3 Liter Digital Water Heater

Many Asian households have this appliance but non-Asians seem to not know about it. This is a convenient way to always have boiling hot water at hand for making tea or instant ramen and instant soups. While the typical "American" electric tea kettle requires you to plug in and boil water each time it is turned on (thereby necessitating a wait of at least 3-5 minutes), this water heater boils water and keeps it boiling hot for days until you dispense all of it and have to refill/reboil it. I have found it very useful to have a personal water heater at my office desk (where it is the envy of all my colleagues yet somehow they are resistant to buying one themselves due to cultural suspicion), and also one at home. One caveat is that since it is constantly plugged in, it may use up a lot of electricity. Also you have to be careful of children accidentally dispensing it and scalding themselves (this model has a "lock" button). Lastly, you should never immerse the appliance in water and it is certainly not dishwashable. The Tiger model is not cheap but it is a high quality, well-made appliance that will last for years.

I got this one to replace a Tiger water heater I got over 16 years ago. That one has to be pumped manually. This one is much better since it pumps the water out automatically.

I like the 6-hr timer (only single setting, single push to activate) that shuts the heater down for six hours then restarts it. This save energy since my house is 50 degree at night and I don't drink in these 6-hr time period. It also heats up the water before I get up. The 3-liter capacity is more than sufficient for my consumption rate of 1.2 L each time. My previous unit was 5-liter, which is too much to heat up.

The lid takes about 2 seconds to get use to. If you use the left hand to open it, you'd need to use your thumb to push down on the front-end which pivots the back end of the retangular latch upward, then use your pointing finger and/or the middle finger to lift the lid up. The lid is removeable for cleaning which is nice.

The insulation is quite good. I set the temperature at 208 deg F and my ambient temperature is 50 deg F constant so the water reheated about 3 hours each time for about 20 seconds. This is not bad at all. Even my bottled hot water heater reheat much often than this, about 20 minutes each time based on the same constant 50 deg F ambient temp.

I bought this unit after reading others' review and they were pretty accurate. I enjoy my coffee at 208 deg F instead of either not hot enough (bottled hot water heater) or too hot using microwave oven.

This unit has a lazy susan which make it very easy to rotate. The negative this is that the power cord is held onto the unit by two rather weak magnets so if you rotate the unit too quick or to much ( greater than 60 degrees), the power cord can detach from the unit easily. Be careful when washing the unit. Read and follow the instruction and the warning label on the unit.

The bottom line: a strong recommendation to buy.

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I bought my Tiger water heater in Korea in the mid 90s while working there. I keep it plugged in all day and love this. I was worried I'd not be able to replace this if mine ever quit on me so I just looked it up and so glad I will be able to get another one if mine ever dies. I have this instead of a coffee pot and really love it. Ever so often, I put a cup or so of vinegar into the hot water (fill to the line), unplug it and let it set overnight to clean all the minerals from my water. The next morning, I just wipe with dish rag inside and then I rinse well and fill up again. This keeps any build-up from inside the kettle. I'm just thrilled I was able to find this online to order when I need one. I might even order one soon as a "back-up" just in case. Yes, it's funny when my friends visit, they have never seen anything like this and act like it's an "Asian" thing. Now I can tell them they can get one, too.

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I have always found the Tiger brand very reliable and this hot water dispenser is no different. I purchased one for my son 5 years ago It is still in good working order although his had a mechanical pump. This one is all eletronics so when it is not plugged in you cannot dispense any water.

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This hot water dispenser is just great. The price is so reasonable for the good quality. It has a good capacity and very simple to use. My parents have the same exact product and they are happy with it as well.

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Rancilio ROCKY Rancilio Burr Grinder with Doser

I won't rate this product 5 stars because I don't believe it is a good value. At almost , this thing should be flawless, and its not. If my only criteria were grading the ground coffee it produces, it would be a 5 though. Let me say though that it does a fantastic job making espresso grounds.

The path I took before I purchased this grinder started with a Black Friday sale at Starbucks where I picked up a Sirena espresso machine for $315. I had been coveting this machine since I had been introduced to espresso a year earlier but couldn't stomach the gut wrenching price for that machine. Box in hand, I headed home to make my first espresso.

Long story short, I spent a few days using my blade grinder to grind the coffee and came to the conclusion that I couldn't get the grounds consistent, even or fine enough. So I spent some time reading the thread on c about my machine and found that most people on there recommended the Rocky. I thought for a coffee grinder was ridiculous (I typically use stronger language but....) so I shopped around and settled on the still expensive (seriously, we're grinding coffee here) but reasonable Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder. I liked the Breville as it was fast, quiet, clean, small and light. However, its finest setting ("Turkish") wasn't really all that fine. Even on the finest setting, I was pulling triple shots in 8-10 seconds (which is about 2 seconds longer than when not using any coffee!). At that rate the espresso is thin and there is no crema.

Not being the type to give up on anything, I did some more research on the coffee grinders out there and was disappointed to find there was nothing in the $100-200 price range that people had good things to say about. Thus the Rocky was my cheapest "sure thing". I bit the bullet and bought it. To my satisfaction, it arrived later that week.

From the first shot I knew I made the right choice; the coffee was thick and rich, with a frothy and yummy crema. It wasn't perfect, but damn, it was better than anything that had come out of the machine before that! It took a few more adjustments to the grind setting and tamping pressure to pull a 25-30 seconds shot, but I got there pretty quickly. The Rocky has the adjustability to grind so fine that it can completely choke the espresso machine. That's awesome! I've now got the grinder dialed in just perfectly for my beans. The shots pull consistently good with about 2-3mm of silky smooth crema every time.

Now for the bad...

1.) The doser Inside the doser there is a 6 bladed sweeper that rotates when you pull the lever. However, the sweeper blades aren't quite long enough to reach the rim of the doser and thus don't sweep all of the grounds out. It leaves a substantial amount. I've learned to not use the doser lever anymore, but rather use a brush to sweep and move the doser blades around manually. That cleans it out very well.

(As a side note, I think that the doser is necessary to break up the clumps of ground coffee coming out of the machine.)

2.) The speed 21 grams of coffee takes about 45 seconds to grind. The beans get stuck in the hopper too so I have to use my brush to sweep them! The Breville processed this much cofee in about 1/3 the time (granted it wasn't as fine, but still).

3.) The weight At something like 17lbs, it's a beast. With as much coffee as the doser slops out, I need to move it frequently to clean the coffee grounds off the counter. On the flipside though, I am glad I got a lot of metal for my money though as I know this unit is sturdy enough to last a lifetime.

4.) Ergonomics It's hard to get a grip on this thing to move it. I wish there were small handles on the side of it.

5.) Cleaning Everything is screwed together and nothing snaps apart. It's sturdy, but it's a pain to clean because you have to get the screw gun out to disassemble it.

Overall I am happy with it as it makes delicious espresso. I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about good espresso.

The Rocky grinder is so incredible. Tons of horse power and a consistent grind. I grind for espresso and I can increment the grind size in slight increments according to how well the espresso is making it through the porta-filter on my espresso machine. Awesome way to fine tune and adjust according to the quality and age of the beans.

Built like a pro grinder heavy duty!

Regarding the decision of dosser vs. doserless: If you are going to us this as a COMMERCIAL grinder and pour shot after shot go with a dosser for measuring convenience. But you will always have some of your ground coffee sitting in the hopper.

If you're making your espresso's one at a time go doserless. Then you're getting your coffee freshly grounded just before you use it.

UPDATE 9/2011: Still running great and creating a perfectly even, fine grind for espresso.

UPDATE TO UPDATE: 11/2012: Still running great and creating a perfectly even, fine grind for espresso. Definitely getting my monies worth out of this one.

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I recently bought this great burr grinder along with the Rancilio Silvia espresso machine. Getting a great home espresso is all about the grind. I didn't know this until just recently. I'd been a dope, using a cheap blade grinder not knowing what a HUGE difference a burr grinder would make.

Now, I have my grind and my tamp dialed in, along with a great espresso machine (The Miss Silvia). I must say my espresso and cappuccinos are as good or better than our local coffee shops. If you are really into your espresso or cappuccinos, you MUST have a burr grinder. This is well made and easy to use. I highly recommend it.

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I am a contractor and when I recently remodeled Doug and Susans basement I was eventually shown how to use the grinder to make espresso while on breaks. Unfortunately, I started taking lots of breaks... good espresso! The grinder is quiet, precise,and efficient, like an excellent sub contractor, or a good table saw! The grinder was great. I use a burr grinder at my house but you can't even talk over the thing. This one whirs below a conversation level, then stores the suberbly consistant ground coffee. I then pull the lever a couple times to dispense premeasured amounts into the doser that is resting in its holder on the machine, and there it is break is on!! Thanks for the good times and good espresso. On my way to hawk some of my tools to buy one of these things, it's worth it!

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I can say that it has really improved my morning espressos. Having the ability to grind the coffee myself right before I pull a shot has improved the quality and consistency of my lattes. The Rocky does a great job with the grinding and with the doser, I haven't had too much problem with "dust". It's build is of a fairly high qualityplastic could be a bit heftier, but with a little care it should last me many many years, and it turns out great coffee grounds. Well worth the money even though it is not cheap. I use a La Pavoni hand pump machine, and it has never turned out as good a shot as I can now obtain with the combination of it with the Rocky.

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Mr. Coffee JWX20 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, White

The other reviewers are right. This makes a decent cup of coffee, but it's really messy. Grounds get everywhere and due to its size it's hard to rinse the inside in the sink. It's awkward to fill because it's extra long and you have to fill it at the back. The clock hasn't kept the time right since we got it. Wish I'd read reviews first, but our last pot died one morning, and I just ran out and got one. This is about our 4th coffeepot over the years, and the first one I really dislike.

Bought this about a month ago at a local store. It looked like a good deal, and I had never had a bad experience with Mr Coffee before.

The other reviews are SPOT ON. When it brews, the coffee is good. I have experienced the folded over filter/grounds in coffee, and you never know when it will happen. The inside of the coffee maker is just poorly designed. Grounds and splashed coffee tend to go all over the inside of the unit, making cleanup a real pain. Since the brewing chamber and water storage are in the same area, the steam from the coffee (along with the splashes) tends to accumulate on the inside and further make a mess.

I would never buy this coffee maker again, and I am strongly contemplating donating it and buying a new one. I hate having to clean it up all the time. You gotta wonder if the designers of these coffee makers actually try to use it at home for a couple of days to see how they work. Does not look that way.

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About 50% of the time when I'd go to pour a cup of coffee, the filter had been compromised and the grinds leaked into the pot! Not happy with this purchase. The features are nice, but the actual coffee making is not good.

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5 stars on brewed coffee when brewed. 1 star on dependability.

This coffee maker was amazing. It worked hard, made some good strong coffee. It's auto shut off for the hot plate was great. Strong or regular brew strength was great too.

Until this morning, it would not brew. Checked everything, read booklet, nothing. Went online, target where I bought it people were saying same thing happened to them, pump died thus no more coffee brewing.

So if you want great coffee with a short life span you should pick this up at your local target or amazon for under $30 or just invest in a better longer lasting model. My old dependable whose 2 yrs old and mr coffee stainless steel 8 cup guy just got dug out and is back in use. Going to return this item today.

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The writing on the metal surface rubbed off, and in less than a year the machine broke. dont waste your money.

Jura 66281 Descalling Tablets for Jura-Capresso Automatic Coffee and Espresso Centers, 9 Pack

Can't complain, they work (I think). At least the machine stopped asking me to run the descaling cycle. Can't taste a significant difference. Instructions could be more clear. But after I read them (such a grown-up) realized that it uses 3 of the tabs per cycle.

Cleans the machine very well, but could be cheaper... But, at the same time, the tablets do last for a long time so I can't complain. Works great for our Jura Impressa F9!

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I have been using this product for the past 15 years, and it is an amazing quality item. Do not buy the cheaper Descalling tablets, you will be sorry if you do.

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As another reviewer mentioned, these end up costing less than using a Clearyl filter in your Jura machine. They're easy to use, and even though the instruction manual on our Capresso says that it'll take about 45 minutes to run a descaling cycle, it usually takes me about 15-20 minutes to run one. You also do need to dissolve the tables in water for about five minutes before you use them, so that should factor into the time you allow for cleaning.

You do need to use three tablets per cleaning, so this nine-pack ends up only being useful for about three cleaning cycles. We make about 5-10 shots of espresso a day with our Jura, and a package of these lasts about eight months, so the price isn't too bad.

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Sure they are overpriced, but using the correct product on your expensive automatic coffee maker is a small price to pay to ensure that it is going to keep working. When you pay $2000 for a coffee maker, why would you try to save $5 and risk either harming or only partially cleaning it? False savings!

Gaggia 102533 Espresso-Dose Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine, Warm Silver

My husband and I were very excited about this purchase. We decided we wanted to spend a little more money and replace our old espresso machine and stovetop espresso makers and he'd read great reviews about the product at that time.

We bought this product from wholelattelove. After the first month the machine started leaking from the filter basket. We disassembled the parts and cleaned them out just in case grinds had made their way up there. This didn't solve the problem. Next we figured it might be a bad seal so we tried to find a replacement. We ordered replacement seals from the same company only to have to cancel the order when we noticed they were for another machine. We couldn't find the seals anywhere. So we've had to keep a plastic tupperware container to catch the excess (and I do mean excess) water from spilling all over the countertop.

After about 6 months the machine started to have some kind of electrical failure as well. One of the button lights goes out so that you can't tell when the machine is ready to make coffee.

Another thing, the machine is made from a flimsy plastic. Feels cheap.

Positives are hard to pinpoint but when the machine actually worked it produced decent crema and the steam wand still makes decent froths as well.

Our recommendation is you spend your money elsewhere.

I have owned a number of Gaggia machines and liked them. I bought this for my girlfriend and it is the worst espresso machine I have used. it is a poorly manufactured plastic imitation of a Gaggia machine.

It is too light and you have to hold it down to attach the porta-filter.

The heating tray on top is practically useless as it doesn't get hot.

the Filter seal started leaking after 2 months and I have waited 3 months for a replacement.

It does not siphon water into the tank so you have to prime it everytime you use it.

Don't waste your money spend more and get the Gaggia Baby or Coffee. both of these are great machines that will make better espresso.

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I bought this machine from Wholelattelove and am very dissapointed. It failed after 30 days. It started pumping spontaneously, pumped itself dry and then quit pumping. So far its taken Wholelattelove 2 months to repair it and I still dont have it.

Its a lightweight flimsy machine, with some odd quirks. Why is the on/off switch in the back where you cant reach it. The water reservoir leaks, and steamer fell off.

I dont recommend the machine or Wholelattelove.com They dont respond to emails, and dont seem to care about customer service.

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I purchased this from Amazon in January and found it makes great espresso for a relatively small and light weight machine. I also have a Sirena which is much sturdier and more expensive but I think that the Gaggia makes a better espresso. I initially gave this product a lower rating because the lights failed to operate after a few uses and I was frustrated because it wasn't clear how to trouble shoot the machine from the Gaggia website. Thanks to Google, I found the customer support number in the US. They called me back promptly and were very helpful. They were able to resolve the problem with me over the phone with a simple screwdriver in about 5 minutes. They actually knew a lot about the machine and I didn't need to send it back and wait 5 weeks! Despite the issue with the lights, I think the machine has been well worth it.

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Gaggia has a reputation for building relatively solid though finicky espresso makers. This machine is one of the new generation of Gaggias, which evidently are attempting to retreat from the reputation of solidity. This machine the Espresso has three iterations: the Pure (the simple black plastic cheap one), the Color (one color, red, costs more than the Pure evidently because of the color), and the Dose (which can be calibrated to deliver a fixed amount of liquid per button press, which costs even more. The units all have the same mechanicals stainless steel boiler, roughly 3.5 ounces in size, a brass coated brewing group, and (note well) a non-pressurized 58mm "commercial" portafilter.

Right out of the box, the Espresso feels cheap and flimsy. No metal in sight, and the machine (in my case the Dose) looks like a big ugly hunk of plastic. The steam control knob feels like a child's toy and is so poorly mounted on its stem that it feels like you could twist it off. The water reservoir is a skimpy 42 ounces, and the alleged warming plate is ugly white plastic and produces markedly little warmth. This by far is the ugliest appliance in my kitchen and is also among the most expensive. Most importantly, the machine weighs only 10 pounds, which makes tightening the portafilter a chore as you have to pin the machine down to keep it from tipping over or just being shoved around the counter.

The mechanicals inside appear to be solid, and the portafilter is sturdy and serviceable. The boiler appears willing enough, though it is really tiny, and the steaming wand is excellent. The dosing function on my Dose model appears mainly useless, as my brewing results worked better with manual operation, and this pointless features adds about $50 to the price of the base model. Eyeball your cup's fluid level and save $50. No three way valve, but the filter puck is reasonably dry and easily emptied.

Now the real problem if you plan to use your own beans for this, you need a $300 grinder from Gaggia. That's it, end of story. My $90 Capresso Infinity after much experimentation with tamping and grind proved incapable of making anything other than sludge due to the non-pressurized portafilter. I called the vendor up and their service staff informed me (in a sympathetic and polite manner) that the Infinity simply couldn't produce a consistent fine grind. Even the popular Baratzas (in the $100-$200 range) can't produce a "Gaggia grind" without being disassembled and modified by the user. (This is true check the Baratza website FAQs). Upshot: nothing less than a $300 grinder can produce home ground coffee for this machine.

The vendor told me to try pre-ground espresso, and sure enough the commercially ground coffee I tried was much much better, but this means dealing with a short lifespan and keeping the coffee in an airtight container in the freezer. Even after trying that, I found that the pre-ground produced nice crema only when very fresh, like 1-2 days, and generally not after it came out of the freezer. If you don't mind running off to a local store for a small dose of commercially ground coffee every day, this is your machine. Or you can buy a grinder that costs as much or more than your Gaggia machine does.

Anyway, the disappointment for me here was not necessarily that the machine has such extensive "special needs". If it was elegant and solidly made, I would still give it a pass, though maybe not for me personally as buying $600 worth of home espresso equipment is beyond my budget. However, even if we factor out the demanding grind requirement, the flimsiness of this machine and its ugly plastic frame simply is unacceptable at the $250-$300 price point. A Saeco Aroma in the same price range is made of metal, has a bigger steel boiler, weighs 30% more, and uses a pressurized portafilter that works nicely with less finely ground coffee.

The Gaggia has a better reputation for durability, but the new Gaggia Espressos look like they are made on the same assembly lines as Saeco's (the companies are commonly held) with the main difference being the portafilters, so I have little reason to assume that this cheap plastic eyesore will prove any more durable than a comparable Saeco. The Aroma is much easier to use, does not need a grinder that costs as much as it does, IMO is more attractive, and is at the same price point. I don't know why anyone would buy one of these Gaggias. Maybe if you have an expensive grinder, and your old espresso machine died, and you need a cheap replacement? Whatever. I am underwhelmed.

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Paula Deen 8-Cup Stovetop Percolators

In seeing so many nasty reviews about this little perk pot, I am putting in my two cents. First of all What do all these one and two star folks think this percolator is supposed to do for them?? Take them to Starbucks... I mean, seriously......

The reason I bought this percolator was because I had tried some stove top espresso makers, which clearly made much richer and fully flavored coffee, the only problem was that is was much too strong. It was evident something about the water and steam passing though all the grounds fully, and very slowly was making all the difference in the world. So I bought this percolator to see if this could make a richer home brew that was not as strong as espresso. Indeed this old fashioned process adds to the flavor and if properly perked your coffee will turn out just fine. The coffee is so rich that I save the left overs for iced coffee in the late afternoons during the summer.

Best thing to do is follow the instructions which say to let the water come to a boil then turn it to low heat. Yes, this means you need to stand there by the stove . Yes, if you over cook it, it will taste bitter. Yes, if you put too much water in the percolator it will over flow onto your stove. However, if you fill the percolator and coffee basket half way, all should go well.

The design is nice and this is a very sturdy item. Would have been very helpful if this came with a silicon grip in this day and age. Yes, you have to use a pot holder, just like way back when. Also, the orange is close to a bright red, the red is a very dark red, and the blue is nearly an aqua green.

Would be five stars but for the lack of a silicon grip. Nice job Ms. Paula Deen. Thank you!

It all started with the knives. I moved into this apartment in early Feb., My son gave me a gift card as a house warming so I went on a spree buying

kitchen things. When I considered a new percolator the fact that the landlord payed for the cooking gas entered into the choice. It's not possible to

just go out to Wall-Mart and pick up a stove top unit. I had purchased red knives and red cooking pots so it had to be red. It's a well made product and

a credit to the Paula Deen brand name. I agree with another review I read when shopping on amazon, the bad reviews for this unit come from young people who have never used a crank to lower a car window or lowered a needle on a 78 RPM record.

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Best coffee pot I ever had! Bought a DeLonghi coffeepot for over $100 and between filters that had to be purchased every few months, descaling the pot with vinegar, it just wasn't worth it. The descaling didn't work and after a year I threw it away!

The Paula Deen coffeepot makes excellent coffee even without using the strainer, when less coffee is needed, but with excellent flavor!

I even make tea in it. Somehow, the heaviness of the pot and tight, snug double lid gives coffee and tea a full-bodied flavor! It makes coffee so fast, and has a slowly, brewed taste!

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We have had our Paula Deen stovetop percolator for more than a year. It brews the best coffee we have ever had. You need to pay attention to when the coffee begins to percolate and then turn the heat down to low and brew for six minutes. We then turn the heat off and let it set for a couple of minutes before pouring. It makes perfect coffee every time.

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Bought this for my hubby, the coffee drinker in the family. Cute, seemed sturdy and sustainable, no plastic, so I bought it.

But this thing takes 20-25 minutes to fully percolate on med-high heat(what a waste of energy!) Seems to be taking longer the older it gets(right now about 6 mos. old). Like other users we also have gotten some some grounds in the coffee.

I wish I could find another one that makes a similar amount that is as pretty as this one! I don't mind having this live on the burner.

Please improve the design, Paula! I'd probably spring for another if issues have been fixed.

CBTL Kaldi S04 Single Cup Brewer

UPDATE! I gave my review another star since the capsules are now available locally at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Being able to conveniently buy capsules is important to me.

If you are short on counter space in your kitchen and you want both a single serve coffeemaker and an espresso machine, this unit is something you may want to consider. It takes up about the same amount of space as a Keurig machine, if you are familiar with those.

Set-up was easy, insert the screen in the water tank, give everything a good rinse, pour in some water up to the fill line 40 ounces(I prefer using filtered water), plug it in and follow the simple directions in either the manual or the quick start guide.

Once the machine has primed itself, you are ready to choose your brew. Pull the handle back all the way, drop in the pod with the top facing the front of the machine, snap the handle back down, and choose your size by pressing one of the 3 selections:

Top button: 1.5 ounces for espresso

Middle button: 3 ounces for a long espresso

Bottom button: 8 ounces for coffee, 9 ounces for tea

The next time you brew another cup, when you lift the handle backwards, that disposes of the previously brewed capsule into the storage bin behind the drip tray. This should be dumped into the trash as part of your daily maintenance, in addition to always making sure you have adequate water in the tank (you don't want to burn-up your pump). Also rinse the storage bin out with hot water after you dump the capsules, it gets a little skanky in there if you don't!

All the coffee flavors I've tried are very aromatic, rich and flavorful. The espresso capsules all produce a nice crema on top. Even though hot chocolate is sometimes listed as available in a capsule, I don't think those are out yet (as of 11/1/12). I'm not a tea drinker, but I did try the Tropical Passion and it was good.

I'm concerned about availability of coffee capsules, but I've ordered more capsules from Amazon. They are available on their Subscribe and Save program, at least I get free shipping that way, but the capsules at this time run 62 cents each.

UPDATE November 2011 these capsules are now being sold at my local Bed, Bath & Beyond, even more flavors than are offered here at Amazon.

NOTE: Every 2 to 3 months the de-scaling warning light comes on, this is what I use it takes about 45 minutes from start to finish: Urnex Dezcal Home Activated Descaler, For Home Coffee & Espresso Equipt., 4 1 oz Packets.

If you want a frother, they also have a separate one available, it's great.

CBTL LM-145P Milk Frother, White

My wife convinced me and finally bought for me the CBTL Kaldi S04 Single Cup Brewer, Red. After having this device in my countertop for the last 4 days here are my findings.

The Kaldi makes superb espresso brews. So far we have tried the Carnevale and Premium Decaf Espresso. These 2 are both excellent. Brews a the standard Expresso shot or a tall espresso which is about 5 ounces. Both brews leave a nice layer of crema that lasts to the last sip. However, I also tried the French Roast as being one of the dark/bold selections; this one missed the note by being 'lite' for a dark brew; it does have a very nice smooth flavor, but it just misses the dark punch of a bold selection. I would place the french roast as a medium roast. We just came from Bed Bath and Beyond and purchased a package of the Starbucks Verona which was my favorite T-Disc on the Tassimo; well, even the Verona is on the lighter side; tastes good, but lite!

It has a small profile that does not take much counter space and has a very modern stylish look. it is not very noisy like the Keurigs and takes just a couple of minutes to finish the brew.

The items that could be improved: The water tank could've been made a little bigger to hold more water; if you are just brewing espressos, perfect size, but if you brew coffees the water tank is small. Secondly, the used pods fall into a reservoir which is not very hygienic, since the pod is full of water it will drip outside the pod and into the reservoir, which if it is left like that for a day or more, it will rot and smell bad. There is no way to put a tall cup under the nozzle, so you have to use low profile or espresso cups. However, as an added bonus you can use the new Starbucks 'Verismo' pods on this just fine as the pods are the exact same size; not sure who copied who but if you are a Starbucks fan this is a very good extra bonus.

I also own 2 Bosch Tassimo T20 1 Cups Espresso Machine and Bosch TAS1000UC Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer, Anthracite brew bots that make excellent espressos and coffees; and while I am happy with this device I think the Tassimo with the Bar Code technology is what puts it into another superior level. However, the CBTL pods are available at BBB, Target and obviously here at Amazon, so that is what made it atrractive as an alternative to the Tassimo T-Discs which suffer for good distribution.

Follow up after 10 days:

I noticed that brewing regular coffee, the temperature of the coffee was not hot enough; I contacted CBTL Sunday, left a message and they promptly returned my call next day (not from Asia). They sent me instructions how to program the temperature settings which are not very clear in the manual.

I am using the CBTL for espressos, as they are very very yummy; but regular coffee (at least the French Roast) is pretty lite to my taste buds; so I am using the Tassimo for regular coffee.

Instructions for setting the temperature from CBTL:

"Programming the Coffee Temperature

Your CBTL System uses one main heating element for all the drink options (espresso, coffee and tea). Should you find that you would like to increase the temperature of the water that is being dispensed, you can do so be following the below steps. Please note that this will only raise the temperature approximately 6 Degrees Fahrenheit.

1. Switch the appliance off and raise the lever

2. Keeping the short espresso and the brewed coffee buttons pressed down, turn on the machine

3. The multifunction alarm light will stay on with a fixed red light

4. Press the long espresso button to highlight the short espresso button. This will raise the temperature approximately 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit

5. Press the long espresso button to highlight the long espresso button. This will raise the temperature approximately another 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit

6. Press the long espresso button to highlight the brewed coffee button. This will raise the temperature approximately another 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit

7. The turn the machine off and on. "

6 month update: This brewer continues to be 2nd best to my Tassimo; I just can't stand that the coffee is not hot enough even at the highest setting and have to reprogram it often; other wise is just warm. Secondly, the extra dripping of coffee that continues even minutes after the cup has been brewed makes cleaning a lot more often if not daily; since the pods also fall into the same place, they also keep dripping inside the reservoir. The high note of the device is the quality of the Espressos; they are superb and the small foot print of the brewer.

Buy CBTL Kaldi S04 Single Cup Brewer Now

I owned a NESPRESSO maker (model C101) for six months because my wife being French swore by them. Never owning a pod based coffe maker, it made wonderful espresso for the time it was in our possession. I had fair expectations for what it could do given it was such a small compact machine but I always found the espresso (even the strongest pod) a little weak. Also, I found the pods difficult to locate and often I would purchase in bulk from ebay to get a deal for a pod that was often coming in around 90 cents a piece. But since I had nothing to compare it to I didn't venture out to locate greener pastures.

I had little to complain about UNTIL i went into a coffee bean location to purchase something before work (to be frank I don't enjoy their in store coffee and was there due to limited options). They had a demo CBTL KALDI S04 for customers to sample SO instead of ordering a coffee I decided I would try the machine first and if it was miserable then I would purchase my typical americano from the cashier.

Well I can only tell you I was STUNNED. The coffee was strong, the creme thick and the double shot setting was plentiful (at least a third more than the Nespresso machine) and was just as good as any thing I would have purchased.

I can only generalize but most American's, and clearly I enjoy a stiffer and stronger cup and this machine provides you with such a coffee both in espresso form and coffee form.

Additionally the pods themselves are very convenient and are about 40 cents a piece and can be found in store and bulk buying isn't required and if you order 40 dollars a more a month from the subscription service they offer free shipping.

DON'T order the teas for this machine. To be honest, the machine doesn't understand the idea of steeping. You can't pressure brew tea. I've tried chai and Moroccan mint and they're tepid and tasteless.

I've tried all strengths of the espresso pods and they're all excellent. The coffee pods which are not espresso are good but are not as exception as the espresso and all brew hot but not scalding nor luke warm. I do recommend using a small metal cup or a small thick walled porcelain cup. A large cup dissipates the heat much faster, something I found happened with both the machines.

The only down side is the lever is sometimes very difficult to pull but that is the only down side.

And to clarify I use my at least 4 times a day.

Read Best Reviews of CBTL Kaldi S04 Single Cup Brewer Here

I am very impressed with the CBTL machine and coffee capsules. I had a Tassimo for many years that I liked (as well as other coffee and espresso makers before that) and I am elated that I found such a great replacement! The Tassimo was good but since their move between Braun and Bosch, and the rise of Keurig, I don't think Tassimo will be around much longer.

I was seriously looking at Keurig, which others in my family own. I was also looking at Nespresso. In the end, CBTL is the way to go. The price is great. The Kaldi model produces amazing coffee and espresso. It is simple to use and is very clean and elegant. The Nespresso options were way too expensive and only do espresso. I tried Nespresso samples in stores and CBTL is just as good if not better. I also think CBTL does a better job with espresso than Keurig. Keurig makes a good cup of regular coffee, but if you want really good coffee AND espresso, definitely go with CBTL. K-cups and CBTL capsules cost about the same, but I give end product quality points to CBTL.

I'd also recommend CBTL's milk frother. I've made lattes, mochas, chai teas and steamers--all of them taste like the expensive coffee shop versions for a fraction of the cost. I can't say enough good things about the CBTL products. I hope they start making Keurig nervous!

Want CBTL Kaldi S04 Single Cup Brewer Discount?

I've had this unit for about 6 months now and LOVE it. It doesn't take up too much space, is very easy to operate and clean. The flavors of the drinks are all pretty good, with the Italian espresso being my favorite. The Kaldi even makes crema with both the espressos and the coffees, so you know you're getting a good brew.

The unit is loud, though, so I have to wait until my preschool aged kids wake up in the morning before I brew my coffee as I don't want them to wake up until necessary.

Although I love this machine and wouldn't trade it for any of the other Single cup brewers out there, I docked one star because during the 6 months I've had this item, I've gone through about 15-20 pods that didn't work. Keep in mind that I use about 2 a day. I put them in properly, but for some reason, the machine would get stuck after poking a hole in one of the ends of the pods, so I'd have to toss it. When I put in a new pod right after, it works fine, so I'm not sure if it's a defective pod or if something's going on with the machine.

Other than that, it's perfect and amazing! The barista at the CBTL store I purchased this from even said that the Kaldi probably brews better coffee than when you can get at CBTL because each cup is a fresh, clean brew.

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