I never run mine with the tank or basket lid on so I just stuck my thromopop right under the shower head and it read between 198 and 202 for almost the whole brew. It jumped to 204 about a half dozen times for a second or two and then right back into the 198 to 202, never below 198.
Now I do a manual bloom and I also never leave the machine as it brews. I hang out with a spoon to make sure the whole bed is evenly watered and here is what the grounds like like from the two pots I made this morning (yes it takes two whole pots just to start this family with teenagers started in the morning).
The fact that I stand there for the whole brew process proves Larry's not wrong about the brew head system and makes me really think about trying the aftermarket distributor. Does hanging out over the brew process suck some times? Yes, but I want the best cup of coffee and that is the effort I think it takes to get it. I take a lot of time picking out which green coffee beans I buy. Then I roast them at home, really getting down different roast profiles to pull the best out of each bean, finding the best blends, resting them, and grinding them seconds before brewing. I have decided I do not do all of that to then let the machine have complete control over the coffee that is finally made. I view what I do as a large pot output hybrid drip machine/pour over process. Part of the reason I most likely wouldn't get the aftermarket distributor is I don't know if I would even trust it and most likely would still be there and make sure it brews perfectly. I love the coffee it produces and my Moccamaster isn't going anywhere anything soon.
However, I have really thought about this and if I was getting my mother in law or my daughter a high end coffee pot, I don't know if I would get them a Moccamaster because of the brew head issue. I don't expect them to take the same attention to detail as me and would absolutely look at the OXO and the Breville.
I really like this post, Michael. You describe your process, and why the effort works for you to produce the cup that you like.
In case anyone cares, here's my (current?) process for coffee in my Moccamaster (I've got a KBGT from just before they redesigned the thermal carafe.) I measure 66g of beans into the hopper of my KM5 grinder, while I'm grinding that, I pop the carafe under my bar sink tap (with my left hand) so I can fill the machine with 1L of water. Typically my grind and water fill end about the same time, so I flick the switch on the MM, get the grinds in the basket and onto the machine (usually just before the boiler spurts out the first gurgle of water.) I start with the drip-stop closed, and I do a slow rotation of the basket while the MM is gurgling out of the "spray" head for a full rotation (not quite 360° as the basket handle gets in the way.) At that point, I pop the top on the basket, open the drip-stop one click and go away.
This method brews the cup I like in the MM, and I find the effort reasonable for me. Considering that I have been known to spend 7 or more hours over two days to make a loaf of bread, this is pretty low effort in the grand scheme of things......and its all stuff I can do before I'm fully awake!
Heck, if I don't want to wake anyone in the am with the grinder, some days I'll use the manual grinder (Orphan Espresso Lido) and an inverted Aeropress for a single cup!
.....or, if I'm traveling, I'll use the Knock Aerogrind after I've got my collapsible electric boiler fired up. ....yes, I'm a bit obsessed with coffee..... Which reminds me, think I'll go make an after dinner shot with my Nanopresso from Wacaco.....
Whatever you feel you need to do to make the coffee you want with the effort you feel is appropriate......do that!
R