Showing posts with label at home espresso machine reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label at home espresso machine reviews. Show all posts

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Remanufactured Jura-Capresso 13187 Impressa E8 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center, Black

Remanufactured Jura-Capresso 13187 Impressa E8 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center, BlackI ordered this remanufactured machine thinking that I would buy a brand-new one after I determined that I would use a home espresso coffee maker often and this machine would break down. I use it daily and I love it! It's is so easy to use and the coffee tastes just like Starbuck's coffee,which I used to buy daily. It has saved me tons of $$$ and I would recommend the remanufactured machines. When I got mine it looked absolutely BRAND NEW. No scratches, dents, or dings anywhere on it and it works fabulously.

This compact attractive machine is an excellent choice for use at home or perhaps a small office environment. The E8 makes creating expresso drinks easy and mess-free. It provides full control over the size and strength of each cup or shot you make.

Pros of this machine:

The machine and milk steamer both heat up quickly.

The water and bean containers are large enough that they do not require constant filling.

The machine is automatic. Press a button or two and the machine grinds beans, produces coffee, then discards used beans and self-cleans.

There is an available addon which converts the E8 to a super-automatic. This attachment will store milk in a refrigerated container and then auto-froth milk for cappucinos etc.

The machine can use both whole beans or pre-ground coffee.

The cleaning cycles are easy to perform and overall the machine is not difficult to maintain.

Most importantly, this machine makes an excellent cup of coffee or expresso drink. Other reviewers said "good as Starbucks," I say "better than Starbucks" if you use the right coffee beans.

NOTE: The milk steaming wand that comes standard with this machine is all most people would need. It works well for creating a couple of lattes or cappucinos. The Dual Frother Plus might be worth buying if you do a lot of entertaining and need to make a lot of drinks in a hurry.

Cons of this machine:

After making coffee the machine disposes of used coffee grounds in small internal container. This container fills up fast and needs to be emptied often.

The Clearyl water filters can be hard to find (but they are optional and only need to be changed every few months).

Each time the machine cleans itself, water pours from the spouts and collects in a shallow tray. The tray fills up quickly and becomes a gross mess of coffee residue, water and even mold (if you don't clean it often enough). I recommend that you keep a plastic cup near the machine and use it capture the water as it comes out. If you prevent the water from collecting in the tray it makes keeping the machine clean much easier.

In summary, I have never once regretted buying this machine. I have had one for almost two years with no significant problems. My machine paid for itself in less that a year in what I saved not going to Starbucks and other cafes.

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I bought the remanufactured machine. I honestly cannot tell that it isn't new. There was nothing to indicate that it was a remanufactured unit.

The coffee the machine makes is creamy. Literally. I used to put a fair amount of sugar and milk in my drip coffee which always tasted bitter to me. I put just a dash of sugar and no milk in this coffee. It's that much better.

I'm using french roast beans and the mild setting to make an americano coffee. I haven't used the machine to make expresso. Not sure when I'll get around to that.

You do not have to clean this machine very often. I refill the water daily, clean out the grinds and tray about one a week and have not yet had to do the cleaning routine (suggested every 200 cups). This machine is very easy to use and doesn't require a lot of maintenance (like the weekly cleaning other machines require).

Overall, highly recommended and worth the money if you like to drink lots of coffee.

Read Best Reviews of Remanufactured Jura-Capresso 13187 Impressa E8 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center, Black Here

I bought this machine for my husband for Christmas. He's hard to please when it comes to coffee and nothing less than Starbuck's will do. He absolutely loves this machine. It's easy to use, lets you choose your coffee strength and even cleans itself! It tells you when it's low on coffee beans or water. Now he can have his Starbuck's quality coffee at home.

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First, I want to point out that the seller (JL HUfford Coffee & Tea) was very slow and lacked communication. The item did not even ship until after 8 days of ordering it. When I tried to contact the seller they were very slow to respond.

As far as the unit itself goes, I am very pleased with the quality of coffee it makes. When using beans it works really well and is worth the money! However, if you plan on using pre-ground coffee you should know that it wastes a lot of coffee. Although the part you put the grounds into says 2 scoop max, it usually takes me 3-4 scoops just to get one decent sized cup of coffee! Maybe the machine has a defect and that is why it was initially refurbished, but if this is how it is supposed to work then it is pretty bad. However, with the great price I got on this since it is a refurb, I find it well worth the price. As long as you can ignore the issue with the pre-ground coffee, the machine is great.

Cleaning is very easy you just slide a tray out and dump it in the trash. As others have suggested here, it is a good idea to let the draining be done into a cup that you dump instead of into the tray. This makes it much easier to clean when you just need to dump the grounds in the trash.

UPDATE: I would now give this item 5 stars if it would let me... The grains issue was actually not with the machine at all. We were under the impression that you put a scoop or two in there and it should make coffee for a few cups. But the way it actually seems to work is you put the amount of coffee you want it to use for ONE cup of coffee. So if you put two scoops in, it is going to make a really strong cup of coffee because it will use all the grounds. If you only put one scoop it will still make one cup of coffee.

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Factory-Reconditioned Cuisinart DCC-450BKFR 4-Cup Coffeemaker with Stainless Steel Carafe, Black

Factory-Reconditioned Cuisinart DCC-450BKFR 4-Cup Coffeemaker with Stainless Steel Carafe, BlackI was sure that because this was a Cuisinart product that it would be a great coffee pot, but I am not happy with it because every time I pour myself a cup, no matter how careful I am, it drips everywhere, and my counters end up covered in coffee. This has been true since the day I got it. If it wasn't for that one incredibly fatal flaw, I'd love this pot. The other feature that I've had in other coffee pots, that I miss in this one, is a removable reservoir. Not a deal breaker, but it sure would make me like this coffee pot a lot more.

I do, however, LOVE the stainless steel. Not only is it easier to keep clean, it's nice that it doesn't look dirty if it DOES need to be cleaned. I will agree that the 30 minute shut off is a little too short, but I personally am just happy that it has that feature at all, so I won't complain too much about that.

This product is OK--if you like cleaning your counter tops.

As an additional noteI purchased this product new, not factory reconditioned.

came like new, it was clean everything wrapped in plastic. i have had no problems with it and i love the fact that it uses little counter space and can easily hide it in my cabinets when not in use.

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Pristine condition for a refurbished product. Makes a great hot cup of coffee (really hot). No spillage problems, carafe looked new. I am very impressed with this product for the price. Worth 20 bucks just for a coffee maker with auto-shutoff and thermal carafe -let alone a nice Cuisinart like this!

Read Best Reviews of Factory-Reconditioned Cuisinart DCC-450BKFR 4-Cup Coffeemaker with Stainless Steel Carafe, Black Here

This coffee pot is awesome!!! The only grief I have is one mentioned by others....the 30 minute shut-off time is too short. I highly recommend purchasing the filter that goes with this coffee maker....unless that is, your drainage system is processed through a field bed. (The coffee grinds stick to the filter but are easily removed under running water...however, those who have a septic system/field bed, all know that we do not want coffee grinds accumulating in the field bed.)

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I couldn't believe it -when I pulled the coffee maker out of the box, I found coffee stains on the carafe, coffee stains on the inside and outside of the maker, and coffee grounds/coffee residue on the inside filter area. I have no idea whether this unit was remanufactured or not, but I am quite confident that it has not been washed since it was sent back to Cuisinart. Really, truly disturbing.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Ferrero Pocket Coffee (18 Pcs - 225 G)

Ferrero Pocket CoffeeAt so many cafe, tobacco shop and grocery store check-out counters in Italy you can buy this tiny hit of espresso in a small rectangle of dark chocolate. Molto bella. Twice now I have brought home several boxes of these delicious treats for my friends to taste. Not one Pocket Coffee has ever made it out of my house. I love to cook and share what comes out of my kitchen but I cannot bring myself to share these.

A quick and tastey break from the day's work, and it fits in your pocket too! Dangerously delicious treat with a caffene jolt.

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Well...... I had some reservations about ordering this product, wondering if they would melt in the heat and be ruined guess what? they didn't and they are as good as the ones I found at the Rome airport the 1st time, then hubby went to Rome and brought me some back, then family went to Rome and said they were unable to find them... so after a brief dis-appointment my smile is back, I don't have to wait on travels to Rome... yet I am mindful that there is a specific shelf time that they are available

Read Best Reviews of Ferrero Pocket Coffee (18 Pcs - 225 G) Here

I first found this product in the checkout lines at Austrian groceries. When I returned back to the US, I ordered this from Amazon to share with co-workers. They are espresso-filled chocolates and are quite good. I had to warn co-workers to put the entire thing in their mouth, because the espresso is liquid and will drip out if you bite. My colleagues snapped them up quickly and we were energized for the rest of the day! I had to hide them from my 6 year old because she liked them, too, and would climb anywhere to find them. She already has enough energy.

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What's not to like??? It's so rich, one candy satisfies my sweet craving for the day. YUM! And the little bit of crunch.... nice.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Melitta MEX1B Espresso/Cappuccino Machine ( MEX-1B )

Melitta MEX1B Espresso/Cappuccino MachineIf you're a coffee snob, then this cappuccino maker may be too "pedestrian" for you. However, this little gizmo pays for itself, and here's why:

My wife got herself hooked on cappuccinos from Starbucks, at 5 bucks a pop. Looking at the cost of this machine, including coffee and syrups, that equates to about 10 to 15 cups of coffee from the coffee shop. We've already made over twice that many cappuccinos, and it hasn't shown any signs of wearing out yet.

Oh sure, you can buy more expensive makers, and I looked at them before deciding on this one by Melitta. Most of the others are constructed the same as this one (out of the same type of plastic), they aren't any simpler to use, and according to reviews I've read, aren't any more reliable. So why would you pay between 3 to 5 times more for something that isn't any better?

This little cappuccino maker gets the job done at a fraction of what you'd otherwise pay. I can't think of any better endorsement than that.

its a great product and the price is fabulous! i normally use it twice a day and the controls are really simple. i got my more than my moneys worth!!!

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This little machine makes a great cup of cappucino, and isn't difficult to use. This is an excellent buy if you don't intend to make more than 2 cups of cappucino or expresso at a time. The one thing I would change is that you have to buy the stainless steel frothing pitcher separately. I found a little one perfect for this sized machine at Bed Bath and Beyond for about 6 bucks.

Read Best Reviews of Melitta MEX1B Espresso/Cappuccino Machine ( MEX-1B ) Here

I just woke up this morning to use my new Malitta espresso machine and found that I had lost the instructions. I gave it a try anyway and ended up whipping up a couple of awesome cappuccinos first try!! I bought a bag of Starbuck beans & ground them up and used this espresso machine to brew it. The milk frother really works good too. Not too shabby indeed. I recommend this to anyone, especially considering the low cost.

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I live in NYC where Cappuccinos and Lattes run close to $4.00 for a 10 oz. cup (half of it froth). In the interest of saving money I wanted to buy a machine that was small enough to fit in my small kitchen, but sturdy enough to make my favorite coffee drinks on a daily basis and quick and easy to use. This machine features it all. After 10 cups I recouped the cost of my machine and a small Nissan thermos to carry my Lattes in to work.

I bought it 6 months ago and I now can't live without it. And have not encountered any problems whatsoever. My brother in law has had the same machine at the hospital where he works for a year now, providing espresso to the ER staff 24/7. They're only problems with the machine has been caused by staff (one person broke the glass carafe, another clogged the frother by not cleaning it).

I've read the other reviews and some of them complain about things such as the carafe or the frother. It's all common sense use problems. The carafe is made of thin glass so you must be careful with handling and the tempeture of the water you wash it in. This means you don't wash the carafe or put it in the sink if the carafe is hot because the glass will crack. As for the frother, it's got to be cleaned every single time and has to be declogged once a week by placing the frother in a tall tumbler with hot water for a few minutes, making sure that the tip is submerged under the water. That will loosen any dried milk within the mechanism. I then pour water in the reservoir and turn the machine on. After making espresso for myself, I allow some of the steam to come out of the frother and into the tumbler with water. You'll see a lite white cloud forming in the water. Remove it after awhile and wait for the machine to cool wipe down the frother. If during the week the frother gets clogged simply use the clean end of a pin to insert it into the frother end and that should do it.

I hope these tips help you enjoy your little machine as much as I have enjoyed mine.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Stovetop Espresso Maker - Vev Vigano Kontessa Gold 4 cup size

Stovetop Espresso Maker - Vev Vigano Kontessa Gold 4 cup sizeHad it 9 months. Makes a good cup of coffee. Trouble is the water compartment has increasingly become rusty on the bottom. Its not stainless steel, even though everything else is!

Anyway took it back to the retailer who were good enough to replace it with a different brand at their own expense. Apparently Vev has a non refundable non replacement policy. Doesn't that just say it all! You'd expect them to be made in China not Italy.

The unit is very beautiful and efficient in making espresso. Will last for decades if you take care of it. Espresso is done in about 3-5 minutes. I like the fact that the unit comes completely apart for proper cleaning and is made from stainless steel. Only exception to this is that the inside water compartment has a rust proof coating that does eventually wear off, but the solution is to simply clean it after you use it, or scrub it with steel wool once in while. The included gasket lasted about 6 months under normal everyday use. Very nice unit. I owned it for about 1 year, but I have stopped drinking coffee now.

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Can't believe I've had this espresso maker for 4 years! There is a gasket between the bottom and top sections that I've needed to replace for about 2 months now (still works, just looks like it needs to be replaced) so while I was searching for that part I thought I'd put a review down.

I have used this at least 5 times a week for the past 4 years, and have never had a problem with it. I'm not sure how the previous reviewer got rust on the bottom of his (maybe he lives near saltwater and it reacted with the metal of his heating element?) -it is most certainly stainless steel.

I've always used mine with a gas stoves, so mine actually is done brewing in about 2 minutes. It is the perfect time to make a latte -start the espresso brewing, 30 seconds to grab the glass and pour the milk, heat milk in the microwave for 90 seconds, and when the microwave beeps the espresso maker is making that tell-tail sound that it is finished. Perfect!

Since I am the only one in my household who drinks coffee, I love that this is a "4-cup" size (which is actually the right amount of espresso for one of my lattes) -it makes the right amount for me. If you want to serve more, get a bigger one. You can't do rapid-fire back-to-back brews with this unless you have fireproof hands that can pull it apart while still hot. (I have a french press for when I have company over and need to brew extra). I find that it takes about 5 minutes before I can handle this to wash/reload.

Pros:

-High quality / very durable materials

-Size (for me is perfect)

-Looks good (i keep it on the back burner in view)

-Pour spout pours cleanly without drips or dribbles (unlike some cheaper ones I've used)

-Easy to disassemble / clean

Cons (these are pretty much the same for all stove-top espresso makers):

-Can't 'reload' until it has cooled

-Handle gets hot if placed directly over the flame (I set mine to the side a bit, and keep the handle out of the flame; still use a towel when I pour)

I would highly recommend this, and if the day comes when I need to replace mine I will definitely look to this brand!

Read Best Reviews of Stovetop Espresso Maker - Vev Vigano Kontessa Gold 4 cup size Here

I ordered this one because I could not afford the $197 one I really wanted. I am not sorry, since getting this I am making 4-5 cups of perfect expresso throughout my day. Up from 1 cup a day. This machine works extremely well and the coffee is just perfect. Follow the instructions on the little booklet packed in its box and you are on your way to heavenly brews.

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When I first became interested (addicted) to espresso at home I researched via the web and bought a medium priced pump espresso maker. I didn't like it much as it took so much care to get the coffee hot. So for the next few years I settled on a cheapo Mr. Coffee espresso maker. It broke, and I read about a stove top espresso maker and especially the Vev Vigano Kontesso Gold. I just made my first cup and I am enthusiastic! It was hot, but not bitter at all. I agree with other reviewers that it does come close to the more expensive pump espresso machines. I love the idea of no electrical parts or dials. I am now a convert. Plus it looks very classy with the gold trim. Highly recommend it!! Oh and no grounds! It would be great on a camping trip.

Several months later I came back to revise this slightly. Watch out, if you cook the coffee out, it will burn the pot, and wreck the seals. Don't walk away.