Start by working out how much coffee your guests are likely to drink and how much you make on an ordinary day; the number of cups on the packaging isn’t always a useful guide. A thermal jug is a good choice if you’ll carry the coffee out to the garden table or pour it later, while a glass jug with a hotplate may suit you if you serve quickly and want to see how much is left. Also check the smallest amount the machine can brew, read the instructions and see whether a compatible replacement jug is available.
You make the coffee once and want to pour another cup later at the garden table. The Consumers’ Association describes filter coffee as suitable for making larger quantities; it’s also worth considering whether the jug is easy to handle and whether its capacity suits your needs.
You want to make enough coffee when guests come over, without brewing an unnecessarily large amount on ordinary days. Check whether your chosen model can also brew smaller quantities.
You pour coffee for everyone soon after it’s brewed. A glass jug may suit you if seeing how much is left and serving easily matter more than carrying the jug elsewhere or keeping the coffee warm for longer.
Choose this if: you brew indoors, carry the jug out to your guests and they’ll be helping themselves at different times.
The trade-off: you don’t need a switched-on hotplate to keep the coffee warm, but check that the jug pours easily, is easy to clean and is available as a compatible replacement. The Consumers’ Association distinguishes between thermal jugs that keep coffee warm without using a hotplate and those that keep it warm on a hotplate.
Choose this if: you usually serve the coffee soon after brewing or want to see how much is left in the jug.
The trade-off: a hotplate uses electricity. Inventum says the KZ812D keeps coffee warm for 40 minutes before the machine switches off.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Enough coffee in one brew | Add up the portions you want in millilitres and compare the total with the capacity in litres, rather than relying only on the stated number of cups. | If I want to make enough coffee for guests in one go, I compare the jug’s capacity with what everyone drinks. Around 36% of consumers rank making enough coffee in one brew above other purchasing concerns. |
| Taking it outside and serving later | Compare a thermal jug with a glass jug; check the lid, how easy it is to clean and whether a replacement jug is compatible with the exact model. | If guests arrive at different times, I want to carry the jug easily to the garden table and pour coffee later. Around 29% of consumers prioritise carrying the jug and serving later. |
| Small portions for everyday use | Check the stated minimum brewing quantity and whether the exact model has a half-jug setting. | On ordinary days, I don’t want to make more coffee than I need, even if I want a larger jug when guests come over. Around 21% of consumers prioritise small portions for everyday use. |
| Cleaning and replacement jug | Check the instructions for cleaning and descaling; search for a replacement jug using the exact model number. | I want to clean the filter and jug easily after use and find the right replacement jug if either is damaged. Around 14% of consumers say cleaning and replacement availability are their main purchasing concerns. |
Models with the same stated number of cups may have different capacities in litres. So compare the capacity with the amount you actually want to brew.
Add up the portions you want in millilitres before choosing a model. If the jug is too small, you may need to brew a second batch; on ordinary days, don’t automatically make a full jug.
A second brew takes extra time, while making too much coffee can leave you with leftovers.
A hotplate uses electricity. Inventum says the KZ812D keeps coffee warm for 40 minutes, after which the machine switches off.
Pour the coffee in good time when using a glass jug. If guests want another cup later, a thermal jug may be a better fit for when you plan to serve it.
Melitta specifies particular model numbers for its replacement jugs, so a jug that looks similar may not fit your machine.
Before buying, check the machine’s model number and make sure the replacement jug is compatible.
The instructions for the Inventum KZ818D state that the machine must only be used indoors.
Read the instructions for your chosen model. Use the KZ818D indoors and, if you like, take just the jug outside.
Inventum offers models with different jug styles and capacities; the details below apply to the models named, not the brand as a whole.
According to Melitta, the Enjoy Top Therm combines a double-walled thermal jug with a swing-out filter and AromaSelector.
According to Moccamaster, the KBGT is a thermal-jug model with a capacity of around 1.25 litres; the KBG Select has a glass jug and settings for a half or full jug.
This selection includes filter coffee makers with a thermal or glass jug for serving coffee to guests; check which jug and heat-retention options suit your plans for serving.
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The thermal jug makes it suitable for serving coffee later. Its stated capacity is 1 litre, or up to 10 cups; a water-level indicator is also listed.
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Suitable for serving straight from the glass jug. The product information lists around 10 cups, a hotplate that keeps coffee warm for up to 40 minutes and a removable filter holder.
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Its stated capacity of 1.25 litres may suit a larger brew. The product information lists up to 10 cups, an aroma setting and an automatic rinsing and descaling function.
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Suitable for serving straight from the glass jug. Its stated capacity is 1.5 litres, and the jug has measurement markings. According to the product information, the hotplate keeps coffee warm for up to 30 minutes and the machine switches off automatically 40 minutes after starting.
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The adjustable quantity may suit you if you brew different amounts. Its stated capacity is 1.25 litres; according to the product information, this model has neither a hotplate nor a thermal jug, so it may be less suitable if guests want coffee later.
Add up the millilitres in the portions you want to serve and compare the total with the capacity in litres of the exact model. The stated number of cups is less consistent: for example, Inventum lists a capacity of 1.2 litres for the KZ818D and 1.5 litres for the KZ812D.
Don’t assume the machine is suitable for outdoor use just because you’re serving coffee in the garden. The instructions for the Inventum KZ818D specify indoor use only. Use this model indoors and take the jug outside if you wish; for other machines, follow their own instructions.
Base your descaling routine on your water hardness, how often you use the machine and the instructions for your model. Inventum says the frequency for the KZ818D depends on water hardness and use; Milieu Centraal also recommends descaling regularly.
According to the Dutch Government, you’re entitled to a product that works properly. The Netherlands has no fixed statutory guarantee period, and the retailer is your point of contact if there’s a problem. When you buy from a business online, you generally have 14 days to change your mind; the relevant terms and exceptions still apply.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) says CE marking is compulsory for electrical products. Its guidance states that assessment by an external body is not generally required; a CE mark on its own is not an independent quality test.
