DeLonghi DC514T 14-Cup Programmable Drip Coffeemaker

I've had my DeLonghi Esclusivo coffeemaker for exactly 3 months. It brewed the best tasting coffee I've ever had. It was my favorite coffee maker by far for the following reasons: Coffee is delicious -slow brewing permits a more robust coffee. Small footprint on my counter. Stylish design. VERY easy to program and use. Large opening through which to pour water. Charcoal filter to purify water. Automatic shut off. Caraffe has large opening for easy cleaning. NON-DRIP POURING!! I was in heaven with this coffeemaker and knew I'd found the perfect one. (I've had many in my lifetime.)

Unfortunately, two days ago, the plastic surrounding the hot plate began to melt. The vendor from whom I purchased it has already refunded my money and has asked me to return it. I will NOT purchase another one for fear of fire hazard. This coffeemaker would have received 10 stars from me had it not begun to melt itself to death. For this reason, I'm heartsick.....it WAS the perfect coffeemaker.

Easy to use, attractive design, makes aromatic hot coffee. I like the aroma function that brews the coffee slower and uses the "shower head method" to better soak the coffee grounds while brewing. As long as the machine doesn't break down, the 5 stars will remain. Silly me, I thought maybe was made in Italy, but no, made is China. I bought this because of good price, free shipping and attractive design. It has more pluses than that. It is a good buy!

Buy DeLonghi DC514T 14-Cup Programmable Drip Coffeemaker Now

I purchased this coffee maker in December 2009 and it worked well for a whopping 7 months. My son threw it in the trash but I remembered that it had a one year warranty so I dug it out of the garbage can. The piece needed to stop the water from dripping all over the counter is on backorder. I understand that backorders happen, but a 3 month backorder is unacceptable.

I spoke to Bev in customer service and she was as useless as you-know-what on a bull. She said that the part wasn't necessary to operate the coffee maker. I suppose she's correct, IF you prefer licking your morning coffee off of the counter top instead of sipping it from a cup.

Since my machine has been inoperable for three months, and there is no date in sight for the part's arrival, I suggested that they send me a new one. Request denied. I later suggested that they should extend my warranty since my 12 month warranty has turned into a 9 month warranty since the part is on back order. Request denied.

Unless you enjoy lapping your coffee from your counter, i would stay away from this unit and company in general.

UPDATE: Oct 30th, I received the wrong part from the company and must now wait at least two more months for the correct item.

Read Best Reviews of DeLonghi DC514T 14-Cup Programmable Drip Coffeemaker Here

I have used almost every brand of coffee maker. But when I made the first pot with my DeLonghi, I new then that I would never use another coffee maker. The coffee that was made from it was by far the best I have ever tasted, even comparing it with coffee shops.If you by this coffee maker you will not be dissatisfied.

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We purchased this coffee maker after doing a lot of researching and trusting many of the reviews on this site. However, we were really disappointed with the taste of the brewed coffee. We thought it was sort of muddy, at times almost chalky-tasting, and at the end of every cup there was a thick black bitter tasting 'sludge'. I am very experienced at making coffee and have never had this problem with any machine before.

Although we weren't 100% pleased, we decided to stick it out and try to continue using this machine. However, 2 more incidents have changed our minds and it's going in the trash now:

A) Our child accidentally broke the carafe, therefore, a word of caution: buying the matching glass 14 cup replacement carafe is nearly impossible. You can't buy it on Amazon, and when we decided to purchase from Delonghi, the only other place we could find one, it was $50 with shipping! If you do purchase this machine be VERY careful not to break the carafe!

B) Just today, the pressure gauge on the filter broke off rendering the filter now useless. Bear in mind, this machine was purchased only a month ago!

I felt compelled to write this review to anyone out there doing their research and thinking this is the coffee maker for them. We had a terrible experience with it from Day 1, and will now be purchasing a Cuisinart for our great past experience with that brand and their easy-to-find replacement parts.

Good luck in your search!

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Creative Home 73462 Single Serve Deluxe Drawer Coffee Pod Holder

While the drawer is attractive, and works well enough, the top is coming loose at the corners of the drawer opening. They appear not to have been glued, or have come loose and the tiny tacks are not holding the material together. Also, the rear-most row is mostly inaccessible. I can get a Nespresso capsule in there, but not a K-Cup. Owners of similar products have complained the bamboo cracks over time. While this is not happening here, it's early days yet. The material is very thin. I hope I can fix it and that it lasts. We'll see.

Follow-up. I did return the item as the gaps continued to spread.

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Jura Ena Micro 1

To start, if you are shopping for an espresso machine with and attached steam wand, this doesn't have one. So if that is a must-have feature for you, this machine doesn't have it. However if you're shopping for a machine that makes a perfect shot of espresso using freshly ground beans for every cup, while taking up as little space as possible, this Jura Ena Micro 1 might just be what you're looking for.

Compact Design:

While the size is compact (for an espresso machine of this quality), it's still very heavy. In the video, you can see I have my Breville BKC700XL Gourmet Single-Serve Coffeemaker set up next to it, and the Breville is slightly similar in size. The Jura is definitely longer than the Breville, and when I lifted them both (empty), the Jura outweighed the Breville several times over. So you will need a deep and sturdy surface to set this espresso machine one. It would fit perfectly on a kitchen counter, without taking up nearly as much space as many of the other larger models.

As mentioned before, this model does not have a steaming wand. The lack of an attached wand actually helps add to the Ena Micro 1's less bulky design. This is a plus for those who don't use the wand on a regular machine, those needing to use as little counter space as possible, or those who have their own separate milk frothers already.

Set up:

Setting this machine was fairly simple. I used the included instructional booklet and found the steps clear and easy to understand. The machine goes through a very short cleansing process the first time you turn it on for use, so reading the directions will help aid you through the steps. There is an included water filter, and taped to the inside of the "welcome kit" box, is a water hardness test strip. If you should choose to not use the water filter, there are instructions for using the strip to test your water and then setting the machine to work best with your waters hardness level. There are no extra water filters included, just the first one to use for the initial set up and first few months of use.

Settings:

While the design is simple, there are several settings options on this Jura for you to chose from. There is a hidden nob on the top of the machine for you to adjust the grind of the beans. The pour spout has a good range of adjustment up and down for your various cup sizes. Super tall or ultra short, there's a setting for it. The touch buttons on the top allow you to chose from 2 different strengths for your shot and 3 different sizes.

Clean up:

The beans that are ground are automatically emptied into a hidden internal storage bin. In addition, the machine cleans itself with hot water and empties into a hidden tray inside the machine beside the used ground beans. The Jura notifies you with a small subtle light when either of these areas need emptied. To clean, you pull out the tray and both the used cleaning water and the coffee grounds are inside. Be very careful the first time you empty these. I didn't realize that this tray was in 3 separate sections, and in the process of carrying it across the kitchen, dumped used ground all over the place. Once discovering that the coffee grounds section detaches from the water try, I was able to clean these out without any incident.

The water reservoir is easy to detach and fill. The lid also opens in a way that you can fill the tank without detaching it from the machine. The tank is a descent size, making a good number of drinks before needing to be filled again.

Drinks:

I've been making tons of drinks since getting this machine. I've been trying out a bunch of different recipes and have pulled a ton of shots while breaking this Jura in. Every shot has been consistent and there has never been a single coffee ground in any of the glasses. The beans are perfectly ground and water reaches the perfect temperatures needed to make an outstanding cup, every time.

Conclusion:

This machine makes a lengthy process extremely simple and fast. You pour whole beans into the back tank and with the press a single button, freshly ground espresso is poured in less than a minute. No grinding the beans separately (however there are included accessories in case you do want to use pre-ground beans with this machine). No need to tap down the grounds yourself, it does it for you. And there's no need to worry about cleanup at the time of making your cup. You can make drink after drink, and the used grounds and cleaning water are discretely stored for cleanup later. The machine is large enough that it's definitely a full powered and quality built workhorse, but small enough that it can realistically be set up on a kitchen counter without taking up all your space. I've been extremely pleased the the quality of this Jura. So if you're in the market for an espresso machine that's compact on size and you do not need an attached steaming wand, I highly recommend this one.

Update 3-12-13:

My first "system" clean.....It is a little intimidating when you don't know what you are doing and I honestly held off until I knew I had enough free time to fix any mistakes I made. Well, I have to report that it could not have been easier. I followed the directions and the machine did the rest. There are some things to keep in mind to make it go smoothly. First, make sure the water container is full. Second, make sure you have a big enough container to hold a mug of water. Also, the grounds container fills up to the rim with water, so when it is finished, CAREFULLY pull out the tray to avoid spillage. Keep in mind that it goes on and off many times while it is cleaning itself. The process takes about 15 minutes or so. Be patient.....and, because I am a little OCDish, I made a full cup and tossed it. That gives me 185 more drinks before I have to do it again. I have one more cleaning tablet left, so it looks like I'll have to get some more. If they are not too expensive, I will probably clean the machine more often. It is so easy. I continue to be amazed by this machine......Espresso for Dummies....perfect for me! :-)

Update 1-9-13:

Well, I am officially hooked. I use the machine all the time and now my wife is also hooked. The Jura Ena Micro 1 is so simple to use and a real work horse. We use it at least twice/day (that's now how many coffee's we make, as we makea few each time we turn it on!). The only real annoyance is forgetting to put a cup under the spout and having it pour into the grating when it flushes itself.....still, it's not even that big of a deal because I clean it after every use. In spite of the price, the is a MUST have!!!

Update 11-12:

For some reason, my machine reset itself and started pouring the ristretto size as a full cup of coffee, and the other sizes were also different. Also, I was having problems with the ground coffee. A quick call to customer service (to try to figure out what I was doing wrong)fixed the whole thing. I was on hold for less than two minutes, and spoke to a rep who was very patient and helpful. First, the ground issue. It turns out the funnel has to be placed EXACTLY as pictured on page 14 of the manual. That's how sensitive the sensors are....I never realized it. As for the sizes, it turns out that the machine probably reset itself somehow. Holding the cup size down for 3 seconds will get it into program mode for that size. It starts pouring and when you press it again, that's where it will be set to. I reprogrammed every size and everything works perfectly. Total time spent with customer support: less than 15 minutes. Having my machine work perfectly again: Priceless! I LOVE this machine!!!

Update 10/13:

I really am loving this machine, and have now eperimented with many different beans.....I knew this wouldn't be good for me! Hahahaha. I am drinking iced espresso now with 3 large "shots" and it is really amazing how good it tastes. The only thing that I wish I had was a steamer/frother to make cappucino. This is just such a solid piece of equipment. We use it at least once/day. The other day we had a little party and made over 40. I wish there was a way to get water directly into it, as the water container is small for parties, but still, it is so fast. Everyone loved it, and loved the espresso!

Original Review:

In short: Buy the Jura Ena Micro 1 if you like espresso and want a fast, compact machine without a steamer.....now for the long version:

Let me start by saying that I have never had espresso before. My wife, however, LOVES it and has always wanted me to try it. Well, I finally did, and I have to say, I kind of wish I hadn't. Keep in mind that I think I couldn't tell a mediocore shot from a good one, but it was GREAT! I have been using the Jura Ena Micro 1 for about 2 weeks now, and EVERYONE loves it. Guests, family, friends ALL comment on how good it looks (it looks really great, very sleek). It grinds the beans for you, (reading the instructions warn you of using grounds that are too fine because it could damage the machine). You can use ground coffee, but instructions say not to grind them too fine. Every cup/shot is fresh....and delicious! You have everything you need here, and at this price, it should. It does not have a ateaming wand, but I don't think I need it (or maybe I do, remember, I didn't think I would like espresso).

The Micro 1 allows you to pick 3 different sizes and 2 different strengths. If you are sensitive to caffeine I would recommend the smallest weakest unless you have to build a barn or something.I wsa pretty wired when I made my first ("supersized"), but at least I got a lot done.

I love that you put the beans right in and leave it. That should create some extra counter space. This is a completely self-contained system. My wife loves it (and so do I). The Ena Micro 1 does everything you need it to do except hold the cup up to your mouth. So, if someone tells you, "For that price, it should grind the beans, pack it down, and clean itself," you can say, "It does." Yep, it cleans itself! How awesome is that? Ok, you still have to do a little work, but I don't mind rinsing out the drip tray and throwing away the grounds. It really only takes a couple of minutes.

While this is relatively small, I was surprised by its weight. It is solid and appears to have been built well. Not because of the weight, but more because of how things fit together, and even the plastic feels sturdy. The machine comes with a filter as well as a water tester to tell you how hard your water is and if you will need the filter. Apparently, the machine does need to be maintained by way of descaling, but that won't be for a while (I will update this as soon as I do it).

Buy Jura Ena Micro 1 Now

We bought the Jura Ena 1 about two weeks ago and have been very pleased with it. It makes a great cup of coffee, and is super easy to use. Although the machine (on the outside) is all plastic, it appears to be all high-quality parts that fit together perfectly and seem well made. We compared this machine to the DeLonghi ESAM 3300 before buying it (on-line, not "in person"). Although the ESAM 3300 was significantly less expensive, we were a bit concerned about the quality. There were several reviews that mentioned quality problems, and many talked about very poor customer service. So we decided to pay a bit more for the Swiss-designed Jura machine, hoping that the Swiss attention to detail would pay off for us. Since we did not want cappuccinos, we also reasoned that this machine being solely aimed at making coffee/espresso was simpler and possibly less likely to break. As I mentioned, the machine appears to be very well made. I am impressed by the precision and quality of the parts that you can see. Our only minor issue that we have had with it so far is that the sensor that tells you if the trays are full with spent grounds/waste sometimes comes on after only a few drinks (in one case it came on after only one drink). Emptying the container makes it work again, so not a major problem, but I do wonder if this indicates an abnormality.

We have now gone through a cleaning cycle, and it was quite simple. You do not have to remove any parts (other than the usual drip trays etc.) or disassemble the machine in any way. Just pop in a cleaning tablet and follow the simple steps.

We tried it with the same coffee beans from our local coffee shop. It does not seem to make the coffee quite as strong. In other words you need 3 or maybe even 4 shots to equal the strength of the Americano made at the coffee shop with two shots. Even with this however, we calculated the payback versus us buying coffee (Americanos) every day from the local coffee shop, and it works out to be about 9 months. Since this machine has a 2 year warranty, we concluded we cannot go wrong.

I think we would give this machine 4-1/2 stars if they allowed it (due to the minor issues mentioned), but since we cannot do that we decided on 5 stars.

Overall, we would definitely buy this machine again.

Pros:

Great coffee

VERY simple to use press one button and you have your coffee or espresso.

No extraneous pieces (foaming wand etc.) to break etc. if all you want is coffee

Takes up little space

Looks great

Cons:

Spent coffee container light comes on sometimes before it seems it should, requiring you to empty the container before it will continue

After coffee is made there is a faint sign of very fine coffee grounds around the rim of the coffee cup (but the coffee still tastes great)

We will update this review if our opinion changes in any way.

Note: You might notice that some of the other reviews are from people in the Amazon Vine program. As far as I understand, this means they received their unit free of charge for evaluation. I am sure they tried to be fair and evaluate versus what the machine would cost, but in our case it DID cost us a lot!

Read Best Reviews of Jura Ena Micro 1 Here

Hands down, this is the best coffee maker that I have ever used. The only thing that could make this better is the ability to provide a continuous water source to the machine. It's not needed though because it is super easy to setup and use. It makes excellent coffee.

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We have owned Jura-Capresso coffee and espresso machines for over 15 years and they have been excellent appliances. This one is no different. We have double-shot lattes every morning and my wife wanted to be able to go up to the machine and make it herself. Very few espresso, etc., machines are user-friendly. We looked at a host of manufacturers and kept coming back to Jura. We then looked at the entire line and really decided that all that milk and extra plumbing in the top-of-the-line machines was a nusance and had to be cleaned every day so that idea was dismissed. We then saw the Micro and liked it but what to do about the frother? Frothers are technique-dependent so we scoured the internet for options and came up with the Breville BMF600XL... everybody raved about it that bought it. We took the plunge and are extremely satisfied with all of the usual parameters of describing an excellent cup of "euro-style" coffee. The combination is highly recommended for moderate users of coffee. The bean and water container are rather small and we top them up every day after use.... no big deal.

One observation, we use the Micro on our kitchen countertop and the water tank is in the back; the clearance between the water tank (with its' handle) and the bottom of our cabinet (16-17 inch clearance) is very small and so replacing the water is a little awkward. That said, we'd buy the combination again and recommend both without reservation to anyone who loves a trouble free cup of a variety of coffee drinks that are easy-to-make, render reliable taste shot after shot, day after day. There is no technique dependency in grinding beans, tamping, and frothing milk. It also makes a terrrific coffee Americano!

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Melitta Cone Filter Manual Coffeemaker 6 Cup, 1-Count

Being a lifelong coffee fiend, I've tried literally EVERY type and brand of coffee-making device known to mankind over the last 30 years: standard electric drip coffee makers, percolators (not recommended to anyone with an appreciation for coffee and functioning tastes buds), French presses, vacuum pump units, microwave gizmos for which one needs an engineering degree to figure out, etc., but I keep coming back to this one.

It's definitely low tech, but it does what it's designed to do, e.g. make a terrific pot of coffee with minimal hassle. Other reviews have described the process of using this as being additionally cumbersome (given the need to boil water separately beforehand} but I don't personally find that to be the case. I keep a teakettle of filtered water on my stovetop, and when I'm ready to make coffee, I turn the burner on, and while the water is heating, I measure the coffee out, and then once the water is near boiling, simply pour over the grounds. The entire process takes about five to seven minutes, start to finish, about the same time as an electric drip unit would take.

The unit -which essentially works similarly to more stylish (but also considerably more expensive) Chemex coffemaker -has several advantages over other coffee making methods: because the water is manually boiled, one can control the temperature; because the unit is so low tech and has no buttons, switches, bells, whistles or moving parts, it can last for decades (unless one breaks the glass carafe which, being on the clumsy side, I'd done more than once -but then they're so inexpensive to replace that it's really not that big a deal; also, the carafes of electric drip units are equally fragile); if one has a gas stove, as I do, coffee can be made, even during a power failure.

Cleanup is simple: toss the filter full of used grounds in the trash, and after the coffee is consumed, rinse out the filter cone and the carafe. There's no reservoir to collect nasty sediments like an electric drip unit, no grungy screen and plunger to disassemble and scrub like a French press.

If a new coffee making technology is introduced, I will surely try it, but doubt I will find something else that is as inexpensive or reliable as the Melitta Manual coffee maker.

EASY OF USE

I've used the Mellita Coffee System for about 40 years. I find the system more convenient than coffee machines.

> If the power goes off, you can still make coffee if you have a gas stove or a camp stove.

> It is easy to brew exactly the amount of coffee you want, and exactly the strength that you want---including adjusting to new roast and grinds. You can even mix caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees if you wish.

> In a way, the Mellita system is more "sanitary". It is easy to forget a used filter in a coffee maker, maybe for weeks if you go on a vacation, and find a fungus garden in there. You can't ignore a used Melitta filter, because it is out in the open. If you forget a used Melitta filter, it and the coffee grinds just dry out. It is also much easier to wash the Melitta components---just a quick rinse under the tap is usually good enough. Caveat--some types of coffee are oiler than others---you may need to actually wash your cone and carafe if a quick rinse is not sufficient.

SIZE OPTIONS

The carafes for which the "6 cup" and "10 cup" systems can nominally hold 6 or 10 cups off coffee (filled to the brim), but that is really irrelevant. A more important consideration is cups vs mugs. How many people still drink "cups" of coffee? So, it is the "mug-capacity" (1 mug = 1 1/2 cups) of the filters and cones which really counts.

#2 filters/cones

Recomemnded: 1 cup

Practical Maximum: 1 mug

Theoretical Maximum: 2 cups

#4 filters/cones ("6 cup system")

Recommended: 1-2 mugs

Practical Maximum: 2 1/2 mugs

Theoretical Maximum: 4 mugs

#6 filters/cones ("10 cup system")

Recommended: 2-3 mugs

Practical Maximum: 4 mugs

Theoretical Maximum: 6 mugs

However, I don't follow my own recommendation: In the morning, I want coffee "now!" I often run out of patience trying to brew even 1 mug of coffee using #4 filter/cones. On the otherhand, the #6 filter/cones holds a whole mug of hot water in one quick pour, and drains about as fast as you can continue to pour the water in---so I find it very convenient for brewing 1 to 2 mugs of coffee at a time, and on rare occasions to easily brew 4 mugs (6 cups) of coffee. However, in this case, the hot water has little time to extract the flavor from the coffee. To compensate, I grind my coffee very finely. I could simply use more coffee, but that would be wasteful.

The #6 filters/cones ("10-cup system") is faster and more flexible, at a slightly higher cost for the filters. Melitta Cone Filter Coffeemaker 10 Cup, 1-Count If you are patient and your space is very limited, such as in a camper, boat, or in a college dorm, or if you really want only 1 or 2 mugs of coffee at a time, #4 filter/cones (the so-called "6 cup system") is a good choice.

GRINDS OF COFFEE

If you usually brew the "recommended" or fewer number of mugs of coffee, then very-finely ground coffee is recommended. If you usually brew the the "recommended" or more number of mugs at a time, then a medium grind coffee may work best. Most supermarket "fine grind" is actually a medium grind. If you brew more than the "practical maximum" a medium-coarse grind will work better. If you grind your own coffee in an electric grinder, "coarse" is only a second or two, medium-fine is perhaps 10 seconds, and very fine is perhaps 30 seconds, until the pitch of the sound changes, indicating that no more grinding is taking place.

REUSE

If you use very-fine grind, then discard the used filter when finished (because most of the flavor will be extracted, and the filter will be clogged up by the fine grinds). If you use a medium grind, then you can optionally reuse the grinds in the afternoon to make a second batch of coffee (which will be lower in caffiene). Coffee-freaks may object to reusing grinds, but it works just fine.

FORMULA

Regardless of the grind, you have to use the same formula for the TOTAL amount of coffee actually made, i.e., 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per mug, depending on your taste, brand, etc.

FILTERS

Presumably, brown filters are easier on the environment---and on you, less chemicals having been used to manufacture them. Unfortunately, #6 filters are hard to find in most grocery stores, but easy to purchase via Amazon. Melitta Cone Coffee Filters, Natural Brown, No. 6, 40-Count Filters (Pack of 12) Melitta Cone Coffee Filters, Natural Brown, No. 2, 100-Count Filters (Pack of 6)Melitta Cone Coffee Filters, White, No. 6, 40-Count Filters (Pack of 12) In an emergency, you can use #4 filters in a #6 cone, but you'll regret it (having been spoiled by the convenience of #6 filters).

RECOMMENDATIONS ON MAKING GOOD COFFEE

>>Use fresh unchlorinated water if possible. Do not use "softened", "sparkling", or "mineral" water. If you let an open pitcher of water sit on a counter for a few hours (or overnight), most of the chlorine will evaporate. The best way to get pure water is a reverse-osmosis system. Bring the water to a quick boil, but don't leave it boiling too long--that will flush out the dissolved oxygen, leaving the coffee tasting flat.

>>There is a huge difference between brands and roasts. Experiment and enjoy. However, even more important is freshness---which is the greatest challenge. How can you know if the coffee is fresh? The easiest way is to signup with a service such as Gavelia, Boca Java, or Coffee Bean Direct--whose only business is providing you with freshly roasted (and freshly-ground if you wish) coffee.

>>Particularly if you do not use a "coffee service", its best to buy whole beans and grind them just before brewing. A $15 grinder Krups 203-42 Fast Touch Coffee Grinder, Black is as good as a $200 grinder. It takes only a few seconds to grind a batch of coffee while waiting for the water to boil.

>>For newbees, "French" or "dark roast" coffee is rich and bitter, and usually brewed "stong". Light roasts are more complex, but some are acidic, and are usually brewed and drank more like tea. Light roast Indonesian coffee is particularly complex. Caveat, "complex" does not necessarily mean flavorful---some dark roasts are wonderful, but it is probably harder to find a good dark roast. The Coffee Bean Direct Assorted Whole Bean Coffee Sampler, 9-Pound Box available from Amazon is a good way to explore the varieties of coffee.

>>The filter cone and carafe should be rinsed off after every use, otherwise your coffee can be contaminated with stale oils. A weekly wash in the dishwasher won't hurt.

>>Elsewhere, you'll read endless nonsense about the exact water temperature, how fast or how slow to pour the water, the value of porcelain vs plastic cones, preheating the cones with hot water, how finely ground the coffee should be, etc. It's all nonsense (except possibly to engineers who design coffeemakers). 99% of what matters is the quality of the ingredients: water and coffee. You want fresh oxygenated chlorine-free salt-free water, and good quality recently-roasted and recently-ground coffee.

SAFETY

It is easy to forget the glass carafe on a hot stove. I broke at least 6 carafes before I purchased a whistling teakettle. Revere 2-1/3-Quart Whistling Tea Kettle NEVER use the carafe to boil water or reheat coffee. The flood of water might crack a ceramic stovetop, or put out a the flame of a gas stove---both causing catastrophic problems. Use your microwave to reheat (1 mug of coffee = 30-45 seconds); it's faster and safer.

It is important to take care to pour the boiling water into the filter, not between the filter and the filter cone. It is any easy accident to make. To minimize such accidents, fold over the "joined" edges of the filters so that the filter opens wider. If you are a particular klutz, a quick rinse with a little cold water before you add the ground coffee can "glue" the filter to the cone.

SUGAR IN YOUR COFFEE?

Purist insist that coffee should always be drank black. While I tentatively agree, I can't. My taste-buds are overly sensitive to bitterness. However, I have found that pure Stevia Pure Stevia Extract Powder by Kal 3.5 oz is a good replacement for sugar for me. Oddly, it isn't as sweet as sugar, but is just as effective in cutting the bitterness, which is what I really need. Truvia and other brands in packets or described as "spoonable" contain bulking agents which effect the flavor and leave a yucky residue, and are comparatively expensive. KAL Pure Stevia contains no bulking agents and is very economical.

SALT IN YOUR COFFEE?

It's a naval tradition. I've found that a few grains of sea-salt in a cup of light-roast coffee can be pleasant, but not so compelling that I make a habit of it. However, a little salt is more noticeable (in a good way) in ice coffee.

MILK IN YOUR COFFEE?

If the purpose is just to cut the acidity, then you need to try a different coffee or brewing method. If the purpose is to cut the bitterness, you might want to try stevia instead. If you simply like milk in your coffee---I say, indulge yourself with a little real (not fake) half-and-half, or even heavy cream. I usually drink my coffee black with a little stevia, but for a rare desert cup, real sugar and real cream are essential.

GENERAL SHOPPING RECOMMENDATION

After major grocery shopping expeditions, sit down at your computer with your reciept, and check if you can buy any of the non-perishables through Amazon. When you find items (even if more expensive than you just paid), put the item on your Amazon wish list, and add a note to the wish list of the price you just paid. Check your wish list frequently, and when you see an item you need at a bargain price, buy it.

Buy Melitta Cone Filter Manual Coffeemaker 6 Cup, 1-Count Now

When you have the money and want a fancy manual drip maker, you can look at Chemex or Bodum. But, if you want good coffee at a good price, this is it. In our day coffee came in a 16 oz can and we drank whatever was cheapest. Now kids know the difference between Robusta and Arabica and go to a local roaster on the day their regional favorite is being roasted. Fancy Auto-Drip machines don't heat the water hot enough, build up calcium, and don't immerse all the grind correctly. French pots let silt and bitter elements of the coffee through. This method takes some time and effort, but if you like good coffee, its worth it. This coffee maker goes for about the price as a bag of good coffee.

Read Best Reviews of Melitta Cone Filter Manual Coffeemaker 6 Cup, 1-Count Here

No muss no fuss no noise in the time it takes to boil the water I can have a perfect great tasting cup of cofee! Nothing to break down easy to clean.

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just follow the directions.

it's not too small like a 4-cup or too big...like a 10 or 12-cup maker.

just right.

if you don't know how to use it or have anything thing in your experience to compare with it, don't bother to review it!

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Nespresso C91 Essenza Espresso Machine

In my opinion, the coffee made by this machine is as perfect as you can make in approximately the space of time it takes to make instant coffee (and in approximately the same physical space). The noise is also much less than I have heard with some other Nespresso machines.

No doubt if you choose to grind/roast/grow your own beans you can make better espresso, but for the rest of us the quality is near perfection.

The only issue I have is that you are limited in the height of a cup you can fit under the spout. A standard coffee cup fits fine, but if you want to use anything that is much taller, then most cups do not fit and I prefer to use the espresso capsules to make a big cup. Even my shortest non-coffee cups do not fit unless I jam them in at an angle. An extra 1/4" of height would be nice....

Oh, and buy your capsules from Nespresso.com. The Amazon.com merchants are reselling genuine capsules at a significant markup. Each capsule is somewhere around 50c or so each and while that is not cheap, it is not bad for me. Not mentioned in the product description is you get an assortment of 16 capsules, so you can decide what you like before you place an order.

edit: Maximum cup height; about 3.25"

It may not cause you to forget your favorite Italian or French cafe espresso, but this machine comes pretty close, without the airfare and hotel. Easy to use, the Essenza pumps out crema-laden coffee time after time. With a $130 price tag and the capsules that go for $.55 each, you're even financially with Starbuck's after 100 cups, and from there the savings mount up. (A back-of-the-envelope calculation is that if you buy this machine and drink roughly an espresso a day during the first year -versus going to Starbuck's for the same thing -you will save over $300.) Moreover, the quality of Essenza's espresso is more consistent than espressos I've had at Starbuck's, Caribou, etc. The only question now is the machine's durability, but for now, after a month of use, I'm definitely sold!

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I have had a nespresso machine for 3 years now at the house. I bought this machine as a second machine for the office. There are now alot of nespresso machines on the market, however my experience with friends who have the more expensive, higher end automatic machines is that the simple manual machine is better. Why is it better ? You can adjust the volume of coffee as you like, or depending what type of cup you are using. It aso tends to be a few degrees hotter than the automatic machines. The automatic machines also add the milk first I like to add any milk last after the espresso shot has been poured.

Overall, great quality and pricing. Recommended.

Read Best Reviews of Nespresso C91 Essenza Espresso Machine Here

I bought the Nespresso Essenza after two failed attempts with a less expensive, yet highly rated expresso maker, the DeLonghi EC155. I originally wanted to use the ESE pods, but the DeLonghi just couldn't handle them well and both machines died. Now I have the Nespresso, and I am so much happier with the reliability and quality of the machine and coffee. The machine feels solid and produces a very nice crema on every shot (that never happened with my previous unit). While you have to buy Nespresso branded pods, I have found them to taste far better than anything I had been using previously (Illy and LaVazza). I can justify the pods as they tend to cost less than the K-Cups my husband needs for his drinks, and I'm still saving money over going to the coffee shop. I also like that Nespresso has a wide assortment of coffees to choose from, and they bring out specialty flavors during the holidays.

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I bought this unit to have in my office. I have a more sophisticated espresso maker at home, but it's quite a production to get from bean-to-coffee in the morning. With this, you pop in a capsule, make sure you have enough water in the pitcher, and you're good to go.

The unit doesn't take up much space; it's about the size of a small blender. Once you open the package, there really isn't any set-up involved (though it took me over five minutes to remove the plastic sheeting on the metal cup-holder). Just clean it, pop in a capsule, push the button, and you've got a hot beverage. Unlike a lot of other espresso makers, this doesn't take 15 minutes to heat up.

I took the advice of others and ordered my espresso capsules through Nespresso. I wish Amazon had a decent price on these, as it's so much easier than having to register with yet another website. The unit also comes with a sample packet of 16 flavors, so you can taste which you like the best.

I'm pleased with this purchase. It was a good price and the espresso tastes ok; maybe not suitable for dinner party guests, but for the office, it's fine.

As others have noted, you are limited to the size of cup you can use. If you have a larger one on hand, however, and are willing to sacrifice two capsules, you'll achieve the goal of having a larger cup of espresso.

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Primula Tempo Coffee Press 6 Cup - Red

After about a month's worth of use, I discovered that the red plastic used to make the lid of this coffee press comes of with a mere wiping of a paper towel!!! This means the plastic can get into the coffee you're drinking. This is absolutely not acceptable for a food-contact item. The company that makes this item should recall it, or the FDA should should investigate this company's material safety guidelines.

I've been using this coffee press for about four months now and haven't had any problems. It hasn't shattered, melted or exploded, and the screen is sufficient for keeping the grounds out of the liquid once it's been pressed down. I like the X-shape of plastic around the glass carafe because it makes me feel a little more secure when I'm carrying it. It isn't fancy but it does the trick just fine.

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The Coffee (or French) Press is a nice way to make coffee. It requires very little equipment, and can be used at home or virtually anyway. You simply combine the coffee grounds in the beaker with the hot water and allow to brew. Once the coffee has reached the desired strength, you press down the plunger to trap the grounds on the bottom of the beaker, and then pour out.

On the up side It is small, and very easy to use. Clean-up is a snap.

On the down side The glass of the beaker is not sturdy, and will not stand up to much abuse. Also, I do prefer the "pull" variety, it pulls the grounds out of the drink, and does not leave the coffee in the grounds to become bitter, as this one does.

Conclusion This is an OK French Press not great, but definitely usable.

(Review of Primula Tempo Coffee Press 6 Cup)

Read Best Reviews of Primula Tempo Coffee Press 6 Cup - Red Here

This product exceed my expectations, the relationship price/quality is excellent, and it's more beauty that it seems in the pic!

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The item came quickly, in good shape, and was a great deal for the money. I love grounding coffee beans in the morning and getting a fresh taste from this press!

Bialetti Brikka 4-Cup Stovetop Percolator

I actually bought this for my wife for her birthday but I think I enjoy it more then she does.

I know that this doesn't make "true" espresso but it comes mighty close in my opinion (i'm not much of a connoisseur, but I do love a good cup). In fact this is better then most any other espressos i've had! I love the coffee this thing produces! The first night I ended up drinking 6 shots of 'espresso' made with fresh Baba Budan beans and I still wanted more! I couldn't do it though because it was 1:00 in the morning and I was wide awake from drinking so much coffee.

Here are a few tips for you...

Make sure you have a Burr grinder. You want a fine grind (but not too fine) to get the most out of your coffee. Burr grinders can be quite the investment but well worth it. You will need a Burr grinder for any espresso machine anyways.

Make sure you have cups close by. This thing will suddenly shoot out coffee and if you're not quick enough you might get some coffee on your stove... as soon as you hear the gurgle and whistle get your cup ready! (you'll know what i'm talkin about...), After a few rounds you'll have it down.

Chances are your first pot will not turn out perfect (unless you've done something like this before...which I haven't). The good news is that after your first time you will understand how the process works and everything will be fine after that!

Clean this as soon as you can! It will be hot for awhile but try to clean it ASAP to make cleaning easier. It's worth it... trust me.

Follow the instructions EXACTLY. It's not hard to do by any means but make sure you read the instructions. if you accidently do something wrong such as pack in the coffee tightly then you will be sorry. The instructions are very simple but very useful.

I noticed one reviewer mentioned that this coffee comes out tasting burnt. If you grind your coffee too fine then it gets caked inside the coffee holder and it takes longer for the coffee to make it up inside the main chamber (excuse my lack of correct terminology). This does cause a burnt flavor because only a little bit of coffee comes out at a time which causes that little bit to become a bit burnt before the next splash comes through. If you grind it slightly more coarse then this will not happen and your coffee will taste amazing. I have a feeling that the people that mention the burnt flavor are grinding their coffee a bit too fine. You want the coffee to be ground fine but not like flour... more like fine sugar.

Have fun! This simple little gadget makes a fine cup. Enjoy!

The Bialetti Brikka makes the best Italian style espresso I've had outside of Italy the flavor and texture will take you back to the piazza cafes. Add some warm milk and froth for a perfect cappucino (I bought the Nissan/Frabosk milk frother as well). I found the directions and method easy with room for a little flexibility with amounts of water, coffee, etc. for your own individual taste. Making the espresso is fun I love waiting for the "whooosh" telling me the delicious crema is almost ready to pour into my cup. Clean up is easy, and the coffee tastes better each time I use the Brikka. One of my best purchases for the kitchen.

Buy Bialetti Brikka 4-Cup Stovetop Percolator Now

I have both the 4-cup and 2-cup Brikkas, and I use both regularly. The last time I checked online a few months ago, both were available in North America.

They both can make an equally delicious espresso with a nice crema on top. It doesn't matter which one you use in my experience. You just have to have faith and keep trying them before giving up.

They are both "high maintenance" coffee pots compared to regular espresso pots. You can't just dump water & coffee in them and leave them on the stove for 5 minutes while you do something else. Brikkas are like fine pieces of art that need to be handled and pampered in special ways. Everything is a delicate balance, and you have to baby sit them during the whole process. But once you get the knack of it, you will get consistent results...and trust me, it is worth the effort. Here are 5 tips:

1) Just before assembling your pot with coffee, make sure the valve is not stuck. Jiggle it up and down a few times.

2) Experiment with different types and brands of espresso coffee. Sometimes the grains may be too small (or too large). Unfortunately, you can't really tell just by looking at the grains. This is one reason why people give up on the Brikka too soon.

3) When the pot is on the stove, you have to keep an eye on the valve. If it is "stuck down" then the coffee will struggle too much to come up, and it will be over-brewed (has a burnt caramel smell and taste). If you feel it is "stuck" then immediately prop it up with a metal utensil (definitely not with your fingers). I rarely have to do this anymore with my pots. I always pre-jiggle the valve, and adding a drop of vegetable oil to a disassembled valve seems to have helped. But this is one reason why you have to keep an eye on your Brikka while it brews.

4) Also, I often pour the coffee before it has finished brewing. I'd say that when it is just over half brewed, that is when I pour it into the cup(s). Then I put it back on the hot stove for a few more seconds while the rest of the coffee comes up. Then I pour the rest of that into the cup(s). I seem to get more crema that way than just waiting for all the coffee to come up.

5) If you're adding milk to your espresso (cold or warm), I recommend pouring the milk into the cup(s) before the coffee. This seems to keep the amount of crema at its maximum when serving your cup. That is actually what you are showing off (the crema), so the last thing you wanna do is cover that crema with anything. I don't add sugar, but if I did, I probably would add it and stir it along with the milk. Again, you want to serve the coffee as soon as possible after pouring it so you and your guests can enjoy the maximum amount of crema.

All of this eventually becomes second nature to you once you get used to it.

Whenever guests come over now, they EXPECT me to use my Brikkas for them, otherwise they are insulted.

The coffee is just as good as any fancy $1000 machine could make and for a fraction of the cost, and a Brikka will outlast any expensive machine. And although a Brikka may be more complicated to use than a typical espresso pot, I don't think it is more complicated to use than a machine. For a cappuccino/latte, I use either a glass Bodem milk frother (for the microwave) or a metal Bialetti milk frother (on the stove-top).

I wouldn't recommend a Brikka for people with limited patience in the kitchen or a limited appreciation for a fine cup of espresso with crema.

You should note that the crema doesn't last too long, so the person waiting for his/her cup has to be ready to drink it soon after you pour it.

Also, the amount of coffee these pots produce is a lot lower than you would think for the physical sizes of the pots. This is my biggest complaint. Most would agree that the 2-cup Brikka barely makes 1.5 cups and the 4-cup Brikka barely makes 3 cups (I would say it only makes 2 cups!). So, I often have to use both pots at the same time depending how many people are over.

Read Best Reviews of Bialetti Brikka 4-Cup Stovetop Percolator Here

this is the best espresso maker you can get. better than espresso made on $1k+ machines. the brikka is unlike any other bialetti stovetop, trust me. it looks similar but it ain't the same beast. the way the coffee EXPLODES out of the brikka makes it seem like something terribly wrong has happened (it's horrifying the first time you hear it). but it's actually making a delicious crema just for you. it's a delicate art form, you have to follow preparation directions to a "T." I'm still trying to figure out the best time to turn off the heat, the best time to remove from heat, the best time to pour... because it all affects the crema. HAVING SAID ALL THIS, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GETTING THE 2 CUP INSTEAD OF THE 4 CUP. THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE. I have both and the 4 cup never gets use because it doesn't taste as good as the 2 cup version. honestly. unfortunately, there is no distribution for the 2 cup in america so you have to find an italian website that has it and order from there. it will take four weeks or more to get to you. yeah, I know. it blows. but I have both and I know what I'm talking about. I'm not even a connoisseur, I just want coffee that doesn't totally suck. the 4 cup is just okay, but you're missing out on the real deal.

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I caught some reviews for this little wonder and would have been sceptical had it not been for the fact that it was developed and manufactured by Bialetti. Anyone who has ever been to Italy will know that everywhere you look you see Bialetti logo and since coffee is a way of life in Italy you know it's a brand that you can trust.

I have long since become used to some good results from Bialetti's Moka coffee makers, but they do require some practice to get the best results otherwise the coffee can taste burnt or over extracted and bitter. Moka coffee is not espresso in that it lacks the strength body and crema associated with espresso.

The Brika however delivers the kind of strength and body that a Moka cannot. Add to this the production of a very satisfying crema then you are on to a winner.

I went ahead and bought the four cup model despite seeing a lot of reviews that favour the two cup version. Contrary to what I have seen in many other reviews the four cup model does produce crema and plenty of it. If the two cup version really is better then I cant wait to get my hands on one of these as well.

Straight out of the box I have had great results even using some run of the mill coffee. The Brika can produce coffee that is very close to espresso in body and taste and with the addition of crema who needs one of those very expensive home espresso machines.

Does the Brika produce "real espresso"? I have read a few online debates on this but really who cares as the results are superb!

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Cuisaid Xpress-O Stove-Top 6 Cup Espresso Maker

Having used Bialetti stove-top espresso makers in the past, I was surprised to find that this "Cuisaid" maker does the job just as well, at 1/3 of the price. My review will focus on the differences and similarities between this model and the more expensive, more popular Bialetti. The quality of the construction does not seem to be as high as comparable Bialetti units, hence the four star rating.

Pros:

Almost identical design to Bialetti stove-top brewers, piece by piece.

I can't taste the difference in espresso between this unit and a much pricier Bialetti maker seems like a given if the construction is the same, but some metal pots or brewers can lend an odd aftertaste to a brew. Not the case here

Just like Bialetti easy to assemble, disassemble, clean and stow

Cons:

The filter holes seem just a hair bigger than in Bialetti models. No major problem, but does lead to a small amount of "dredge" at the bottom of the brew. Much less dredge, however, than you'd get with a screen press.

The aluminum seems lighter, less dense and less polished at the edges than Bialetti models. For the price, though, it's not bad.

Along with the metal quality, the handle seems less sturdy. Not a short-term problem, but I wonder how long it will hold up. I'll add to this review if I see it being a problem in the future. For now, it just seems less elegant and professional than a Bialetti.

Other:

Had a strange gel on the inside of the maker when I unboxed it. Clear and viscous, like a sealant or lubricant. It cleaned off no problem when I washed it before use, but I was somewhat puzzled to find it there in the first place.

Bottom Line:

This little Cuisaid espresso maker produces a good cup of espresso at a very, very low price. Though the build quality is inferior to more expensive models, it does not effect the quality of the coffee. I can't speak to long-term durability, but it seems like a very good budget espresso maker.

This is the first time I've used one of these. My espresso (pump) machine is about to quit for good and I wasn't looking forward to paying for a new one. The steam arm quit a long time ago, and I've been using a $4 hand-held battery-operated milk frother, and happy the espresso making part was still working. Since I already had frothing covered, I looked into this traditional espresso maker, to save money.

If you like "coffee", don't buy this. If you love true espresso, this is what you want. It makes the real thing. I don't even make it the "right" way, I put half of the amount of coffee it says to. I am thrilled to have spent far less money, get better espresso than my machine was claiming to make, and I get back counter space!!!!!!!

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Who would believe the best cup of coffee could come from such a simple device. With they made a 12volt model for in the car.

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Makes a great cup of espresso! That is "one single cup" of coffee.Easy to clean, and the price can't be beat.

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You're going to spend 4-8 times this on a similar moka pot that makes the exact same cup of coffee.

No regrets with this one.

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