Showing posts with label best home espresso makers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best home espresso makers. Show all posts

Monday, April 14, 2014

Coffee Pot Cleaning Brush

Coffee Pot Cleaning BrushThis brush was a bit more than the others but is worth every penny. It is sturdy and works like a dream. Excellent product to clean out the Bunn Coffee pots. Would recommend it to anyone who has a Bunn Coffee pot or one that is similar.

Exactly what I was looking for. THe curve of the brush gets into the areas that are usually hard to get.

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This brush was perfect to clean our office coffee pots. It's very sturdy and flexible enough to get into the spots to clean. I would recommend the brush when used with coffee pot cleaner.

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This brush is perfect for cleaning the upper and lower parts of the Yama coffee maker. I am sure it would be perfect for any spherical coffee pot.

I had to bend the very tip of the brush into more of a circle to make it go in and out of the pot easier. The machine that forms the bend leaves an inch or so of the end of the brush straight. You can see this in the picture of the brush on the product page here. This would cause binding when I was putting it in or taking it out. This put a little more stress on the glass than I liked. Once I put a slight bend in the end with pliers, it slips in and out of the pot with ease.

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Works as described. This brush is more of a commercial than home kitchen quality. What I like about this brush is its stiff metal core that holds the bristles in place. Accordingly, this brush is not adjustable. The core will not bend during cleaning. This enables a solid contact with the coffee pot's interior surface. I have a Bunn glass coffee pot and this brush fits it perfectly. The only suggestion I can make is the same one that another reviewer has mentioned regarding the thickness or density of the bristles. Although the bristles on this brush seem to suffice, thicker or slightly stiffer bristles may work better in instances of stubborn stains. However, thicker or denser bristles could hamper easy insertion of the brush into the small openings of most coffee pots. Bottom line, I'm glad I bought it and am satisfied with this purchase.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Yama Coffee Siphon with butane burner

Yama Coffee Siphon with butane burnerI've always wanted to try out a vacuum brewer, and so I bought this one since it had a great price and included a burner. I have used the burner a few times at the table, but I have found I mostly prefer to simply use the gas stove. The butane burner does work well and has plenty of heat to get the job done. Plus the whole package is very handsome.

I didn't think I'd use this much because it's a bit more of a hassle than a french press, but I like the coffee it makes so much that I use it every day. I'm surprised it makes coffee that is better than the french press, but it does make it a lot smoother and the cup has absolutely no grounds or mud in it.

I roast my own coffee now, and this the perfect companion to the roaster for the way I like coffee, which is smooth, consistent, and flavorful. Plus it is fun to watch it work. The included bottom glass makes enough to for two normal sized coffee cups or one large mug for the road. It includes 5 cloth filters, and I have used the same one for many months now. Daily cleanup is with the sink sprayer which gets the filter clean enough for more use. Then once a week, I pull the filter out of the metal holder and clean it up well.

The amazon page states quite a long lead time for shipping, but it came in just over a week--which was great.

If you love a French Press, but want to move into something a bit more elegant and exotic to make coffee the Siphon Based System is just the answer. I opted for this device because it is fueled by Butane Gas the same gas to fill Cigarette Lighters.

If you love hot coffee that is not burnt or over cooked, and you wish to get away from the paper filters, this Siphon Pot of perfect. I loved it.

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Very happy with this syphon. Have made some very nice coffee with it. Only down side is the plastic service handle around neck of the bowl which broke quickly but is easily fixed.

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My parents used a vacuum coffee maker back in the 1950's...that being said the absolutely best cup of coffee I've ever had in my life was in Jakarta (on, of course, the island of Java) from a table-top vacuum coffee maker.

This product makes absolutely perfect coffee. The presentation for guests is amazing.

YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS COFFEE MAKER.

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This is a great product. It makes serving coffee a celebration. I love having it all set up and then lighting the burner to have perfectly brewed coffee. I have it set on the porch in the morning and then set it up in the evening for a great cup of coffee. Very Very pleased.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

BUNN VPR-APS Pourover Airpot Coffee Brewer

BUNN VPR-APS Pourover Airpot Coffee BrewerThis coffee brewer works great, however I found the product manual was frustrating and I had to figure some things by trial and error... with several trials ending in error! The box also included a long spring thing that I still have not figured out what do do with?? Having said that, this coffee maker works great for making a lot of coffee in a quick amount of time, once you figure it out. Here is how it works (after you've done the initial prep/set-up which involves pre-filling the tank something you only do ONE time for the life of the machine) :

1. Turn on (actually plug it in, it has no on/off switch one of those things you have to learn the hard way)

2. Wait 20 minutes (it needs 20 minutes to get the tank water hot)

3. Put the coffee grains in the basket

4. Pour water in the top

5. Out comes coffee (almost simultaneously as you pour it in, if you are using a 24 cup air-pot... you'll need to wait a few minutes to pour the second 12 cup pitcher included of water in, or the filter basket will over-flow, it only holds 12 cups!)

6. Fill as many air-pot s this way as you'd like, just as fast as you can replace filter & grounds and pour water in the top.

7. Unplug when finished

Pros:

Makes a lot of coffee (as much as you want) very fast once it is heated up.

Very easy to use once you figure it out.

Cons:

Terrible user manual

Needs 20 minutes lead time

Need to be careful if using a 24 cup Air-pot, can easily "overwhelm" the filter basket and cause a big mess (filter basket can only hold 12 cups at a time)

No on/off button

Must learn to use by trial and error

The Pourover Airpot Coffee Brewer is very simple to use and brews coffee directly into the airpot. The design is well-thought-out and makes serving coffee to a large group of teachers and students every morning a pleasure.

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I liked the item a lot but it is pretty large. I have a small shop and this is industrial size so it looked a little out of place. But the item itself is great.

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Works good, use it a few times everyday for commercial usage, it's brews fast and makes great coffee, we have no seen any problems yet..

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Once warmed up, this machine can produce 10 litres of coffee in 20 minutes. We have used it for the past three months at large sports events with great success. I almost gave up while reading the instructions, then I found some friendly guidance on the web that goes like this:

1. Fill the system with water until a little leaks out.

2. Plug it in and wait for 20 minutes

3. Prepare the hopper with two standard bags of coffee

4. Slowly pour in 3 litres of water. The coffee comes out almost as fast as you pour the water in.

5. Unplug

Once you get the hang of the system and also the lack of power switch, you will really enjoy the system's performance.

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Sunday, January 26, 2014

Gaggia 90950 Platinum Vision Espresso Machine w/Milk Island - Platinum

Gaggia 90950 Platinum Vision Espresso Machine w/Milk Island - PlatinumI purchased this from Amazon warehouse at a huge discount because the box and packaging was opened. At least I think that was the reason, because so far it has worked PERFECTLY. It also has no visible marks and was absolutely clean. My brother and my sister each have the same automatic espresso maker and we love it.

The coffee is just so much better, it is beyond comparison. Consistent and oh, so good. We are spoiled now, but also happy about it.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

KRUPS XP3200 Opio Pump Boiler Espresso Machine, Black

KRUPS XP3200 Opio Pump Boiler Espresso Machine, BlackI wrote the review below when I got the machine. Now two months later it won't steam. I've tried everything and it wont' work. Even though this was a gift, I guess you get what you pay for with this machine.

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After working as a barista at several private coffee shops I was worried about getting an espresso machine that would fit my budget and my coffee tastes. I got this machine a few days ago as a Christmas present and have had no problems with it. It heats up quick and is fairly easy to use. It does take a little getting used to some things though. It does take longer to steam cold milk than what I was used to, and I discovered that it was harder to tamp the coffee grounds down, but it makes a decent mocha or latte. I liked that it did froth the milk very well so there was a nice foam and brews the espresso with a nice crema on top. I'm going to experiment with different coffee brands and even try the E.S.E. pods. One thing I was worried about was the reviews about water leaking from the bottom of the machine. I discovered that after using the steamer it releases the water and pressure out the bottom into the drip tray. I didn't really believe the directions when they said to empty the tray after each use, but it definitely does need to be done. I would have given it 5 stars, but I think the learning curve with the grounds isn't as easy to use as some other machines out there.

This machine makes great espresso for a great price. The crema (foam on top) is always impeccable. BUT there is one extremely common issue with this machine that is also extremely easy to fix.

PROBLEM: machine fails to pump out any water (even with full tank & green light on)

SOLUTION: you are tamping (pressing) the coffee grounds down TOO tightly in the basket! Take the grounds out, shuffle them around to break up clumps, and place back in basket with decreased tamping pressure. Works like a charm.

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I've had this Krups espresso machine for about a month, got it on Woot for $65 delivered (it's on sellout.woot again today).

People have commented that it doesn't produce the same strength of coffee as a steam unit that's because it's not supposed to. Steam units overcook the coffee, that's why I finally upgraded to a pump. You may want to choose a stronger, darker-roasted coffee if you liked the strength of a steam-driven unit. (I still use a stove-top steam pot for camping.) Some coffees that were just too strong in my Bialetti stove-top steam pot are great in the Krups, with better coffee flavour than the beans that I use with the Bialetti.

Another tip if you like stronger espresso, don't run the pump too long, once the best of the coffee has been extracted it will just water it down if you keep pushing water through the coffee. It took me a week or two to learn the balance. I do really love the wonderful crema that this machine produces. Steam pots just can't do this. If you are a typical latte/cappuccino drinker (like me), try the espresso by itself, with just the head of crema. It's a treat all by itself! (With or without sweetening.)

(To the leakage issue I've only had it leak (outside the tray, when the tray wasn't even full) when I run two espressos immediately one after the other. If I purge the steamer in between, it does not happen. For a large latte I brew an espresso, run the milk steamer, then brew the second espresso no leaks!) see updated below.

It does seem like a design defect, it shouldn't leak water outside the tray, and if I had paid the full retail price (around $180), I would not be happy. Since I paid about a third of that, I can live with this eccentricity, as it can (at least for me so far) be avoided.

Update: I've had the unit leak a couple of times, and have tracked it down (at least for my unit) to an improper seal of the water container caused by a few coffee grounds that probably dropped into the back of the unit when the water container was removed. Cleaning the receiving end of the water seal (and making sure that the water container is similarly clean) has so far kept the water from leaking again. I can also see that this may become a problem over time as the water container wears, the seal may become loose and leaky again. We'll see.

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This machine makes a very good espresso in a short amount of time. It's simple to use, a pump espresso, which works better than my previous steam espresso machine that took a long time. Overall quality is excellent.

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So being from Italy, I know good coffee. Been through many mid range cappuccino makers and they all sucked. This machine is by far the best I ever owned. The espresso crema is outstanding. Don't waste your money on high dollar machines, by this one. You will be very happy.

PS make sure you read the milk frothing directions. You have to purge the water before steam. Easy process.

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Nescafe Dolce Gusto by Krups Circolo Coffee Machine

Nescafe Dolce Gusto by Krups KP500950 Circolo Coffee Machine, TitaniumI want to start out by saying, I usually dont drink coffee. It just takes so long to prepare, grind the beans, put the filter, water and wait... This machine is amazing, I put the water in, wait like 30 seconds and then move the lever to the right for hot water. BOOM. The drink is done and it's ready for your tasting pleasure. I got the RED machine because my KitchenAid mixer is Red so I figured I'd continue the color scheme. It's got a nice matte feel to it and everything compacts together with an easy to clean components. In the box, it came with a sampler of different drinks and plus if you register your product you get a free box of capsules (16 in total). I have to say I wish the water tank held more water but its okay. Overall, I would recommend this product to anyone in the market for a fast and delicious cup of joe.

Like the coffee maker. It's shape is unique and bright. The only set back that I can see ,has to be Nescafe coffee since they are the only ones that fit (k-2 cups won't fit). There is limited stores to get the coffee from and not a lot of variety in the coffee choices. It does make an excellent cup of coffee out of the choices available. Wish the coffee was available in more stores closer to where I live.

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This thing is one piece of fine art. First of all it makes delicious coffee. Their Cafe Lungo and the Cafe Americano I would say are the best tasting ones. Rich in flavor! The machine is very simple to use. I didnt even have to read the manual or directions. The blue LED light is pretty neat too. It illuminates while the coffee is being made. Awesome coffee machine for the price. I would recommend this to everyone who is a coffee lover!

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I have had many different kinds of coffee makers in the past, but NOTHING is as good as this one! I can make a 16oz cappuccino to go in my Contigo travel mug, flavored exactly how I want it (Torani Hazelnut) in about a minute. I can sit at my desk at work sip on my nice hot delicious cappuccino. The lattes, chocochinos, espressos, and cafe americanos are great too!

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Bought this machine to replace a worn out Tassimo (Braun version). Coffee comes out just as good and I love the design. Not fully automatic like the Tassimo, but I really can't complain too much. Also wish the water reservoir held more water. So overall it's a 4 star. Hope this line catches on and they develop even more beverage pods for it.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Black & Decker EE200 Expresso O Mio - Expresso Maker

Black & Decker EE200 Expresso O Mio - Expresso MakerAs an ex-Seattle-ite of 12 years, I am pretty persnickity about my espresso. I found this microwave espresso maker at an upscale retail outlet for discontinued merchandise, in my new home city, and thought, what the heck, it is only $10, what do I have to lose? For ten bucks I got the microwave espresso maker and a frother, basically a beaker with plunger/beater for making steamed milk froth you see on a cappucinno.

After a few attempts, I found the proper setting on my microwave, to make excellent shots of espresso. I did have a couple of messes to clean up before I figured it out. I have a smallish GE microwave purchased in 1997, and don't remember the wattage, but running the microwave for 1 minute and 45 seconds yields almost a full shot of espresso. I empty the result into a cup and put the espresso maker back in the microwave for an additional 10 or 15 seconds which makes enough more to make a good sized shot when added to the first batch. I do this because one newspaper reviewer, who I will talk about later, mentioned that his espresso had a burned taste from leaving it in too long. I have not experienced this, but do this anyway as a precaution. The result is an acceptable dose of espresso for use in making a latte, etc., every time. I do sometimes just add a bit of sugar and take it straight, as well.

Now for the frother. This little guy is amazing and worth the cost, even if you don't use the espresso maker. I am able to make a decent froth in a few seconds using non-fat milk. Whoa. With whole milk you can make something approaching whipped cream in a 15-30 seconds.

Now for the reviewer I mentioned earlier. This fellow published his very negative review in the Seattle Times and, I think, contributed to the apparently horrible reputation that perhaps caused B&D to discontinue this little gem. He obviously did not tinker enough to figure out the settings that would work for his microwave, etc,, and made a couple of messes and gave up, and then proceeded to blast this espresso maker.

I wondered if I was the only person who liked this little guy, so I called a good friend of mine who is a consultant and travels all over the country to see if he wanted one of these. He was way ahead of me and had already been using one for some time. He loves it and it goes everywhere with him. BTW, he is twice the coffee snob that I am. He told me that when he is home he still uses his little B&D instead of the fancy countertop unit he has in his kitchen, if he wants to make a single shot of espresso.

This is like the Holy Grail of microwave espresso makers, though, to my knowledge, it is the only one of its kind. OK, maybe I am being too enthusiastic, but, hey, I love my coffee. It is handy enough toss in the suitcase and take with you for making espresso in your hotel room, if you are a traveler, or just don't want to spend a few hundred dollars for a gadgety space hogging countertop appliance. I actually went back to the store where I bought this and bought two more, in case something happens to my first one, so I will never be without one.

OK, now for the negatives, and there are some. This guy only makes one shot at a time, and then you have to empty the grounds and start over. If I want to share an espresso with my honey, then she had better be patient, because the first shot is for me. The coffee goes in a little aluminum cup that is covered by a screen, and this little cup gets HOT. If you want to make a second shot you have to take the maker apart, empty the grounds, refill it and start over. I do it, sometimes, and it is not impossible, but I do alot of cursing when I do. Of course you can set it aside to cool off first, but that's no fun.

Bottom line, this is a great little espresso maker if you don't mind making one shot at a time, don't mind experimenting a bit, are a traveler, don't want to spend money or space on a large espresso maker, etc. I heartily recommend this microwave espresso maker and wish you luck in finding one (my spares are not for sale!). They are still out there, and I did also see them at Walgreens, at one time.

.. and brand new; I decided to give it a whirl.

There was a little bit of leakage from the unit, but nothing unmanageable, and it did indeed make excellent espresso. Yes the metal cup (and plastic assembly) inside does get hot, but so do the parts from a "regular" espresso maker. A quick rinse in warm or cold water does the trick before fully disassembling. On my next attempt, I made the base tighter and voila! No leakage. Except that it only makes one shot, this is a very neat gadget. I guess it's too bad that it didn't catch on.

... Ok now that it's been here awhile...

Pain in the patootie to use, and the espresso is really not very good. Now I'm sure I know why it's discontinued.

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The product is OK, but when the frother comes apart, beware...no instructions and I have tried every which way to put it back together without success. Searched online and many others have same problem.

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