Breville Refurbished XXBES830XL Espresso Machine

There are already plenty of reviews on the new model of this machine so I won't critique the design. I ordered this refurbished model after a Breville refurbished model with grinder failed. This one is working with no problems so far and makes a good espresso when using the single wall filters. There were no scratches or any trace of use on the machine I received. My only complaint so far is that the hot water wand drips a small amount when using the steam wand. Other than that, all is well. I also got the item quite a bit cheaper than it is currently listed.

(Update) 13 June 2012 -

After 94 days water started leaking on the unit and was found underneath the accessory tray and two days later started leaking through the seam in the upper right front, in front of and to the side of the steam wand. I contacted Breville Customer Service for a warranty replacement through email and I was sent a brand new unit to replace the refurbished one. The entire process from contact to resolution took 14 days. The new unit is working nicely and the Long Blacks taste great. Breville did state that the new unit would only be warranted for 90 days.

(Update) 04 January 2013 -

I left the title and rating as a good refurb on my previous update based upon the one year warranty. I now see that the warranty has been reduced to 90 days. The reliability of these refurbished units is marginal at best. Based upon the changes to the warranty I am rating this unit a 2.

EDIT: Third unit came in. Wrong parts. Lowering to one star. I bought this as a lighting deal for 250 dollars so I don't want my money back, I just want a working machine. Honestly, I know it's refurbished but it should at least work initially, right?

Amazon, I'm not a landfill, stop sending me garbage.

Initial review:

2 stars because Amazon's support is so amazing. But...

The first unit wouldn't pump water at all.

The second replacement unit would only heat water to 140 degrees and dripped from every orifice while running.

I'm wondering who does QA on these refurbs...

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I like the machine. Its my first espresso machine being that I'm trying to leave Starskybucks alone..(Love 'em but too costly a habit when adding up the visit.) However, just like others who purchased this refurbished 830 for the gold deal price ($249), mine leaks from the top of the machine near the steam wand. Hand still hurts from the hot water hitting me. After trying to return to replace the machine, Amazon (Ama) didn't give an option for replacing unit.

So I called Amazon being that like other customers, I did not want a refund vs. I wanted a working model at the gold deal price that I paid that would allow me to make my morning cup of espresso. Kudos to Ama customer service for their assistance in allowing me to keep the machine until they replenish their stock with working espresso machines. I don't think they initially realize how much customers want to keep their deal price and how coffee drinkers love their coffee.

But Ama did so I'm satiated for now...Ob(ezo's)'Ama(zon) does care. Fyi to other customers, this review is after using it for the first time so I may discover more pros or nuances with this machine later. One star for the broke machine but will change once I get a working refurb..so stay tuned...for O(le) B(ezo's) Ama(zon) to do their magic and get me the machine I want and I keep it at the price I liked.

Update: 5/7/12

Amazon sent me a new one and its working correctly...no leaking water. So I'm happy.

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Bought this machine as a gift for mothers day. Unfortunately when she received it, the machine would not stay powered on for more than 10 seconds. To get the power back you had to fully unplug the unit then plug it back in. This would only result in it powering for another 10 seconds. Needless to say Breville customer support attempted walking her through initial priming procedures but this failed to work. They recommended returning it and buying a non discontinued model. Guess I should have listened to the other reviews on here. The great price had me hopeful. I am glad that Amazon's return service is straight forward and honoring the refund.

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We purchased this unit as a Xmas gift to ourselves on Saturday 12/22/12 and anxiously awaited it's expected arrival on Xmas eve. Sure enough, Santa delivered right on schedule! However, despite Amazon's timely delivery, we were very disappointed since we could not get the machine to dispense any water. We read the manual, checked the directions & connections, and tried troubleshooting by running the unit for several minutes and switching between hot water and steam (to "prime" the machine), all with no luck. On December 27th, I called Breville Technical Support for assistance. The tech asked if we'd tried the recommended "priming" process, and I confirmed that we had. He asked where we purchased the machine and I explained that we purchased the "refurbished" machine on Amazon.com. He asked if I could email the receipt so I did. He then emailed me back a Fed Ex Shipping label, so that we could return the machine to Breville for replacement (Breville paid the shipping cost). He also advised that the Model BES830XL had been discontinued and Breville had no more in stock. Therefore, they'd be sending us the newer Model BES840XL called "The Infuser." Within 5 days, we were delighted to receive our brand new Breville Model BES840XL espresso machine. I must say it was well worth the effort, since we ultimately saved $200. Also can't say enough about Breville's outstanding customer service! (Note: We also own a Breville blender, and absolutely love it!)

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Aroma 7-Cup Electric Water Kettle

My new husband is English so it was important to find a kettle that was easy and convenient to use. This one is not only gorgeous in my red and black kitchen but it is super easy to fill, pour and heats up quickly! No drips and the auto shut off rocks for someone who may be forgetful! The base is great as you just set the kettle down in any direction. Great price...great product!

Heats water much faster than the old tea kettle on the stove top. I really love it. My only complaint would be that the water level indicator is under the handle and is very hard to see when you are filling it with water. The indicator is also a bit slow to react to the real water level so you have to fill some water, let it catch up and so on to make sure you don't over fill it. I would recommend it for anyone who drinks a lot of tea, fresh press coffee or oat meal. I also like the fact that I don't have a hot stove top for 15 minutes after I used the old tea kettle.

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The Aroma electric water kettle is not only a good value, but it heats the water at roughly a cup a minute and is easy and safe to use. In my opinion, it also looks good I have it in red. I'd recommend this item for anyone looking for an electric kettle.

Aroma AWK-270R 7-Cup Electric Water Kettle, Red

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This is for the Aroma AWK-270R 7 Cup Electric Water Kettle in Red, I see that they lump all reviews together for all the colors. If you are like me and wanting the red one because of the color then this review is for you.

I received this item for Christmas and used it a handful of times. A few inches below the spout the red paint is coming off, in less than a month of owning it. I have been gentle in using it not bumping it into stuff. It does boil water quickly, condensation does collect on the lid while boiling but it evaporates quickly. I was on the fence about keeping this kettle because I missed using my stovetop tea kettle but had decided I'd keep it until I saw the paint chipping off. I sent the item back.

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My husband and I absolutely love this kettle. This was our solution to how to make the best cup of coffee at the most affordable price. We used the typical drip style coffeemaker for many years. Then we bought a Keurig coffee pot that uses K-cups and became really spoiled to the fresher, richer taste of one-cup-at-a-time coffee. We drink a lot of coffee, and the K-cups started to get too expensive for all day use. We decided to use the Keurig for company and when we needed to grab a cup to go out the door and tried going back to the old drip coffeemaker. No way! The coffee now tasted bitter and was never hot enough for my husband. So we bought a regular tea kettle to use on our gas stove and two Melita cones with filters. Using freshly ground coffee, we thought this was a good solution. Unfortunately, using a regular kettle on the stove put out way too much heat during the summer, and there was a lot of wasted energy.

Then we thought of looking for an electric kettle and ordered this terrific one, mostly because it had good reviews but also because I LOVED the red color! So now we use this kettle and Melita cones with filters, and our coffee is always hot and fresh...no burnt, bitter pot of coffee. The water heats VERY quickly....way quicker than the stovetop kettle and way quicker than a pot of water on the stove. I also use it to preheat water for cooking vegetables and pasta. I took the kettle along in our motorhome, as heating water on the gas stove puts out way too much heat when we're camping. I decided to keep it in there and bought a second kettle for my kitchen.

The only negative comment I could make (and it really isn't a negative for most of us) is that the kettle is heavy in itself, and therefore heavier when filled with water. It might be a bit too heavy for perhaps an elderly person with strength or arthritis issues in the arm or wrist. A smaller version of this type of kettle would probably be a better choice in that case. So if that is not an issue for you, you will not be disappointed with this kettle. It is well made, very attractive, easy to use, and works like a charm.

Hamilton Beach 40894 Candy Apple Electric Kettle 1500 W 1.80 Quart

I received this as a gift and absolutely LOVE it .. It heats a full pot in less than two minutes, and has a automatic shut off with boil dry protection. It is faster than a regular stove kettle or microwave.

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Espresso Stovetop Coffee Maker By Cuisinox (Mirror Polished Aluminum)

I purchased this Cuisinox Espresso Stovetop Coffee maker for my sister for her birthday and she loves it. She uses it every morning and it is probably one of the best gifts she has ever received. Very simple, inexpensive, no fuss, quick, strong, concentrated Espresso. The term "3-Cup" is giving a few customers a problem. It, in this case, does not mean 3 full cups (24 ounces) of watered down, drip-brewed coffee, but 3 shots (1/3 cup or approximately 2.6 ounces) of pure, strong, concentrated coffee with a thicker consistency. Espresso has more caffeine per unit volume than drip-brewed coffee, and this is what Expresso drinkers want. A quick shot to get them going; Espresso! This Espresso maker is probably not for those who want to drink coffee all morning, but for those who want the instant, long lasting charge to get them going and keep them going for hours and it works for her. I am giving this 5 stars because it does exactly what is suppose to do, make strong, concentrated shots of coffee (Espresso cup-sized). She says "It's just perfect!", "I love it!", "It's just right!". I hope this review helps coffee drinkers understand the difference in what they are buying. Do you want to take a shower or would you prefer a long bubble bath?

This item is very small. The description says that it's "1 cup" but that is misleading. It's certainly not 1 cup of liquid that it produces. And it's not for a coffee cup size drink. The bottom part that you fill up with water would hold about a half cup of water--at the most. And the espresso part holds about two tablespoons of espresso. It's tiny! I used to work at a coffee shop, and we used more espresso to make one small espresso drink. One shot of espresso would require double the amount of espresso that this maker can hold. So even if you did use this product to make yourself a shot of espresso, it would be a very weak one because it doesn't hold enough espresso to make a normal espresso shot.

I can't imagine how you would ever use this espresso maker. I guess it might be good for a dollhouse....

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If looking for a 1 cup espresso maker, this is a great value. It was given to my son as a gift and he appreciated receiving it.

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This is a great stovetop espresso maker. We enjoy espresso just about every day and whenever we go to Italy we stock up on the good stuff. This espresso maker is great quality for great coffee. I've had a few espresso makers of this style but this is the best one yet. Instead of the normal plastic ring that most others come with this one comes a silicone ring which I notice is MUCH easier to clean and it does a better job of keeping the coffee in the pot as it bubbles to the top reservoir. With the others the coffee sometimes spewed out the side a bit. What we also notice with this one is that the inside does not change much or oxidize as previous makers did. Highly recommended!

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Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Hot Water System, Black/Stainless

Since we don't usually need a full pot of coffee except on weekends -I typically just grab a Starbucks "Via" instant coffee on the way to work in the morning (a pretty remarkable innovation, by the way) -I was attracted to the hot water dispenser on this coffee maker. I like it particularly because of its 58-ounce capacity -meaning that you don't have to keep refilling it if you're just using it once each morning to fill a car mug. My wife prefers tea to coffee, and she loves being able to get a cup of really hot water whenever she likes. (We fill it with spring water, and the results are superb.) I haven't had any problem with the "add water" light, as another reviewer apparently did. I was concerned about squandering energy by keeping a reservoir of water constantly hot, but it doesn't. It keeps only about 13 ounces of water at serving temperature; the rest of the reservoir is unheated. It doesn't take all that much energy to keep 13 ounces of water hot. And if you know you won't be wanting hot water for a while, you can just turn it off with the on/off button. I had expected it to heat water instantly through some kind of coil system -much like an under-sink unit does -but not so. As a result, if the unit hasn't been on, there's about a 3-minute wait for the water to reach the right temperature. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I wish the hot water dispenser were programmable in the way the coffee maker is, but it isn't. You have to start it manually. (No you can't use an outlet timer because the unit has an electronic on/off switch.) I also wish the hot water dispenser had a temperature adjustment (the coffee maker does); the water it dispenses is so hot that I have to wait for several minutes before I can drink any beverage I make with it. Finally, some Cuisinart coffee makers have a strength adjustment but this doesn't. But these are minor quibbles; it's still a great appliance. The coffee maker itself works as well as an automatic drip coffee maker can -always a function of trial-and-error at the beginning (what kind and how much coffee you use). It uses a cone filter (#4) -which in my humble opinion always delivers better coffee than the flat filters used in so many other coffee makers -including a lot of Cuisinart models -and the water is sprayed onto the coffee by a showerhead array in the reservoir lid. (Tip for review "Me2": Pour water into the coffee maker by putting the lip of the carafe on the rear LEFT corner and pour it in that way. It's a lot easier and you won't spill any.)

I looked at a LOT of different coffee makers before deciding on this model. Buying a coffee maker has to be one of the hardest things to buy. The problems come in because everyone has a different take on what coffee is supposed to taste like and unfortunately many of them are dead wrong. The most important thing for anyone that really enjoys coffee the way it is supposed to be made is that the water heats up to a sufficient temperature (greater than 190 degrees). This allows for the best flavor to be extracted from the coffee ground without that bitter taste that you get when the temperature is too low. Since most people don't know that you don't find that information in most reviews. I found that information in the good reviews for this product and it had an overall rating of 4.5 at the time that I purchased it but I was a bit concerned with some of the bad reviews. They pointed to things like the carafe leaking, the hot water dispenser side leaking or not functioning correctly, bad tasting water, etc. Well, I'm happy to report that I have not seen any of these problems.

Pros

1) Hot water dispenser heats water to 185 degrees. This is perfect for anything you might want to use it for.

2) The coffee maker side heats the water to about 200 degrees. This is GREAT for making a really good cup of coffee.

3) The coffee temperature allows the coffee too stay warm even after I add half & half.

4) The lid on the carafe is NOT hinged which means that it doesn't flop around when you're pouring and it doesn't have a flimsy hinge to break.

5) The hot water dispenser side is HUGE, much larger than it looks in the pictures. That is why I've uploaded some pictures with mugs sitting on it and my tape measure showing the actual size. It fits both very wide and very tall mugs.

6) The auto-off setting is adjustable from 1-4 hours. This is great for my mom who likes to brew a pot and drink it all morning.

7) The indicator lights on the hot water side that let you know when the water is ready and when you need to add water are great.

8) Indicator light lets you know when it is time to clean the unit.

Cons

1) I'm not really sure how much safer the safety lock is on the hot water side. Anyone that can reach the lever can EASILY slide that safety lock to the left.

2) This is a small nitpick but pointing out small things like this show how much I really like this coffee maker. In order to set the clock you switch the switch to Clock and then hold down the HR button until the time starts blinking. What else am I going to do while I have the switch set to Clock? Why do I have to hold down that button too? The only reason this actually bugs me is because if you hold it down a split second too long it will begin to change the hour. So if you only wanted to change the minute it can be annoying.

3) This is only a con at first. The first time you pour water into the coffee side the angle of where you have to pour it makes you feel like you're going to spill it. Not to worry though. The design of the carafe and the fact that the flipped up lid will catch the water if you go to far make it really easy. Just don't hesitate and you'll find that it is as easy as pie to pour the water in.

Finally, this thing makes a GREAT TASTING cup of coffee. I can't believe I finally have a drip coffee maker that I enjoy using. Prior to this any time I wanted a good cup of coffee I would break out my French Press.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I'll be glad to check it out and get back to you.

Buy Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Hot Water System, Black/Stainless Now

This machine was to make both the coffee hound and the tea lover in our family happy in the morning. Only one of us is happy.. No complaints at all with the coffee maker..

The hot water dispenser has a strong bad taste that I cant get rid of with repeated vinegar or the 1 cup of lemon juice suggested by the customer service representative.. She had heard my story many times before..

The taste is similar to drinking out of a garden hose. The customer rep assured me that the insides are stainless steel and not plastic. I think there may be some quality control issues...

Even if I could get the bad taste out, the dispenser will only release 16 oz of water for the 32 oz you must put into it. This leaves 16 oz to sit until the next day to be reheated when you add 16 oz of new water.

You must always put in 32 oz to get out 16 oz. If you put in any amount less than 32 oz, the "add water" light will come on after only 6 oz drawn out..The machine will not let you take more than this out--even thought there is plenty more inside of it.

Consequently the new water put in always mixes with the old water that is both stale and bad tasting. Who wants day old water that has the taste diminished further by reheating?

I see this as a big design flaw that requires you to take the entire machine to the sink, pull the very ergonomically incorrect and difficult plug out of the bottom and manually drain it... The manual tells you to do this if the water has been in the dispenser a week or more...

There always will be water in the dispenser a week or more.. yuck..

I say back to the drawing board with this item..

Not what I expected from Cuisinart...

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My last old Cuisinart bit the dust so I was in the market for a new one. I had also been in the market for a water kettle but really did not like the idea of having one more appliance on my counter top. When I checked out the Cuisinart web site to see what was new I was blown away by the idea of this coffee maker that also dispensed hot water!! I was so excited about it I had it sent overnight.

I have only had it for a day but oh what a wonderful cup of coffee I had this morning and right now I am loving the convenience of having hot water available for my tea drinking!

Pros: Everything!! In perfect working order and I was able to follow the manufacture's instructions on hot water without any problems at all! Best cup of coffee I have had even counting my old Cuisinart!

Cons: Only 1 negative so far. It is awkward pouring water into the coffee maker side and I guess I will need more practice at this to keep from splashing water all over everything.

So far extremely pleased with my purchase!!

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This is really a great unit. Coffee brews perfectly. As far as the water dispenser, mine works fine. It notices water levels etc. The only thing is that the water will start to smell bad (metallic) if it is left in the resevoir too long. I would say follow the instructions. It says to empty the water resevoir fully if you do not plan to run the water function for more than a week, or to store the unit. There is a drain plug on the bottom of the unit (who knew)... I drained it and refilled it, flushed a couple of times and the water is much better. No more metallic taste/smell... OK, Just an FYI...

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Vev Vigano Vespress Nero 3-Cup Espresso Coffee Maker OH

we've owned and used a 6-cup bialetti moka express for some years now. both the bialetti and vev vigano work the same way, but to my surprise coffee tastes much better on the vev. the bialetti is aluminum while the vev is stainless steel, so maybe it's because of the material. since this is a 3-cup, it makes the coffee faster, and unlike the bialetti, I can open it right after pouring the coffee using two kitchen clothes to clean and refill to make another cup. on the bialetti, I have to wait until it gets cold to be able to open it. I suppose aluminum expands more under heat than steel.

the only reason I am not rating this coffee maker five stars is that the gasket has melted a little bit onto the upper part of the coffee maker. this also happened on the bialetti but only if I left it by mistake on the stove longer than needed to make the coffee. I use the lowest heat setting that my stove allows and still I continue to see the gasket deteriorate. I think I'll have to replace it for another gasket which is more resistant to heat. I hope they seller has silicone gaskets for this model or regular rubber which can withstand heat better.

I would buy this product again because of the price and it was the size I was looking for. I bought it because I was looking for a stainless steel espresso maker. However, there is an odd laque in the water holder of this esperesso maker that slowly vanishes... which means it is basically coming out in your coffee. I am not happy about this, but because I am in obscure places in Africa i couldnt send it back. Except for this latter I am happy with the maker. Makes 2-3 shots of espresso (rather on the side of 2).

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I've been making espresso daily for 15 years with a machine, (Pavoni, Breville, Saeco) and when the last machine crapped out I decided to try a stove top maker. The coffee tastes fantastic, I didn't realize how weak my machine espresso had gotten. BUT, due to deterioration of the white rubber gasket after only a couple of days, it's extremely difficult to unscrew the bottom and top after making coffee, unless you do it right after. I run the pot under cool water then unscrew the parts. I've also been careful not to screw the top and bottom together too tightly. The gasket got crumbly and sticky, possibly to using medium-low heat on my gas stove. Perhaps this wouldn't have happened if I only used the absolute lowest setting which takes about 8 minutes to brew. UPDATE: Amazon was great about giving me a partial refund since I had a problem with the gasket. I ordered the silicone replacement gaskets after confirming with the seller that they are 2.5" in diameter, so they should fit. Other than the gasket problem, I would give this a 5 star rating. It's beautiful and well made and makes great espresso.

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Breville BWF100 Replacement Water Filters, 6-Pack

I absolutely love my Breville single cup coffee maker and I'm fairly religious about changing the filters since I do think good water is important to good coffee. When I put my last filter in the machine I automatically order another box. This time the experience was easy and quick, requiring practically no effort on my part -so much easier that locating a retail store and making a trip.

Easy to install in my Breville expresso. It's recommanded by Breville, so I use it.

Buying a 6-pack is conveniant, and it's a year's worth (2 month per Filter).

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My wife and I drink coffee on a daily basis.

We did not follow the original directions that stated we needed to replace the filters every 2 months or so...

Well recently wifey was drinking coffee and started complaining it tasted more like water then coffee...

I began to research and thought this would help...well low and behold, it did :)

THANKS TO THESE LITTLE THINGS

Read Best Reviews of Breville BWF100 Replacement Water Filters, 6-Pack Here

I think these cost too much.

I love my Breville BES900XL espresso maker but do not like that I need to pay so much for these filters.

They work fine and I am sure they are high quality.

I just think they cost too much.

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Like for so many other manufacturers, the replacement/wear items on machines are WAY more profitable than the original piece of equipment. These filters work as described but are TOO EXPENSIVE for what you receive. I couldn't find an alternative but will keep looking for one.

Vev Vigano Carioca Nero 3-Cup Espresso Maker

Every morning when I wake up and make a nice shot of espresso with this well built contraption, it makes me happy. It has an old-school authentic feel and reminds me how simple things can work incredibly well. Simple & great tasting brew.

PS I first purchased the 1 cup maker, which is tiny. The 3 cup is perfect to fill about 1/2 an averaged size coffee mug.

cheers!

I use this everyday and no issue with leaking or leeaching of aluminum. No need for a fancy electric expresso machine, you like coffee and this does the trick.

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The product works fine for espresso. I wouldn't say you are getting the highest quality with this, however it is functional.

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After our traditional Mr. Coffee espresso maker stopped working we decided to go the traditional route with the Vev Vigano Carioca Nero. I remember my parents using these when I was child therefore figured why not go this way for making espressos. With the many models out there we based our decision on price and number of shots it could produce. The results from the maker are pleasing particulary with the improved taste and boldness. As for output, we get approximately 2.5 cups each time. Not sure if this is expected but we cant seem to get a full 3 cups.

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The handle mechanism is not seated properly. You can see this by looking at the picture of it. Also, the top and the hinge for the top feel cheap to me. For someone you want to buy once, buy something a little nicer, IMO. The lid ball-handle and the handle itself are plastic. Not impressed.