For a price of less than $70, the Zojirushi EC-DAC50 Zutto 5-Cup Drip Coffee Maker offers some pretty exceptional value. It’s a Japanese product through and through, from inception and design to engineering, so how does it stack up against more established brands?
In general, I am going to call this product Zutto, instead of repeating its full name from time to time (sighs of relief!).
power and capacity
For such a compact coffee maker, Zutto has all the power you need to give you a great coffee experience. It brews piping hot coffee for 5 cups (as opposed to the traditional 4), thanks to its 650-watt motor, and its heating plate heats the carafe during brewing and then keeps the coffee hot.
One caveat here: Most coffee makers tend to overdo the number of cups they can produce in a single session, and Zojirushi is no exception. His mugs measure 5 ounces each, which isn’t exactly generous. However, the reservoir capacity is 23 ounces and you can get two decent cups of coffee from a single brew.
Simplicity and Speed
The Zutto features a 3-5 minute brew cycle, though it’s closer to 8 minutes if you wait until the last drop has fallen from the filter into what Zojinishi calls the decanter (the carafe).
Few complain about the time this takes: not many coffee machines are faster, and in any case, you need enough time for the ground coffee to release its flavor while the hot water percolates.
Zutto’s simple design helps here. It’s quite unique in that the filter cone is inside the pitcher, rather than just sitting on top of it. When you pick up the carafe to pour your coffee, you take the filter with you. Therefore, any late coffee drips that occur while you are pouring coffee fall into the carafe and not onto the warming plate. Very cool.
There is nothing to program, no LCD screens, no bells and whistles. Simply fill the reservoir with water, check that the filter is in place, add your ground coffee and press the button on the device. It couldn’t be simpler.
What about cleaning?
The downside of any coffee maker must include cleanliness. The combination of coffee grounds and hot water means there is always a lot of dirt and scale buildup. But the Zutto has to be the easiest coffee maker to clean.
For starters, the water reservoir can be easily removed for filling from the tap or for cleaning. I already mentioned that the filter cone is inside the pitcher, so you just need to wash or rinse them together.
You can keep your Zutto in the best condition by simply rinsing it with water before using it for the first time and periodically for as long as you have it.
and filters…
Filters are to some extent personal. Some always use paper filters, while others prefer the ease of permanent gold filters.
The Zutto has a #2 paper cone filter, but you can use a gold filter as long as it supports the pitcher handle naturally to prevent it from slipping out while pouring. A simple perforated lid fits on top, making everything easy to clean.
The carbon filter, like the carafe, can be easily replaced. Charcoal, being a natural substance, will need to be replaced every so often (two years, according to Zojirushi).
Features and specifications:
- Model Number: EC-DAC50
- removable water tank
- carbon water filter
- keep warm automatically
- cULus listed
- Capacity: 5 cups / 23 ounces / 2 cups
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 8-7/8 x 6 x 10-3/4 inches
- Electrical Rating: 120 Volts / 650 Watts
- Replacement carbon filter: 8-ECA-P320 (lasts up to 2 years with normal use)
- Silver color
- Warranty: 1 year limited
advantages
- Compact.
- Easy to clean, especially since the filter cone is located inside the jug.
- Removable water tank.
- Capacity is 5 x 5 oz cups, a more convenient brew size.
Cons
- No auto shut-off, so you have to remember to turn it off when you’re done, or you could have a “burnt” taste in your next cup.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
This product averages more than 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon at the time of writing, from over 520 reviewers. Most users love its compact size and design, as well as the fact that Zutto makes great-tasting coffee, including iced coffee.
The 5-cup capacity is also appreciated for the extra amount of brewed coffee.
One or two reviewers have complained about the bad taste of the coffee, but they are a small minority. They may be among those who do not read the User Manual correctly, in particular when you are advised to clean the machine from time to time to preserve the flavor of the coffee.
It’s also important to allow the brew cycle to complete completely before pouring, to get the full flavor and also to prevent the grounds from getting into the cone, pitcher and cup.
conclusion
The Zutto is designed differently than almost any other coffee maker. It is compact, elegant and pleasing to the eye.
The Zojirushi EC-DAC50 Zutto 5-Cup Drip Coffee Maker is also very easy to clean and keep in top condition, leading some owners to continue using it every day 5 years after purchase, a very rare achievement among coffee makers. .
