Bodum Presso Doublewall Stainless Steel Thermal 8 Cup Coffee Press, 34-Ounce

I seem to be trying every coffee press on Amazon, with dismal results. After breaking _another_ glass Bodum french press, we decided to go to stainless steel. The problem is that all the stainless press pots so far have high prices, combined with quality issues, as detailed in my other reviews. Now for this one:

Okay, first, it does not come with a "3-part stainless screen" as described. Actually, it comes with a one-piece screen assembly with a silicone edge gasket and stainless screen material molded into a plastic frame. If you have an old 3-part stainless screen assembly lying around (from a broken glass Bodum, perhaps...) you can screw that on, as the threads are the same size, or just use the whole assembly, lid and all.

Personally, I don't at all appreciate plastic in my food, much less in my scalding hot coffee. There is no safe amount of plasticizer for the human body to contain, and all plastics release chemicals, most especially when heated and in contact with hot liquids. BPA is just the tip of the iceberg... YMMV, FYI, IMO, etc.

Anyway, I don't appreciate the inaccurate description, let alone the cheap, plastic construction. So this one is going back.

The body of the thing is solid, for sure, and looks to be indestructible, other than the handle, which wiggles a bit... Probably sturdy enough for careful use, but not super solid. The picture makes it look nice and smooth, but my example has a bunch of ripples at the angle between the upright section and the angled bottom. Compared to the picture online, mine looks like the "before" picture with abdominal flab.

The lid assembly is pretty bad; there's a cheaply-stamped little triangle in the lid, which mars the smooth look, and is presumably intended to indicate the direction of the plastic grill underneath that permits pouring. But that plastic bit underneath is not connected to the metal top, so they can and do rotate independently, making the stamped triangle useless. The two bits are attached by a plastic clip that also serves as the bushing for the shaft, so you could maybe disassemble it and glue the parts together. The rubbery plastic top button screws directly onto a metal shaft, and looks sure to strip out and loosen.

I'd keep it if it weren't for the plastic screen and chintzy lid, but the cellulite-like rippling on the main body isn't very attractive, either. Ah, market forces and their inexorable pressure for lower quality! My search for a solid, 100% metal, well-made large coffee press continues.

This is my 2nd Bodum French Press and it's a good 1. My other is the standard glass version that is a classic & works well. This unit is smaller but still a decent size for 1-2 or even 3 good sized servings. I wanted this pot for two reasons; the 1st being the double wall construction to retain heat. My glass Bodum makes great coffee, but my only gripe with it is in the cooler months, I always had to reheat the coffee. This unit definitely retains the heat at least twice as long and probably longer especially if it's pre-heated. The 2nd reason I wanted it is for longevity. Although I never had a problem with my glass Bodum, it's 3 years old & from what I've read of others....it's inevitable mine is due to shatter. The double walled stainless pot eliminates that fear, it's solid. But, the rest of this pot did let me down a bit as far as it's perceived durability, especially the screen/strainer(the reason for 4 stars). I was expecting the strainer to be of the same amazing quality as the glass version, but it is cheaper & I fear it'll only last a year. The top of the presso is also not as solid as the pot itself, but it should be ok unless you beat on it. It makes great coffee & stays warm, but expect to have to change the strainer within a year if it's used often.

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Bodum makes a great French Press.

1. The coffee stays hot long enough for me to drink it all. Yes, one person can drink 34 ounces of coffee in 2 hours. 2. The filter screen works well with the rubber or silicone gasket around the edge. 3. You can actually pour from the press into a cup without spilling coffee. The Bunn was ridiculous when it came to pouring. 4. Did I mention Hot? The coffee is much hotter than any drip pot to begin with. It can stay hot 3 hours in an insulated mug. 5. The stainless steel will not be easy to damage.

Anything I don't like? The top has a lot of plastic in it, so you want to be careful how you store it, I usually keep it in the press after rinsing. The filter screen is plastic too.

I've owned this item 7 weeks and use it daily. I give it 5 stars because it meets or exceeds my expectations.

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I bought this Bodum as part of my continuing quest to find a simple, reliable coffee maker that doesn't hog up counter space. My first pot was made with store bought coffee that was a little too fine. The solution was to put the grounds in one of those Japanese, fill it yourself disposable tea bags. Worked great and the double wall on the pot keeps the coffee warm long enough for my needs.

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I had a glass version of this but it broke after 6 months. I loved the french press coffee enough to splurge for the stainless version. It keeps the coffee hot for at least an hour.

I kept the stainless mesh filter from the glass press because some reviewers had a problem with the plastic framed version that comes with this press; said that it was flimsy and broke. So far I've had no problems with it. It seems robust and is easier to clean; you don't have to disassemble it to clean it (it is a circular plastic frame with plastic spokes to help support the stainless steel mesh which is molded into the plastic).

Other reviewers had a problem with having to press hard to depress the plunger. That has only happened twice in the roughly 200 times I've used it. Not sure why it did that because the grind setting is always the samevery fine on the Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder. One possibility is that the plastic swells in the hot water if it is placed in the carafe while the coffee steeps for 4 minutes. I usually leave it off until I press the coffee. This is because I use water just below the boiling point and the coffee is too hot to drink right away if I put the lid on before the 4 minutes. It cools just enough without the lid so I can sip it right away after pressing it.

After years of drinking inconsistent and usually poor tasting drip coffee I'm so glad my wife bought me the original press for Christmas. I love the taste. Definitely worth the little bit of extra work.

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Bialetti Moka Crem, 3-Cup

Some people complained about not getting foamy coffee with this product.Do not follow Bialetti's instruction book with regards to the proper water level in the bottom black reservoir.The manual mentions to fill the water above the pressure valve and I say NO!!

Just fill water just below the pressure valve because you do not want to brew too much coffee at a time.The top chamber needs room for the foaming action of the plunger to work effectively.

*****************Updated Information (March 1,2013*******************************

Cappucino-Making -IF you want a cappuccino then warm 5ounces of milk in metal pan or microwave just under the boiling point and add a little less than one teaspoon of white sugar into the milk and stir. Then proceed to the coffee brewing steps below.

How to propering use the "Bialetti moka crem pot":This is for making plain stove top coffee foam(what this machine was designed for )

Materials Needed:

1-Lavazza Crema e Gusto coffeedesigned for moka pots and is "Made In Italy"-tastes like cocoa with a pleasant flavor and not bitter.

2-Cool filtered water-this is important;tap water will ruin any coffee in my opinion

3-Bialetti Moka Crem Pot-keep this pot clean by running moderately hot water on all the pieces of the unit.Never use soap!!! The pot will smell of coffee grounds in the bottom black chamber but this is normal.This "seasoning" of the pot is a good thing.

Also, remove the rubber gasket and filter plate and wash them at least a week. You want all the pieces of the moka pot to be dried off for a few hours before assembling the pot and putting it away in storage.

Set the heat on a 3 out of 10 heat setting if using an electric stove top and leave the plastic lid of the pot. If using this method you must be sure to watch the pot the entire time it is brewing. Wait around 3minutes and you will notice the coffee slowly trickle down the metal rod out of two holes in the in the middle rod of the top chamber. Wait for the the coffee to come out and brew until the "brewed coffee" level reaches about halfway up the top chamber. This is the point when you notice some coffee bubbles coming out and it is finised brewing.Now take the moka pot off the burner and carefully put the plastic frothing lid on the unit. Now plunge to froth the coffee roughly 50 times. You will notice that the coffee turns into a whipped cream-type consistency. Now remove the plastic frothing lid again so the coffee foam does not get disturbed (and deflated) when pouring. Pour into coffee cup and enjoy.

I have had the cute little Moka Crem for 1 week and continue to try to get a crema, but have not been sucessful. I pump and pump and I get the crema, but when you pour it in my cup it disapears. I am returning it. I love my other Bialetti Moka pots.

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I received this little pot as a gift and I count myself amused by it. Filling to the recommended mark makes a 3 cup (6 oz American) pot of coffee that you can just barely get a crema on. My Bodum cups are 4 oz, so this is roughly 2 actual espresso cups.

There are several problems with the crem: one, if the pot fills all the way there isn't enough air under the plunger to make much froth and two, most importantly, the crema gets *stuck* under the lid when pouring out. I've chosen to find this funny, but I might not be so amused if I'd paid extra for it.

As noted elsewhere on the Internet, there is also a difference depending on the coffee you use. I started with my usual pre-ground espresso and got very disappointing results. Using a fresh, store-ground bag of coffee produced the results in my photos and is acceptable. Some reviewers claimed the best results with robustica coffee blends because they have a higher fat content, but I prefer arabica so I haven't experimented with that.

The Bialetti Moka Crem is a cute novelty coffee maker, but if you want a real crema, you'll need a real espresso maker.

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Makes good expresso but disappointed that the valve started leaking after the third time it was used. Didn't really need to moka crem. The base model would have been sufficient.

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Starbucks Verismo 580 Brewer Silver (011023256)

LOVE MY Starbucks Verismo 580 Brewer Silver.

I recommended. La recomiendo es tremenda caferetera y me siento como si estuviera en Starbucks.

The serving sizes are unbelievably small. A latte (espresso pod + milk pod) will fill a normal coffee mug about 1/3 of the way. I further decided that instead of having to use four total pods to fill the mug, I would try just running each pod twice. This served to fill the mug, however the flavor was an unsurprisingly poor, watered down, journey of sadness. The milk pods alone (even when only used once) are quite watery and flat tasting. At around 1$ per pod, it's really not worth it to use this machine at all.

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Primula PES-3312 12-Cup Aluminum Stovetop Espresso Maker

Very disappointed in this. I bought the 3 cup version and it worked perfectly, but 3 cups is one big cappuccino for me. I ordered the 12 cup because I used one while staying in the Dominican Republic. It was great. Enough coffee for me and my husband, with enough left over for an iced coffee in the afternoon.

I should have known something was wrong as soon as I opened it. The stem of funnel that holds the coffee is much narrower than either the 3 cup I bought or the 12 cup I used in the DR. The first time I used it, it was fine, but every time since then it makes about 2/3 as much as the 3 cup. 1/3 the water travels up the stem. The coffee just tastes burnt.

I've gone on line to find a replacement. There are none to be found.

Had handler broeken had to return it...

Incon venient.

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I purchased this as a gift for my mother. It arrived a few days before my trip to see her and we opened it and used it together.

From the start, there was slight leaking around the band where the top screws to the bottom portion of the coffee maker. It was not too significant but I was keeping my eyes on it.

Towards the end of the week, unbeknownst to me, mom put the components in the dishwasher and ran it. The coffee maker was ruined. All of the exterior finish washed off, leaving it a dull, pewter color. When we tried to wipe out the interior by hand, the sponge came out nearly black and continued to shed its surface material to the point that we gave up and felt it would not be safe to use.

There was absolutely no material provided with the coffee maker, either on the box or inside with regard to any instructions for care or maintenance. While I would not personally have run it through the dishwasher, the impact of doing so was significant and made the coffee maker seem to be unsafe to use further.

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Nespresso C60 Pixie Espresso Maker in Red + Nifty Capsule Coffee Carousel + 2 Stoneware Mugs

Love it so far. Easy to use, easy to clean, easy to fill tank. I now understand what some reviewers had said about refilling the tank. You gotta lift the black top up (attached to the tank) and pull the tank up. The lid has hooks in the back which help the tank stay secured with the Nespresso C60. Awesome that it turns off after 9 minutes or so (although I make a habit of turning it off manually).

My dislikes: the capsules don't make enough coffee/espresso for my tastes so I use 2. I can live with that. The noise is a little loud, especially in the morning. But I know when it's being used so I make sure to yell out "Don't drip on the countertop"! My bundle came with a starter pack of capsules, about 16. The description didn't mention this so I had to find a Nespresso store to buy sleeves (a box of capsules) as this was for Xmas 2012. It also came with 2 coffee cups, which were not received, but the Seller did send them out as soon as they got my email. On a Saturday night. I was shocked but excited. Overall, a great little machine.

My main gripe: the color was not a RED that I was expecting. It looks more like a Clay Red or Brick Red. Still matches my glass backsplash though!

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Keurig B140 Commercial Single Cup Coffee Brewer

I've owned a couple of different Keurigs and by far, this is the best model. I use it in my bar as I needed something commercially rated, but I didn't want a typical Bunn brewer where a lot gets thrown away. We don't sell a lot of coffee, but my employees and myself do drink enough. The quality of construction is more rugged than home models (as you would expect) and it brews perfectly. It only has three water sizes, but if you're trying to brew anything over 10oz with a Keurig, that doesn't really work anyway. This is the one to get for your home if you're looking for a trouble free unit.

Get one before they discontinue the line. Keurig is going the direction of selling commercial units direct through distributors so this type of unit may not be continued. You probably won't be able to buy one on Amazon, but Staples and Quill were selling them.

Purchased two of the B140 Commercial Brewers from W.B.Mason as Christmas presents for $65 a piece. Quality far exceeds the home brewer and the unit includes a water storage tank. The only drawback is the M K-Cup reuseable coffee filters do not fit the unit, even though when I telephoned Keurig the CSR informed me that they did. I ordered two kits and xtra filters at a cost of $60. (working on return and refund of shipping charges, now). I am also searching for an aftermarket product compatible with the B140 if anyone has found one.

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Heats much faster than the home unit and much easier to drain for cleaning purposes.

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I love this machine! Turn it on in the morning and give it a few minutes to warm up and then after that you're on your way to a hot fresh cup of coffee within a minute.

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Porcelain #2 Coffee Dripper / Filter Cone Plus a Box of 100ct. #2 Coffee Filters

We have been using this for two months and haven't looked back. It works quite well with the four holes, and we know we are not getting any plastic by-products that could be potentially transferred from the other kinds of coffee drippers. Love the unbleached coffee filters as well. Will be ordering a second.

This coffee dripper works great for the times when you are making one or two cups of coffee. A simple functional item.

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Nothing complicated with this product, it works as advertised and as expected. Here is a detail: it features four holes.

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Coffee pours down quickly through 3 holes. I prefer one hole.

I also prefer thinner porcelain.

It sits well over certain size cup only.

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Porcelain itself is fine, but big issue with this size is that the bottom lip that rests on your coffee cup while brewing is not quite large enough around. So for any but a smaller cup, it tends to teeter or even fall over if you like bigger cups like I do. Yes, not really its fault--just need to use it on smaller cups. But for even the standard size cup, it's close to being too small. The filters that come with it tend to clog up at the end of the brew, slowing the drip rate quite a lot.

Expobar Lever Semi-Auto Espresso Machine

This is a really nice machine for the price point. I've been using mine for about a month and I'm just starting to dail it in. The case comes off pretty easily (5 screws) so you can access to OPV for group pressure adjustment and boiler pressure. Mine came with the boiler set at .8 bar, I upped it to the green zone of the gauge about .9 bar. I also turned down the group pressure to 9 bar (it came set a 10). I have about a 2 minute recovery time and consistent shots. The biggest downside is the heat exchanger and group need pretty large flushes +-8 oz before pulling a shot. Get Eric's thermometer ($100) plugged into the group and flush to about 207 degrees. After 10 seconds, you can pull a shot at 200 degrees at the puck.

The machine is pretty big it looks large on my counter and I have a very big, modern kitchen. My wife made me move it to a less obvious location because it seemed a little oversized for the spot my Gaggia Classic used to reside. The design is nice completely stainless. The lever seems so much better that pushing a button to pull a shot. You'll get the same results, but it feels more "classic". The hot-water wand competes with the lever for space so you'll neet to orient it out to the side when pulling shots, but it doesn't drip so no worries. The drip tray is very large it'll take the entire water resevoir. BTW, the resevoir has no indicator when it is low, and you have to take the cup warmer off to fill it. Get a funnel.

I'd prefer to have a group pressure gauge, easy access to OPV and boiler pressure controls. But you'd pay an additional $300 for a machine with those features.

Note, the boiler is 1.8 liters (60 oz), not 12 oz as the description says.

I absolutely love this unit! I've had it for over a year, now, with no issues, and I use it multiple times, daily, to not only brew espresso, but to steam my chai, froth my milk, and dispense hot water for tea. I was only looking to replace my simple Krups when it "krapped" out I got a little carried away buying this unit, but, oh my! I have no regrets, whatsoever, for this "espresso factory" is truly a workhorse. It is a substantial piece of equipment that does take up some real estate on my counter, but it also deserves it! I keep it just off to the right of my sink where the sink "rinse" hose reaches it for (very) easy filling. I could have spent a whole lot more money getting it hooked directly into the waterline, but this way, I have the flexibility of moving it.

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Update International EP-12 Stainless Steel Frothing Pitcher, 12-Ounce

Very small. Steams enough milk for 1 serving of double-shot latte. When deciding on size, always measure liberally. Take into account that steamed milk usually doubles in size if done properly.

This is a decently built pitcher, but too small for good frothing action -tends to spill over. A 20 oz. pitcher seems to work better.

This pitcher's dimensions are: about 2.65" wide at the top, about 2.8" wide at the bottom and about 3.6" deep.

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This is an ok size for creating a small 2 cup cappaccino with the Mr Coffee Cappaccino Maker. This size does not give you very much frothing room for larger drinks and I will probably purchase the 20oz size soon. The quality is excellent, sturdy stainless steel and heats the milk alot quicker than a ceramic mug I have been using. Get this for making smaller drinks but if you want more frothing room I would get the 20oz or even larger.

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I was initially impressed with the frothing pitcher when we received ours from Amazon. However, being a espresso/cappuccino novice I didn't realize a few things. First, the pitcher is a little tall to fit under the frothing wand on our newly purchased De'Longhi EC155. Not a big deal because with a little finesse it could still be accomplished. And besides, not really to be held against the pitcher, more of my fault. Second, the 12 oz size, as many others have said, is pretty restrictive when trying to get a good froth. Again, more my fault/inexperience then to be blame on the product. However, the final straw is that the handle fell off our pitcher after about a month of use. The pitcher was never put through the dishwasher. . . and even if it was, should it really fail after a month of. Maybe we were just unlucky and received one produced on a Friday or something. Either way, one star for being so fragile.

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Well, I don't know how excited you can get over a cup but, I guess it's good. The handle is pretty sturdy and it holds the milk the way it should. It's a cup

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Francis Francis for illy X7.1 iperEspresso Machine

Francis Francis brings primo espresso to my kitchen, "a first" !

Easy, simple machine to use. Beautiful Espresso in less than 60 seconds, perfect at 5AM

Update:

Challenges with machine making horrific noises during pump cycle yielded call to Illy customer support, front

Line customer support person was very helpful taking my information ,then after being passed to the Francis Francis tech support person my Illy experience slowly went downhill, repeat attempts for customer support merely made the experience worse, ie your made to clearly understand the customer is the problem and your wasting Illys time.

Net/net the Francis Francis machine is being sent back to Illy, in summary if a company won't stand behind "both" their expensive coffee and espresso machines l'd prefer to enjoy a french press and locally roasted coffee.

Next machine choice will be a Rancillio Silvia and the Rocky grinder, check out the Coffee Geek site for numerous positive reviews.

I love coffee, especially a good expresso or double shot latte. This machine is simple and easy to use. Over three decades I have nursed several different brand machines through the ordeal of giving birth to an expresso shot. This machine minimizes the variables and consistently produces a quality shot of expresso. Preheat until the light goes on, pop in an ipser cartridge, push a button, and voila, The illy coffee is wonderful. I like the dark roast. This machine offers a simple foolproof fast way to a good cup. Don't forget to warm your ceramic drinking cup before pulling the shot. This machine is "stylish" and has a small footprint. It will not hog your counter space.

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If I draw a longer espresso shot, water leaks into the shot and dilutes and cools it. The water container is a pain to remove, really, could't come up with a better engineering solution? Currently it's stuck on beeping and the red triangle of death is flashing and the solution offered in the manual does not resuscitate it.

Otherwise, it's an OK machine :)

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Urnex Cafiza Espresso Machine Cleaning Tablets, 100 Tablets

It cleans great. I used it for cleaning breville expresso machine. They work the same as breville tablets, but they are a lot cheaper.

Incrediable price savings over Jura cleaning tablets. One hundred Urnex Cafiza tablets for the same price

as six Jura tablets. I've been using two Urnex Cafiza tablets to make sure the cleaning matches Jura product.

Wish I had seen the Amazon review advice years ago.

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I bought these tablets to replace the powdered version of this product that I usually have. The picture is a bit misleading because these tablets are pretty small. They work just as well as the powdered Cafiza, for back flushing and portafilter soakings. They dissolve quickly with a sort of effervescent effect. I find them a bit more convenient since I don't have to measure out powder and there is less mess. however I'm not sure if these tablets last as long as a bottle of powdered Cafiza.

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I use the tables in my Breville Barista Express BES860XL machine, they work very well at 1/10th the price of the ones that Breville

recommends. You made need to use them a little more often but there well worth the trouble. Mine came packaged well with foam padding.Urnex Cafiza Espresso Machine Cleaning Tablets, 100 Tablets

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I bought these as the price is very good compared to the tablets that are sold by Breville. I use them in my Barista Express and they seem to work just as well. I think the Breville tablets seemed to fizz and expand more and take a little more time to dissolve; these Cafiza tablets will be just fine and the savings is huge.

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LaCafetiere Stovetop Espresso, Classic Polished, 3C

Love the quality of material

In many coffeemakers of this kind a handle melts due to overheading this one is not prone to this issue.

One has to pour the coffee slowly though, in order to avoid spills.

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Vev Vigano 8072 Itaca Inox 2-cup Espresso Pot

Lovely one girl stove top pot! Makes great coffee. I don't know how I managed so long without it. Purchase a larger model for two or more guests.

After several trips to Italy I have become and espresso addict and now smuggle home several kilos of LaVazza coffee with me. One of the things I admire about Italy is the level of art/design they put into simple items like this. They add a bit of elegance to your kitchen just sitting on the counter. In use I prefer the stainless steel makers than the aluminum ones even though the aluminum ones heat up a bit faster. These make great espresso (get yourself some LaVazza coffee). If you want cappuccino I suggest the areolatte frother along with this machine and you'll be quite happy with the results.

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Saeco Coffee Maker Vienna Plus Graphite Espresso

We purchased this expresso maker after our first one, which we owned for years and years, finally died on us. We decided to get it repaired, but give it to our son and buy a new one for ourselves. When the new expresso maker arrived, we were terribly disappointed. Compared to the first machine, the quality of workmanship is shockingly poor. The pieces fit poorly together and have play between them. Sometimes just touching them moves them out of alignment. The first machine was tight and well-constructed.

The heating element isn't as good either. My husband and I have both noticed that the water isn't as hot when it comes out of the machine. Neither does the machine dispense as much water. We've had to turn the setting to the Max to get a complete cup of coffee. This may be by design, however, and not a negative. Turning our previous coffee maker to the Max setting resulted in overfilling the cup. Larger cups that would accommodate the increased amount do not fit well and are spilled when they're tipped for removal from the machine.

As for making the coffee, expresso, etc., the machine does just fine. It's internal functions seem to work well. I suppose my real concern here is that, if the quality of the rest of the machine is any indication, this one may not last as long as the first one and we may have to send it off for repair too. If that happens, I'm not sure we'll ever replace this one with another like it. We may look at other brands, even if it means spending more money--which it will.

We purchased this a little over a year ago (late October, 2010) and have already spent money on repairs. After replacing a motor, we still have an electric burning smell every time we use it. We also have water that leaks from the bottom whenever we use the steam wand. I sent an email to Saeco regarding the issues before our year warranty was expired, and they never responded. Not the type of company I'll ever do business with again. Wish I could give zero stars.

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My main complaint is that it does not make espresso strong enough. I have consulted the manual several times to make sure I have everything set correctly, and it does not grind beans finely enough for real espresso, and it does not put enough beans into the steam.

Another complaint -the only warning you have of low water, a full cake bin, or low beans is when the unit stops and flashes a red light. Then you pretty much have to check everything to find out what's wrong, and start the whole thing over. But I wouldn't mind that if the espresso were strong enough.

On the plus side, this thing is FAST. You can be drinking coffee about thirty seconds after you turn it on. The only problem is, IT IS COFFEE with a pretty good crema, and not espresso. At least not the way I like it.

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Understand that this isn't the Rolls-Royce of super-automatic machines. My brother has that and it's awesome but I think he paid about 3,500 for it. Our previous machine was a Delonghi it worked well, and made thousands of cups before buying the farm and we couldn't find anyone to service it in Arizona. So rather than ship it out and pay the repair for a five year old machine we just bought this and we've been very pleased. It's quick, quiet and easy to use. It makes a great cup of coffee and I actually sort of appreciate frothing latte milk manually because there's more control getting it to the desired temperature and consistency. It's not as visually appealing as our previous machine but actually seems more well made.

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KRUPS KM4055, 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black

I believe that Krupps Coffeemakers make the best coffee. Mine was over ten year old and needed replacement. I didn't like the all metal look of the Coffeemakers on Amazon and was glad when they came out with this black one. It truly makes good coffee and it looks nice too. My main complaint is the water fill tank in the back is small and hard to hit the right spot without spilling (see photo). This is why I didn't give it five stars. The level indicator is also rather hard to see, and I have to guess as to how full it is. It seems like all Krupps Carafe's dribble a bit, but I am used to that by now. I still really like it, even with it's faults.

UPDATE: After a little more than a year, it died. I purchased Krupps all my life, but no more.

My previous Krups coffee maker was made in Germany and worked perfectly for almost 20 years. It finally died over the Xmas holidays after heavy usea solenoid apparently fried (I took it apart to see if I could fix it as I hated to part with an original German-quality appliance).

My new Krups works fine (made in China), but after a few uses I wanted to wash the carafe in the dishwasher. Lo and behold the carafe top could not be removed, and the carafe therefore cannot be washed in the dishwasher.

I think most people like to wash their carafes in the dishwasher every week or so to keep them shiny and clean. Not being able to do this is a major negative for this coffeemaker.

Otherwise I have not had any problems with the coffee it makes. But I would not recommend it to anybody who wants to wash the glass carafe in the dishwasherwhich I think most people like to do.

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As you would expect from a Krups coffee maker, yes it does make excellent coffee, but there are a couple of very annoying design flaws. The worst in my opinion is the tiny space you have to hit when you're pouring the water in it. The lid is in the way which compounds the problem. The second concerns the pot itself in 2 areas the lid is not removable for cleaning and when you are pouring coffee from the pot, the steam comes through a hole between the handle and the lid and is uncomfortably hot on your thumb. The pot also has a tendency to dribble coffee while pouring. Another fault, although a minor one is that the stainless lid you have to close over the basket is very prone to fingerprint smudges. In all I think it is a pretty disappointing coffee maker considering the quality Krups is known for. *** Updated 11/8/2010 *** ...and after only 9 months the piece of junk DIED in mid-pot of making coffee. The heater element croaked I would assume. Krups has a history of making the best coffee pots available in my opinion, but this one really SUCKS for lack of a better description.

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I believe that people are not comparing the correct product to product. The black Krups is just a coffee maker. Model # km465 is a Krups Dahlstrom. Model # km5065, sold only at Wm of Sonoma and made especially for them, is a Krups Dahlstrom with more bells and whistles. It heats the water 21% faster. Important to research when making such an investment.

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We got this unit to replace a unit we have had for several years that just got old. We have been using this coffee maker for 3 days now without issue. There are some setup concerns though. There is a water filter screen attached to the removable coffee v-cone that covers the water-filling area. Using the screen-filter greatly slows water flow as you fill the tank. Since we have a whole house filtering system I don't see a need for this. It removes easily. The instructions for your initial use are very poorly written and totally useless. Follow the cleaning process steps for your initial water cleaning steps. This unit doesn't drip. The black carafe edge does limit totally emptying the carafe but the amount of water or coffee remaining is very small; so, no big deal. At this point I'm very satisfied and fully recommend this coffee maker.

Toastess DLFC381 Coffee Maker, Stainless Steel

I love that you can remove the water tank, makes it easier and less of a mess. The coffee comes out hot and fresh and there have been no leaks. I also appreciate the permanent coffee filter that it comes with. All in all a great buy.

Just got this the other day. Yes, it is dark gray color, and not black. The dark gray actually compliments the stainless steel accents very well. Enough of the cosmetics, how well does it brew coffee? Great! The removable water tank is neat, but I still just pour in filtered water from a pitcher. Although it comes with a screen filter, I prefer to use the paper filters and they fit the basket just fine. It brews quickly, and a full 12 cup pot from start to finish (IE adding coffee, water, etc) takes around 10 minutes. The carafe is nice in that you can pour your coffee without it spreading around the lid and spilling over like my Braun carafe used to do. The programming is super simple and the auto cycle works as it is supposed to. It cost half as much as my Braun cost, it makes 2 more cups of coffee, and it looks better. I am happy!

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I bought this particular model because it had a removable water container and was under $50.

It's not as solid/heavy as high-end coffee makers, but frankly, I like it. It's probably worth no more than about $35, but I was willing to pay another $15 for the removable container. It turns out I don't even remove the container, because the opening for pouring in water is so generous.

So I'm content with the coffee maker. Since I've had so many, across the price spectrum, I know that none of them last forever anymore. So I buy them under $50 and replace them when necessary.

I like this one for now. I've used it nearly 3 months now. So far, no problem. If a generous space for pouring water into is important to you, or removing the water container to clean it, this is the pot for you!

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I have been using my Delfino coffee maker for a week now. It replaced a Braun. They were about the same price. The removable water tank of the Delfino makes this coffee maker very convenient. But more important, the coffee tastes so much better. The maker itself is easy to clean, and the stainless steel casing of the housing makes it look neat and sharp. I like the gray plastic part of the housing because it keeps the maker from shouting out on the counter, like my white Braun and the black Black and Decker of old. I give this maker five stars.

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I still have this, but I use it as a spare pot.

I was not a big fan of this pot. The coffee

grounds came through into the coffee. I've

always used Cuisinart coffeemakers and I went

back to that brand.

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Cuisinart DGB-475 Grind & Brew 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemakers

I went ahead and purchased this product after a lot of research and despite what some of the negative reviewers say. I've had built-in grind coffee machines for awhile, and I can honestly say this little machine produces some of the best tasting coffee there is! The cleanup is easier than my old GE machine (with grinder). No, it's not as easy as a normal coffee maker without the grinder, but then you don't get the freshly ground coffee either.

You're going to have to decide what is right for you. I program mine the night before and wake up to fresh coffee in the morning. The grinder is noisy, but is still quieter than my old machine. After I pour my thermos, it takes me all of three minutes to disassemble and rinse the parts out with hot water, leaving them to drip dry in the sink for when I get home. About once every couple weeks, I hand wash the parts.

I use the thing every week, 5 days a week. It's awesome. I've had no trouble with it. You just have to know that you're getting a grind-and-brew, not just some regular coffee maker. If you're looking for quality coffee, then this is your ticket.

UPDATE 9/30/11: After 2 years of owning this machine and using it regularly, it is still going strong! Even though I said I hand-washed the parts once a week, I got lazy and started using the dishwasher. I put the plastic bits on the top shelf and only the carafe on the bottom shelf. It works great in the dishwasher, and I have had NO damage to the unit. Again, this is a great machine. It's still making fantastic coffee with no problems.

I've used this coffee maker for about a week now. Overall, I do recommend it. This is the first coffee maker I've used that grinds the beans, definitely a very nice feature. It makes very good coffee, probably the best coffee of any coffee maker I've ever owned (which is more than a few). And the coffee still tastes quite good after two hours on the burner. I like that you can disable the grinder and just use ground coffee if you want.

It does have a few quirks worth mentioning. First, the grinder gets wet from steam every time you use the maker, whether you grind beans or not. It is very important that the grinder and basket cover are dry before grinding the beans; otherwise the grounds stick to them and you end up with weak coffee. So you must remove the grinder and basket and let them thoroughly air dry before you can actually use it. Safety features in the maker don't allow you to brew coffee unless the grinder is in place, so don't think that's your way out. You just need to plan ahead.

Second, while it is nice to have a charcoal water filter as part of the coffee maker, I was a little put off that they charge about $5 a piece for replacement filters($10 for a 2-pack). They say the filters last for 60 brews. Not quite as bad as ink for the printer, but you get the picture.

Third, if you use the grinder, you have 5 pieces to clean after every use, 2-piece grinder, 2-piece basket, and the carafe.

Overall, I give it 4-1/2 out of 5. The coffee it makes is top notch, well worth the extra cleaning time, but planning ahead is essential.

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This coffee maker makes great tasting coffee faster than my Melitta grind and brew coffee maker. The bean grinder motor sounds more powerful and grinds beans much faster and quieter. However, the bean basket itself is very small. I guess I must like my coffee stronger since I use a separate coffee bean grinder when making more than six cups of coffee. The charcoal water filter does seem to improve the taste of coffee. I agree with some other reviewers who complain that cleaning the unit (especially the inside) requires some extra effort. Finally, I like the size and overall shape of this coffee maker. This product is close to perfect.

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We live in the country and this coffeemaker has been such a wonderful addition to our kitchen. The water filter has made such a difference to the taste of the coffee, we were so suprised. The automatic turn off feature is also a favorite of mine. Several times we have left with the coffeemaker still on and now we don't have that worry.

There are so many great features on this machine, like the rest of our cuisinart products this one makes life more enjoyable!!

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We received this coffeemaker as a gift. While all the features make it seem like it'd be a wonderful maker, it's really not. It's a pain to clean, but the bigger problem is that the basket pops out quite often and makes a HUGE mess all over the counter and inside the coffeemaker (spilling the grinds inside). It's such a pain and I dread making coffee in the AM because of it. I hate to give it away since I don't want to burdeon anyone else wit hit.

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Yama Tabletop 5 Cup Vacpot Coffee Siphon & Vacuum Pot

This is a conversation piece. As such, it gets a great rating from me. It works as advertised and is very cool while doing it.

I don't recommend this as a regular coffee maker because it's slow, but I love the way it works and that I don't need electricity to use it.

Disappointed when cotton wick and measuring spoon were missing in the original shipment. Took one phone call and 2 emails to receive a response. Received the missing parts 2 weeks later. Very happy with the lab-type coffee maker.

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Mr. Coffee BVMC-ZH1 Power Serve 12-Cup Coffeemaker

Coffee is one of my four main food groups, so I am always pleased to try a new twist on coffee brewing. The Mr. Coffee Power Serve is a carafe-less coffee brewing system with a convenient, delayed brewing feature, a pause and serve feature, and cup-at-a-time dispensing.

You notice immediately upon unpacking that there is no carafe! The coffee is brewed directly into a reservoir, and you dispense your coffee directly into your cup or mug by pressing it against a pedal in the front. You can brew up to 12 cups at a time, and it takes 10 minutes to brew a full 12 cups.

The reservoir is designed to be used as a pitcher from which to pour the fresh water, but since it is a square shape, I found it to be a little awkward. I use a water pitcher instead. One very nice feature is that there are clearly marked "steps" in the back of the machine where you pour the water that makes it easy to add exactly the right amount. This is a big improvement over the hard-to-read marks on the side of most brewers.

There is a digital clock on the front that allows you to prepare your coffee maker before you go to bed, set a morning brew time, and wake up to freshly brewed coffee. Additionally, there is a brew now button, which lights up while the coffee is brewing. A loud beep that signals when the brewing cycle is done. On the front and on both sides of this coffee maker, there are clear panels which let you see how much coffee is left in the reservoir.

The brewing basket comes out easily for cleaning and for adding your filter and coffee. It uses round, basket-type filters rather than the cone shaped ones, but sadly there are none included in the box so be sure and buy some if you order this Mr. Coffee.

The dispenser is motorized so your cup is quickly filled when you press your mug to the pedal. You can also dispense a cup of coffee before the brewing cycle is done for those days when you just can't wait. There is a small, detachable drip plate on the bottom of the machine so if you spill a little, it doesn't end up dripping under your coffee maker.

The coffee reservoir sits atop a warming plate, which is supposed to keep the coffee at optimum serving temperature after brewing. I personally don't like my coffee to stay on a warming plate since I think it takes on a bitter taste, so I push the brewing button again when the brewing cycle is finished and that turns off the warming plate.

One negative for me is that the coffee reservoir is black and smoke colored plastic. Since that is where the coffee sits, it needs to be cleaned regularly just like a coffee carafe. However, it is not as easily done because of the square shape, and the dark color makes it hard to see if it's clean. I found a soft bristled brush that seems to work OK for this, but it's not as easy as cleaning a glass carafe.

The coffee is good. It seems to bring the water up to correct brewing temperature, so you end up with a nice cup of drip-brewed coffee.

I think that for people who have trouble with breaking their coffee carafes, or perhaps for people who have active young children, this is a novel take on a drip coffee maker.

This coffeemaker was bought to replace another carafe-less coffeemaker from 'Cuisinart', which gave up the ghost. Coffee, is a must in our family 1x/day-weekdays and 2x/day-weekends, not counting friends visiting or family coming over.

In the past I have had 3+ Mr. Coffee units and been fairly well pleased so I thought this one would be a decent unit. Boy was I surprised.

The Good:

1) I liked the speed at which it brewed very nice and fast

2) The layout of controls is simple and uncomplicated

3) The coffee tasted as it should no odd tastes that we could determine

4) The water fill area is nicely wide compared to others that I have used

5) The ease of cleaning IMO

The Bad:

1A) Purchase Date: 7/13/2011

1B) Date of First use: 7/14/2011

1C) Stopped working date: 8/21/2011

1D) Length of product life: 5 & 1/2 weeks (39 days total)[TOTALLY unacceptable]

2) The inability of setting the length of time for the auto shutoff my Cuisinart had a 2/3/4 hour setting choice before it shutoff

3) As some have indicated sputtering/spitting when getting the last amount of coffee

4) The inability to easily determine how much coffee is left in the reservoir

5) The stiffness of the dispensing lever arm It would push to unit backwards and away from me, so I usually had to hold on to the top when dispensing.

6) The stiffness of the top cover lid, as it would not stay up & open when trying to fill the unit; it kept swinging shut so I would hold it with my hand..

This is not a product I can recommend. I will be contacting Mr. Coffee and see how well their customer service is, but the product still does not impress me.

If your particular unit performs well and is still working, then I am glad for you and hope it lasts. As for me and the others who have had issues, I hope we can find a unit that keeps working for at least a couple of years.

Clifford Phillips

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The coffee maker that I received made coffee but the dispenser did not work. I contacted Mr Coffee's customer service and they sent me a new machine without any hassles. I always appreciate a company with good customer service. The new machine works well.

This coffee maker is rather bulky. It takes up about the same amount of counter space as my old coffee maker: Cuisinart 12-Cup Brew Central Coffeemaker, but the Mr Coffee is larger on top and this adds a lot of bulk. The other thing I don't like about this coffee maker is that the reservoir is plastic. If you drink the coffee right away it's not a big problem, but if you let the coffee sit for a while it tends to get a plastic flavor. I prefer coffee makers with glass carafes.

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With my first purchase the tiny spring fell out of the brew basket and wouldn't go back in. Customer service said once this happens, the brew basket is useless. They couldn't replace the brew basket by itself, so they sent me an entirely new coffee maker. No complaints on customer service, but the spring part of the brew basket is so fragile I knew I would have another problem with it, so I was sad to find out that this expensive coffee maker would be a temporary item for sure. The new one came right away too, so that was nice.

Fast forward to this morning (after delicately washing my new brew basket by hand) and now the water reservoir will not suck water. The machine was puffing smoke and shaking like it might explode. I took the plastic pipe out and it's not clogged so that means there is something wrong with the base unit. My husband tossed the first base out in the garbage from his garage so I couldn't mail it back to Sunbeam and now I can't salvage it for parts.

7 months of use for $70. Not a total loss, but still not worth the money or grief. The two stars are for a reasonably tasting cup of coffee and good customer service. The product itself is flimsy.

*** Update: They're sending me a second replacement with no hassle. I didn't expect that. The coffee maker is still lame for breaking down constantly, but if it's replaced each time without red tape I guess I can't complain that much.

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Have had this product for about a month now and it's a really nice coffeemaker. Easy to use, coffee tastes great and unlike my previous Brewstation coffeemaker this one doesn't give me the worry of the coffee running all over the counter. There is no little filter inside the water/coffee basket to dislodge to allow the overflow. Much larger area to pour the water into the coffeemaker as well so less chance for spilling when pouring the water in.

Another great feature is that the coffeemaker beeps 3 times to signal when coffee is done brewing but you can also get coffee from it while brewing. It has a 2 hr auto shutoff for safety and will beep 3 times also to let you know it's shutting off. Brew time is relatively quick so is a plus for this coffeemaker. It also has a clock/timer that you can program to brew coffee so it's ready when you get up in the morning.

Only downside I can see so far is that in order to get your coffee from the coffeemaker it must be plugged it. It has a pump that pumps the coffee up and out from the inside as opposed to gravity with the Brewstation so if your electric goes out after brewing your coffee, you would have to pull the canister holding the container physically out and try to pour a cup of coffee from it in order to get any coffee.

UPDATE 5/13/11: Plugged in the coffeemaker this morning and turned it on. While it brewed I went to take care of my daughter in the other room. Came back to find a HUGE mess..Coffee all over my wood laminate kitchen floor!! Ugghh. The coffeemaker had been making occasional 'weird' noised the past week or so and now today this mess. Am calling the manufacturer as soon as they are open to let them know how upset I am over this. It was purchased 3/25/11 and it's only 5/13/11 so definately not made well to hold up. I brew 1 to 2 pots per day so I give coffeemakers a run for their money for sure but no way should this product give out so soon. Luckily I still have my receipt for it so hope I get reimbursed for it. Need to add I made sure the bottom was seated in the coffeemaker properly and the 'arm' for water to go into coffee grounds was over the coffeefilter as well. Everything in place so it was not any fault on my end..just defective on coffeemaker's end.

Will be going today to get a replacement..back to the good ol' brewstation for me I guess unless I can find a good deal on a professional coffeemaker of course. Steer clear of this Mr Coffeemaker for sure!

CX-25P Bellman Stovetop Espresso Maker w Pressure Gauge

As a serious coffee junkie I really need a good latte every morning. This is easy enough at home with a cheap electric machine (not ideal, but they work) but camping or on oil patch jobs, well I needed something portable that did not require electricity. Of course there are the common old style faceted espresso makers, but the milk ain't right unless you steam it. Anyway, I broke down and bought this, and I love it! You pay quite a bit extra for the pressure gauge, but once you figure it out, the results are great. There was a problem with the "reducer", an insert used in the coffee basket when making smaller amounts, it is poorly constructed but unnecessary just measure 1/4 cup fine ground french roast for each large latte, up to three double shot lattes per run. I use about 6oz espresso to 12oz steamed milk. You will want a small stainless steel pitcher for steaming the milk, and it seems best suited for use on a "pocket rocket" type camp stove, although you can of course use a regular stove, setting it off toward the edge of the burner so as not to scorch the handle or spigot. The whole setup, with camp stove, coffee and pitcher fits in a small "makeup" type case. Don't know how I used to live without it.

Bought my Bellman cpx 25 on Ebay. It was $40.00 cheaper. I like my coffee hot. Bought a Breville espresso machine, tough it extracted the double shot well, it was not hot enough for me. No choice ,had to return it. Saw the cpx25 on Amazon, did a little research on youtube. Took a chance and bought it. Best purchase I made. Hot and rich espresso every morning. It's not for everyone as it takes 25 min to make.

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I have been using this machine for about two years now, and I am pleased to report that it holds up greatly. I don't follow it's instructions to start making coffee around 2 bar of pressure, but instead do 4-4.5 bar. The coffee is good and foamy while the "true" espresso has to be made at 10+ bar pressure, it seems that the 4.5 bar this machine delivers do the trick. Some pros and cons follow.

Pros:

good coffee, good foaming

very solid, quality build

made of stainless steel so if you care about aluminum, this is great

gauge allows you to try a variety of strength/taste for your coffee

very hands-on and takes a bit to clean; this is good for me for if it was easy (like with a pod machine), I would drink coffee continuously

Cons:

hands-on, so not easy to clean. While this is a plus for me it may be a minus for others.

must take a bit of care when you operate. For example, if you open the valves but left it on the stove, the water will evaporate completely and the silicon gaskets will burn. Or, if you do not close the lid tight, the pressure may push the gasket on top and the water will "explode" out. This happened to me the good thing about it is that by the time it hit my face the water was cool already.

the shape is not beautiful (but the construction is solid), so this machine does not look like a great Italian art piece that some other espresso machines do)

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This is a BEAUTIFUL espresso/cappuccino-maker! It's design is so unusual!

The drawback is: It is not the most practical to use. Filling it with coffee tends to make a mess. The riser in the center, used to screw down the top, makes it quite difficult to tamp down the coffee without spilling.

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Holstein Housewares H-08004 4-Cup Stainless Steel Espresso Maker Mate

I ordered (2) SIZES, THE 4 AND 6 CUP models. They arrived in good shape, looking pretty sharp on the outside. It is plain to see they are the sort of design which is a product of examining something already established and making a production item that is a cheaper version of it. It is overall of lighter weight than its Italian prototype. The interior coffee chamber, the upper part, has a very narrow cyclindrical channel around the filter inset, which would be hard to clean if it needed cleaning,though it is not hard to rinse. the funnel/ filter is the weakest part of the device, it is not a 'perfect' fit. For me, it was a 'well-enough' fit.

The pressure relief valve sometimes seems to leak a little. It hasn't outright malfunctioned but it is one more thing for me to not be absolutely confident in.

The outside of the coffee maker is handsome and well proportioned. The hinged lid is a good fit.

What I really felt positive about the design was the handle, robust and well attached. This has been a defect of my more expensive Italian made version.

Overall impression. You get your money's worth. If you want something that will last you for twenty years or more and the company will still be around, go for the Italian orignal. Otherwise, this will work, it will last at least a few years, and if you forget it somewhere you will feel no loss.

*Post Script*

Well, I've given both sizes a lot of use and there is one more thing to report:

I use a hot plate, and when the espresso maker is good and hot and ready to boil, the bottom part, i.e. the 'boiler' bottom expands and bellies out just enough to make the unit very slightly tippy. This has not occurred on my more expensive Italian made unit, and is a design flaw in the Holstein unit(s). Once the bottom has cooled off somewhat it returns to its 'flat' state and sits solidly on a flat surface.

Practically speaking, this has not presented a difficulty to my use of the product and does not change my existing rating.

I was comparing some of the more well known brands of aluminum expresso makers and I came across this lesser known stainless brand. I have been using it often and think it works great! My only recommendation is for people using a gas stove is that the handle can heat up so remember to use a mitt if pouring directly into a cup.

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I bought this espresso maker based on the reviews, it's made ok, not sure how long it is going to last because it is feels cheaply made, however maybe replacing the gasket with a better made brand will make a difference. It will do the job until I buy a better brand.

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This espresso maker is a great buy. I chose this one because it was affordable and stainless steel. I had heard that the aluminum stove top espresso makers flaked off after awhile, so I steered clear of those. This one is simple, easy to use and makes the perfect amount for my boyfriend and I to each have a double shot late in the morning. The espresso tastes great too. Definitely not disappointed with this.

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This espresso maker is the best one in the market. Simple to use and clean. Im buying another one for fathers day.

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