ApplianceAdvisor Appliance Report GAGGENAU 800

The New Appliance Report from ApplianceAdvisor.com

GAGGENAU (a division of Bosch Siemens Home Appliances)
800-828-9165
German maker of appliances for people who don't ask "How much?"

2006 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Non-Telescoping Downdraft
Unlike all the other downdrafts ventilators out there, either fixed at counter level, or telescoping up over the cooktop when used, the new AT400 is a little bit of both. The AT400 is a fixed position snorkeling downdraft and for some kitchen designs could be the best of both worlds. The telescoping downdrafts available in North America is a close cousin of the carnival Wack-a-Mole. It is a service disaster area of whistling, vibration, jamming, and of a basic failure to perform the function for which it was designed, all in pursuit of the kitchen designer's goal of non-intrusive ventilation. The AT400 proudly embraces both its form and its function. With the flat on its top it becomes a useful centerpiece of the kitchen, shown with pride, and not locked under the counter like some ugly red headed step child. Comes in 24" and 36" widths.
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http://www.gaggenau.com/US_en/Ventilators/Ventilators-Overview/Product-Detail.do?protocol=*~AT+400&contentId=9724508

Single Burner Depth Cooktop
New 4 burner 36" ceran radiant cooktop (CE490).   Every so often this cooktop configuration pop up at KBIS (Foster, CATA, for example). They seem like good ideas because they are good ides, but they never catch on. Their failure to gain even a toehold in the market, indicates to us that the American consumer is thinking very much inside the box. Cooktop is 1" deep.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006gaggenau3.jpg

Sub-Zero Killer
One could say that the entire Bosch-Siemens family of Bosch, Gagganau and Thermador were giddy with their new modular refrigerator line. The concept of the line is based on individual, self-contained fridge or freezer columns which can be installed separately or coupled to resemble a side by side. The units are fully integrated allowing flush mounted kitchen cabinetry. Units feature button activated motorized raising and lowering of fully loaded fridge shelves.....which we guess must be important, AND the most substantial door hinges in the appliance industry.
These units are built in BSH's factory in Turkey.
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2005 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
No Cameras Allowed in the 2005 booth
Gaggenau Offers Modular Cooktops, and We Hate Module Cooktops
400 Series module cooktops
    -Tepanyaki grill
    -Induction flat wok with wok ring for $3600
    Click to Gaggenau site
    -New countertop downdraft ventilation for $1900.

27" Steam Oven?
Maybe we mis-understood since we can find no actual or promised 27" oven of any kind on the website or in the press kit.

Gagganau Gets One of the BSH Family Coffee Machines
New CM200 built in coffee machine for $2300 or so avail Q4 2006. The unit is 24" deep and like all the BSH coffee machine units seems deeply thought out.
http://www.gaggenau.com/US_en/Coffeemaker.do

New Age Warming Drawer
New WS260 glass bottom warming drawer for warming plates and cups, with resistance wires affixed directly to the glass.  We've listed the Thermador version as a best of show.
+2 points for style, -1 point for cleaning.

2004 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Induction Wok (Model Vario 400 Wok VI 411)
We must have missed this at the show, it is a 12kW ceran topped wok unit that somehow promises to also second as a normal pot unit. How? We can't imagine, and will have to wait to see what it looks like.

2003 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Did not attend the show

2002 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Cubist Wall Hood
A boxy 36" and 48" wall hood in bead blasted aluminum features variable intensity halogen lighting, electronic controls with delayed shutoff and intensive modes. Island models of the same style have been promised.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2002Appliancephotos/gaggenauboxyhood.jpg

Ceramic Electric Cooktop
The CK 494-615 36" touch control ceran cooktop features five cooking zones, timer, residual heat indicator, and automatic preheating (though we have no idea what that means)

Line Extensions
-EB290 is now available as a double oven.
-Dishwasher now available with a glass door and hidden controls

Prototypes
-Side by side 36" refrigerator with clear ice dispenser. Wine cooler is shown in photo below.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2002Appliancephotos/gaggenausidebyside.jpg

-36" gas cooktop with 5 sealed burners including a 17K center burner (Model KG291)
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2002Appliancephotos/gaggenau36gascooktop.jpg

2001 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Gaggenau did not attend KBIS, but information about new products was provided to ApplianceAdvisor and is included here as a courtesy to you.

Integrated Dishwasher
Features automatic door closing, delayed timer, dishracks that do tricks, 47 dbl. sound level, 6 dishwasher programs and a wash temperature range from 120 F to 161 F. Can wash 1/2 loads or full loads. Also features the "Eco Saver wash option which reduces cycle length by 30% without compromising cleanliness". Sounds alot like sister brand Bosch's "OptiMISER". If this feature is depending on the nutty desire of "most Americans" to rinse their dishes (probably in hot water) like the Bosch, then it might be better called the "Eco Waster". Gaggenau says that the Eco Saver puts the dishwasher on a fixed length wash program and bypasses the cycle extension powers of the water quality sensor. The dishwasher is available in 2 tub sizes to fit European or American cabinetry. These units are built in Germany. MSRP $1300. Available now.

Ceran Cooktop with Touch Controls
Features 4 radiant elements with 9 temperature levels, automatic timer, residual heat indicator, child lock, and digital display. Also includes a feature promising "quick boil" but how that differs from the 9^th temperature level, we had no idea, so we asked. The "quick boil" is a feature that provides maximum heat (level 9) for a programmable length of time (1 - 15 minutes) and then automatically reduces to a programmed coast temperature (perhaps level 5). No width, pricing or availability provided. MSRP $1300. Available now.

Double Oven
New double oven (EB294-600) has the look and features of the EB290 single oven, but doubled up. Available Qtr 4, 2001.

2000 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
New Snorkeling Downdraft
The VL051 snorkeling downdraft is a new addition to the "Vario" modular cooktop family. The VL051 unit is installed between other modules unlike traditional systems which are situated behind the cooktop. The VL051 rises when in use, (2-1/2" - 16-1/2" above the cooktop), is manually twisted to be positioned over your cooking, and automatically untwists when retracted. If an obstruction is sensed while retracting, it stops and rises, so no flipped pots, or pinched fingers. MSRP is $1200 for the system and $800 for the 240 CFM blower. Though this technology is clever and fills a need, the Advisor hates modular systems as they introduce additional seams, joints, cracks and other "never to be clean again" areas to the countertop. ApplianceAdvisor is also concerned about the manual twisting of the snorkel to a second burner after the unit had been over a first hot burner for some length of time. Is there a burn risk here? Gaggenau said the VL051 has passed UL and Gaggenau testing, but thought that in this situation, perhaps the use of cooking gloves would be wise.

Improvements To The Modular Cooktop Line
Whole Vario modular cooktop line has been touched-up and improved.

New Hood With Air Curtain Effect
The AH600 hood, first introduced at Domotechnica, employs a rotating cylinder of air under the hood called the "Coanda Effect". The AH600 sucks air in the back and blows it down in the front, somewhat similar to the $400 Broan Allure but with much spiffier styling. Gaggenau says that the Coanda Effect is not just an air curtain, it actually directs and sweeps the fumes into the hood. It has an MSRP of $2000 (includes the blower) and will be available 2nd Qtr.

New Steam Oven
The ED220 Steam Oven is pressure-less combination steam oven, with 4 humidity settings. On the market in Europe and available in the US since beginning of the 2nd Qtr. Pressurized systems restrict access to the food, and might be a little frightening to the customer. A pressure-less system allows free access to the food for checking or adding and removing different dishes. The system requires a water hookup and drain line similar to a dishwasher.

Oven With New Self Clean Features
A new oven with new automatic pyrolitic system, senses how dirty the oven is and sets its own self-clean time once you decide to operate the self-clean feature. Also includes some new cooking modes like proofing and defrosting, European convection, and new colors, (aluminum behind glass, white behind glass and, anthracite (dark) behind glass)