Black & Decker DCM2590 SmartBrew 8-Cup Drip Coffeemaker with Thermal Carafe, Black

I originally had a 4-cup coffee maker with a stainless steel carafe. It did the job, but would not stop leaking during pours. I was a bit skeptical of the DCM2590 because of the price, but I was wrong. While eight cups may seem a bit much, the thermal carafe has kept coffee I made in the morning warm until after work! Plus, not a single drip out of the carafe! The coffee tastes great and is quite hot. Highly recommended purchase.

I needed to replace a Bunn coffeemaker. Even though it made great coffee and was super speedy, I was fed up. In just three years there had been two recalls, and then one morning it had leaked water all over the counter. Enough already! After lots of research, this looked as if it was what I wanted. Even though it would take longer to brew coffee than the Bunn, it had a thermal carafe and a timer. I made the right choice. This makes hot delicious coffee which stays hot and fresh long enough to last through the morning. I am pleased.

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I wanted an automatic drip because the on/off switch on my vacuum coffeemaker broke within three months (Bodum brand) so I had to stand and hold the button. I wanted thermal to keep the coffee hot. This model, to my surprise, has a flat filter, not cone-shaped. The coffee needs to be finely ground to ensure a rich cup of coffee. Unlike the vacuum, the water never really boils so it starts out cooler, but stays a reasonable temperature in the carafe.

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First, I have this unit and have enjoyed it for months now. I bought it at a garage sale to avoid burnt coffee from the warmer plate on most drip coffee makers. It is a less time consuming option than my espresso machine.

My coffee is perfect in temperature without preheating and we do keep the house in the 60s. I grind my own coffee in a burr grinder and I preheat my milk and/or mug (for black coffee, using tap water) in the microwave (and sometimes foam it with a small electric whisk) so that it doesn't cool the coffee. I use a cheaper grinder for decaf coffee in the evenings. I do the same ritual at Panera to preheat my cup and milk using the microwave under the counter for the same reason. I like my coffee hot. Cold liquids and a cold cup ruin what came out of the carafe at just the right temperature. Since my wife likes weak, insipid coffee (we still respect each other in the morning), I sometimes decant the first run of coffee into a separate stainless steel thermos and run a "second run" for her. Since the thermos carafe keeps it hot rather than a warming element, the coffee does not get bitter.

A comment about keeping the coffee hot.

Since the pot is a stainless steel thermos, you are going to get the hottest coffee if you brew a full pot. It also will stay hotter the more coffee (and less air) it has in it. And, of course, it will stay much hotter if the lid is fully sealed except when pouring. Also there is a small hole always open, so unless you cover this hole with a towel, it is not quite as hot as a stainless steel thermos with a full seal. I never brew less than four cups (as marked on the side), but that is because you also don't get the right drip through on the coffee if you have too shallow a depth of coffee in the filter.

If you are making a small amount of coffee and your house (and carafe) are cold, prewarming the pot is not a bad idea, especially if you are just making a few cups of coffee. (The first hot coffee in the pot has to warm the pot, stainless steel does not warm as fast as glass and even if there was a heating element under the carafe, the heat wouldn't get through because it is a thermos with a vacuum barrier in between the inside and outside walls .) As I say, I have not had to do this.

Simple tip: If you want your coffee hotter, you can also preheat the carafe (and the rest of the system for that matter) by running a cup or two of water through the coffee maker before you brew your coffee. This would also clean your carafe and system--dump it out of course just before you hit the button to start the coffee.

All drip coffeemakers work the same--the water turns to steam, climbs up above the beans, condenses and drips through. So your coffee will also be relatively hotter if 1) you use a coarser grind of coffee, as finely ground coffee slows the drip more, 2) if your ambient temperature is higher (since the coffee is more or less in the "room" while it is dripping through the beans into the carafe, and 3) as above, different strategies for keeping your carafe more insulated and starting at a higher temperature before the coffee enters.

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This thermal carafe coffee maker works well in getting most of the flavor from the coffee, is very easy to clean, is energy efficient, keeps the coffee hot and keeps flavor in the coffee for a long time if the top is closed securely, is reasonably attractive, appears to be durable, and seemed to be the least expensive of all the thermal carafe coffee makers currently available. I believe that it should be illegal to sell old fashioned hot-plate coffee makers, which are incredibly wasteful of energy and which make coffee undrinkable 5 minutes after brewing.

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BUNN MCU Single Cup Multi-Use Brewer

I purchased this Bunn My Café MCU brewer to replace my problematic Keurig B70 machine, and I am very pleased with it here on day one. I felt the same way with my B70 when I got it, however, after a few months, and ongoing failures, those machines have been nothing but problems. As this was a replacement for my Keurig machine, I will be comparing this new Bunn My Café MCU machine to the old Keurig.

First, everyone hates instruction manuals, but take the time to read the first few pages. It will only take a few minutes, and it makes it easier to understand which drawer works with the different formats.

Out of the box, this brewer is a bit different as it uses drawers for the different coffee brewing formats. It can use K-Cups, pods, tea bags, and ground coffee. The different drawers provide that functionality. On page 4 of my manual, it shows a picture of each drawer, and their purpose. It can also provide hot water to mix with hot chocolate or oatmeal in the morning.

The Bunn My Café MCU does not have all the bells and whistles that the Keurig machine has. While I would appreciate having some of those features, I would rather have a machine that actually works and isn't always broken. The features the Bunn My Café MCU does NOT have are:

No storage reservoir. Like the B70, it has the internal tank, so brewing a cup is quick. However, you need to pour in the desired amount of water into the top each time you make a cup of coffee. The amount you pour in will control how much is pumped out.

There is no automatic on/off time. The unit is always on, but automatically sets back after six (6) hours of no use. After twenty-six (26) hours of no use, it goes to sleep. Later when you go to use it, it automatically wakes up, and returns to normal temperature.

The internal water temperature is set to 200°F. The only adjustment is for high altitudes above 4000 feet.

The Bunn My Café MCU requires an initial setup before you can brew your coffee. The brewer has an internal hot water tank that needs filled. They provide step by step instructions on page 3. You will need to add a few cups of water overall to get it filled. Once filled, it will begin to heat the water in the tank. This takes a few minutes, and the brew button turns a solid red. Red usually means problems, but now, it is just heating the water for the first time. Once heated, it will turn green, and it is ready to go.

Some notes:

The Bunn My Café MCU brewer makes a bit more noise compared with the B70 when brewing, but nothing objectionable.

The drawer for the K-Cups is easy to use. Inside, it has a handle that you may want to pull towards you. I have found that it works best if pulled more straight up first.

Unlike the B70, you can also use soft pods and tea bags. The ground coffee drawer is also nicer to use compared with the older basket I used in the B70.

This machine is probably only 2/3rd's the size of the Keurig. Overall, it is a nice size on the counter.

One feature the Bunn My Café MCU has that the B70 does not is a Pulse mode. This brews at a slower speed to extract a stronger, bolder flavor from the coffee or tea. I used this feature with one of my Columbian K-cups, and the coffee actually has a better, smoother flavor.

As for the warranty, the Bunn My Café MCU has a two (2) year warranty, compared with the B70's one year warranty. I have used Bunn commercial systems in restaurants for years, and they have been one of the most reliable appliances. I am hoping that same dedication to quality will exist in this home use machine too. As time goes on, I will update this review if I have any issues with this new Bunn My Café MCU brewer.

As a side note. This unit has been on back order from Amazon for some time now. I found it locally, and purchased it from a local retailer.

Update December 2012

After a month or so, I have had no problems with the Bunn. The only feature I have missed is that the Bunn does not have a water reservoir. Also, my tall 7½" insulated travel mugs do not fit in it for brewing. The largest mug that you can put in when using the K-Cup drawer is about 4 3/4" with the drip tray. Pull out the drip tray, and you can get a 6" mug in. If you use some of the other optional drawers, like the hot water one, you can get a slightly larger mug in. Right now, I have a 2 cup Pyrex glass measuring cup that sits with the coffee maker that I use to fill it. And when I need my travel mugs, I just brew into that cup and pour it into the mug. However, in no way would these missing features make me go back to the Keurig. I works every time, and heats hotter and faster.

Since my initial review, I have used the drawer for ground coffee. I purchased a new bag of Starbucks Sumatra beans, grind them myself as needed, and works well. It took a few tries to get the perfect setting in my Burr grinder to get it just the way I like it. I like my coffee dark and strong. I ground it a bit finer compared to what you normally get in pre-ground coffee. I did that too with the Keurig when I first got it. Bought the extra do it yourself pod for the Keurig, but could never get anything really good out of it. I'm guessing it's just because the Keurig does not get as hot as the Bunn machine.

It's only been a month or so since I got the Bunn, but so far, no disappointments, and very satisfied!

I did my homework and researched all of the single cup brewers. After spending a lot of time reading, I decided what I really wanted was the My Cafe MCU. Had to wait for the release, but pre-ordered it on Amazon. So very glad that I waited, it was well worth it. Bunn sent 4 sample pods with the coffee and I found that if you used the pulse option with the brew that they make a good 14 oz. cup of coffee. I also have used my own ground coffee and, I don't know how Bunn did it, but the bitterness that was in the coffee when I used my multi-cup coffee maker was gone. I don't know if I'll be using the K-Cups, they're very pricey and I don't really need them, maybe for a party, but right now I'm happy with the pods and ground coffee.

I was used to having a larger cup of coffee in the morning and I thought that only being able to brew 14 oz. was going to mean that I would have to brew a second cup, but it was more than enough. As I sat with coffee and took the last sip, I realized that this was the first time in a long time that I had actually finished my morning coffee. If I wanted, it would only take a minute or so to have another fresh cup.

The only down side that I see, is that I now need a shorter travel mug. When using the ground coffee attachment, the clearance is only about 7" and that's a lot shorter than the travel mugs I have now. That being said, I love the My Cafe MCU.

Would I recommend this? Absolutely, I recommend this to anyone who loves a GREAT cup of coffee!

UPDATE: Found this on Amazon: Contigo Autoseal Randolph Stainless Steel Travel Mug Vacuum Insulated, 16-Ounce and it works perfectly with the My Cafe MCU!

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I purchased this to replace my problematic Cuisinart Keurig brewer. Received the brewer today from Amazon. (ordered mid October before it was released) I followed the setup instructions and ran a few cycles before doing a side by side taste test with the Cuisinart. I brewed two 10oz cups, one with the Cuisinart and one with the Bunn, using the same variety of K-cup (Green Mountain Dark Magic) For the first test, I used the regular brew on the Bunn, not the pulse brew. The coffee from the Bunn was hotter after brewing than the Cuisinart, it was also more aromatic, and had a fuller flavor with no bitterness. The Cuisinart brew was a bit flat in flavor compared to the Bunn, and had just a touch of bitterness. I haven't tried the other trays for pods/tea bags or ground coffee/loose tea yet, but so far, it definitely makes a better cuppa joe than the Cuisinart.

Pulse brew produces a richer cup with still no hint of bitterness. I like the fact that on pulse or regular, it does a pre-burst to wet the grounds. It will also make anywhere from 4-14 oz of coffee. My Keuring would only go up to 12 oz, although there is probably not enough coffee in your typical K-cup to brew a 14oz cup, the option to use the ground coffee tray to hold up to 20 grams of ground coffee will greatly increase my options.

Now I can finally get rid of the partially dismantled Cuisinart I have been using. I have taken that thing apart so many times to fix it, it was becoming a pain, so I would just leave it partially dismantled so I could directly rap on the valves when it started acting up again.

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Just picked this up two weeks ago and I love it. Have had four single cup coffee makers in the past: two Keurigs, one Hamilton Beach, and one Tassimo. This one is the best by far. The Tassimo was good but the coffee pods were very limited in terms of brands. The Hamilton Beach made very weak coffee. The two Keurigs were absolutely horrible. Neither made it more than a year due to pump failure. So far the Bunn MCU has been the best ever. It gives you complete control over the brewing process, from the type of coffee and tea to the amount of water you use. Pods, loose tea, tea bags, K-cups or ground coffee can be brewed in the unit. The amount of ground coffee can be determined by the user and coffee grounds are easily removed from the container by tapping the side of the container cup before emptying it out. Very easy to fill the coffee container as the top will stay open while you scoop the coffee in. Design of the machine is centered on giving the user total control over the brewing process. As long as the pump lasts it will be a big winner.

Just an update: coffee maker started to short cup my drinks. I use 8 ounces per cup and it was only brewing about 5 or 6 ounces. Water would then spill out of the coffee drawer when I removed it. Thought it was a pump issue like with the Keurigs. Called Bunn customer service. They were very professional and courteous. They diagnosed the problem as a dirty valve and sent me a link to a video showing how to clean it. After doing so machine works perfectly again. Keeping my rating at 5 stars for the machine and an additional 5 stars for the customer service. If you need the video link go to youtube and search for a video with this title: MCP Check Valve Cleaning

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Yes this one, unlike my Keurig, makes a great single cup of coffee using my own ground coffee. Sludge is minimal compared to a french press or a "My K-cup". The best cup is delivered using the "pulse" feature.

I had to buy mine at the Lowes in Dalton, Georgia because Amazon did not have it in stock at the time. I've used every "drawer" so far except the one used for water.

I didn't like the first couple of pods that I tried (the machine came with a package of free pods). Never had a pod machine, but I wasn't digging the ones it came with. Do pods always taste like this or did they include only the cheap, gross ones?

I've used the K-Cup drawer and the ground coffee drawer several times and have loved every cup. K-cups taste really good using this machine. I use the pulse feature constantly now since it makes such a great tasting cup of coffee.

I suppose that my biggest shock is how great a single cup can be using my own ground coffee. I tried this so many times with the Keurig. I tried several grind levels, several brands of coffee YUCK! But with this machine, it is awesome. I can almost see myself drifting away from my k-cup addiction! Although, coffee is my guilty pleasure, so I will happily purchase items that produce a great cup of coffee, and k-cups are da bomb.

For ground coffee I will say that I use small, disc shaped filters that are designed for a coffee-press that I use, but they fit wonderfully in the ground coffee drawer. I do this to reduce any sludge I can possibly avoid; however, compared to other machines, this one produces the least amount of sludge I've seen so far even without the little filter I have on hand. Not to mention, unfiltered coffee raises cholesterol. Did you know that? It's true.

HEATING TIME: I thought I would miss having the big tank of water constantly filled up on my Keurig so that I could have a delicious cup of coffe whenever I wanted it. I am not missing it. The internal tank keeps the water really hot, and even after you've just made a cup, it is ready to make a second cup almost right away. Not sure how this is possible. How does it heat water that fast? It's magic! How big is the internal tank? I have an idea I had to prime it (important for the initial setup) twice before I could get things going. So the internal tank must be at least 14 ounces plus a bit more. Not quite twice that amount, but more than 14oz for sure.

My boyfriend said I should add a con, so here it is: It takes too many coffee grounds to make a single cup. Two scoops are recommended, so that is what I used, and I loved the taste. I can hardly stand the coffee he makes in his drip machine. It is just too weak (he is trying to save money but gets a yucky taste think the coffee-drinking scene in Pulp Fiction). Maybe if we self-ground our coffee to an espresso type ground we wouldn't have to use so much coffee to get the taste we desire. Who knows?

My own con, but not so bad: Whatever size coffee you want, you must pour that amount in for every cup. This is not a horrible thing. Not like I thought it would be. You pour the water in and boom! Your coffee gets brewed. This is not like the first edition Keurig that makes one cup at a time. No long waits for hot water. This one is instantaneous. Actually this is not a con at all, is it? I can make a 14 ounce cup of coffee!!! No Keurig can do that!!!!

I keep waiting for this machine to break down. It is almost too good to be true. We'll see! I was in this honeymoon phase forever with my Keurig, so maybe that is where I am now. I will update if it suddenly stops working and breaks my heart. I'll be upset and very honest and prepared to vent when it happens.

Sorry for the long review, but I'm really pleased so far and had to tell the world.

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Bialetti Brikka Stovetop Espresso Percolator, 2 Cup

Just to clarify, you are not going to get the typical cafe-type crema with this. If done right, you can get great tasting-strong coffee that has a hint of crema that eventually disappears. With the right coffee to water ratio and pre-heating the water, you can great results. I typically do 15 grams of coffee to 60 grams of water, and warm up (not boil) the water for 30 secs on the microwave. I end up getting decent results, but play around with the water and coffee ratio to get the results you want, plus that's the fun part about owning one of these!

Love the coffee it makes!!

I have both Brikka and Moka espresso maker and I really prefer the coffee Brikka makes.

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Illy Francis Francis! X7.1 Iperespresso Machines in Black with 4 Free Capsules Boxes and More...

I owned the X7 for less than a year, when it suddenly decided not to work anymore! I did not use this machine daily, and after about 8 months it started making a loud noise from the boiler, and produced nothing! Luckily I bought mine at BB&B, and I was able to return it. Since I have a pretty large supply of the Illy iperespresso capsules, I decided to give Illy another shot. I will say that while the X7 worked, it worked well. The espresso tastes excellent. To my disappointment, after returning the X7, BB&B sent me an X7.1. The difference is substantial. They look and work almost exactly the same, except the X7.1 has no steam knob! There is only a steam button which allows steam to be on or off. This is important for several reasons. First, you have no control over the amount of steam, but even more importantly it does not allow you to clear the steam out of the machine which is vital when you are making more than one coffee. With the X7, you are able to vacate the steam which cools down the boiler back to brewing temperature for a second cup. The X7.1 has to be turned off, and cooled down before it will allow you to make a second cup. Rediculous!! If you want to make more than one cup without the wait, you can make all of your espresso shots first, then steam your milk, but then you risk having cold espresso by the time you get your milk steamed. The other issue I have with this X7.1, is that it has a plastic steam wand that allows air mixture to automatically froth the milk. I prefer the all stainless wand on the X7 because it gives you more control allowing you to froth the milk towards the end of the process which puts you in control of the ammount of foam. I will be returning (once again) this X7.1, and will either have to spend more money, or go a different direction than Illy.

When I came home from Italy I tried to find a cup of Espresso or Cappucino that was as good as the ones I had there....no luck ....

Then I remembered that almost ALL of the cafes I visited used Illy coffee... So I bought this machine...

I LOVE IT!! Finally , coffee as good as Italy. The machine is so easy to use and looks great on my counter. I highly recommend it!

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Sadly I never got to try the coffee! I set it up and water sprayed everywhere. I called the help number listed and they said pack it up and send it back. Sounded like a common problem. What a hassle and disappointment.

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Water started leaking all around the head where the coffee is made, some of it inside of the device where electric connections are. Called Illy, then been directed to Francis & Francis "out of warranty" repair center, who quoted me $120 just to send and diagnose the problem, and any repairs would be extra. Needless to say, the machine is going now to an electronic recycle center or trash can...

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I used to make latte with illy X7 for a year.

I love X7's retro design.

The steam nozzle is a little short to use 1 lit. steam pitcher that I had. If you are making 1 or 2 cups at a time, you need to get a 600ml pitcher as I did.

Recently I moved internationally, so I sold the old X7 and bought X7 again here.

It had some problems, but the seller figured them out quickly.

Bialetti Replacement Gasket & Filter for 10 Cup Espresso Maker

We've used our 10-cup stainless steel Bialetti on a daily basis for several years. Finally, the gasket gave out, and we were left with a stainless steel doorstop. Fortunately, the above-referenced 10 cup gasket/filter pack proved to be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Potential buyers should be aware of the fact that Bialetti offers a wide variety of stovetop espresso-makers in various sizes whose bodies are fabricated from either aluminum or stainless steel. The various filters and gaskets are NOT interchangeable, i. e., the 10-cup stainless steel gasket/filter will NOT fit the corresponding aluminum-body model.

I can recommend the title replacement pack wholeheartedly for coffee addicts whose 10-cup Bialetti model is made of stainless steel. With this caveat in mind, go for it!

If you buy only one 10-cup Baletti replacement set this year, this is the one for you!!! providing you have a Baletti 10-cup espresso maker which needs a replacement gasket. Otherwise you probably want to buy something else being a careful and informed consumer.

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Although the gaskets are durable, they get sticky after a while. Having access to replacements is great. I do not understand the need for an extra filter but maybe in time I will be happy it was included with the gaskets.

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I bought the pot in perfect condition second-hand but it was missing the filter so I ordered this and it was perfect. It came with three rubber gasket rings.

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Gaggia Titanium

I bought this product and loved it totally...

Appearance: 4/5

Value: 4/5

Performance: 5/5

Functionality: 5/5

Noise: 3/5

Coffee: 4/5

Included Equipment: 5/5

Overall, this was an amazing buy, the steam wand does drip slightly and the descaling program takes a long while when it needs it but its an excellent coffee and all round drinks machine!

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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DeLonghi EN660.R Nespresso Lattissima Single-Serve Espresso Maker, Red

My girlfriend decided to splurge on this product (and to try to save on her $5/day espresso habit). It's as beautiful as advertised, and simple to set up. Espressos and Lungos are mighty tasty.

Unfortunately the entire Latissima series is suffering from a flaw with the milk-foam system. The first day or two foam comes out, but not nearly as much or as nice as in the Nespresso store. Then after the third day the milk quantity goes down significantly and the spout begins to just sputter out milk.

My girlfriend and I went back to the Nespresso store twice to inquire what we were doing wrong; the store people unfortunately couldn't help us out. We also called the Nespresso-Club hotline, who was willing to send us a new machine.

It turns out that there are a lot of users out there experiencing the same flaw. Go to Youtube and type in Nespresso Latissima; many users have posted videos evidencing the same exact problem as what we were having with our machine. This problem has been there since the introduction of the machine in 2007.

We have decided to return the machine and purchase a lower-priced, but at least reliable machine. It is shameless on the part of Nespresso (and DeLonghi) to continue marketing this machine although there is a design flaw with the milk-housing unit. It also does not surprise me that the price has gone down almost 25%; Nespresso's trying to liquidate its inventory before more problems arise and it's sitting on this junk. Be forewarned, Nespresso's return policy is only 14 days from the date of purchase; I would therefore recommend purchasing from Bloomingdale's or Williams Sonoma, whose return policies are much more favorable to the consumer.

Since my last comment a year ago I have moved to the US and due to voltage have been forced to buy a new machine. Purchased exactly the same one and continue to be just as satisfied as with the first one. Paid the price but having said that I see that costs are falling here. The new machine operates as consistently and well as the first. Recommendation therefore remains the same!

We bought this machine a month and a half ago with great anticipation since we experienced Nespresso several times before. Since we are fans of cappuccinos, Lattes and Macchiato's this machine seemed to answer our needs. It did and in spades. Everything the machine is expected to do it does. I read other reviews but have not experienced any of the issues mentioned. The milk froth is fine, even adjustable. I prime/clean the spout after every session to make sure all is clear. Since you can adjust the quantities I was able to play around (drinking much coffee, strong and weak) before finding my 'eureka!'. It's simply the most easy coffee machine to use, with fantastic results. As for temperature of the coffee I also felt sometimes the coffee wasn't warm enough but after running my cappuccino mug under hot water before making the coffee for a moment this was no longer an issue.

We've had friends with typical home version espresso machines that just sit there until there is a special occasion because it's just too much trouble this machine has easily become an everyday machine for us since we got it, which is what I think Nespresso/Delonghi intended.

PROS: great coffee, many choices (even the short intense blends work in cappuccinos or long (luongo) coffees, space for taller glasses/cups for milk coffees, EASE OF USE!

CONS: price (pretty steep in the US I bought mine in Switzerland for US$500) but for the ease of use it's worth it, the space for taller cups is relatively narrow so you need to find ones that will fit (your usual huge Starbucks mug won't cut it here).

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I went through about 5 different machines, including much more expensive ones, before settling on the Nespresso / DeLonghi EN660. I got it in red because at the time the red one was $100 cheaper than the black one. The black and red models are identical. The stainless steel version is $100 more, and has a stronger heating element in the top, so if you store cups on the top they will be much warmer than with the red or black version. Other than that, there is no functional difference between the stainless steel version and the black/red version.

I have had this machines for about 6 months now, and I absolutely love it. The coffee is delicious, and there's virtually no cleanup. I can quickly make complicated drinks. I especially love the fact that it automatically dispenses the milk when making milk-based coffee drinks.

I have found over time that this machine is very reliable, but there a few tricks/tips to make sure the milk froths properly:

1. The machine says it's ready to make milk froth too quickly. Frequently, if I make a latte as soon as the machine stops blinking and is ready to go, the milk isn't frothed enough. If I wait another 10 minutes or so, the machine is hot enough and the milk froths more fully.

2.If milk isn't frothing enough, the parts in the milk container may need a good washing. I find that I need to put the milk container and parts in the dish washer once a week. If frothing starts going down hill, it's time for a visit to the dishwasher

I would definitely buy this machine again. The Nespresso coffee tastes great, and it's super easy to use. Cleanup is just a matter of pressing the steam button for 10 seconds, and wiping the nozzle and steam wand with a damp paper towel.

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For the cost I returned the machine because I could not get a hot enough ending product when using the milk attachment. The milk would be about 126to130F so when you added it to your espresso it cooled everything down to much. I want a hot out the door not cold in two minutes drink. I thought I could heat it up again but why should I have to for the big bucks I paid. The pods are good tasting. That part was great.

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I am long-time Nespresso owner/user. Went to Nespresso boutique in Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza to buy their stand alone milk steamer, and impulsively decided to forget the recession and splurge on an upgrade to this machine for Christmas. Coffee quality is great, but I knew that already. Bought this machine to simplify cappuccino/latte making. What a great idea -a detachable, fully automated milk steamer. Just push the button, and it puts the right amount (machine lets you program your preferred ratio of milk/coffee) of steamed milk and coffee into your cup. Plus, it has a separate heater/pump. One downside of other Nespresso machine is that, because coffee/steamer uses same pump, and must be hotter for milk steamer, you cannot go right back to making more coffee after steaming milk (takes about 2-4 minutes for pump to cool down to coffee temp). With this machine, you can make separate coffees/lattes for each person at a dinner party. 20 lattes are no problem. I was totally sold on idea.

BIG PROBLEM -milk does not get very hot. It will be hot enough for some people. My wife has no problem with it. But even though my perfect cappuccino takes relatively little milk, it gets lukewarm within a minute or two after making it with this machine. Yuck.

So with regret, it gets 3 stars. It is a good idea, and will be very satisfactory for some users.

For myself, however, and others who like their single serve coffee with hot milk, the machine is a big disappointment. I am returning it.

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