a pretender to the Moccamaster throne, especially given its design similarities. So, I’m really looking forward to testing the Aarke Coffee Maker out to see whether it really can give the Moccamaster a run for its money.

See Also: Technivorm Moccamaster Review

Aarke Coffee Maker vs Moccamaster Comparison Chart

Verdict: Aarke Coffee Maker Review

Well, folks, that’s it for my initial Aarke Coffee Maker review. I must say I’m intrigued by this new drip brewer and can’t wait to get my hands on the thing. After all, there’s a lot of hype surrounding the Aarke and I need to know whether it’s worth the investment.

So, if you’re as interested as I am, keep checking back in. I’ll update this review with my findings once I’ve put the Aarke Drip Coffee Maker through its paces.

Aarke Coffee Maker FAQ