DeLonghi DCF212T Drip Coffeemaker with Convenient Front Access

When my $100 coffee maker quit, I researched coffee makers and found this model from DeLonghi I hadn't heard of before. The design of this model sets a new standard for on-the-counter coffee makers. It is incredible to be able to put the filter, coffee, AND WATER in the maker without moving the machine. The caraffe doesn't drip when pouring into the swing out arm (or into the cup later) so there's no messy drips to wipe up at any time.

The digital clock isn't the quickest to set since you have to hold a button in as it changes in minutes only, but hopefully that won't need set often.

The "aroma" button really works! There actually is a difference in the brewing aroma with it on.

Most importantly, the end product was a great cup of coffee! I'm thrilled with the coffee maker and haven't found a single negative aspect yet, including the price. I HIGHLY recommend this model. Kudos Delonghi, you really outdid yourself here. Amazon's shipping was simple and fast. The whole purchasing experience was exceptional. A+++++

I just got this coffee maker a few days ago and for the most part I like it, but, and this is a major but for me, the coffee just isn't quite hot enough. I find myself throwing my cup in the microwave to get it piping hot, not scalding but hot. It's nice looking, the front water loading is convenient, the coffee tastes good, but I wouldn't buy it again because of the temperature issue.

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I had the same leaking problem that another reviewer had. After about 1 month of daily use this unit starts leaking from the back and liquid coffee goes down to the warming plate making a mess and causing a burnt coffee smell. The company kindly sent me another unit but the same thing happened. So now they are sending me a second replacement and I chose a different model which hopefully will be more reliable. But based on the review on that unit I am not optimistic that unit is any better.

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Summary: it died after 40 days.

I did my homework before picking this one, relying a lot on other reviewers' comments. I concede that the pour-from-the-front feature was appealing, but after getting the machine, I realized that it's not such a great design. Because the water channels through this front access swing-out arm, it's very difficult to REMOVE unwanted water, not to mention grounds that somehow end up in the reservoir. When I used a flashlight to examine the reservoir, I was appalled at how scummy it was, even after only a few weeks' usage.

The digital clock is terribly clumsy. To set the clock or brew time, you must hold down a single button until it reaches the desired time. The brew time defaults to 6AM, so if you want to set it for 5AM, you must cycle through 23 hours of counting.....and if you want to change it for the weekend, it's very awkward. Hey, this is 2008! Can't you do better than this, DeLonghi? This is a stone-age digital clock!

But the bottom line was simply this: the heating element stopped working after only 40 days of use. That's simply not acceptable. In the past, a coffeemaker could be expected to last for many years of daily use. Sadly, none of the "imported" coffeemakers I've tried recently can match that performance. This model was an exceptional failure.

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I bought this coffee maker about 4 months ago and it is already in the garbage. After the first month coffee would slowly come out of the carafe around the silver strip near the bottom and get on the burner and the smell of burnt coffe would fill the house. Then this weekend as I was filling the carafe with water it cracked. Carafe's online are $20 + shipping. NOT WORTH IT! So, I went out and bought a Cuisnart Coffee on Demand 12 cup programmable coffee maker and so far it is wonderful! Flavorful and hot coffee and even better there is no carafe to worry with!!!

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Philips Saeco RI9822/47 Talea Giro Plus Automatic Espresso Machine, Silver and Titanium

Definitely worth 5 stars overall in my estimation having done lots of research and knowing its limitations before the purchase. Quality of the espresso produced surpasses almost all coffee shops including Charbucks and others by far. An expert barrista may be able to produce slightly better quality, but even their results are not consistent.

I previously returned a Jura-Capresso 13423 Impressa S9 One Touch Automatic Coffee-and-Espresso Center, Platinum because it produced inferior espresso and frothed milk with gigantic lukewarm bubbles. I would not have returned it (even at that price) if it had performed as well as the Talea. (THANK YOU AMAZON for a great return policy.) In fairness to the Jura, maybe it was faulty at the finest setting the grounds looked very coarse coarser than I would use for French-Press coffee.

The Talea cost 1/3 the price, produces far superior espresso, and very acceptable frothed milk BUT it is made of plastic and not stainless which might be a more important disadvantage for some. The ceramic grinder is quieter, producing very noticeably finer espresso-sized grounds at the factory middle setting (experimentation proved this setting to be the best) than the Jura set to the finest grind. Consequently the coffee is much stronger than the single scoop of coffee would suggest (as compared with the Jura's 2 smaller scoops).

Within 80 seconds after switching it on, it completes a warm-up procedure which includes passing some 2oz of hot water (I use it to pre-heat my cup) through the two dispensing nozzles and is ready to brew coffee. The relatively small size of the spent coffee-puck bin, dregs tray, 8oz bean hopper, and 57oz water reservoir can be annoying when you are making numerous coffees, but I see the positive here "The Nasties" do not build up. Rinsing the puck-bin and dregs tray under warm water each time I refill the water container takes much less than one minute usually only once per day. The steam wand also needs wiping down and flushing with steam after each use to prevent "The Nasties" and I pull off the stainless part and wash it and wipe the internal pipe after each session of multiple frothings.

I choese not to use the expensive water filters because my soft tap-water will require few descalings. Weekly rinsing of the easily removed brew-group (the plastic guts of the machine) is easily accomplished without using expensive chemicals. At the same time I soap and rinse the water reservoir, puck bin, and dregs-tray. Lubrication of moving parts of the brew-group (using the food-safe lubricant provided) is suggested after 500 brewing cycles. Every 2 months should do it for my usage.

A ½oz ristretto is too strong for me if more than "1 bean" (7gm of coffee grounds) coffee strength is selected. When making a long coffee (6oz of coffee in an 8oz cup) "1 bean" is fairly strong, "2 beans" is strong, and "3 beans" (10.5gm of coffee grounds) is too strong and I like strong coffee. The "Saeco Brewing System" is easily adjusted to produce espressos with lots of crema or long coffees with little crema and greatly improved taste. This is not the sales gimmick I had suspected it to be. Froth is of a fairly good quality easily matching most store-bought coffees, but a good barrista can always produce far superior frothed milk on a high-powered semi-automatic machine.

When I ran out of my regular, every-day coffee (Lavazza Super Crema) I used a local high-quality medium-roast coffee which was quite oily (must have been rather old tasted below par) but the ceramic grinder handled these with ease. Though I would never use them (their taste is so inferior to my palate) dark roasts always tend to be oily and are best-avoided in super-automatics where cleaning the grinder becomes a major issue. Medium and light roasts work best with all super-automatics. The by-pass doser is excellent for decaf. coffee and the single-origin beans I use occasionally, though I have to use my separate burr grinder for them. Even though I am making more coffee drinks per day because it is so quick and easy, I am using less coffee. Wasted/stewed coffee is effectively eliminated.

This machine will accommodate mugs of 5½" (6¼" if drip tray is removed). Even my Nissan Travel mugs can be filled directly from the machine using the double brew feature (2 quick presses of the brew button gives 2 complete, consecutive brew cycles) for 2 x 6½oz = 13oz of coffee again from fairly strong (1 bean/14gm coffee) through too strong (3 beans/21gm coffee).

I use several different styles and sizes of cup (for ristrettos, espressos, long coffees, lattes, macchiatos, and cappuccinos) so I PREFER the simple selection process this machine offers to that of the more-programmable and more-expensive Talea Touch model. For me it would be a pain to have to enter programming mode because the available 3 selections does not cover the range of drinks, sizes, and strengths I make. AND I only have to make 2 adjustments each time (size, strength) before pressing the brew button compared to 1 button on the Talea Touch.

The one big question I have about this machine (and all other "super-automatics") is long term reliability. They all have plastic "brew-groups" the working parts which do the tamping, brewing, and ejection of spent coffee pucks, and these may be this type of machine's weakest link BUT replacement brew-groups are available for $60. I quickly discovered that this was the culprit when the warning light came on when everything was OK (bean hopper and water reservoir full, puck-bin and dregs tray empty). During the weekly maintenance I now vacuum the machine all around the (removed) brew-group supports, and gently waggle the brew-group as I re-insert it to ensure that it is correctly and fully seated. No longer a problem and the weekly maintenance takes less than 5-minutes.

My 5 Stars would be less if a stainless body and larger capacities were more important to me. So far I am delighted with both the ease of use and quality of product. Though better coffees may be possible, this barrista (and most others) cannot produce them consistently.

I have owned this machine for only a month. In that time I have not used any of my numerous other coffee-makers. It is producing 5 to 15 good quality coffees per day without fuss or waste. Any change and I shall revisit this review.

I have had my saeco talea Giro for about two years now. It had to be serviced once during this time. The machine is a bit touchy and you really have to get to know how it works before you can judge it. First of all you have to keep it cleaned and de-scaled to keep it in good working order. If you have no time for this then do not buy it. Lights will come on before you start to brew to let you know you have to clean out the coffee grounds or empty the water well. This can be annoying if you are ready to have an espresso and you have to stop and clean things out. It will not work unless this is done first. So what I do after I brew is take the time and clean and empty grounds so the next time it is ready to go. With that said, I absolutely love making my latte it is of the highest quality that you would find at Starbucks or any other great coffee house. I even take it with me on vacation, if I can. I think for the money though, it should be made of stainless steel and not plastic on the outside. Also the drip tray should be make more sturdy to hold a large cup and not break off like mine did. If you have any problems with this machine after warranty you have to ship it off to a dealer that fixes these machines. That can me troublesome and you have to do without your espresso machine for weeks. I did give this a high rating because of the excellent quality of espresso and lattes. In the end that is why I bought the machine.

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I've had this machine almost a year and have used it at least once a day with no problems. It's my first expresso machine so it's really my testing machine. It makes great expresso and it's very quick and easy but as previous reviewer said, it's a bit touchy and I found the initial learning curve annoying.

Pros: I can make multiple cups easily.

It has the ability to select shot size, strength of expresso and the amount of water dispensed with the shot.

It has a pre-ground coffee bypass feature which I love for late night decaf and trying different brands for different family members tastes.

Because it warms quickly I can have a latte before work in the morning.

As semi automatic its convenient, consistent and makes great lattes.

No more costly Starbucks!

Cons :You have to stay on top of the maintenance and prep.

Lights will come on if the grounds aren't emptied and water tank filled.

It takes up a good bit of counter space.

It's plastic and the drip tray does not support a large coffee cup filled with milk for steaming. I have to prop it with another cup.

I gave it 4 stars because, as a semi automatic, it produces wonderfully consistent expresso and lattes, is very easy to use and it's fast. As a starter machine it's great and when I move on up I'll know what I want in my next machine.

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I purchased this machine after 12 years with the Athena from Starbucks. Granted the Athena was not automatic and would really have enjoyed an automatic machine. This one was pretty bad. I have only had this one for two weeks. I did have to get used to the warm up procedure every morning when I turned it on. It dispensed one shot of water through the espresso spout and another shot of water through the milk frother. It just konked out on me today. I used the machine with the bean grinder for espresso shots for my husband and the coffee bypass one for decaffinated grounds for myself. It had a tendency to trigger the warming up light. Today the water light kept coming on after I dispensed my one shot of espresso. The water tank was half full. I filled the water tank and shut it back. I was finding myself slamming the door to get the machine to register that I had done what it had asked. Frequently I had to pull the main espresso part out and slam it back in with all the doors to get it to register. I feel like I'm doing the same thing I had to do with an old copier in the office. Not a good sign for a high end machine. Well today after two weeks it just gave out. I tried turning the machine on and off. I took the water tank out filled it up with water, slammed it back in its spot and the dredges drawer and still it wouldnt turn off the maintenance light and the water light came off. I turned the water light off and still no espresso, I could still get water from the frother but no espresso.

I've had it, sending it back. Its not like it was a $50 machine. Maybe I should be expecting performance from a $2000 machine?

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This machine was a wedding gift from our uncle that he purchased on Amazon. So far we are very pleased with the coffee it makes. The espressos have a lovely crema every time, and the milk steamer practically works on its own, you can just place your milk container on the drip tray and let it do its work, you will always get really smooth foam. My husband calls this machine idiot proof, once you have set the dials to your preferred settings, you simply place your cup and push a button for a great espresso every time. One thing we should mention, however, is we did read the manual carefully and realized if you want optimum results on the long-term it's important to follow their suggestions regarding cleaning and maintenance of the machine. All in all we really love the machine and hope it maintains it's great performance for a long time.

UPDATE: We have had this machine now for more than two months and it continues to brew perfect coffee day after day with no problems whatsoever. We brew on average 6 to 8 cups of coffee each day with this machine. The more we use it, the more we love it. Cleaning and maintenance is very easy. Again, if you follow the regular cleaning and maintenance cycles for this unit you should have no problems with it. We have a local Saeco distributor close to us and were happy to find that regardless that we purchased the unit from Amazon, they were happy to advise on best coffee types and other information specific to this model along with replacement parts, descaler liquid and water filters for this unit when required. This is a very simple unit to use. It looks amazing we always get comments from guests about what an amazing coffee machine we have and it continues to work perfectly day after day. If I could say, if you have the extra money, the upgrade to the digital display model Philips Saeco RI9828/47 Talea Touch Plus Automatic Espresso Machine would be a nice touch for the extra hundred dollars.

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Gaggia Decalcifier Descaler Solution

The bottle directions conflict with those in the Operating Instructions guide. We adapted the directions in the Operating Instructions guide. Here's what worked for us:

Remove shower disc by unscrewing the screw under the brew head. Clean filter. Do not reinsert.

Pour entire bottle into water tank.

Turn on pump for 15 seconds.

Put cup under brew head. Press brew button and run for several seconds.

Put cup under steam spout. Do not press steam button. Instead, press brew button. Solution should come out spout. Run for several seconds.

Wait 20 minutes.

Repeat until all solution has been run through.

Rinse by running plain cold water through machine.

Replace the shower disc.

Hope this helps!

Unless I am mistaken no-where can you find how much liquid is required for each descaling operation. The product instructions refer you to the coffee makers instruction manual, in my case a Gaggia, and the coffee machine instructions refer you to the descaler instruction book-this being a programmed descaling operation.

That apart, it would seem to work fine

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Only reason I didn't rate it a 5 star is because there are instructions that came with my Gaggia machine and different instructions that came with the Gaggia decalcifier. Unfortunately neither one really is clear as to how much water should be used just use the bottle and fill your reservoir. Since different machines have different size reservoirs, it leaves you wondering what exactly you should do. So I just followed the directions as per the bottle and it seemed to clean the machine pretty well.

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Not exciting and a bit pricy for what it is (fancy vinegar?), but seems to be keeping my Gaggia machine clean and happy.

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If you have a Gaggia machine, don't think twice about it. Protect your investment by using "this" descaling product. The process is easy and, if you use your machine the way I do...perhaps twice per day, then 1 bottle will last you a year. That's not too much to spend to keep your Gaggia machine working like new. The time invested...30 45 minutes...is time easily and well spent.

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Farberware Percolators

I've happilly enjoyed Farberware's larger 20-cup electric percolator that is still brewing some wonderful coffee after 10 years. All I had to replace was the electric cord, which petered out after 3 years.

I've had this model for a few months and think that it will also last a long, long time (don't know about the cord, though). This machine looks terrifically retro, is easy to clean and keeps the coffee consistenly hot for hours. After tasting coffee here, you won't go back to your old drip machine.

My advice to you is:

1. Don't overfill the basket with grinds, because it's very easy to make a STRONG cup of coffee with this. We like strong coffee, so this is a good thing.

2. Clean it w/soap & water as soon as you are finished with it to protect the pot. I also clean it out with Dip-It every 6 weeks or so to remove the coffee stains from the inside and make it shiny and new-looking.

3. At most supermarkts you can buy little paper disc filters that sit in the bottom of the jar and keep the smaller grinds from falling into the water. It also filters out alleged carcinogens that are not removed by traditional percolators or coffee presses.

I would actually give this 4.5 stars, because sadly, these newer models are now made in China rather than the Farberware factory in the Bronx.

had one for over ten years, loved it. now they're made in china and i've had to buy 2 in the last year. i'm an aircraft mechanic and the thermostat has failed. it's a 5 dollar part and farberware refuses to sell the part or even identify the part number for it. if the coffemaker is within 18 months of the datecode on the bottom they'll replace it. what a waste of time and effort!! if i had the part i could fix it in ten minutes. farberwares' customer service reps on the phone are the worst. you can get the thermostat for the larger models probably because of the higher cost. if this were an aircraft, there would be an emergency bulletin sent out to replace the part with one that is more reliable. farberware has really dropped the ball on quality and service. if this were one of my products i would be embarrassed to sell it. i would recall the entire lot until it was fixed. if you google fcp412 you'll find dozens of complaints.

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I have purchased 2 of these pots in the last 16 months. The last one in Feb. They both worked great for 6 months or so then the heating units seem to fail. Only got warm tan water this morning! Same thing my last one did after about 8 months! Great pot if you only need one for 6 months. Am on Amazon looking for something that will last a little longer!

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For the coffee traditionalist AND for those who long for the taste and smell of home!

This little perc has been a presence in our family for thirty or forty years. After I left home several decades ago, I evolved into a coffee press/Peet's fanatic myself, but when I brought my parents to live with me, the little Farberware Perc came with them, and I quickly reverted back to that fresh perked taste and smell. The coffee makes up fast and goes fast, so you never have that old perked coffee smell in your house or that syrupy brown gunk to deal with, and these chubby little Farberware droids last forever. Fortunately my folks decided they liked Maxwell House Colombian better than the Master Blend, and we brew several pots of this delicious liquid a day.

Warning: do not compare this coffee experience to your Peet's or Zabar's cafe presse instead think of diners and grandma's house!

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This is a wonderful little perk. I've had it for almost a month and used it every day, sometimes twice a day.

Speed of coffee prep: A+ (doesn't really take longer than a drip machine)

Speed of perking: A+

Temperature and Temperature maintenance: A+

Ease of cleaning: A+

(Day-to-day cleaning: rinses out easily with very little elbow grease, and you should also buy some percolator cleaner you can find it at most grocery stores hidden amongst the dishwasher stuff. You use this stuff about once a week or approx. every 5-10 uses to clean any stains or grounds buildup. I use about a TBS. of powder and one perk cycle, rinse powder residue, and voila, it's perfectly clean cleans the "slots" without scrubbing)

Design: B+

(the manufacturer's label piece on the front started coming off immediately, but since this has absolutely nothing to do with the perk's function, I'm too lazy to return it).

If you have never used a perk before, or have used a different kind, you may need to experiment a bit with how finely or coarsely you grind your beans, and your preferred ratio of water to coffee beans. But when you find that right balance to suit your taste buds, well, you'll never want to go back to a drip coffee maker!

Note #1: This is a 2-4 cup perk. This means 2-4 SMALL cups of coffee. If you're like me, your coffee cup is more like a 12-16 oz. cup. I fill with water to the 3 or 4 cup (max) line, and I only get about 1 1/2 cups of coffee out of this. I think the 4-cup max means 4 6-oz or 8-oz cups of java. So if you want more than 2 decent-sized cups of joe without having to make another pot, I'd suggest buying the larger version of this perk. This size is perfect for a limited coffee drinker, or someone who's single. It's small (and kind of cute).

Note #2: I do wish they'd start making these with an auto shut off option. Some folks don't want an auto shut off, but some of us would. The perk does lower the temperature to a keep-hot setting, but if you leave this baby plugged in all day, you may arrive home to the smell of burnt coffee. Depending on how much coffee is left in it, the coffee will eventually reduce/evaporate even on the keep-hot setting. I made this mistake once, and so I've learned to always unplug the percolator after I pour my cuppa joe.

March 2011 UPDATE

Nearly 4 years later, this little baby still works great. I've washed daily with soap and water and maintained it with Dip-It cleaner every 2 weeks or so, and it's still in great shape and making great coffee.

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Nespresso U D50 Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Milk Frother in Orange + 40 Capsule Carousel + 2 Ston

The machine is great! The U D50 produces the expresso within a minute and the Aeroccino has the milk ready in another minute. The best tasting cappuccino within minutes.

The machine took a little while to get here but the Amazon team resolved the issues professionally and proactively.

Recommend both the machine and the service for a great experience.

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Cloer 12-Cup Bitterness Eliminating Coffee Maker

Update 9/27/12 Strange all of the negative reviews. Other then the original carafe which they did replace I have been using this every day for close to a year and have not had a single problem. Buying great coffee in the first place is important...

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Update: They have a new all glass carafe that has no spill.

I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to coffee but flavor is most important to me. For over ten years I have been roasting my own. I also use a burr grinder the second most important step in coffee flavor. The third step of course is brewing which requires the water temperature to be about 200 degrees F when it hits the coffee grounds.

I have a vac pot which guarantees the temperature is correct due to the fact it has to get that hot for the water to get to the top. But it takes time and requires cleanup. I have a French Press which is also great for flavor but requires clean up and to some can be a bit muddy. For weekday use when time is limited first thing in the morning I have had a Technivorm which is the only brewer certified by the national coffee association for its temperature. But for brewing coffee it fails for how expensive it is. It is built more like a backyard still. I prefer a cup of coffee so I've never owned an espresso machine. I've been searching for a new brewer for quite some time until I came across the Cloer.

My first interest in the Cloer was its maintaining correct temperature which is very important. I don't have a thermometer that would accurately measure the temp but the flavor is as good as the other brewing options that I have.

I have always filtered the water. The Cloer accepts a water filter model MAXTRA by Mavea.

It has a builtin timer so that you know when to replace the filter.

There are two sets of markers in the water reservoir to determine the correct level using a filter or not.

The basket swings out after pressing the button on top and is removable for cleaning. It will stop the flow so that you can remove the carafe during brewing.

You can brew up to 12 cups.

There is an automatic setting to turn on at a specific time but I will never use it as I prefer fresh ground coffee (immediate).

The brewer will shut off after two hours. The digital readout counts out how much time has passed after the brewing has stopped.

You can easily adjust the warming plate temperature by simply pressing the up and down buttons. There are indicators on the display. This is a nice feature as the plate on most brewers gets too hot.

This is a great little brewer with some nice features that isn't over priced, easy to use and brews at the correct temperature!

I compared the new Cloer 12-cup coffee maker to my go-to machine, a Bunn ThermoFresh, using my favorite beans, freshly ground in a Breville conical burr grinder; filtered water and paper filters in each machine. Cloer's machine produced a cup of coffee with more body and more complex and lasting flavor, which I believe is due to better extraction from the bean during brewing. Cloer uses a 'pulse' brewing system due to the way its two-tank hot water system works: cold water is taken from a reservoir about a half-cup at a time and heated to 200 F. before it is released through the grounds. This results in a more stable water temperature throughout the brewing cycle in comparison to machines that heat the water all at once and then begin cooling down until their heater cycles on again. The Cloer machine has water measurements marked on the inside of the tank and on the stainless steel strip on the control panel, with cups of coffee marked on the glass carafe as well. I find this handy for making a partial pot of beverage. Unlike the Bunn, which has a stainless steel thermal carafe, the Cloer machine includes a warming plate (temperature adjustable by set levels)to keep the coffee uniformly hot for the life of the brew.

The Bunn machine also has a two-tank system but its system serves a different purpose: a full pot of water is heated and then continuously showered through the grounds. Meanwhile, a separate tank of cold water is waiting to be drawn into the system in case a second pot needs to be brewed. The Bunn system is fussy in comparison to Cloer: to get a new pot of coffee out of the Bunn, I always have to put a new pot of cold water into the first tank. For me, this leaves day-old filtered and once-heated water sitting in the system, waiting for me to make a pot of coffee that will never be truly 'fresh.' It is not that Bunn's engineers are 'lame'; their machine is designed for holding hot water all the time and for being on day and night. Their first pot of coffee can be made without waiting for water to come up to temperature, which can be an advantage getting ready for work at home or in keeping the coffee flowing at the office.

As with so many things today, coffee machines are made in China to engineering specifications from elsewhere. Cloer is engineered in Germany. The materials used in making the machine are 'upmarket' where plastics are concerned, having a pleasant 'soft touch.' Parts seem hefty and solid and tolerances on the coffee maker for fit are good. As with all button displays/controls, it helps to read the users manual to set the machine up. The process is not tricky, just different. Where things need to come apart for cleaning they do and they give the assurance that they will fit securely back together as well.

NEW DATA: THE ORIGINAL CARAFE HAS BEEN REPLACED! This new carafe features a simple glass pot with a 'typical' plastic top that doesn't have any place for water vapor or coffee liquid to seep into before it leaks all over your tablecloth. Materials are still up-market but now the design works! Many of us found that the original carafe developed a small but annoying leak around the rim or spout. This did not make the machine unusable but minor mopping was required. I passed this problem on to Salton, the machine's importer, and they 'kicked the problem up the line' and I now have a new and completely functional carafe, provided free of charge. I am advised that future shipments will include the improved pot.

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I have owned many coffee makers over the years, but this one is perfect. The design is amazing; simple, beautiful, easy to use, functional. The coffee it produces is so smooth and bitterness free, that my husband and I talk about it every morning since we bought it. The coffee it makes is "head and shoulders" above any coffee maker I have ever owned.

The carafe pours without spilling. the reservoir is easy to access and even has a light. I am so glad I spent the extra money to buy it. It was so worth it. I had a Krupp before which i paid $83.00 for and it was a disaster.(Thankfully I took it back, and I rarely take stuff back) It dripped, the reservoir was difficult to pour into and it got coffee grounds all inside the machine and was difficult to clean, and the coffee was bitter.

I only use the best coffee and grind my own beans as it is such a treat to have great coffee in the morning. This coffee pot make the best ever!!! I just bought a second one for our office.

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I have been looking for a good coffee maker for a long time. This is my 5th machine, well the search is over. The coffee smells good brewing and tastes even better. I was getting a bitter aftertaste from my coffee I tried all different brands, did cleanings, nothing helped.

This company has won all types of awards all over the world for its'superior quality. I can see why. It looks very modern on the counter but more importantly it makes great coffee.

When you get it home all you have to do is wash the carafe and the filter holder. Plug in and set the time, run a water only cycle then you are ready to brew. After all my searching I wasn't holding my breath that this would be fantastic but as it turns out it is. You can use an optional water filter in it to remove impurities in you water if you choose. It is not included. I have a PUR faucet filter so mine is getting double filtered.

The secret to this great coffee is in the two heating chambers that make the water a perfect 200 degrees as it flows through 18 shower type holes. This is the perfect temperature for great coffee. I never knew what the problem was just that all the models I tried had the same problem bitter aftertaste.

It uses the #4 cone filters or you can use a gold or metal cone #4 filter (not included).

I had heard that the pour spout spills every time. I have not had this happen even using my left hand and I am right handed. I did notice you have to tip it more before it starts to pour but after the second time you are used to it. I really can not find any cons on this machine. It does all it says it will do and looks good doing it. I highly recommend this model to anyone who enjoys a great cup of coffee.

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I was skeptical about the promise of a coffeemaker that brews a less bitter cup of coffee. In my experience all my coffeemakers produce acidic bitter coffee. In fact, my husband and I gave up coffee for quite awhile because of the bitterness. This time I was wrong. The Cloer coffeemaker does make less better coffee. The aroma is wonderful and the flavor is full bodied.

I particularly like:

The timer. It lets me know when the heating element will shut off. That lets me judge whether I need to make another pot.

The carafe feels good in my hand. I have had no trouble with spills.

The filter is easy to install. I particularly like the ability to see how much time I have before having to buy another filter. Use the clean button to determine the state of the filter.

The brewing system is exceptional. I was surprised that heating the water in increments made such a difference.

Some things I wish were different:

While I like the carafe, I wish it wasn't glass. I have a terrible tendency to break glass pots. However, this coffeemaker makes tastier coffee that my Melita with a carafe type pot.

I wish I didn't have to keep heating the coffee for two hours to keep it serve-able. I do think the coffee tastes better over time if it's not being continually heated. However, with the Cloer, I can choose one of four temperature settings and keep it on the lowest one, so that's a plus.

I highly recommend this coffeemaker, if you love coffee.

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Oggi EZ Grip Tea Canister, Black

It's pretty much what I expected, and will suffice for storing my tea, but the hinge is VERY weak. It will probably break before too many uses, and doesn't guide the lid down easily for sealing.

First, the product description says that canister is supposed to be attractive and keeps tea dry and safe from air.

In the canister that I got, the back hinge of the lid was angled wrong (wasn't symmetric), preventing the lid from closing down completely. I noticed this only after putting in my loose tea and flipping the canister upside down tea leaves came falling out. Not only is it not air tight, it's not even tea tight.

The white "T-E-A" letters were also carelessly printed on the canister, with the "E" aligned above the "T" and the "A", and with the "A" slightly on an angle. It was one of the first things that my coworkers noticed, and I imagine that's not something one would want anyone noticing in their first impression of the canister.

Since I couldn't use it to hold my tea, or even keep it around for people to see, I chose to return it immediately after finding these defects.

I did like the spoon holder that is built into the canister. It was a nice touch.

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First, while the inside is not quite big enough to hold a full pound of coffee, this canister is very large outside. This is due to the handle design. So don't be fooled into thinking this is a small canister that won't take up much space on your counter.

Second, the decal is obviously put on by hand by someone who is not concerned with getting the letters straight or even. The letters in the word TEA are at varying heights and spaces and angles.

And last but certainly not least, the latch to close the canister has already come apart after only two weeks of use, which pretty much makes an airtight canister useless.

I would NOT recommend this to anyone. These canisters look good in the pictures, but they won't look good on your counter and they won't work for you (at least not for long).

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I have looked at my local stores for a sealed container of this type and only found clear. This works great and handle makes it very convenient to use.

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The only thing that could improve in my opinion is the amount of space that is lost to the handle. I can't fit a pound of tea into this container because of the giant handle space. I like the scoop and how fresh the seal keeps my tea.

Black & Decker DCM600W 5-Cup Drip Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe, White

Black & Decker 5-Cup Coffeemaker is an inexpensive & quick way to a delicious cup of coffee. The size of the pot is perfect for one person or two. So easy to use & easy clean up. Nice, clean lines. Great gift idea.

Note: when filling the water resovoir & pouring the coffee, it's best to use the thumb tab to lift the carafe lid, otherwise the liquid tends to over flow the spout.

This appliance makes just the right amount of coffee for me with all its faults. The water guage is invisible unless you close the lid. If you close the lid how do you pour in the water? The overfill guide is two holes in the water compartment. If by accident, you overfill, you have water all over the counter. After the coffee is made, the entire appliance is dripping with condensation. The price is right but sure has lots of design problems.

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This will be the THIRD one of this particular B&D model that I will be purchasing. OK, call me "insane" but I have liked the way it makes coffee and will just put up with its drawbacks which I wish B&D would fix:

(1) Without a Pause(to stop drips) it still can drip and any water/coffee that falls on the hot plate WILL corrode it over time. On my second one of this model I even covered the hot plate with foil at the outset to prevent the corrosion but over time (a year or little over) the foil corroded and, thus, the hot plate;

(2) On/Off button broke. On this second model, the On/Off button simply cracked and then fell off. I had to discard this coffeemaker due to the danger of electrical shock.

Other than that, I've been pleased with its size and the coffee it brews.

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This is an update for my original review shown below. After having the pot several more months, I have noticed that the hot plate does get corroded from hot coffee dripping on it. Also, one other problem, which has also been mentioned by other reviewers is that pouring out the coffee can get messy it tends to drip and dribble unless you pour slowly and keep the lid raised while pouring. However, considering how much use I get out of it (at least three pots of coffee or hot water a day), I'm still happy with it and my original rating of four stars stands. If B & D can come up with a better, non-drip carafe and a hot plate that doesn't corrode, they'd earn five stars from me.

The Black & Decker 5-cup coffeemaker is a good little basic pot for those times when you only need to make enough coffee for one or two people. I generally use a 16 oz. mug for my coffee and with this pot I get almost two mugs full. One of the other reviewers mentioned that the hot plate portion of their pot had corroded from the coffee dripping onto it. I haven't had that problem but I've only had my pot for about three months. There are no bells and whistles with this machine no timers, automatic shutoff, etc. It's just a good basic coffeemaker for people who don't want to make a big pot of coffee when all they want is a cup or two.

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Black and Decker DCM600 5 Cup Drip coffeemaker without serve and pause AND I LOVE IT FOR THAT REASON. Old fashion simple design . The serve and pause feature is one feature that breaks easy. The 5 cup capacity is unique . It's not too small and not to big. But the biggest draw for this model is that I don't need to use the carafe if I only need a small 16 oz of coffee , all I need is to put my mug instead of the carafe. Most mug will fit under this model. with pause and serve model , it is not possible . The newest single serve coffee will cost $35$150 dollars like the Kurig but we will have to buy a coffee that will fit in the machine which in the long run could cost more . So overall by price and convenient Black & Decker DCMM600W is the winner. I am ordering my 4th one. I give one as a gift . I put one at work and I gave away one to my daughter so Ineed one at home for myself.Hopefully black and Decker will continue this model. I called this the classic one .Unfortunately they are hard to buy . Not too many are available in store. Specially the Black Model.

Breville BES860XL Barista Express Espresso Machine with Grinder

I spent my Christmas 2009 reviewing expresso machines. I had just returned from a trip to Europe and finally was going to fold and get an expresso machine. I missed the expresso from Italy and France. 1oz of crema delight.

So, I liked the Breville from all the reviews but was worried about some of the negativity on the "wet puck" I had read. All the reviews mentioned excellent coffee though, so it was on my short list.

Then I saw the Breville BES860XL, also known as the Barista Express Programmable Expresso. From the looks you can tell this unit has exchanged the hot water dispenser for a bean grinder. This unit is a fully automatic expresso machine with the super automatic feature of grinding a pre-measure of beans for your brew. Note, it is not a super automatic machine as you still need to manually mount the portafilter into the group head, and clean the filter afterwards. This is as automatic as you will want to go if you want to really control your coffee.

But, let me walk you through the pleasure:

1. the box. this has excellent graphics -even as you open, the getting started guide and pictures guide you along. The unit removes easily.

2. The tamper is magnetically held in place on the front of the machine -you can use it in place or remove for manual tamping.

3. New: -there is a dry puck feature now for all the fussy reviews -this removes excess water so you get, a dry puck

an excellent burr grinder -you can dismantle this for cleaning, and it has a wide range of control

for those that previously complained about the "cheat" dual wall filters -the unit comes with single and double dual wall AND single wall filters

there is a hideaway storage tray to hold all the small goodies

4. Steaming -excellent steam temperature and pressure -works very well with the provided frothing jug, very minimal excess water to start

5. The real test. I am using the dual wall filters, and the Illy whole expresso beans I got from Italy were made into pure heavenly expresso. Nice crema. This is the real thing.

This is one finely engineered machine. From a mechanically inclined electrical engineer to the folks at Breville: you have created an exceptionally functional piece that does the job. Did I mention it is beautiful on the counter as well? I have it on an island, no bad sides.

Drawbacks: none. BUT, when making a real expresso shot, make sure you pre-warm your demitasse. Otherwise the expresso will heat up your cup and your coffee will not be hot. I run a water cycle first into my cup to heat up the group head and the cup.

In my opinion this is the best buy in the market under $1500. At the office, daily I use a super automatic machine that is at that top end.

The Barista Express is Breville's newest (and most expensive) offering in its line of espresso machines (which includes the Breville 800ESXL Commercial Espresso Machine and the BES830XL Die-Cast Programmable Espresso Machine). It is a semi-professional machine designated for the "aspiring barista" and the "beginner."

The major selling points of the Barista Express are:

(1) patented dual-wall filters to help novices make a respectable cup of espresso without a lot of fuss. Breville has also included regular (single-walled) filters to allow a user the freedom to craft a cup of espresso like a professional barista would.

(2) the integrated burr grinder

A burr grinder (as opposed to a blade grinder) is ideally suited for grinding coffee beans because they generate less frictional heat than a conventional blade grinder. (Excessive heat degrades the quality of coffee beans. See Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder)

(3) coffeehouse-quality espresso right in your own home in under 2 minutes flat.

My experience with Breville Barista Express has been mostly positive. I'm especially impressed by how easy it is to make a delicious-tasting cup of espresso! Here's a detailed assessment:

Single-Wall and Dual-Wall Filters

Breville has included 2 types of filter: (1) the single-wall filter and (2) the double-wall filter. Each type of filter comes in 2 sizes (single-shot and double-shot) -for a total of 4 filters.

> Single-Wall Filter (Non-Pressurized Filter)

With the single-wall filter, getting the tamp pressure and grind size just right are of paramount importance for making a good cup of espresso. Under-extraction results in a watered-down espresso with little creama (foam head). The espresso will also taste a little sour. Over-extraction, on the other hand, makes the espresso overly bitter. I'll tell you, I have ruined many a cup of coffee because of under-extraction or over-extraction. Getting it right will take a lot of patience, practice, and experimentation.

> Dual-Wall Filter (Pressurized Filter)

I really appreciate the dual-wall filters Breville has included in the package for a beginner who is unsure of the "right" ground size or tamp pressure to use. The dual-wall filter helps to give a beginner a leg up on making a good cup of espresso without having to worry too much about the intricacies involving coffee ground size and tamp pressure.

A commonly reported problem that's noteworthy is that the single hole on the lower wall sometimes gets clogged up (although I haven't encountered the problem thus far). Breville advises the use of a pin to unclog the filter.

Coffee Temperature

The ideal temperature of the water for extraction is between 195 F to 202 F. However, the water temperature reaches only roughly 185 F on my machine. There are no adjustments that allow you to increase/decrease the temperature of the water.

Bean Hopper & Conical Burr Grinder

The bean hopper coffee that feeds the burr grinder has a supposed 8oz capacity. In practice, I find that it will only hold about 6 oz (it takes about half of a 12-oz bag of Peets coffee). A real plus to the hopper is the edges of its lid are lined with rubber to ensure a tight-fitting and airtight seal, so the coffee beans won't degrade as a result of oxidation.

The grind size of the burr grinder is adjustable, from very fine (for espresso and Turkish coffee) to coarse (recommended for espresso extraction with a dual-wall filter). The grinder delivers very evenly ground coffee (no lumps).

The only complaint I have about the hopper is as it empties out, the coffee beans in it occasionally need a little help to make them fall into the chute leading to the burr grinder. This happens more often with "oily" coffee beans.

Magnetic Tamper

The magnetic tamper allows you to either (i) tamp on the counter (like a professional barista does) or (ii) do your tamping "on board" (with the tamper magnetically affixed to the machine). I really like that you're able to store the tamper on board when it's not in use, so it's within easy reach and it won't get lost.

Programmable

I like how easy it is to program the amount of espresso dispensed into both the Single Shot and Double Shot buttons. For example, to program the Double Shot button, all you do is press the Program button, press Double Shot button, and press Double Shot button again to stop the extraction once you get the desired amount of espresso. Thereon, the Double Shot button will dispense the preprogrammed amount of espresso every time you push it.

Steam Wand

The steam wand produces perfectly textured milk. You can use an included attachment if more froth is desired.

Design

The Barista Express is a beautifully designed machine that simply oozes class and quality. The exterior is stainless steel except for the water tank, the bean hopper, the drip tray, the knobs, and a few other smaller parts (all of which are made of plastic).

Easy Cleanup

Clean-up is easy:

> Give the portafilter a good tap to expel the ground. The ground should pop right out (the used ground should resemble a brownie if you've gotten the grind size and tamp pressure right). Give both the filter basket and the portafilter a quick rinse and you're done.

> Empty the drip tray when it says "Empty me" (a small float atop the drip tray gets upturned to display an "Empty me" sign when the drip tray is just about full) -a very nice touch.

> Make sure the steam wand is wiped down immediately after use.

Get Started Right Away

Everything you need to get started right away is included: filter baskets, milk jug, tamper, carbon water filter, and frother attachment. You probably want to get some espresso cups and a thermometer if you don't have them already.

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Despite a couple of issues, I like the Barista Express. Would I recommend it? Well, it depends.

If you're looking for an convenient, no-brainer way to make good cup of espresso (or any espresso-based beverage, such as Latte, Cappuccino, and Mocha) the Barista Express may be your ticket. It consistently churns out a good cup of espresso when you use the dual-wall filter, which works in tandem with the preprogrammed dual-wall settings. In addition, the burr grinder, which doesn't normally come integrated in professional machines, is a definite plus.

However, if you're into the art of making espresso (like a true barista), there are other good machines within the same price range you might want to look at first (one of the most popular machines is the Silvia Rancilio Espresso Machine).

There you have it. The above are some important considerations you might want to take into account before you make a purchase decision.

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[Update October 5, 2011]

4 months after I acquired this espresso machine, it began leaking water. The water must have shorted out the electronics because the unit stopped working altogether shortly after. For months, my machine fell by the wayside, until I contacted Breville about getting it fixed. I was pleasantly surprised at how promptly they responded and how helpful the customer representative was. About 1 week after I contacted them, I received a brand new unit. Great job on the customer service, Breville -Thank you. You've definitely won me over.

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I agree with most of the reviews below but wanted to add a few words about my experience with this machine:

I made a cursory read-through of the manual and having never owned a machine like this, but certainly having purchased a lot of coffee shop espressos across the globe, I thought I could jump right in and make some great drinks. Well, in part true, but I hit a point where I almost returned it. I started off with the double-wall filter and it made a very decent shot. Then I figured I try out the single wall filter. 2 weeks later and after joining the ranks of Corn-holio, I hit the jackpot.

During the first 2 weeks, I went from a moderate grind and a middle grind amount to the finest setting and about 2/3 away around the grind amount dial. I even far exceeded the recommended tamping pressure. The result was always an under extracted and bitter shot. Most of the time the puck was wet on top and a bit messy to clean up. Each time I pressed the double-shot button, the pressure wouldn't even rise into the darker colored scale. No matter how fine the grind, or how hard I tamped the coffee the result was the same. I thought maybe it was the bean I chose or just a lousy grinder. Nope.

The day before yesterday I decided to read through the manual very carefully and try doing what they say step by step, not just what the cartoon correction diagram showed. I pre-heated the cup by running hot water through the filter and portafilter, thereby warming it. Then I immediately dried the portafilter/single-wall filter and filled it with freshly ground coffee. I added some coffee, pressed it down lightly into the filter with my fingers and added more. Then I tamped it with about 20 pounds of pressure. When finished, the tamper's stainless rim near the bottom was not completely recessed in the portafilter, leaving it filled to within 1/8". After cleaning the rim thoroughly I simply attached the group head and pressed the pre-programmed double shot. Killer espresso like ones I've had in the finest Italian shops. Cleanup was a dream because the puck was nearly dry it just popped out. Wow. Cleaning between shots is important reheating is as well. If you follow these (Breville's) directions you will be more than pleased with this machine. I now feel like I got my $600 worth.

I changed a few things all at once, so I can't necessarily put my finger on exactly what changed the output. Pre-heating and filling the single-wall filter to an after-tamped level near the top seems to be the key. I love this machine now. As with the other reviews, I think the "clean me" light comes on with just a pre-set number of cycles since I too use filtered water and clean incessantly. The machine is heavy, solid and well laid out. Watch out while filling the reservoir so as not to get even a few drops close to the hopper jamming problems and a difficult clean. I don't like leaving the tamper in the magnetic mount to tamp my coffee, but it's a great place to store it. The wand for frothing is fantastic, but I normally prefer straight espresso. My lovely wife prefers cappuccino and we're now working on some good cup art, no longer worrying about trying to nail the perfect shot. I do recommend this machine, but I highly recommend reading the directions word for word, front to back in the manual and adhering to their advice. Breville designed it and they know how to get the best results. With practice, you too will snub your nose at Starbucks from now on.

Best of luck.

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We have had our Breville unit for several months now. It has given good, reliable service and makes a terrific shot. I take capuccino (and the steam wand frother is very easy -the best manual frother I have used), and my lovely wife takes americanos. We use the "barista" filters rather than the Senseo-style "beginner" filters. The included pressure gauge makes it very easy to "sight in" your favorite shot by varying the grind and tamp till you find what you like.

The pump assembly, heating block, and user interface are terrific. The buttons have a nice feel, everything about the machine's style radiates solidity. It is a pleasure to use. The waste reservoir in the base is large enough for several days' coffee drinking, and is easy and simple to empty. The convenient hidden compartment behind it is a great place to stash the extras and cleaning tablets.

The grinder is indeed adjustable and delivers consistent sized grind when it is working. But there are several problems with it -it's obviously Breville's first attempt. First, the bean reservoir has very shallow sides -they are not sloped enough for most beans to autofeed, so we often end up pulling the top open and stirring the beans with our fingers, to get them to feed down into the grinder. Second, the grinder *will* jam if you use oily beans -which is too bad as we like a very dark roast. Mixing oily and dry roasts 1:1 seems to be OK, except... Third, the grinder *will* jam if you get even a little bit of water in it, which is inevitable if you fill the tank in-place on the back of the device. The molding at the top of the machine seems custom designed to direct otherwise-harmless drops of water straight down into the grinder where they will do the most damage.

The worst thing about the grinder is that it is a bitch and a half to clean. You can disassemble it -at least as far as getting the stator blades out from around the burr -but the part that jams is the feed paddles that push grounds out of the area under the grinder, into the top of the chute that feeds the espresso head in its holder (as pictured). That part is nearly impossible to get to. When the grinder jams, I vacuum out the coffee beans and grounds with the blade head on our vacuum cleaner (incidentally, Dyson vacuums rock), then go after it with a combination of toothpicks, pipe cleaners, and dust-free canned "air". This generally happens in the morning, so I wake up the kids with the vacuum, and then everyone's in a bad mood -the kids want sleep and/or breakfast, I want my coffee, and I'm rooting around with a toothpick cursing the designers.

We do run the clean cycle when the "clean me" light comes on, but I suspect it is on a fixed timer -we user reverse-osmosis water, shouldn't have any boiler-scale issues at all.

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UPDATE: After 10 months of non-heavy 3-4 times a week use, I got up one morning to find water leaking from the bottom of the machine, covering my counter top. I contacted Breville's CS; they didn't hassle me at all. They requested my receipt and serial number (stamped on the bottom of the unit), and emailed me a link to a Breville-paid FedEx Ground shipping label. A week later I received a brand-new machine. My biggest hassle was of my own doing for not keeping the original box. They have GREAT customer service.

August 20, 2012--UPDATE #2: Two weeks ago, my warranty replacement did the same thing as my first unit (water leakage from the thermoblock's gasket). Personally, I think it's a manufacturing defect as I always used filtered water, descaled and cleaned my machine as it was required. IMHO, the one year warranty on these machines is lame, considering what these cost.

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I didn't like coffee of any kind until 5 years ago when I tried a drink from Seattle's Best. Then I was hooked. I had to clone this recipe at home; but attempting to make my own Raspberry Mocha Kiss from plain ol' coffee brewed in my $15 Mr. Coffee proved to be a failure. Now, I'm happy to say, I truly can make my own at home, all because of this stainless steel espresso machine made by Breville.

I agree with most of the other reviewers here --this is a great machine. From the moment you cut the package sealing tape on the box, the entire experience exudes class. Even the box flaps are beautiful with a large full color picture of a cappuccino on high-gloss cardboard. The directions start on the box flaps as far as unpacking it, and there is also a full manual and smaller quick-start guides to making the espresso and cleaning the machine. All the components are packaged well and the small number of parts needed for assembly fit together perfectly. You get everything you need except the coffee beans and shot glasses.

My sister-in-law owns a local coffee shop which, of course, has commercial-grade espresso machines. She saw my Breville and was impressed with the quality build for a home-use machine.

I admit after I had it assembled and ready-to-go, I was a bit overwhelmed that a coffee novice like me would be able to make a mocha or latte. I just stood there and stared at it for 3 days before I had the nerve to plug it in. But thanks to Breville for including the double-wall filters for us beginners it wasn't that hard. You get a total of 4 filters, dual wall for novices like me, and single wall for more experienced baristas. Single and double shot of each style.

A stainless steel pitcher is also included for steaming and frothing the milk. I used skim milk and the high steam output heated and made the milk into foam in no time at all.

My first two espresso's did not turn out. Third time was charm for me I hadn't tamped with enough pressure on the first two I made. If you are new at making espresso, make sure you go to Breville's web site and watch the videos there are several that will help you with whatever trouble-shooting problem you may have.

I'm amazed at how quiet it is...even the grinder hardly makes any noise...when the machine pressurizes, it's quiet....I have 2 cats and neither one ran to hide under the bed when I turned the power button on. The steamer is the noisiest component but it's not annoyingly loud.

Breville's Customer Service has been supportive and quick to respond to my questions. I had a couple questions late Sunday night so I emailed them, and by Monday morning I had a response in my Inbox.

Yes, this espresso machine is an investment. But if you visit Starbucks often, it will soon pay for itself, plus there's the convenience factor of not having to go out for a treat.

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Gaggia Titanium

I bought this product and loved it totally...

Appearance: 4/5

Value: 4/5

Performance: 5/5

Functionality: 5/5

Noise: 3/5

Coffee: 4/5

Included Equipment: 5/5

Overall, this was an amazing buy, the steam wand does drip slightly and the descaling program takes a long while when it needs it but its an excellent coffee and all round drinks machine!

Black & Decker Stainless Cordless Kettle

The Black & Deck 1.7L Kettle in Stainless heats water quickly, a convenient view window makes it easy to see water level, and its two piece design (the pot rests on base) is extremely convenient. A wide mouth makes filling easy and a well designed spout means little or no drip when pouring.

However, the on/off indicator light is very difficult to see and the 'on' button doesn't provide any kind of feedback (like a click) so at first it was hard to tell if it was pushed. After we understood how the kettle works these became minor annoyances. While it would be nice to see the on/off light better, I don't this is a dangerous problem.

All in all a good product that with a little more refinement from B&D could have been great. Worth buying at a good price, but not worth paying a large premium over other kettles for.

I've only had it for a couple of days but it seems to be a great little pot. I used to heat my water in a tea kettle on the stove it took way too long and I'm sure it used a ton of electricity. This pot heats up fast in comparison. It is hard to tell at first if it is on or not. The indicator light is not in an easy to see spot and unless you are in a dark room it just isn't bright enough to tell if it's on or just reflecting light. It pours nicely no mess or drips. It's sort of loud when it heats up, but maybe that's true of all of this type of appliance I don't know since it is my first. I like that it shuts off when you pick it up from the base. All in all I like it so far...

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i bought this product from a store and it worked great for a year. the only problem is that the lever you push to turn it on is flimsy and it broke. now it's useless and the warranty doesn't cover it.

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Simple, easy and reliable at a fair price. What more could you ask for?

The Black & Decker Model JKC650 Tea Kettle ($33 at amazon.com) is an excellent product that my wife and I heartily recommend. We are tea drinkers and have used this product numerous times a day for at least a couple of years. In that time the kettle has performed flawlessly, never failing to bring over two mugs (1.7 liters) of water to a boil quickly and easily with no hint of aftertaste.

Other reviewers have downgraded this kettle for not having an easy-to-see indicator light, but we find that particular subjective failing of no importance. I mean, realistically... who is going to stand there looking at a kettle waiting for water to boil? This is a simple appliance; it is either on or off, and the status of the appliance should be obvious to anyone. When you hear the appliance click off, a distinct sound that can be heard anywhere near the kettle, the water is ready.

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Black and Decker warranties do not hold up. The item started leaking two months after purchase. In order to get them to honor the warrantee you have to cut off the cord from the product, send back the plug together with a check for $7.50 to cover shipping.

You get to pay to get them to replace their garbage product.

Gaggia 90950 Platinum Vision Espresso Machine w/Milk Island - Platinum

I purchased this from Amazon warehouse at a huge discount because the box and packaging was opened. At least I think that was the reason, because so far it has worked PERFECTLY. It also has no visible marks and was absolutely clean. My brother and my sister each have the same automatic espresso maker and we love it.

The coffee is just so much better, it is beyond comparison. Consistent and oh, so good. We are spoiled now, but also happy about it.

Oggi Lustre Clarisa Carafe

In the picture on Amazon, this carafe looks very solid and well made. Upon arrival, you'll find that it's very cheaply put together, with a plastic lid, poor alignment of seams, very cheap plastic/metal combinations in other parts....overall not anywhere near the quality of a Bodum or other well-made kitchen brand. I returned mine immediately.

This is a product that I like and use every day. I really enjoy tea. I use the carafe so that I can brew a large batch, enjoy it over the next several hours, and have it remain hot.

For a serious tea drinker such as myself, this is a good product. First of all, has a nice, large capacity, which allows me to brew a lot of tea at once. Second, it does an excellent job of keeping hot liquids hot. I have not tested it for its ability to keep cold liquids cold. However, I regularly brew tea in the carafe before going to sleep, and then leave it overnight. When I wake up in the morning, I can enjoy the tea immediately and amazingly, it is still hot. I have even brewed tea in this product and left it for even longer 24 hours later, the tea is still warm.

The construction is sturdy. The wide base relative to the top ensures that it will not tip over. Even if filled and laid on its side, the liquid does not leak out unless the valve is opened. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, there is no way to lock the valve (the red lever pictured above) so that it cannot open if the carafe should tip over and hit something. Overall, though, it is pretty leak-proof.

There are two small downsides to this product. First: I originally bought this because I wanted a stainless steel vessel for brewing tea. I had been using a polycarbonate Nalgene with an infuser attachment, but I was concerned about exposure to bisphenol A from drinking hot tea out of this bottle every day. The Nalgene also did not keep the tea hot for appreciable periods of time. This carafe solved the problem of the tea cooling too quickly, but I am still a bit concerned about BPA exposure. The body of the carafe is stainless steel, but the tea infuser and top piece are made of plastic. I am not sure if these parts are made with BPA. If you are buying this product with BPA exposure in mind, caveat emptor.

Second: After pouring some of the hot liquid out of the carafe, some room temperature air enters the inside of the vessel, cooling down the vapor that is left inside. This creates a vacuum inside and produces an annoying sucking sound as more air attempts to get through the seal. The sound is relieved by opening the valve, but it reappears within a few minutes.

Overall, a good product and worth the price if you enjoy brewing loose tea or being able to have hot coffee all day. An assurance that the plastic infuser is BPA-free would have bumped my rating up to 5 stars.

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This very same Oggi Thermal Carafe is being sold in at least two other links here on Amazon. This product is so poorly made, I felt it important to provide potential customers with that review here as well. I really wanted to like this because it looked so nice but fell way short of expectations. For the cost, I would expect quality materials and manufacturing. Sorry Oggi, this is a DUD! For the sake of your reputation, this would be a good item to discontinue.

I enjoy those restaurants that provide your table with a carafe of coffee. It is convenient for the patrons and the wait staff and I wish more restaurants would engage in this practice. For the reason of convenience I decided to purchase one for my personal use at home. I thought it would be perfect to keep in my office when I'm doing computer work or beside my favorite chair when I'm reading or studying.

I purchased this same product through a different vendor for a little lower price with a discount I was able to take advantage of. I was excited when it arrived and the first thing I noticed was how much nicer it looked than in the picture. Upon inspection however my excitement started to diminish. Right away I noticed that the spout, handle and dome lid was made of very cheap plastic. It is very thin and would likely not handle an accidental drop. The spout and top third of handle appears to be made from three different pieces of plastic fused together based on the visible seams and the seam on the handle is right where you grip it.

Later when I used it, other flaws became very obvious. First and probably most important is that is pours horribly. You have to depress the lever on the dome lid to raise the plunger and the beverage comes out at a very slow and messy trickle. The only way not to make a mess is to ensure that the spout is all the way down into my coffee cup. A deeper spout might have eliminated this issue. Also the opening in the lid might be too small because unless I completely tip the carafe upside down, it comes out in dribbles.

Also there are no finger grips on the lid so you have to use the plunger lever for leverage and with its cheap construction, it already has some side to side play and I just don't see it lasting much longer.

Lastly, the description states it can keep you beverage hot for up to eight hours. I have found that to be off by 6 hours! The only thing going for this is that it looks good. Due to its design flaws, cheap plastic material and poor manufacturing of the most important parts, this has become one of the worst products I have ever purchased.

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This item is pretty solid and does the job for the price I paid. It is true that the handle and dome is plastic and not metal but for the approximately $30 price it is still very good, and looks slick. The bulk of the charafe is the metal black portion which is intended to keep your drink at the temperature you want for up to 8 hours. I tested it and it did indeed last 7 or 8 hours, which is longer than a similar Charafe I bought online that was non-Oggi manufactured.

Overall, I still highly recommend. Of course if you want a super latest and greatest carafe the size of 54 ounces like this one, you'd easily be looking to pay three or at least two times more. This gets the job done for sure.

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I got this because it has an infuser and I could make tea and drink it all day.

Unfortunately the infuser is too small to allow tea leaves to expand, it's a piece of garbage plastic, and the holes are too big allowing tea leaves to escape.

After the first pot of tea using the built in infuser I had 2 issues.

1. tea tasted like plastic

2. i couldn't take the tea leaves out of the infuser since it's so small and narrow.

I'll have to use a different infuser. Hopefully the plastic taste is only from the infuser and I can use it as a regular pot.

EDIT (Dec 2009):

I was reading other reviews and someone recommended these bags to use (100 Finum Tea Filter, Large, Brown). I think this is the only way to use this carafe. I don't want it to be a waste of money... On the positive side, the carafe works ok and tea made with the paper tea bags tasted alright. So it's not a complete waste. It held tea warm for a long period and I like how the base is wide so it's tough to knock over.

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Ovente MPE Stovetop Espresso Maker Size: 9 Cup

I used this coffee maker a total of three times. The first time I was learning how to make the coffee; so it was so so. The second time, it made fantastic espresso. The third time, it almost killed me when the pot exploded on the stove. Heat was 'medium', the coffee was coming up nicely when I heard an ominous 'blonk' sound. The bottom part of the maker got a little malformed and canted the canister over a bit. I grab the handle and was lifting it off the flame when the bottom part of the maker blew off sending scalding coffee everywhere. I was incredibly lucky not to have gotten hurt.

DO NOT BUY THIS, ITS A DANGEROUS PRODUCT

Very affordable way to make fantastic espresso. Easy to use, place your desired amount of espresso in the designated area and place right on the stove top. In a short time you have a delicious cup of espresso. easily cleans up just unscrew and wash out. Highly recommended for espresso lovers that can't afford the expensive coffee shops or home brewing machines.

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Lavazza Aroma Point Capsules, for Espresso Point

I have just received my box of Lavazza Espresso Point Aroma Point Espresso pods from Aroma Cafe Culture Inc. They were produced in Italy on February 11, 2009. Aren't these coffee pods too old already?

Delonghi BCO264B Cafe Nero Combo Coffee and Espresso Maker

I am an avid coffee drinker, somewhere between 2-4 pots a day. My husband bought this 3-in-1 coffee maker for me for the Christmas of 2004. It has a digital clock/timer, flavor strength switch and makes pretty good coffee. It worked great for a while.

However, after about a year and a half the coffee maker side stopped working, without any warning. I went to get a cup of coffee and the hotplate was cold. After emptying it, cleaning it out and setting it up again, I turned it back on to make another pot.

The hotplate didn't even get warm, and the brewer didn't even make a noise or pull a single drop into the carafe. Even though the espresso and steamer side still works wonders, for the price of this 3-in-1, you would think it would work a bit longer than it has.

I had originally purchased the Krups version of their fanciest dual machine and it arrived non-functional with a display and buttons that were a little too "Star Trek" for me anyway...in fact, they didn't function at all. The Delonghi Caffe Nero (so far) has been very straighforward, easy to use, and produces good coffee and espresso. The quality of the coffee is moderate-high and I'm impressed with its strength selection system (a simple knob) and the mechanism by which it brews. No bells or whistles to confuse me. I did think initially that the permanent filter might be difficult to clean but not so far. However, the heat resistant coffee pot has an interesting design and a strange top which snaps on somewhat awkwardly and appears vulnerable to breaking but otherwise I have not found any major flaws with this machine as of yet.

Good coffee, good espresso, easy to use, easy to program for the next day. We'll see...

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I thought I did enough research before buying this machine but apparently not enough. I was disappointed in 1. the design ( looks rather cheap) and 2. the performance. The coffee maker didn't stop dripping either water or coffee when you pulled out the pot and for the espresso part you need to REHEAT the unit 30 MINUTES prior to use!!! So much about being flexible about having an espresso! If you really enjoy good coffee you need to invest more, unfortunately.

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Although their coffeemakers do an excellent job of making coffee, DeLonghi WILL USE ANY EXCUSE NOT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG! Here's my experience: When I ordered my coffeemaker from DeLonghi, it was "backordered" and took over a month to ship. A little over 10 months after I received it, the coffeemaker broke! (The heater coil went out and

it would no longer make coffee.) Since it had been over a year since I ORDERED it, they said the one-year warranty was expired, despite the fact I had proof I had received it less than a year before (I still had the shipping confirmation). I explained this numerous times. For a couple of months, the various people I talked to kept telling me they would "look into it", but they never called back. Finally, when it actually WAS over a year since I had received the coffeemaker, when I called to check on the status of my warranty claim, they said, "Your warranty has expired. You've had this coffeemaker over one year. There is nothing we can do." I highly recommend you find a coffeemaker from a manufacturer that stands behind their product! I have a Cuisinart now, and it is WONDERFUL!

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On the outside, this is a beautiful machine. Unfortunately, the mechanics don't match. 6 months after my wife and I purchased it, the hinge on the back cover broke. I contacted Delonghi to see if it was covered under the warranty. Of course it was not and I had to purchase a new one. Then, after having it for just over a year, the coffee maker quit completely. I had to take it to one of their authorized repair facilities to get it fixed. I have been without the coffee maker for 1 month now and they still don't know when they will get the parts from Delonghi. I do not drink coffee and my wife drinks maybe 1/2 cup a day. My wife owned a Mr. Coffee that lasted more than 10 years. You would think that with the price of this machine it would have lasted much longer. My recommendation to you is to save your money and buy a Mr. Coffee!

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BonJour Stove Top Espresso Maker 3-Cup Caf? Milano, Polished Aluminum

My son gave me this 3 cup BonJour espresso maker for Christmas. I was not expecting much but was actually pleasantly surprised. First let me address the previous poor reviews. First, the pot is small and yes avoid putting the handle directly over the flame or heating element. I am fortunate as my gas stove has 5 burners (4 different sizes). The smallest size is meant to be a warming burner. It is perfect for the espresso maker as the heat is directed to the bottom of the pot. The handle stays cool throughout the 4-5 minutes it takes to brew the coffee. Secondly, I have not yet had a bad pot of coffee from this simple device. I suspect that one of the reviewers either had a defective gasket between the upper and lower portion of the pot or just did not tighten it enough.

With my old Mr. Coffee electric coffee pot I always used to steal the first cup of coffee from the brew before the process was complete. The rest of the pot, of course, was never as good as the first cup. This espresso maker makes every cup like the first cup of the old Mr. Coffee and takes less time to brew. This espresso pot makes 3 cups of espresso. Be warned that this is no more than 5 oz of very strong coffee without being bitter. One cup of espresso coffee is only about 50 ml (1 2/3 oz). I usually put the whole amount (5 oz) into my stainless steel travel mug and top off with hot water from my tea pot. I am told this is the "Caffè Americano" way of preparing coffee. I just love it. I have a pot at home and one in my travel trailer.

Pros:

Coffee tastes great. Rich and flavorful without bitterness.

Simple design, simple to use.

No paper filters.

Takes only minutes to brew.

Easy to clean.

Low cost.

Less waste. I never throw away coffee because I made too much.

Cons:

May not really be a con but must use a different size pot to make more or less than the 3 cups of espresso this pot was designed to make. These types of espresso makers come in a range of sizes. I have seen 1,2,3,4,6,9 and 12 cup sizes (some are different brands).

If you start a pot and walk away and forget you may come back to a mess. This is not an automatic coffee maker and you should not leave the area for more than a couple of minutes. After a while you can tell when the coffee is done by the sound. The coffee is done brewing when most of the coffee has been pushed up into the upper chamber. Towards the end of the process the pot begins to gurgle as it pushes out the last of the coffee. The pot should be removed from the heat shortly after the gurgling starts, within a minute or two. Do not leave the pot on the heat after the gurgling has stopped. The bottom chamber will be empty of water and you will only be heating the metal.

Additional comments: It is now 6 months later with daily use of this espresso maker. Still works perfectly. I have found that this pot also makes a great Thai tea! I fill the brew cup with the tea, brew and pour the rich crimson liquid into my stainless steel travel mug. I then add sweetener (I use saccharin tabs), a shot of sugar free liquid creamer, milk and ice. As a diabetic, I can still enjoy one of my favorite beverages!

What a piece of garbage.

I gave it every chance. I experimented with different grinds running the gamut from coarse to fine, different amounts of coffee in the basket, different water levels in the lower chamber, different flame levels on my gas stove ... 1/4 of the time, it would very quickly brew a batch of really strong, delicious coffee. The REST of the time it would make boiling noises and blow steam out the pour spout, but all I'd get in the top of the pot would be a thimbleful of undrinkable sludge. I thought this meant pressure was escaping from the base, but I could never figure out where the leak was. The gasket was new with no cracks in it, the parts were screwed together as tight as they would go, and I never heard any hissing nor saw steam escaping from anywhere except the pour spout where it is SUPPOSED to come out. After each failure I'd have to wait for the pot to cool off, then take it apart and find the bottom chamber full of a dark liquid that looked a lot like (lukewarm, metallic-tasting) coffee ... but why didn't it squirt up into the top? There's no way to pour coffee out of the bottom! After wasting uncounted amounts of time and coffee beans trying to get this thing to work, I had to give it up as a lost cause. Into the recycling bin with this worthless hunk of metal!

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I purchased this item because I needed a cheap espresso maker for the summer and didn't want to pay for starbucks. Not only did the espresso taste absolutely dreadful (there were grounds consistently in the bottom of the cup), but the plastic handle started melting within one week of use, and by three weeks of use, the entire handle had completely melted off, causing a smelly mess for my stove. I knew this was going to be a cheap espresso maker, but there's a big difference between cheap and completely unusable.

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I have 5 (3 cup),2 (6 cups)and 1 (9 cup) espresso makers. Out of those, one 3 cup and one 6 cup are Bonjour. I use the 3 cups almost every morning, when the husband wants espresso I use a 6 cup one and when we have company I use the biggest one. I have many because I don't run the dishwasher daily. Out of all of them, the best ones are my 3 cup Bonjour and my 6 cup Bonjour. I just love them! The coffee always turns out aromatic and flavorful. I use them in a regular glass electric stove and when we loose power, in the burner of the turkey fryer and even though the 3 cup is small, I have never had any issues.

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I confess I bought my BonJour Stove Top Espresso Maker at the Goodwill for $2. It'd be worth paying full price, however, because the coffee it makes is delicious. It's much, much better than my electric espresso maker; sweet, smooth, and not sour or bitter. It took a little experimenting to learn how to use it, but it's not that hard to figure out.

1. Place the pot at the edge of the burner, so that the handle stays cool.

2. Try about two coffee scoops per batch, about 5-6 oz of water. The water doesn't fill the bottom chamber. I put in a little more than I expect to get out.

3. Turn the heat on HI until the water boils, then turn it down to MED or whatever temp will maintain the boil/perking.

4. When the perking stops, take it off the heat.

I get a few dregs in the cup but not enough to bother about.