Test Drive: Melitta Vision 12-Cup Luxe Drip Coffee Maker

An honest review of Melitta’s latest brewing device.

BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT

Featured photo courtesy of Melitta

If you’re looking for a coffee maker that treats brewing as both a craft and a visual experience,the Melitta Vision 12-Cup Luxe Drip Coffee Maker certainly makes its case. With its glowing water stage, dual heating system, and a look that could easily pass for a modern art installation, it promises both form and function. But does it deliver more than just good looks?

After several weeks of tinkering with its features, brewing in different scenarios, and noting both delights and quirks, here’s what I found.

Design & Build Quality

From the moment you unbox it, the Melitta Vision makes a statement. It’s built around a two-tower design: one side for the glass water reservoir, the other for the filter basket and borosilicate glass carafe. A faux-wood bridge joins the two, and the spiralized metal accents elevate it from “appliance” to “countertop centerpiece.”

The carafe itself is all glass—no plastic handle—which is undeniably minimalist and chic. The lid has a petal-like spiral design that mirrors the filter basket lid. The absence of plastic might make some users nervous, but the borosilicate material feels reassuringly solid.

The real party trick? The movable control panel that slides around the base. Whether your kitchen setup is cramped or open, you can position it front, side, or back for easy access. Available in black or white—with tasteful wood or copper accents—it’s clear this is a coffee maker designed for those who care about aesthetics as much as brewing performance. It’s also award-winning, having earned the Good Design Award (2021), Red Dot Design Award (2022), and IDEA Award (2022).

Specifications + Features

Dimensions

The Melitta Vision is larger than the average drip brewer, measuring about 16″ L x 6.9″ W x 15″ H and weighing 7 lbs. It runs on 120V power, with a 64 oz. water capacity (about 12 cups).

Specs:

• 180° swivel dashboard for flexible placement.
• Dual heating system—one for brewing, one for warming.
• Adjustable warming plate timer (30–120 min.).
• Touch controls with programmable timer & LCD screen.
• Cone-shaped filter basket with pause & serve function.
•  Adjustable brew strength (regular or bold).
•  Removable, dishwasher-safe filter basket.
•  Borosilicate glass carafe with plastic lid.
•  Descaling indicator.
•  Comes with #4 paper filters and scoop.

Brewing Experience

Brewing with the Melitta Vision starts simply enough—fill the water tank, insert a paper filter, add your grounds, select brew strength, and hit start. Once you do, the orange glow of the water riser kicks in, giving the process a theatrical, almost siphon-like feel.

A full pot averaged just under 10 minutes in my tests, and my thermometer consistently read brew temperatures in the 172–176°F (77–80°C) range at the carafe. The pause & serve system worked flawlessly. I pulled the carafe mid-brew at various stages—early, mid, and late cycle—and the machine stopped instantly, resuming without visible drips or noticeable flavor impact. This is handy for impatient drinkers or those who insist on a pre-taste while the rest is brewing.

Exploring Brew Modes & Heat Retention

I was eager to try the Melitta Vision’s ”Bold” mode, which essentially works by reducing the water content slightly, boosting the coffee-to-water concentration and intensifying the flavor profile. With Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, this setting brought out sharper citrus and floral notes, while the “Regular” mode softened them into a gentler, tea-like profile. With Sumatra Mandheling, Bold mode produced a denser, chocolate-heavy cup, though you risk slight bitterness if you grind too fine. In contrast, Regular mode felt more forgiving for relaxed, all-day sipping.

Programming was refreshingly intuitive—no manual needed. I tested the auto-start feature multiple times, both by setting it up right before bed and during the day. The only drawback? Overnight-prepped grounds, unsurprisingly, lost some of their freshness—but that’s not on the machine, and some might not even notice.

Heat retention is decent. The warming plate caps at 120 minutes, with a hold temperature averaging around 175°F (~79°C). That’s fine for keeping coffee piping hot, but prolonged exposure at that temp can mute delicate origin notes—especially in lighter roasts. I’d love to see adjustable warming plate temperatures to allow gentler holding (~150°F) for nuanced coffees.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Cleaning was blissfully low effort. The carafe and filter basket are both dishwasher-safe, though I found handwashing preserved the carafe’s clarity better. The rest of the unit just needs a wipe-down with a damp cloth. A built-in descaling indicator takes the guesswork out of when to deep clean.

Who It’s For

The Melitta Vision 12-Cup Luxe is best suited for coffee drinkers who see brewing as a ritual worth savoring, not just a caffeine delivery system. If you appreciate design as much as cup quality, this machine offers both in spades—with its award-winning aesthetics, glowing brew chamber, and adaptable control panel placement. 

It’s especially appealing for those who brew multiple cups at once, enjoy experimenting with different origins and roast profiles, and like the option to fine-tune strength without diving into overly complex settings.

It’s also a strong fit for households where counter space is a consideration, thanks to the swiveling dashboard that adapts to your layout. The programmable start time will win over early risers who want coffee ready as they walk into the kitchen.

At $259.99, the Melitta Vision clearly sits in the premium drip coffee maker category. You’re paying not only for solid brewing performance but also for award-winning design and materials that elevate it beyond utilitarian kitchen gear. While budget-conscious buyers may balk, for those who value both the cup and the craft—and want a machine that feels like a statement piece—the investment makes more sense.

For more details and purchasing options, visit the official website.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior online correspondent for Barista Magazine and a freelance copywriter and editor with a primary focus on the coffee niche. She has also been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, providing content to help educate people about baristas and their work.

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