We tested the BUNN Speed Brew coffee maker to find out whether it could be called one of the best coffee makers on the market. In our review process, we found that the BUNN Speed Brew made some of the nicest coffee among the units we tested, but getting it up and running was a bit of a pain. Find our full thoughts below.
Linda is a former Top Ten Reviews writer, though her work still crops up on the site from time to time. Whilst working for the team, she covered everything from kitchen gadgets and coffee makers to garden tools, vacuum cleaners ovens, and cooking apps. She reviewed the BUNN Speed Brew coffee maker to see how it compared to the best coffee makers on the market.
BUNN Speed Brew coffee maker: Design
Once its tank is full and the water is heated, the BUNN Speed Brew is ready to go. After you add your chosen coffee grounds to the brew basket and push the brew button, it takes a mere 3 minutes to fill an entire 10-cup pot. If you want less coffee, you can brew as little as 4 cups.
However, we encountered difficulties getting this machine set up correctly. The user manual is chock-full of amusing asides and jokes but offers little in the way of helpful step-by-step instructions. After several attempts, we got the tank filled and heated, and making great coffee was easy after that.
BUNN Speed Brew coffee maker: Taste
Our taste-testing panel really liked the flavor, strength and aroma of the BUNN Speed Brew's coffee. On the whole, our judges gave it high marks, although two people said it was a little too strong for their palates. The cup of coffee also scored particularly well in the heat and flavor departments.
The fine quality of the coffee no doubt comes from the exceptionally hot water in the water tank, as well as a shower head that is designed to spray the water evenly over coffee grounds, extracting the greatest amount of flavor.
BUNN Speed Brew coffee maker: Temperature
When freshly brewed, this coffee measured 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the second-hottest out of the 12 machines we tested. After the pot sat on the warming carafe for a half-hour, the temperature had dropped only 3 degrees—the same as the Braun BrewSense KF7170S—and that small dip in temperature didn't affect the taste or desirability of the brew at all.
With this BUNN model, you do not get a finished brewing alert, a clock you can program, a delay brew function, a cleaning indicator or cleaning cycle, a water level indicator or an automatic shut-off capability.
BUNN Speed Brew: Cleaning Process
The manufacturer recommends cleaning the carafe and brew funnel after each use, which you can do by washing them by hand with soap and water or putting them in the dishwasher on the top shelf.
The company recommends cleaning the tube for the spray head every three months (every two months if you’re in a hard-water region). This involves unscrewing the spray head and sliding a de-liming tool in and out of the tube five or six times to loosen any mineral deposits. After that, you reassemble it, replace the carafe on the warming plate and run fresh water through the machine.
If needed, you can use a toothpick to poke any deposits stuck in the spray head holes, and then wash it with soap and water. Deep cleaning uses 4 cups of white vinegar that you let sit in the brewer for at least two hours and follows a somewhat similar process, followed by rinsing with fresh water.
Overall, we felt that the BUNN Speed Brew coffee maker was a bit on the costly side compared to some of the other units we tested at the time. Although the brew it produces is definitely worth it, we expected more features and functions from a machine in its price range.
