Breville BKC700XL Gourmet Single-Serve Coffeemaker with Iced-Beverage Function

I've owned a Keurig Platinum B70 since January 2007 and have liked it a lot since getting it. K-cups are very convenient and aren't overly expensive when purchased from Amazon. My primary complaint about it is the pump noise and vibration. Keurig updated the design and greatly reduced the noise and vibration in their latest model of the Platinum and in this Breville model, and I wanted to find out just how much of an improvement there was. In my opinion, the improvement is huge. It is much, much quieter. I also liked the addition of the smaller cup size of four ounces, as well as the option to use a built-in water filter. Functionally, the Keurig Platinum and Breville BKC700XL are identical. The Breville adds a couple of nice convenience features (such as a supplied My K-Cup with a storage bin), and the cosmetics are clearly different. After using both, the cosmetics are a wash for me (some pluses for one model, and some pluses for the other), so it comes down to the difference in price. Right now, the Breville costs over $90 more than the Platinum. I don't think it's worth it, but it certainly might be for anyone that prefers the looks of the Breville. Either way, the coffee is good and easy to make!

This is a replacement for a Keurig B-60 which we certainly enjoyed and was a very good machine. One of the reasons we chose the Breville is that our kitchen wall cabinets are 17" over the counter-tops. Could not leave the Keurig under the cabinets while making coffee, as the top would not open far enough to insert a K-Cup; not a problem with Breville, as the height of this unit is less. I know that's not an issue for most people but it was just a pain.

Anyone who owns a Keuring knows the noise they make, they sound like a B-52 coming in for a landing, surprisingly the Breville is quiet, really quiet! Now the dog can sleep through my morning coffee making ritual. This comes with a nice hidden storage space on top where the included reusable K-Cup and measuring scoop are stored, nice feature, if like me, you always misplace goodies like this.

The unit is obviously stainless steel, it is attractive in the kitchen---coffee makers are normally one of those things we leave on the counter all of the time. It dispenses four different cup sizes plus has an iced beverage setting, which I'll look forward to using this Summer. I would think that all K-Cup makers, make an equally good cup of coffee as they all work basically the same, could not make that an advantage for this maker. There is attention to detail, like the indicator on the cup platform to let you know if it needs to be emptied, the storage compartment, lighted water container etc.

Programming is intuitive. Setting the time for it to turn on and off, water temp., cup size and current time is a cake-walk. All controls are illuminated and easy to use. For some the price of this unit may be an issue, but when you consider it an appliance that gets used a lot and is left on the counter, the quality over other brands, the value is there! (Just made of cup of coffee while writing this, still blows me away just how quiet the Breville is).

I always get up in the morning several hours before my wife. I would make a pot of coffee, have several cups, it would then set there until she got up. Needless to say, what she got was not the greatest. Someone was talking about these K-Cup makers, I thought that would at least let her get a fresh cup when she got up.....so I bought one. Perfect! She became a happy camper first thing in the morning and we didn't have to dump coffee when I made too much----how sweet it is. Having a selection of different blends of coffee is nice too, everyone likes something different. The Keuring was used and used until we needed a replacement, certainly got my moneys worth. Went with this, and can say that there is value for the extra cost and we are more than pleased with the performance of the Breville. Once in a while I'll put a scoop of Folger's in the reusable K-Cup, and it is great tasting too, put a tea bag in and have a cup of tea.

I think you would be more than pleased with this coffee maker if you are looking for quality, ease of use, versatility and great looks. Every review should have something negative---well, here it is: The plug is three inches long, it has this do-nut hole to put your finger in to make it easy to remove from the wall plug, great idea, but it just makes it impossible to put the coffee maker close to the wall when the plug is behind it. A thoughtful idea and probably not a problem for anyone else----just happens, our maker sits in front of the plug. Pathetic I know, but, I just had to get it out!

If you do make this purchase I really hope that you are as pleased as we are and get equal enjoyment from using it.

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Maybe it's an "I spent most of the 90's in coffee shops" thing, but finding an acceptable cup of coffee is not the easiest task in the world for me. And if I'm not going somewhere for coffee, that means firing up my Cuisinart burr mill (potentially waking up my family with the noise... possibly neighbors and nearby dogs, too) and waiting for my Cuisinart coffee maker to take a small eternity to brew a couple cups.

That's fine, if I don't have anything to do. But I'm not a morning guy, and I don't get up any earlier than I need to. Adding 15 minutes for coffee isn't in the cards, and neither is stopping at a gas station or fast food restaurant for their dirt water.

A few years back, I picked up a Senseo Single-Serve Gourmet Coffee Machine, hoping to achieve fast, quiet, and good coffee. Sadly, the Senseo failed. It was noisy, the used pods were messy, and despite trying almost every flavor, the coffee had a strange instant taste to it.

So, I had an opportunity to get the Breville BKC700XL, and I crossed my fingers. It couldn't possibly be worse than the Senseo, and K-Cups seemed to be easier to find than Tassimo discs. The selection of K-Cups really impressed me, especially seeing a wide selection from Caribou Coffee. Fortunately, I ordered some different K-Cups ahead of time, as my Breville did not come with the 18 cup sampler advertised. (Note: This may be because the BKC700XL I received is for evaluation purposes)

As soon as I got it out of the box, I was really blown away by how nice it looks. I think the Keurig Elite B70 looks really cool in the "I am a gigantic nerd who loves unnecessary blue LED's" sense of the term, but this has a distinct semi-retro look to it (with unnecessary white LED's and backlighting, which are much more understated -and different than the item's pictured blue tank light and blue LCD). Personally, I think the Breville is less likely to look dated after it's been on your counter for a couple of years.

I was also surprised by how heavy this unit is. The exterior is almost all stainless steel, and the unit itself seems to be near bomb-proof. You can definitely tell that you're getting quality for the extra money you'd spend.

Setting it up was painless. Breville is nice enough to give you a quick-start guide that gets you up and running in about 10 minutes. If you don't use the included water filter (which appears to be the same replacement part that Cuisinart uses), maybe 5 minutes. And while you're running your first-time primer brew, there's enough time to read the full manual. But here's what absolutely floored me: This thing is SO QUIET! Quieter than a regular coffee maker, to my ears. Seriously, I can't express how surprisingly quiet this is. If you're more than a couple of feet away from it, you'd hardly know it was on when it heats up the water. Once it gets going, all you really hear is your coffee dripping in to your cup.

Aaah... coffee in your cup. The moment of truth. I have to say, this thing makes some fine coffee... and QUICK! I used the Large / 9.25 oz. setting, and had my coffee in under a minute. But, in fairness, it wasn't all that great. If you stray from the standard Medium / 7.25 oz. setting, medium roast coffee tastes pretty watered-down, and flavored coffee tastes almost like tea. On the other hand, if you go for two K-Cups in a 12 ounce mug using the Small / 5.25 oz. setting, you're absolutely golden. Of course, if this is the route you plan to take, you'll want to stock up on K-Cups if you aren't using your own coffee.

The built-in timer is also a very welcome addition. You can set a "window" for auto-on and auto-off, as well as an optional separate automatic shutoff after two hours. With these turned on, you really can have a full cup of excellent coffee in your travel mug in under two minutes, and not have to worry about ruining the machine and wasting power.

The Breville BKC700XL is probably the first countertop appliance I've actually been excited about. If the price doesn't have you calculating how many Hamilton Beach Brewstations you could buy instead, buy this right now.

***November 2011 Update***

I was actually referencing this brewer in another review, and noticed all of the negative reviews about quality, so I thought I'd offer an update.

Having owned this for just over two years now, I can say that I haven't had a breakdown or leak, with the exception of the dismal MyCup system that's included. (If that's interesting to you, please buy a ekobrew Cup, Refillable K-Cup For Keurig K-Cup Brewers, Brown, 1-Count, which works brilliantly with this brewer!)

What I have noticed though, is that the brewer is very, very, VERY sensitive to hard water. The public water system where I live comes from a community well, and while totally safe, the water quality is not very good in terms of hardness and taste. So, we use a 5-gallon water cooler (like in an office) for drinking water.

Not too long ago, I noticed the brewer was getting progressively louder, finally making a loud "clunk" one day, and it seemed like it was ready to hop across the counter. Before I could start shopping for a new one, I noticed that my wife was filling the reservoir with water from the refrigerator -thinking that the built-in water filter would be adequate. I realized that the brewer probably had some scale build-up from the tap, ran some vinegar through it several times, and it was good-as-new. So, now everyone refills the reservoir from the water cooler, and there have been no other problems to date.

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As have been noted by numerous reviewers, this coffee machine is extremely unreliable. After a week of working well, it stopped working. No water or very little water was dispensed. There is no clog to speak of. When the machine malfunctions, one cannot access the menu. The machine would turn itself off inexplicably. A few days later it would work again, and then stop working after a few days. At the price charged, Breville could have ensured better quality in this machine. A black mark for its reputation, in my mind. Worse, Breville does not have after-hours or weekend customer service. The coffee made is delicious, and I love the ice brew feature; however, these are not enough to make up for all the technical problems. I really wish that Breville and its designers had tried out this machine for about a month before pushing it out onto unsuspecting customers like me. Definitely a coffee machine that's to be avoided and I don't recommend it at all.

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Several reviewers have given this coffeemaker low marks because it "stopped working" after just a few uses. I thought that I was going to be in that group, because after delivering three perfect cups, the coffeemaker started dispensing slow drips of coffee rather than mugs of coffee. Eventually, the coffeemaker started indicating that it could only make "travel size" (largest) cups, perhaps because the reservoir where the water is heated was full. So, I tried to make several enormous mugs with the K-Cup holder empty, but it still filled the mug with only a small fraction of what was required.

Then I did something that no red-blooded American male would do unless forced: I read the manual.

The recommendation was that I clean the K-Cup holder after extracting it from the machine, and particularly that I clean the needle in the holder. I first checked whether I could see light through the needle; no such luck. It was completely clogged after only three uses. In addition, the needle was not perfectly round at the tip; it seemed to be pinched a bit (manufacturing defect?) So I used a strong sewing needle (a bent paper clip is also suggested) to force some sort of deposit from the needle. What came out could have been coffee, or it could have been something left over from manufacturing. In addition, the needle became round, not pinched. Suddenly, I could see light through the needle, and the machine is back to making perfect cups of coffee.

If this has to be done every few cups, I'll send it back to Breville. I suspect, however, that this was a one-time occurrence.

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Brushed Stainless Appliances 15-Bar Espresso Maker

very nice machine, it heats up quickly and makes a great latte, coffee or what every type of drink you may want. I would buy it again. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because I have a hard time getting a good froth on my milk, but my husband can get a great froth I just cant, so I must be doing something wrong. It looks good to.

I make latte one 4 shot in morning and one in the late afternoon. Have gone though 2 of these. Works real good, but not made to work or replace parts.

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This machine is easy to use and can make a great latte or cappacino once you get to know how much coffee to load in the hopper. It took me about a week to get my timing and measurements down but now that I have it I use it every morning.

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I've had one of these for several years at my home. I use the hot water wand for making tea mostly. But I make myself a latte about once a week. I'm honestly surprised that it works as well as it does, and that it has lasted this long considering the price. I just bought one for my office!

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Capresso frothPRO

I was worried to buy this because there were no reviews on it yet. I used it today for the first time and I could not be more happy with it. It says not to fill milk past the froth indicator line inside the pitcher, I know why now. It creates the most thick rich froth that you can imagine all the way to the top of the pitcher. After you pour the heated milk out (which by the way is heated to 150 degrees checked with thermometer)you will have to spoon out the froth because it is so thick. I gave it 5 stars because it does exactly what it describes it will do. The only thing negative that I could possibly say is that I do think that steamed milk and froth is sweeter in flavor than just heated milk and froth. I make caramel macchiatos at least twice a day for my wife and myself so we do a lot of frothing. This frother will make this super thick froth in around 2 min or so and then automatically shuts off too cool. I wait till it shuts off and then hit the espresso button on our espresso machine and then pour the heated milk, add the espresso and top with that thick froth decorate with the caramel and kick back. I thought at first this was going to be an expensive learning adventure but now I am very happy to have bought it. It also will make thick heated and frothed hot chocolate.

Who says you can't have it all? You can have your hot chocolate and your cappuccino too with this handy, convenient little machine. I'm no Einstein when it comes to operating appliances but this gadget is easy to operate and produces the most delicious hot and cold drinks you can imagine. The frothing mechanism is unbelievable. Now I can have my cappuccino without having to pay a king's ransom to Starbucks. In addition, it's easy to clean and that's a real plus in my book. Anyone who has ever had to deal with cleaning some of those razor sharp "jig-saw puzzle" pieces you see on a lot of appliances (my blender has been known to attack) will just love the safe, user friendly frothPRO parts.

And speaking of safety, there will be no burned lips and tongue with this little machine. It has three button settings and has the ability to control the temperature of your hot chocolate by just pushing the right hand button if you just want it WARM instead of HOT. Another plus is that you can froth your milk without the heat if ICED lattes are your drink of choice. Overall, this would be an excellent addition to your kitchen or a great gift for newlyweds who love cappuccino, latte or any hot or cold coffee drinks but can't afford those "Coffee house" prices.

Now that I've listed all the pros, let me add a couple of cons.

#1 The machine is a little pricey at the sixty dollars.

($ 35 to $40 would be a much fairer price). The machine

is a simple mechanism and made in China so there can

be no excuse like "union wages" to justify the $60 price

tag.

#2 The power cord could have been a little longer to provide

more options as to where it can be plugged in.

#3 Be careful not to touch the BOTTOM of the milk pitcher

once you have heated your milk and removed it from

the heating base and DO NOT set it down on a laminate

surface (like formica) because that baby is really HOT

and can leave a burn mark.

For performance and ease of operation this product falls into the 4 to 5 star range. The pricing, etc. rate 2 ½ to 3 stars. Overall rating 3 ½ stars.

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I am so happy I bought this machine! I have a DeLonghi espresso maker, and it makes great espresso, but the milk frother on my machine is a joke. In looking for a better milk frothing solution, I tried Aerolatte machines, but I wasn't satisfied with their weak results either. Luckily, I stumbled onto this device.

To be clear, I was seeking out very thick, creamy, meringue-like froth. My espresso machine and the Aerolatte made foam with bubbles far too large to support this type of froth, so I was skeptical when I saw that this machine advertised "meringue-like frother," yet works on pretty much the same principle as an Aerolatte frother. Nevertheless, I decided to try it out, and on its first run, it gave me exactly what I was looking for: mounds of soft, pillowy forthed milk that looked more like whipped cream or meringue. I was also left with just enough steamed milk at the bottom of the pitcher to make my cappuccino.

Making frothed milk with this machine couldn't be easier: add cold milk, put on the lid, and press a button. A few minutes later, the machine automatically shuts down when it's done. As I said, you're left with mounds of perfect frothed milk, and just enough steamed milk to finish your drink. The pitcher has a nonstick surface, so cleanup is pretty simple and doens't take much time.

My only complaint is that it's a bit difficult to remove the frothing disk from the bottom of the pitcher, and the instructions don't provide any guidance or tips. My technique is to reach down underneath the disk and just pry up one side until it pops off. The disk is quite firmly connected to the pitcher and is made of thin plastic, so it doesn't seem like the best design. Like a previous reviewer, I was initially scared that I might break the disk, but it hasn't happened yet, so maybe it's more rugged than it looks. There's a little tab that sticks up from the center of each disk--it looks like it's for gripping the disk, but I didn't have any luck removing it that way. Another complaint is that the disk-mounting assembly sticking up at the bottom center of the pitcher is like a little needle! I got a pretty bad poke when figuring out how to attach and remove the disks, and, again, I didn't see any warning in the instruction book.

Overall, however, these are very minor complaints, and I'm more than satisfied with this unit. It is a bit pricey for such a specialized machine, but if you'd otherwise be buying your coffee at a coffee shop, you'll make up the cost of the machine and then some in no time!

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This frother was great while it worked... easy to use, great frothy milk, quiet.

After three months, it just stopped working. Their customer service department insisted I return the broken frother before they would send a replacement... understandable if this was an expensive coffee maker but much less customer-friendly for a less expensive appliance which broke so quickly.

I asked to speak to a manager to see if the policy could be waived (I'd return the broken frother in the box they sent, they could even charge me while I held both). Seemingly annoyed at being bothered, the manager practically berated me for asking and, literally, mocked my speech before unapologetically telling me "this is how it is".

My previous coffee maker was Capresso with which I had quality problems (returned twice) and I've also given two other Capresso products as gifts (this Frother and a coffee maker) which both subsequently broke. Clearly, I like their products but, more clearly, they have a big quality control problem.

With such quality problems and horrible customer service, I will no longer purchase Capresso products.

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My first impression of this frother was a mixed one. It did not look like it was worth $60 even though it performed rather well in the beginning.

As time went by the frothing became worse. Now, after a little less than a year, I have to cycle it about three times to get enough froth for one cup of coffee. I don't know why, but it does not produce the thick froth that it once did. Many reviewers have had this same problem. I have experimented with different brands of milk without any luck and whole or 2% doesn't make any difference either.

The worst problem began today. I am lucky that I was at home.

I had finished my coffee earlier, cleaned the frother and placed it back in the base. Thirty minutes later I went outside for a less than 2 minutes. When I came in the frother was running. There were no lights on. I lifted the pitcher and set it back down thinking it would turn off but it did not. I lifted the pitcher several times but each time I placed it on the base it started again. In a few seconds it started to smoke and an eletrical smell filled the kitchen. I unplugged it and it continued to smoke for a few seconds. Obviously the frother is a fire hazard.

UPDATE:

I called Capresso customer service and they replaced this unit. I was leary of using it but I did anyway, but never leaving it plugged in when it was not in use. This second frother did not last as long as the first one, only a few weeks jsut long enough to finish out the one year warranty. It sometimes does not even spin, and when it does spin it doesn't froth the milk but about once every 4-5 tries. The sound it makes varies from a low rattle to a high whir. I have used the product as directed making enough froth for one cup of coffee a day about 5-6 times per week. Needless to say I am through using Capresso products and do not recomend them to you. A friend has a Capresso coffee maker that he has had replaced as well because it was defective.

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Handpresso HPWILD Wild 16-Bar Hand-Pump Portable Espresso Machine with Free Handpresso Carrying Case

I ordered this as a Christmas present. When I received it, it did not work. I tried to return it for a new one. So far I am out of pocket $80 for postage which I had to pay to return the faulty product! ($40 to post to me and $40 to return it) And I do not have the product!

I have been toying with the idea of buying a handpresso for the past 2 years; I should never have waited so long. My job entails being on the road 90% of the time and the majority of that time I am in places where it is difficult if not impossible to get a decent shot of espresso. The handpresso allows me to have a quick perfectly pulled shot every morning. I have no complaints regarding this product and encourage anyone interested in getting one to do so; you wont regret it.

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This machine seems promising, but does not deliver a a cup of anything resembling espresso. It is not difficult to operate, but neither is it a pleasure to go through the clumsy hand-pumping and pod loading required. What finally emerges is a little infusion of mediocre coffee-flavored beverage with an uncontrolled splatter of foam (there's no way to call it crema) at the end. The temperature and quantity of the beverage are nearly impossible to control.

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Jura-Capresso 13289 Impressa S7 Avantgarde Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center

Not sure if the first reviewer is misdirecting his dissatisfaction. Sounds like the spending of the vacation money was the real problem. Because this machine is perfect, and I have nothing bad to say about it. Other than that it does look a little Spartan, but only in a minor way.

It brews an wonderfull espresso, with thick, golden, foamy crema. It brews it absolutely perfectly, and consistently everytime. Overall the functionality of this machine is superb, and very customizable. Each button can be programmed to YOUR specifications, so easily a monkey could do it. The cup warmer is genious, the clean-up is easier than ANY drip maker I have used/owned. Overall the machine is also very quiet.

The 'Foofy' drinks (as I like to call them) are top notch! My wife prefers the lattes, Chai teas,etc. The frother on this machine has it's own dedicated thermoblock boiler, so there is no lag time, and the froth is excellent. Micro-bubbles as good as any Barista. Water filtering system is great, easy to activate, grinds, tamps beans which is excellent. Also has a chute for already ground coffee, good for Decaf, or flavored.

I guess you could complain about the plastic on the outside, but this does not bother me at all. and frankly seems easier to keep clean, which is a concern since milk etc splatters on the machine when you froth. Also keeps the machine lighter and enables you to move it without breaking your neck.

The ONLY difference between this machine and the S9A is the following:

Exterior look, S7A has black accents, S9A has the same plastic accents, but in silver.

S9A comes with the Frother X-Press, which quite honestly is useless unless you are entertaining and brewing several milk drinks at once. Anyway, frothing in the cup is fun.

The cup warmer on the S9A has stainless tray, whereas the S7A is plastic.

Otherwise, the functionality and insides of the machines is the same. And this is where both of these machines shine, on their functionality. They brew excellent, hot, delicious, rich, coffee in less than 60 seconds. They are tried and true, well-reviewed models.

If you are in the market, don't think twice about a Jura, the quality is fantastic, and end result brew is second to only a Semi-Auto.

My wife and I purchased an Jura S7 Avantgarde for each other last Christmas. Due to its high cost, and a few reviews relating faulty machines, we did opt to buy from a company with a lifetime "no questions asked" return policy. Also note that this is the same machine as the S9 for about 300.00 less. We have found the the black color is much easier to keep looking clean.

In the past year, we have used the machine multiple times daily. When we first started using it, I was disappointed in the quality of the coffee it made. I was thinking about returning it because for 2K, I expected excellent taste. However, after reviewing the instructions more throughly, and trying different combinations, I was able to make drinks up to my expectations. If you think that you can buy this machine as a no-brainer expresso maker, you may be disappointed. However, if you are willing to experiment a bit, you will find that this Jura is capable of making excellent expresso, lattes, cafe americano, as well as some of the best pressure brewed coffee you've ever had. If you are a die-hard expresso purist, you probably aren't reading this review, but if you are, I will say that while this machine will come close to the best espresso machines, you will note a difference. For the vast majority of people, the convenience and multiple capabilities of this product are worth it.

Since the machine is completely programmable, you can vary the combinations of water temperature, water quantity, grind setting, powder quantity, expressing time, etc. Once you have discovered the correct combination for your favorite drink, it truly becomes a "one button" machine. (for that drink) I have found that the grind setting has a significant impact on the taste of the coffee, so if you are experiencing problems, start there. Also, while the instructions suggest using a finer grind for ligher beans, I have found that a coarser grind is better. Don't forget that your water will affect the taste of the drink, so try using some R/O water for your experiments.

Pros: Small size fits under cabinets Programmable Easy care Excellent capabilities Simple use after initial set-up

Cons: High cost of maintenence products. Initial Investment Bit noisy during cleaning cycles Learning Curve

Update December 2010:

As much as I hate to say it, we ended up getting rid of our Jura. After sending it back for repair a couple of times, I still could not get the grinder to make a fine grind without which you cannot make espresso. I have replaced it with a Saeco Syntia, and am getting a much better cup of coffee for about 1/2 the price.

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After much research, we purchased this machine as certified pre-brewed. We knew we wanted a Jura, and our budget only went so far. Instead of a new lower end machine we spent our allotted amount on a CPB S7 avantgarde. It arrived in only 48 hours, with Saturday delivery.

We wanted a machine with Xpress froth, and the double boiler so we wouldn't have to wait between frothing and brewing or vice versa. The menu display and buttons are very clear and intuitive, the machine is easy to clean, and best of all, whether it's crema coffee or espresso, all have come out wonderfullly. We are picky about our coffee drinks and this machine has been flawless in executing them. FrothXpress makes excellent steamed milk and creamy fine froth. The siphoning feature is brilliant.

As for being factory reconditioned, the machine was either hardly used or wonderfully refurbished, because it has not a scratch on it and in every detail appreared to be brand new. The included DVD is very clear.

Five stars for the S7a, which seems to be identical to the S9 except for color and one-touch cappucino though the S7 is essentially a 1 touch machine with a separate step for frothed milk.

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I'll keep this review simple... the S7 AG my wife and I got about 3 years ago has worked flawlessly. I clean it on a regular basis, which I have also heard is key not only for the sake of better tasting coffee, but also for the life and performance of the machine.

We make shots almost every day and I guess we've made upwards of 2,000 drinks, and still it runs well. Prior to the Jura, I went through THREE Francis!Francis! machines (even the cool stainless version). In each case, the pump just didn't have the strength to push through proper espresso grounds (pods were OK), and I prefer fresh-ground flavor. Since the Jura has a self-contained, and yet full-automated system it was the only machine on the market at the time that made sense to me.

Apart from the cost, it is a great machine that pulls a perfect shot every time. Until recently, it was the most expensive appliance we had in the kitchen...

Enjoy

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I've now owned the Jura Capresso S7 superautomatic espresso machine for several years, so I've had plenty of time to get to know the unit. As far as superautos go, it makes excellent espresso. Now do understand that the superautomatics are a compromise. You will likely never pour "The Crema of the Gods" that you *might* see every now and then with a quality manual machine. But this unit will give you very good shots with great consistency.

Frothing milk is also a weak spot of many superautomatics, and the S7 is no exception. It simply doesn't have the horsepower of a quality manual machine to put out that super-dense froth replete with microbubbles. I've tried to froth both manually and also with the optional frother and I get the same so-so results.

On the plus side, there are greater customization options than I've seen on any other superauto that I've used. You can control the temperature of water, the quantity of coffee, the quantity of coffee, the fineness of the grind and so on. The unit is very easy to clean, but be sure to wipe off the shower-like head with a damp paper cloth. There are many machines that are a major pain to clean, and the Jura-Capresso units really stand out as you merely drop in a cleaning tablet and follow the instructions. As a side note, the Jura-Capresso branded tablets are fairly pricey. Instead, I recommend the Ornex Cafiza tablets which are much, much cheaper and seem to do the exact same job.

So it it worth a couple of grand? That's a very subjective question. Frankly, probably not. However, it is a quality machine that will last you a very long time. I do recommend it, despite the high price and a few aforementioned shortcomings.

Timothy's World Coffee Rainforest Decaf Espresso Extra-Bold for Keurig Brewers, 24 K-Cups with 2 Or

The decaf espresso has a great taste and is convenient to use. I was able to drink this espresso in the evenings, and it wouldn't keep me up at night. It works flawlessly with the Keurig B70 machine.

CAREFUL!! This is great coffee but for the price you only receive ONE 24-count box as opposed to TWO 24-count boxes as commonly offered with this variety and most other K-cup brands.

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It's hard to get excited about decaf. It usually lacks aroma and body of a good cup of regular coffee. However, there are times when you don't want the chemical stimulant and Timothy's Rainforest Decaf Expresso is a wonderful stand in for the regular stuff. Of course it is not caffeine free and part of Rainforest Decaf Expresso's great taste may be due to less processing to remove the naturally occurring chemical. Since I'm lacking any way to measure the caffeine level, suffice to say that it's more like reduced caffeine coffee with great taste.

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I've tried so many decafs for the keurig and this is literally the best one. My husband and I really enjoy this.

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I am a coffee-aholic and have never been able to find a rich decaf for those late night coffee cravings. Then came Rainforest Decaf Espresso. Very bold and fabulous!

Bialetti Mini Express 2-Cup Stovetop Percolator

The Mini Express works great. It's easy to use and clean (remember not to use soap), and it brews some nice expresso. I'm usually just making coffee for myself, so I bent one of the spouts around so they both go into one larger cup; I'm not sure if you're supposed to do that, but it worked fine.

A couple of other remarks: The cute cups in the picture aren't included :(, and at the end of the brew, it tends to "spit" coffee until you remove it from the heat. If your cups are tall enough, it's not a problem, but otherwise you'll get little coffee specks all over your stove.

I purchased this Bialetti Mini Express as a present for my husband. We have several Bialetti mokas and are thoroughly satisfied with them so I did not hesitate in purchasing this one. Unfortunately, this model does not make two equal cups of coffee. One expresso is almost full and overly strong. The second cup is one third full and very weak. It is possible to mix the two for a double shot, but alone they are undrinkable. This product is a disappointment.

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Let me begin by saying that I am a Bialetti fan. However, I would recommend that you avoid this particular product. I've used it about 20 times since I've gotten it and only once did I get reasonably equal volumes in the two cups. Usually, it's about 70%/30%, always favoring one particular side. I've tried taking the filter out to see if there were any obstructions, but didn't see any. I've tried heating at different rates but to no avail. Rinsing the top part upside-down under the tap results in equal amounts of water coming out each spout so I know it's not plugged. Eventually I may try crimping the more productive spout a bit in order to constrict the flow in hopes that that will remedy the problem...

Anyway, I usually end up having to pour from one cup to the other to make them roughly equal volumes which is messy. Tonight, the cups were about 97%/3%, which prompted this review. I'm very, very disappointed, however, I'll still probably end up buying a Bialetti 3-cup caffetiera to replace it.

UPDATE, August 30th, 2010: This thing still sucks. I just bought a DeLonghi Espresso machine and it dispenses two equal volume cups. I'm probably going to chuck the Bialletti 2-cup.

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I purchased this brewer at a local shop in Brazil about 4 months ago, and brewed nearly daily on it. My first brews were uneven and made a mess on my stove. After quite a few bad brews and almost giving up on it, I began to understand what was going on.

I usually brewed finely-ground coffee and got mediocre results. I would, usually, fill the basket up to the top, tapping it just a little bit, and let it heat. Coffee would begin to brew unevenly, leaving me with a tiny extra-strong cup and a large extra-weak one. In other words, bad coffee. If I took too long to turn off the heat, there would also be coffee spills everywhere in the kitchen.

If you run a test brew with no coffee grounds in it, only water, you'll see it comes out perfectly even on both cups. I realized what the secret was after getting a sack of coarsely-ground gourmet coffee from a relative. Being coarser, the grounds would allow a free flow of water even if I filled the basket up to the top and tapped it. That way coffee would come out perfectly even on both cups. Coarse grounds give you a milder brew, but that's a matter of taste.

Learning from that, I realized that I couldn't fill the basket up to the top with finely-ground and tap it. Water wouldn't flow evenly and coffee would come out wrong.

Nowadays, I usually fill the basket leaving about 2-3mm free space at the top of the basket when using finely ground coffee and progressively less free space the coarser my grounds are. That leaves space for water to flow through more easily, making evrn cups of coffee.

That's a peculiarity of its unique design. There's a limit to how strong your coffee can be, and that will depend on the grind and toast of the coffee you"re using. A regular stovetop won't be limited by that, but it also wont' look this charming to a visitor.

In my opinion, this is the most charming way to enjoy a cup with your coffee-loving significant other. Great value, as long as you learn its ways.

**Regarding the coffee spills, it's all about timing when you turn off the heat. I turn it off just before air begins to come out of the coffee machine, that is, just before it ends brewing. I set the heat to minimum, wait for it to brew and, very few seconds after the brew begins to come out in a very light yellowish tint, turn the heat off. That's just before the brew ends. This reduces coffee spills to nearly zero.

Definitely NOT a novelty item!!

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I have been looking at electric countertop espresso makers for years, but was afraid to buy one because of the cost and size. We got one of these on a whim because it was so cute, and it has worked wonderfully! It only takes about 3 minutes to make 2 shots of espresso, and cleans up very easily.