Brewsense
- More expensive: controls and price The Braun is cheaper, but the reviewer considered Brewsense's physical buttons a safer control choice.
Braun PureFlavor 14-Cup Coffee Maker, KF5650 Review
Bottom Line
Choose the KF5650 for hot, flavorful drip coffee, strong value, easy cleanup, and a large pot. Skip it if under-cabinet height, touchscreen concerns, or messy pouring matter more.
Best for
Best for households that want a large, budget-friendly drip coffee maker with hot, flavorful coffee, programmable features, easy cleanup, and an over-ice option.
Not for
Not ideal for tight under-cabinet spaces, buyers who distrust touchscreens, or anyone who prioritizes flawless carafe pouring and verified full 14-cup capacity.
Verdict
Reviewers consistently frame the Braun PureFlavor KF5650 as a strong value drip machine that makes hot, tasty coffee and is easy to live with. Good Housekeeping and Bon Appétit praise its flavor, heat, value, footprint, and programmability, while YouTube reviewers liked the carafe feel, cleanup, reusable filter, and iced-coffee capability. The main tradeoff is that its big 14-cup format is not seamless: one comparative test found the claimed capacity came up short, the carafe poured messily, and the water-fill area was narrow. Several reviewers also flagged height under cabinets or touchscreen durability as practical caveats. Overall sentiment is favorable, but the best fit is a counter with enough clearance and a buyer who values taste and price over perfect ergonomics.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
cuisinart
- Similar: feature set The Braun was described as having many of the same features found on Cuisinart coffee makers.
Hamilton Beach
- Better: water-fill ergonomics The Braun's water fill area was narrower than the Hamilton Beach, making the Braun less convenient to fill.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
19 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 53% 10 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 26% 5 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 21% 4 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 0% 0 features
- Very negative below 1.5 0% 0 features
Pros
-
Beverage quality was praised, with reviewers highlighting extra-tasty, nuanced, flavorful cups.
-
Value was a major strength, with reviewers calling it budget-friendly and a best budget or best cheap coffee maker.
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The keep-warm function performed well in testing, keeping coffee hot for the full two-hour test period.
-
The Braun received editorial recognition as the best cheap coffee maker in one reviewed guide.
-
Overall user experience was positive, with reviewers calling it exceptionally easy to use, easy to clean, and a coffee maker they really liked.
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Heating performance was strong, with one comparative test calling its element the most powerful at that point and another reviewer describing very hot coffee.
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Speed was generally strong, with one test calling it fastest at that stage and another review saying it brews quickly.
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Water-system usability and maintenance were praised through clear tank markings and simple cleanup.
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Reviewers liked the look, footprint, and general styling, repeatedly describing the machine as nice looking or counter-space friendly.
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Programmable functions were treated positively as useful nice-to-have features for this price range.
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Most reviewers praised the Braun for hot, flavorful coffee, though one comparative extraction test found it weaker than several rivals.
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Build impressions were positive, with reviewers describing the parts as fitting well and the machine as well made.
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The over-ice function was judged capable of making iced coffee that stayed strong enough and cold enough after added ice.
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The reusable filter was viewed positively, but one reviewer warned it may allow a little sediment compared with paper filters.
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Marketing accuracy is mixed: one review said the Pure Flavor name matched the coffee, while a comparative capacity test found the 14-cup claim came up short.
Cons
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Carafe handling drew split feedback, with one test reporting a messy pour and other reviewers saying the carafe poured nicely and felt good despite its weight.
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Setup is mostly manageable, but at least one control sequence for settings was described as a little tricky.
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Design concerns centered on narrow filling space, tall open-lid clearance, and concern that the touchscreen could become a failure point.
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Capacity is a tradeoff: the large 14-cup format is useful, but one test measured the actual capacity short and another reviewer found the full carafe heavy.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Coffee Machines, this product is above average in Pot function, Value and Price, Water system, maintenance and descaling, below average in Capacity, Assembly and Setup.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 75% 6 features
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 25% 2 features
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2.5 | 3.9 | -1.4 |
| Assembly and Setup | 3.0 | 4.3 | -1.3 |
| Pot function | 5.0 | 3.8 | +1.2 |
| Value and Price | 5.0 | 4.0 | +1.0 |
| Water system, maintenance and descaling | 4.7 | 4.0 | +0.7 |
| Heating-element power | 4.8 | 4.1 | +0.7 |
| Speed and time-to-cup | 4.8 | 4.1 | +0.6 |
| Espresso and beverage quality | 5.0 | 4.4 | +0.6 |
FAQ
Does the Braun KF5650 make good coffee?
Yes. Multiple reviewers praised the flavor, with Good Housekeeping calling it extra-tasty and Bon Appétit describing nuanced, flavorful cups.
Is it fast?
Reviewers generally found it quick. One comparative test said it achieved the fastest time at that stage, while Good Housekeeping said the 14-cup machine brews quickly.
Does it fit under kitchen cabinets?
Not always. Reviewers flagged the tall open-lid height as a drawback, so cabinet clearance matters if it will stay under upper cabinets.
How good is the over-ice mode?
The over-ice function was judged capable, producing iced coffee that stayed strong enough and tasted pretty good after extra ice was added.
Is it easy to clean?
Yes. Reviewers called cleanup simple or very easy, and they liked the removable brew basket and dishwasher-safe parts.
What are the main drawbacks?
The recurring concerns are tall clearance, touchscreen durability worries, one messy-pour result, narrow water filling in one comparison, and measured capacity falling short in one test.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.2/5
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.5/5
Article Reviews
bonappetit.com
- Review score
- 4.3/5
Consider This Instead
If you want better Capacity
Choose Black+Decker Thermal Coffeemaker, 12-Cup CM2035B. It scores 5.0 vs 2.5 for Capacity, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Assembly and Setup
Choose YETI Pour Over Coffee Maker. It scores 5.0 vs 3.0 for Assembly and Setup, with a 4.5 overall score.
If you want better Cup, tray and carafe handling
Choose Breville Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine. It scores 5.0 vs 3.2 for Cup, tray and carafe handling, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Accuracy of marketing claims
Choose CASABREWS 5418 Pro Espresso Machine. It scores 5.0 vs 3.5 for Accuracy of marketing claims, with a 4.1 overall score.
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