Owly Rating
79/100
| Appearance | 19 |
| Features | 16 |
| Performance | 18 |
| Health & safety | 10 |
| Price to value | 16 |
Bottom line
There were a lot of things we loved about Redline coffee maker, and we are happy to report them in this Redline MK1 review. With its elegant and stylish exterior, the machine reminded us of upscale drip coffee makers (Breville Precision Brewer, Moccamaster Cup One and OXO Brew). Designed by the team in Oakland, CA, Redline MK1 comes with some more advanced technologies such as pre-infusion mode. It appears that Redline prioritizes functions that affect the quality of coffee beverage, as the machine lacks in some more “standard” functions. We also enjoyed all the thought that went into a customer-friendly design. The machine was extremely easy to use. At its price point, we believe the Redline MK1 offers a very strong price-to-value offer.
This product can be perfect for
Enjoy quality drinks but prefer simple coffee makers. Prefer strong price-to-value proposition, and are looking for a machine that serves 2-3 people at at time.
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Why choose Redline MK1 coffee maker over others?
Redline MK1 is a unique proposition in the market. The coffee maker is in a more affordable price point (low $$$-price tag), but offers some really great features and functions. These options contribute to a quality coffee beverage.
Here are some distinct features of the Redline MK1 coffee machine:
- In general, a simple coffee maker without very fancy options like programmability or timing.
- A more even extraction of coffee thanks to the pre-infusion that gives coffee grounds a kick start for full saturation and flavor extraction.
- Ease and convenience in design, with one-touch operation.
- A glass carafe with a design to evenly distribute freshly brewed coffee
As we were testing the machine for the Redline MK1 review, we were impressed how thoughtful the manufacturer was in designing the coffee maker. It was clear that Redline prioritized features that impact the taste and flavor of coffee.
Who is Redline MK1 coffee maker perfect for?
As we were testing the product for this Redline MK1 review, we really wanted to understand who would most likely fall in love with this product.
We feel that Redline MK1 8-cup maker can be a compelling choice for those who are looking for:
✓ Stylish, modern and elegant coffee maker for many kitchen spaces
✓ Rich and complete flavors thanks to pre-infusion
✓ Affordability of a coffee maker that prioritizes the most important functions
✓ Ground coffee for flexibility and more perfectly tasting cup of coffee
Who is Redline MK1 NOT perfect for?
Just like with other coffee maker reviews, we would love to remain honest in this Redline MK1 coffee maker review. We think that there are a couple of examples where where MK1 might not be a perfect choice:
✗ A coffee machine that will make you feel like a barista
✗ A coffee maker that offers unparalleled flexibility in brewing (e.g. temperature or strength controls, programmability)
✗ A machine that uses capsules (like k-cups, nespresso capsules or other coffee pods
✗ Desire to brew different types of specialty drinks
✗ Removable water reservoir
Redline MK1 Review and Evaluation 🕵️
→ Appearance
Owly Rating
17/20
We were excited about the Redline MK1 review. We are still mesmerized by the external simplicity and beauty of Redline MK1 coffee machine. Not only is the coffee maker elegant, but it is also very easy to use. We were able to brew my coffee with a single press of a button.
Upon seeing Redline MK1, I immediately knew I had seen this coffee maker somewhere else before. After some time I started to notice similarities in appearance between Redline MK1 and other best drip coffee makers,such as Moccamaster KBG741 or Breville Precision Brewer.
Redline MK1 has two parts. The first part is the body with a heating element and a transparent water reservoir. The second part is the brewing head along with the space for a glass carafe.
I fell in love with Redline MK1’s clean, simple yet elegant design. The machine was very easy to use with one-touch operation. All I had to do was to press the button to turn the machine on/off.
The brew chamber looked as though it was made out of high grade aluminium. The rest of the coffee maker was a rather neatly looking plastic. Redline MK1 comes in just one color option: black and silver. Because of its stylish yet versatile looks, this drip coffee maker should fit into a variety of different styles and spaces.
The machine not only feels light but is light. Given the materials with which Mk1 is made, the appliance weighs around 7 lbs. I found this unit easy to move around or lift, but 7 pounds could pose challenges for some people.
→ Features and technical specs
Owly Rating
15/20
In general, Redline MK1 is a simple coffee maker. Though it does not come with some more advanced features such as programmability, strength/temp control or timer, it offers a couple of other great solutions. We loved pre-infusion mode, thoughtful design, and good brewing temperature. With it, we were able to achieve aromatic coffee with strong, rich and deep flavors.
Voltage: Redline MK1 is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.
Basket size: Redline MK1’s basket is large enough to contain enough coffee grounds for 8 cups of coffee. As a rule of thumb, we typically use 8 grams (or 1.5 teaspoons) of coffee grounds per each cup of coffee. Therefore, this coffee maker would accommodate about (up to 12 teaspoons of coffee grounds).
The basket does not come with its own filter, as is the case of many other drip coffee machines. Therefore, in order to brew coffee using the Redline MK1, I need to use paper filters. This machine uses #4 paper filters that we were able to purchase separately.
However, we really love the design of the brew basket. Unlike other drip coffee makers, Redline MK1 offers a slide-out filter basket for easy loading and cleaning. We were able to insert coffee grounds easily, without making too much mess. Further, the cleaning was super fun!
Beverage size: Redline MK1 drip coffee maker is a little bit smaller than other drip coffee makers. The brewer yields about 8 cups of coffee. Though this may not sound like a lot for larger households, this was perfect for myself and 2 other guests of mine.
Weight: Redline MK1 weighs about 7 pounds. This is a fairly light coffee maker given its size and capabilities.
Unit size: Unlike Moccamaster Cup One or OXO Barista Brain, Redline MK1 is slim and handsome. The machine is about 8 inches deep, 14 inches deep, and about 14.5 inches tall. I had no problem with the space under my kitchen cabinets. We were even able to re-fill water easily.
Water reservoir: Unfortunately, the water reservoir is not removable. It can accommodate about 8 cups of water (1.3 liters). Just like with other coffee machines, the water reservoir comes with a volume scale on its side. We are able to see the numbers, which indicate how much water to pour for a specific number of cups. However, just like with other drip coffee makers, the numbers are white on a transparent background. This was quite challenging to see.
Carafe: Redline MK1 comes with a high boron glass carafe. Unlike common glass, boron glass makes carafes resistant to thermal shocks. Similarly, when coffee is finished and carafe is ready for washing, the temperature decreases significantly. A carafe is subjected to quickly changing temperatures at all times. The inclusion of boron ensures higher durability of glass.
Inside the carafe, I found an insulated funnel. This allowed an even distribution of coffee inside the carafe for consistent flavor and heat inside the carafe.
However, the carafe appeared very thin to me. We were afraid of accidentally breaking it.
Additional perks: We were so excited for this Redline MK1 Review. The coffee maker comes with really nice (and unique) features.
✓ Stronger, richer and more complete coffee flavors with the pre-infusion mode. Pre-infusion allows coffee beans for a fuller and more complete extraction. This “pre-brewing” takes 30 seconds before the actual extraction. During this time, hot water drops over coffee beans to give them a head-start on de-gassing.
✓ Manual mid-brew pause to enjoy coffee faster and allow a longer extraction time. Redline MK1 allows me to manually pause brewing to enjoy a cup of coffee faster. Likewise, I could use this option to pro-long extraction in hot water to get stronger flavors. Unfortunately, I noticed that the parking brake level can be accidentally moved, so I just had to be careful around it not to pause brewing too often!
✓ Smart design for ease, convenience and mess-free coffee prep. In my opinion, Redline MK1 coffee maker comes with two very thoughtful solutions that made coffee brewing simpler. First, though the reservoir is non-removable, it is in fact wide-open. It allowed me to pour water without spilling it all over the place. Second, I appreciate the brew basket’s slide-out. In other words, we were able to take the entire brew basket out to re-fill with coffee grounds without spilling coffee grounds all over the place.
Overall, though, MK1 is a rather simple but highly functional drip coffee maker. It is not fully programmable. However, it comes with an extended auto-off feature. It turns off after 120 minutes.
→ Performance
Owly Rating
17/20
Redline MK1 coffee maker is a reliable partner in the kitchen. It brews rich and tasty coffee within acceptable brewing time. We love the brewing temperature, which allows coffee to get richer and deeper flavors.
Brewing time: We are happy to report in this Redline MK1 review that the machine takes what drip coffee makes should take to brew coffee. The exact brewing time depends on the volume of coffee we wanted to brew. In our tests, we were able to brew 8 cups within 6 minutes. It took less time to brew smaller volumes.
Flavor: We were very pleased about my coffee from Redline MK1 coffee maker. With the technology (pre-infusion) and a neat brewing temperature, we were able to obtain complete, rich and deep coffee flavors.
Temperature: Although Redline MK1 did not allow me to control the temperature, we are happy to report that the machine brew coffee in near-to-perfect brewing temperature. In my tests, the water reached about 180-190 F degrees, which is slightly below the ideal temperature of 195 to 205 F degrees.
Noise levels: Unlike other drip coffee makers, Redline MK1 appears to be a little louder. It makes a substantial gurgling noise while brewing and spitting out hot water onto the coffee beans. In some ways, we were reminded of a percolator sounds.
Cleaning: As we were preparing this Redline MK1 review, we also tested the coffee maker in terms of the cleaning ease. It appears that some parts of this machine, specifically a carafe and a brew basket could be washed in a dishwasher. However, given how fragile those are, we decided not to risk breaking anything. Therefore, we had to wash everything manually.
On a flip side, Redline MK1 has a really simple and easy design. We were able to disassemble the coffee maker really quickly.
Customer-reported technical issues
As we were preparing this Redline MK1 review, we did not encounter any breakdowns while testing and using the product.
Similarly, Redline MK1 users appear to enjoy the coffee maker, as well. Their reflections on the coffee maker were on par with ours and had to do with the following:
- MK1 is made with lightweight plastic so it may not seem durable
- Heating plate getting too hot
- Shattered glass carafe
- Water reservoir not emptying after a full brewing cycle
→ Health and safety
Owly Rating
10/20
We feel that Redline could do a much better job with transparency. We were not able to find any information regarding the chemicals and materials used in this coffee maker. Despite plastic parts coming in contact with hot water, I did not find information whether the machine was made with BPA-, BPS- and BPF-free plastics. We connected with the manufacturer via email. The coffee maker is BPA-free.
In regards to transparency, we were disappointed with Redline MK1. As we were preparing the review, we tried to research what the product is made of. We did not find information whether Redline MK1 was made with BPA-, BPS-, or BPF-free plastics.
In fact, we looked at the Redline official website, in hopes of learning more about the company and its products. The page did not contain much information. As a matter of fact, we initially believed that Redline was a China-based company that sells in the US market.
However, we have recently heard from Redline representative. We learned a couple of things:
- The company’s design and operations are based out of Oakland, CA. (The manufacturing occurs in China.)
- The brew chamber, which comes in contact with hot water, is made out of high grade aluminum.
- All plastics in Redline MK1 are BPA-free.
We loved that follow-up from Redline. We hope that the company will make this information publicly available on the website and product pages (on Amazon, for instance).
As our readers are aware, we are typically very concerned about using products in which boiling water touches plastic.
The BPA-free status is helpful to know, but it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the production process.
Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.
Redline did not visibly publish information what kind of materials or chemicals are used, so we are not able to verify.
→ Price to value: is Redline MK1 worth the money?
Owly Rating
16/20
Redline MK1 sells in a low $$$-price point. The coffee maker offers some really good features to brew great coffee, but lacks in other more “standard” features such as programmability or strength control. Overall, a strong proposition.
Redline MK1 is a strong position among drip coffee makers. Though not as robust as some other best drip coffee makers, MK1’s design and features allowed me to get coffee that I enjoy.
Depending on the retailer, MK1 sells in a lower $$$-price point. The price-to-value ratio of Redline MK1 is very strong. Redline MK1 brews really tasty coffee. Further, it comes with some strong features, such as pre-infusion, and smart design (slide-out brew basket, pause brew).
At the same time, at this price point, some consumers might be interested in more versatile coffee machines. Some examples include a Hamilton Beach coffee maker that combines a single cup and drip coffee maker, Alexa coffee maker, or some Nespresso machines.
Should I buy Redline MK1? Owly’s verdict! 🔨
As I attempted to show in this Redline MK1 review, this is a coffee maker that balances simplicity with features geared towards brewing a cup of delicious coffee. Though lacks in more “standard” functions such as timer or programmability, Redline MK1 has a pre-infusion mode to reach deeper and more even coffee flavors.
This machine looks great and is very easy to use. We love the design. It was apparent that Redline design the coffee maker with the customer in mind. This resulted in a coffee maker that makes brewing simpler, easier and faster.
Will you get Redline MK1 coffee maker? What was your experience with MK1? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, under this Redline MK1 review!
I love these reviews and comments, but there is something I need to sort out. The words “coffee beans” are often used in describing how the machine works. Do you put whole beans in this Redline MK1? Can you use ground coffee? Thanks for clarifying.
Hi, Mary,
Great question! The machine takes ground coffee only. We specifically recommend medium grind size for drip coffee makers like the Redline MK1.
We should not use whole coffee beans, because they wouldn’t extract properly. We will correct the article so this is clearer. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.
Let us know if you have any further questions!
– Team Owly
The coffee is so hot it burnt and swelled my tongue 👅
They have the worlds hottest coffee I had to put my coffee in the fridge for 35 minutes and it was still hot but its the best coffee ever