The Redmond RCM-1524 coffee maker turned out to be a rather unusual "beast" for us, combining the features of a drip coffee maker (a jug and cooking at low pressure) and a carob (the presence of a horn with a filter through which water is spilled). This was the first time that such a specimen had come to our test lab, and at first we were even a little confused, because it was absolutely unclear by what criteria this device should be evaluated and what we could expect from it at all.
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EquipmentThe coffee maker comes in a cardboard box decorated in the Redmond signature style. We will see a well-known style: branded fonts, strict color scheme, photos of the device itself and a description of its main technical characteristics. Thanks to this design, a potential buyer will not only immediately recognize Redmond products on store shelves, but will also be able to make a first impression of the device without opening the box.
The box does not have a carrying handle. The contents are protected from impact by plastic bags and pressed cardboard tabs. The movable elements are additionally secured with adhesive tape.
Opening the box, we found inside:
the coffee maker itself
a horn with a filter
plastic temper
glass jug
instructions
service book and advertising materials
At first sight
Visually, the coffee maker makes an exceptionally positive impression. The case is made of black matte and black glossy plastic, the front and back panels are metal. Thanks to the successful combination of metal and black plastic, the device looks strict and"serious".
At the bottom of the device there are two non-slip rubber feet and several plastic ones. There is also a sticker with technical information and air vents. There is no compartment for winding the excess power cord.
There is nothing remarkable on the back side.
In front — a brewing group for installing a horn, a plastic tray for collecting drops with a metal grid (without a float or any other overflow indicator).
The Redmond logo is drawn in the lower part, and an icon is drawn on the top explaining how to install the horn.
The brewing group is plastic, with a rubber gasket that protects against leaks.
Finally, on the top side of our coffee maker is a cup holder and a massive stopper that covers the water container. The plug is tightly fixed with a threaded connection. Tightness is realized thanks to a rubber gasket. At the top of the lid is a sticker with a warning about the need to pre-release the pressure. Despite the fact that our coffee maker has a pressure of only 4 bar, the warning is clearly not superfluous: apparently, if you ignore this recommendation, you can easily get burned by steam.
The horn is equipped with a plastic handle with a folding plastic holder that fixes the filter (so that it does not fall out when it is time to shake out the spent coffee). No" improvers "are provided for the horn: a fairly deep filter has a perforated bottom and marks corresponding to two and four "portions" (we will deal with them later). The material of the horn is light metal.
Finally, there was a miniature glass jug. It has a plastic handle (exactly the same as the horn) and a plastic lid. The glass flask is graded, with which you can measure 2 or 4 cups of the drink. The plastic cover has a characteristic recess, designed to "dock" with the horn. No anti-drip system is provided here — coffee will be served directly into the jug through the hole in the lid.
The plastic tempera included in the kit turned out to be standard. Its diameter exactly corresponds to the diameter of the horn. Note that in the lower part of the horn is slightly narrowed, so when ramming 2 servings of coffee, the temper corresponds to the diameter of the horn "on the edge". The standard metal tempera with a diameter of 51 cm, which was at our disposal, did not fit the horn — literally one and a half millimeters were not enough.
Heating of the jug, which is traditional for drip coffee makers, is not provided for our device.
Here is a hybrid of a carob and a drip coffee maker. Logically, it should brew something between espresso and drip coffee. What will happen in practice? We'll find out during testing.
Instruction manualA very small, compact brochure in a traditional black cover contains instructions in several languages. The share of Russian accounts for 13 pages, after studying which you can get acquainted with the device's device, the rules of operation and maintenance, and troubleshooting possible problems.
for those who are faced with such devices for the first time, reading the instructions is strictly mandatory: you can understand the simple operation yourself, of course, but it is better and more correct to read a couple of pages of text. For example, when we looked at the control stick from the height of our experience, we did not immediately understand what to do and in what order.
Management
The only control of the coffee maker is a mechanical handle located on the left side of the case and is responsible for switching modes.
Before you start cooking, you need to fill the tank of the coffee maker with water. As a measuring cup, it is recommended to use a glass jug. At the same time, it is allowed to fill it not lower than the mark of 2 cups and not higher than the mark of 4 cups, which corresponds to a volume of 90 and 200 ml, respectively.
After that, we pour the coffee into the cone, tamp it down and switch the handle to the cooking mode (the icon with a cup of coffee). The mode with the "pause" icon pauses the preparation of the drink.
Finally, after the cooking process is complete, you need to release the pressure. To do this, move the controller to the position corresponding to the icon with the tap open.
The resulting drink is called "espresso" by the developer.
To prepare milk foam, pour water into the container and move the handle to the steam position (steam icon). After the appearance of steam, it is recommended to remove the remaining water in the nozzle, put the coffee maker in the "pause" mode and pour the required amount of milk into the mug. According to the developer, it will take about 3 minutes to heat the water.
To start whipping the foam again, turn the regulator to the "steam" position. At the end of the work, we release the pressure.
OperationBefore the first use, the manufacturer recommends removing all packaging materials and advertising stickers, wiping the case with a damp cloth, and washing the removable parts with warm water and drying them thoroughly. Before using the appliance for the first time, clean it according to the cleaning instructions.
What nuances did we pay attention to during operation?
First, the cone and the nozzle of the cappuccino machine "look" in different directions. This means that our coffee maker will require free space both to the left and to the right of itself. Moreover, this requirement will be strict: in the process of pressure relief, not only hot steam comes out of the cappuccino machine, but also a small amount of water, and therefore it is better to substitute a mug for it. On the other hand, this arrangement reduces the chance of getting burned on the cappuccino machine when installing the horn.
Secondly, it turned out that when the lid is removed, it is easy to get burned on the metal thread of the water container (we successfully tested this on ourselves).
Third, surely everyone is interested in the question: what happens if you do not relieve the pressure and try to remove the horn prematurely? To the delight of the readers, we did this trick. An absent-minded coffee drinker who does not observe safety precautions will be able to personally see how the horn breaks off with a characteristic pop, and the contents of the horn fly all over the work surface.
CareThe daily maintenance of the coffee machine is not difficult. The case should be wiped with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Do not use coarse or abrasive wipes. The filter, filter holder, and steam nozzle must be flushed under running warm water each time after use. It is acceptable to use a light detergent. The drip tray should be cleaned as the grate becomes dirty and water accumulates in the container. The coffee jug can be cleaned with mild detergents.
Complete cleaning involves repeated (3 times) flushing of the entire coffee machine — in the hot water supply mode (without coffee) and in the steam supply mode.
We will add that cleaning the device does not cause any special problems, with the exception of the brewing group: if you try to completely clean it from the remnants of coffee, you will have to use a toothbrush or other similar device.
Our measurementsDuring the operation of the device, the maximum reading of the wattmeter was 785 watts, which almost exactly corresponds to the stated 800 watts.
We subjectively assess the noise level as low.
