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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trion Genuine OEM Replacement Pre-Filter 123324-008 (16x25)

DELIVERED TIMELY, ITEM AS DESCRIBED, AND PERFECT FOR MY FURNACE/AIR CLEANER THE ITEM IS TWICE THE SIZE OF THE ORIGINAL ONES WHICH CAN WITH THE INSTALL SO DONT HAVE TO GET ON MY KNEES TO PULL OUT THE SECOND HALF...GREAT. THEY ARE WASHABLE AND MADE OF METAL. THEY MAKE LIFE A LITTLE EASIER FOR ME. MONEY WELL SPENT AND A GREAT PRICE.

Koziol Coffee Machine

This coffee maker was a gift for a friend. She is older and wants to keep things simple, use her own coffee and filters and save on cost. This worked beautifully for her. She loves it. And with the color choices I was able to make sure it looked in keeping with her kitchen counter.

On short commuting mornings, it's great to get the coffee going quickly. Easy cleanup. Makes a great cup of coffee.

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Easy and affordable coffee making, NOT. $37 (at the time this review is written) for a coffee "machine" that doesn't have a pot, doesn't warm up the water and doesn't pour the water in the pot. How does that make it easy OR affordable when you can get a real coffee maker for half the price?!?!

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Breville BDC550XL The YouBrew Glass Drip Coffee Maker

I first started looking into expensive coffee makers when my wife said she wanted something more convenient. We had been using the Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder, Black, the Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp 1.7-Liter Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle and the Chemex Coffee Maker 8 Cup Classic to make our coffee. I can't say enough good about that combination of products and the quality of coffee it consistently produced, but it had its negatives, too.

We were timing up the usage of 3 different devices, it was a bit of a chemistry experiment to get the coffee/water ratio just right, there's definitely a (slightly difficult) technique when doing a pour-over method, and it required us to be standing there during the entire 15 minute-or-so process. Doesn't sound like a huge deal, but it was admittedly just too much work, especially when rushing around at 6am. We needed something to get the job done right semi-automatically and the Breville YouBrew fit the bill.

::::: SINGLE CUP :::::

The single-cup mode works great. You choose from one of many sizes, choose from 5 flavor settings and 7 strength settings (type of taste versus how much of the taste). I wish the sizes displayed the ounces instead of arbitrary "Regular" or "Extra Large". The booklet tells you how many ounces each of these settings are, but that seems like an unnecessary step.

::::: CARAFE :::::

I thought you could, just like with the single-cup, choose how much coffee you want to brew. You cannot. The carafe mode brews using every bit of water you currently have in the reservoir and uses the appropriate amount of beans for that amount. It's not a huge deal, but I initially thought the water reservoir was more like the bean hopper, holding excess and only using what you want. Not a big deal. You can only choose the strength setting, not the flavor profile as with the single-cup.

::::: FILLING :::::

The hopper only holds about .5 lb of coffee beans, but that's okay; it will ensure that you don't have old beans in the reserve. The hopper's lid has a nice air-tight seal to lock in freshness. The water filling door opens slowly to reveal an odd, unit-width cavity to pour water into. The only problem is, the opening to the actual 60 oz. reservoir is all the way on the right, making it a little difficult for right-handed people to pour into. Any excess water that pours to the left of the opening is caught in the cavity, but it doesn't slope down or anything, which means you need to tilt the entire unit to the right to get the water to fall in.

::::: WATER :::::

I didn't read the fine-print in the manual; you cannot use distilled water with this unit. It uses an optical sensor to detect how much water is in there, so it technically shouldn't be able to see truly distilled water (sensors like that can only see impurities in the water, not the water itself). It's too bad, really. Using "drinking" water means that there are impurities in there, like minerals and sediment, which add taste, albeit slight or even unnoticeable. It may be necessary, however, as 0-TDS (perfectly pure) water is actually corrosive to some materials, which means it would potentially eat the plastics and metals in the coffee maker.

::::: GRINDER :::::

I don't know all of the reasoning, but from what I understand, conical burr grinders produce the best grounds for extraction, and this has a ceramic one built right in. Breville has calculated the right ground size for this brewing method and grinds to that size. Some people are disappointed that you can't adjust the ground size, but I don't see a reason to. I figure they know the process better that me and I bought this for convenience, not modding.

Many people complain about the volume of the grinder. Make no mistake, it's VERY loud, but that's never an issue for me. It's only slightly louder than my Bodum grinder and it seems like a dumb complaint anyway. it lasts for like 15 seconds. Get over it.

::::: FILTER & BASKET :::::

The included metal filter is nice, I suppose, but I don't like it. It allows coffee grounds through to the coffee, which I hate. Luckily, you can use your own paper filters to avoid this problem. I use Melitta Basket Coffee Filters, Natural Brown (8 to 12-Cup), 200-Count Filters (Pack of 8) (recommended). I find that the paper produces a smoother, less bitter tasting coffee than the metal filter and hey, no grounds in my coffee!

The basket completely removes from the unit to dispose of the filter and clean it out. I love that it's completely removable. I'm a bit of a germaphobe (my dad is a microbiologist), so I understand the importance of thoroughly cleaning, rinsing and drying things like that between uses. Stagnant moisture attracts mold and bacteria... yuck. The thing I DON'T love about it is that the basket is actually kind of a pain to clean. The grounds really clump up each time and while they aren't hard to wash out, the filter basket has so many tight spots, small ridges, tiny ribs and slots that it's hard to physically scrub and dry. And you need to do this between every use. Even if you don't care about bacteria, if moisture and old grounds are in there, that will really mess with your next brew cycle.

::::: CARAFE & WARMING PLATE :::::

The glass carafe is just great. It pours very nicely, never spilling a drop. Many times, carafes dribble down the front as you finish pouring and this somehow completely avoids it. It also cleans easily, being mostly glass and having a wide mouth.

The warming plate kicks on immediately and runs for 2 hours after brewing (the display shows a countdown until it shuts off). You can't shut off the screen without shutting the unit and plate off; not a big deal, just saying. The plate is actually too hot for my taste. I guess I appreciate that it keeps it drinkably hot for so long, but it nearly cooks the coffee. One time in particular, we poured all coffee but a few ounces. Several hours later, the warming plate shut off but it was too late. The coffee was completely burned up, gone, just leaving a nasty, burnt film on the bottom of the carafe. Once again, the carafe is easy to clean, but I found that annoying. I often shut the unit off and just reheat the coffee in the microwave hours later, if need be.

I chose the glass version over the thermal version because many people said you need to preheat the thermal carafe as to prevent it from sucking the heat right out of the freshly brewed coffee. This makes sense to me. Thick metal with high heat-coefficients tend to absorb temperatures, either hot or cold. The glass doesn't do that and the warming plate helps prevent it even more. Also, many people say the thermal carafe pours poorly and I didn't want to deal with that. Also, the glass was cheaper. Can't argue.

::::: COFFEE TASTE :::::

I'm a pretty discerning coffee drinker and I've truly been spoiled with Chemex's amazing goodness. I didn't want to sacrifice taste for convenience with something like a Keurig, and this certainly avoids that issue. The YouBrew makes an amazing cup of coffee. Though I haven't compared them in person, I've seen a number of blind taste tests online comparing the YouBrew to other top-of-the-line brewers, like the Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Brewer With Thermo Carafe Technivorm 9587, and the YouBrew often comes out on top.

I haven't had a bad cup of coffee yet. It does the following to make sure it's always delicious:

Keeps beans fresh with air-tight hopper

Uses the "perfect" amount of beans every time

Grinds coffee just before brewing

Uses a quality burr grinder with optimal grind size

Maintains perfect brewing temperature water all the way through the process

Evenly distributes water over grounds with slotted channels in filter basket

Uses BPA-free plastics, stainless steel and glass all the way through the process

The YouBrew automatically grinds the "right" amount of coffee. You can certainly adjust the overall taste, though I'm not sure that affects the amount of beans being used or just changes the steeping time. You can choose your own amount of grounds by telling it you're using your own grounds (it doesn't grind anything and just trusts that you've put the right amount of coffee grounds in the filter). This allows you to put as much or as little coffee in the filter. I, personally, would never do this though. I trust that the experts that made it know more about brewing coffee than I do.

::::: CONVENIENCE :::::

I use the programming function to have it start making us coffee each morning. I simply set it to start each night and head to bed. It's as easy as hitting "PROGRAM" and then "START"; it remembers the time you last programmed it for, so it works all throughout the weekdays for us. The single-cup function is great for my wife when I'm away and she doesn't want to waste an entire pot of coffee. Cleaning, rinsing and drying the filter basket after ever use is honestly a pain, but it's still less "work" than many other options. For the most part, you occasionally fill the hopper, fill the water tank and press start. Very easy and mostly hands-free.

::::: VALUE :::::

My wife had suggested a Keurig for convenience's sake, but I didn't want to sacrifice on quality or price-per-cup. That stuff gets expensive. Even the most-versatile and advanced Keurig 2700 Keurig® Vue® V700 Single serve coffee system, 1, Black/silver is still lacking in many areas and costs just as much as the YouBrew. Using the YouBrew only uses just the right amount of beans and a $0.01 filter, giving us a huge bang-for-the-buck. That very quickly makes up the slight difference between the YouBrew and a high-end Keurig.

::::: OVERALL :::::

The Breville YouBrew is largely hands-free, allows you to adjust the brew strength (and even flavor in single-cup mode), and does each step of the brewing process inside one relatively large machine. Oh, and it makes a mean cup of coffee that rivals the best of the best coffee makers. While it's really expensive, it's actually much more cost-effective in the long run than even the most economical pod-makers. It accomplishes my family's goal of easily, automatically brewing delicious, snobbery-quality coffee. Despite a few caveats, I believe this to be one of the finest coffee makers on the market. I couldn't be any happier with my purchase!

The Breville YouBrew Glass Coffee Machine With Built-In Grinder is a very good coffee maker that enables you to be the master of your domain when it comes to easily and consistently making coffee just the way you like it. But being able to do so won't come cheaply. The retail/list price for this machine is $379.99, with the lowest internet price currently being $249.99.

You'll have to decide if spending that price is worth it to you in order to be in full control of your coffee. To be honest, while I like this benefit, I doubt if I would have spent $249.99 for it. Luckily, I received it for free from the Amazon Vine program.

The benefits of the BCM 550XL are many, including but not limited to:

...its Brew IQ System, which claims to automatically ensure that water is heated to the optimal temperature, then supplies, based on the settings you quickly and easily select, the correct amount for your selected brew size and strength. (More about this claim a little later in this review).

... Has an integrated burr grinder for maximum freshness, flavor & aroma.

...Provides a large, backlit LCD with brewing progress and water level indicator.

...You can choose between brewing up to 12 cups (60oz) of coffee with the glass carafe that is provided (along with its top-fill water tank with full-tank indicator) or brewing a single cup -ranging from regular to extra large cup (7.5oz) to travel mug size.

...Choose from 7 adjustable strength settings and from 5 adjsustable flavor settings (in Single Cup setting only)

...Has a programmable clock and Auto-Start feature

...Is very easy to clean.

While there are many benefits, be aware that this product has a few factors that might be of concern to you:

...The machine is very large (almost 17" tall) and takes up a substantial amount of room on your counter. Plus, before considering it, you should measure the amount of space you have under your cabinets to make sure it will fit.

...It is quite noisy during the bean grinding process.

...Despite the earlier claim, it didn't make the coffee quite as hot as I would have liked (although this might not be a problem for you unless you like your coffee very hot, as I do)

All in all, if you are a coffee lover and don't mind paying an above average amount of money for a very verstaile coffee maker, then the Breville BCM 550XL is a product you should seriously consider.

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I drink coffee everyday, usually 2x per day. I'm not super picky, I used to use a french press but after 2 kids and too much craziness my best coffee buddy is a single cup pod brewer. It makes a nice 16oz mug of perfect coffee for me in seriously about 1 min. When I saw this offered I jumped at the chance to try it out, as I said I love coffee and while I liked the convenience and speed of my pod brewer I really missed being able to adjust the flavor of my coffee or using different fresh beans, I thought this would be perfect and would also be great when my mom was visiting as she loves VERY VERY dark rich coffee.

I was right, and I was wrong. The good news is that this is a gorgeous coffee pot, yes it's large but it's extremely attractive and modern and since I don't need a separate container to store coffee beans or a grinder out on the couter with it it's actually a space saver. The coffee it makes is spot on. I can make a nice medium full bodied cup for myself and a cup of insanely dark deep flavored for my mom with the same beans. It's fairly easy to clean up and it's very easy to program and use. The problem for me is that it takes FOREVER (or maybe I'm just spoiled by my almost instant pod brewer) to make coffee. Even just making enough for one large mug takes ages. I've actually started it and then gone off to do something, checked on it and seen it was still brewing, gone off to do something else and actually forgotten about my coffee it takes so long (but at least it kept it nice and warm for me when I did remember LOL)

I think this pot is excellent for a crowd or if you have guests with different coffee tastes but unless you like a full pot each day and don't mind waiting around for it I'd stick with something faster and less expensive. This lives in my cabinet unless we have people over.

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I was interested in seeing if this pot would make coffee better than our cheap Wal-Mart coffee maker. In short, yes. Now I am not a coffee lover. For me it needs to be mixed in ice cream to be drinkable. But, my wife loves her cup of coffee, so I thought she would be the perfect tester. After setting it up she brewed herself a cup using a generic bean bought at Wal-Mart. Afterwords, she said that it brewed a better cup than you could get at Starbucks. I was definitely impressed.

Getting started took a little bit of time and can be intimidating. Trying to figure out the settings took a few tries. Make sure the first time you try to use it is not at 6 AM as you are trying to rush off to work.

With the choice of flavor settings and strength settings this will brew a cup of coffee to fit everyone's desires. I have read some of the other reviews and while it is true that you can adjust flavor and strength manually in any coffee maker; that will take a lot of trial and error. With the YouBrew just select the strength you want and it will grind the right amount of beans for that strength (more beans are ground for a stronger setting). The flavor profiles control the length of time the water is allowed to steep before dispensing.

While the machine is large; it is not unnecessarily large. Looking it over it did not appear to be overly bulky. Similarly priced models from competitors are this size. If counter space is an issue check the dimensions.

The noise level of the grinder could be an issue especially when you use the timer for an early morning cup of coffee. If the grinder is what wakes you up in the morning, then you may hate this machine. It is something you get use to, but the first few times it was startling.

I can see where the price would be an issue with some people, but if you look at the amount you may be spending buying coffee and the quality is as good, if not better, you will see that you will recoup the price of this machine within a couple of months. Also, the time saving of not waiting in line in the morning for coffee is a bonus.

I have been so impressed with this machine (I am a gadget guy) that I am trying to learn to like coffee. Now if they could make a machine that could brew me a perfect mug of beer...

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This is a good-quality, high-end coffee maker, but it is ONLY for people with a sufficient amount of counter space and for VERY discriminating coffee-drinkers.

*** ***

This Breville, #BDC 550XL, with a 12-cup, glass carafe is a beautiful but a bit pricey coffee grinder/ brewer that makes an incredible cup of coffee.

My roommates have owned their reliable Cuisinart for the past 15 years. And, it still makes a very good cup of coffee. The Breville, at least on the surface, looks to be a "big brother" to the Cuisinart.

Both sport a handsome stainless steel exterior, a digital display as well as a coffee bean grinder. This Breville which, admittedly, is 15 years newer, also comes with the following controls:

* 5 flavor settings

* 7 strength settings

* 3 dispense settings

* Electronic gauge (that tells how much coffee remains)

The Breville is noticeably heavy--and this is without the water and coffee. It is also a very large machine. By my measurements, it is 16" x 12.5" x 8.5." And, roughly 14 lbs empty.

The bean grinder is noisy. We have several of those portable, multi-function grinders. Those grinders work just as well and is considerably quieter. The bean grinder's noise was the only aspect of this machine that I really didn't like and I feel that it could have been constructed better. (While noise is a deterrent, having one of those portable grinders --for about $10-serves to grind fresh coffee beans more quietly and simultaneously extends the life of this machine, essentially kills two birds with one stone.)

I brewed my favorite coffee, Choc Full O'Nuts, and it was considerably better tasting than the old $30 coffee maker I was using up until recently. That robust flavor that has a slight chocolate aftertaste and rich aroma, reminded me what I missed about eating in downtown New York City.

I also appreciated some practical brewing instructions that I had never read before in regards to temperature setting and temperature lost. It most certainly makes a difference.

Construction. I'd have to say, the construction is very good. As I mentioned, it is made out of a very durable stainless steel body. The pre-ground coffee holder is made out of a thick rubber housing. And, the bean grinder has a bit of a weight to it and not one of those light, cheap-feeling jobs. Although, it is manufactured for home-use (and, I suggest that you have sufficient counter space and love for coffee) but this is so well-built that it borders on industrial quality.

Price. The price for this is roughly $250--with Amazon's fluctuationg price going south by $30-$50. I think with the reputable brands like Cuisinart, and Krups also making higher-end stainless steel coffee makers, a competitive price maybe for this quality at about $175-$200. Because this will last you, with care, a good 15 years.

So, with the exception of a very loud motor, everything else is very well made and the end result--a good cup of coffee--is achieved with this machine.

Breville, #BDC 550XL--4.5 stars.

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Bialetti Replacement Gaskets

I guessed that the 3-cup version was what I needed for our 4-cup stainless steel Bialetti pot, and luckily I was right. The gasket's outer diameter is 2.5 inches, and the ring is 0.25 inches wide.

It is the real deal, Bialetti product a package of 3 gaskets plus a replacement filter. A great deal at this price.

This came from J&R, and arrived in only a couple days with standard shipping. I'm totally, completely satisfied!

I'd give 5 stars since the current gasket has lasted forever but since Bialetti and amazon both are reluctant to provide sizing, I'm knocking it a star. I replaced mine since I now have to crank the pieces together firm enough I sometimes can't get it loose to prevent leaks.

As far as sizing, if a person were to go to espressoparts, they would find that the:

---3 cup gasket has measurements of: Outside Diameter: 64.75mm (2.54 in.); Inside Diameter: 50mm (1.96 in.); Thickness: 2.6mm (.102 in.) that's the vertical thickness and not the width of the gasket

---6 cup gasket: Outside Diameter: 72mm (2.83 in.), Inside Diameter: 55.5mm (2.18 in.), Thickness: 2.75mm (.108 in.)

---9 cup gasket: Outside Diameter: 80mm (3.149 in.), Inside Diameter: 63mm (2.48 in.), Thickness: 3.52mm (.12 in.)

So, if you're under the 3, it's probably a 1, if you're between the 3 and 6, I guess you maybe have a 4 cup. The measurements for coffee are all silly anyway as they use a 4-6oz as a cup in order to appear to increase the volume of their maker.

-Also, my 3 cup maker takes almost exactly 1/2 cup (118ml) of water to reach bottom of the safety valve. So, in Bialetti math, we can assume that they think around 40ml is an espresso cup. Hopefully that helps.

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I bought 3 new gaskets to replace the one in my Bialetti's 1 cup coffee maker.

As many here, I ended up buying the wrong ones :-(

No biggy, since I own different Bialettis in different sizes, but definitely a nuisance.

In order to avoid my mistake, I suggest you to go to the online Bialetti's store (Bialetti.com).

In the 'replacement parts' section, you'll find a very useful tool to determine which gaskets you need, based on some measurements.

Also it seems the prices are a little lower, but I'll leave this judgment to you...

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I've had an IKEA Moka pot for years and the two gaskets it came with finally wore completely out. A visit to IKEA for the allegedly available replacement gaskets was futile no stores actually carry them it seems so I took a chance that these seals would fit my 3 cup IKEA model. They are the tiniest bit loose, not enough to keep the pot from making a seal, and I'm thrilled to have found a source for these. I think my IKEA pot was $12 when I bought it and although that's cheap, I hated the idea of tossing it and getting a new one just for lack of a new gasket.

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To those listing these gaskets, please put this link on all of your listings to prevent us from ordering the wrong size: […]

Nowhere on these makers is there a # cup measure so we're guessing. I only found this link after the fact. Now I have to reorder and have an opened pack of wrong size gaskets.

Hamilton Beach 49970 Personal Cup One Cup Pod Brewer

*** Note 8/6/2012 So I'm finally able to update this thing, now that Senseo is starting to get some product in stock. A few things to note for those new to Senseo, their majority holdings from Philips were recently sold to Sara Lee I believe, and this caused a massive disruption in production and availability for the US, and thus Senseo brand coffee had been unavailable for several months. They have also made the decision to go to online-only shipping of their coffee, meaning you will not find Senseo coffee in stores anymore. The in-store alternative is the Melitta brand pods, which fit the Senseo maker, and should be sold in places such as WalMart. Personally, since Senseo has also increased their costs of their coffee (while also jerking their customers such as myself around for months), I won't really recommend the Senseo brand anymore. Decent coffee depending on your tastes, so you will have to decide what's worthwhile to you.

The review for this pod drip brewer will still stand, as it is still working just fine.

***

I love this little thing!

Originally, we had a very nice KitchenAid 10-cup Coffee Maker in our kitchen. It did its job very well, but for a long time I had been eying a Keurig machine. I'd had Keurig coffee in the past, and loved it. Looking at the machines, you'll quickly see how much of an "investment" it is. First, the machines are incredibly expensive; they make smaller models now, but even those start around $60-$70, and many don't have stellar reviews in terms of longevity. Next, the K-cups are also very expensive. Sure, you can buy the reusable thing, but if I'm going through that hassle, why do I even need a specialized brewer to begin with? It may work fine for some people's lives, but in my own, I wanted a machine that eliminated the mess and hassle of measuring quantities and looking for the "perfect brew".

I purchased the Hamilton Beach Personal Cup One Cup Pod Brewer on a whim; it was on sale, and figured, what the heck, I'll try it.

When I first plugged the thing it, and poured some water in the back to cycle through, it immediately spattered at me. Apparently, it can turn itself on when you first plug it in (I've purchased 2, and both did it out of the box, but haven't done it since).

I'm not gonna lie, this isn't some super durable machine; its cheap plastic, but unless you're planning on tossing it across the room, it should get at least a few years life out of it. I've had our machine for about 5 months now (wow time flies), and use it daily without any problems. My wife, whom was always timid of making coffee with our KitchenAid, now likes to make coffee for herself, and sometimes for me as well to start off the morning (tell me THAT isn't worth $20). The Senseo pods are cheaper than K-cups, especially if bought in bulk.

On to the product itself, it looks sleek, but pretty unimpressive. I don't know about you, but that's perfect for my kitchen; every inch of counter-space should be cherished, and this has freed up quite a bit, not to mention the visual space as its half the height of my old coffee maker as well.

Its a simple one-touch operation. To make a brew, slip in a Senseo pod (or 2), add some water to the back, put your mug under the spout, and press the large button on front. That's it.

As for the taste, well that's really a personal preference. I like mild, smooth coffee, which this really delivers. I liked the medium blend (a pack is included free) so much, I ordered a huge box of it! I use a small cup of water (approx 6-8oz; I recommend using filtered water), and one pod, but the machine accommodates 2 if you like it a little more "bold" or have a slightly larger mug (keep in mind, no large mugs will fit in the spout). We received a 6-piece mini-mug kit for Christmas, and those have been perfect for making a small little cup to start the day (it also limits my coffee intake, and I've been good with sticking to it).

Yes, this machine isn't anything fancy, but it does its job day in day out with no issues, and works so well that we replaced a very expensive machine, and we haven't looked back. It worked so well, we ordered one for my parents at their request they were so impressed with it.

If you have a large household of coffee drinkers, this may not be the way to go, but the good thing is it only takes 30 seconds or so to make a cup of coffee, and you can personalize each cup. It would make an excellent personal coffee maker at the office as well. Amazon has a pretty decent selection of Senseo pods as well. If you prefer to buy in-store, Target usually carries the Senseo pods, but doesn't have much of a selection, depending on the store.

As a side note The medium blend goes really well with Internationl Delight: Carmel Macchiato Creamer (don't get the skinny though, that's pretty...unimpressive). Have it practically every morning; their Chai Latte is pretty good too.

***Edit 10/7/2011***

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Just wanted to say that this coffee maker is still brewing coffee just fine, haven't had a single issue with it yet so far. Still have the daily routine of small cup of coffee with International Delight: Carmel Macchiato creamer, its just such a great way to start the day I don't need to mess with it.

One other note I will mention is that since I have recently started composting, I have found that the coffee pods are perfect for composting! After use, just throw 'em in the bin, that's all there is to it. Not everyone composts, but figure for those that do, it will be good to know; less waste, and the perfect component for growing plants (you could technically just stick a few in the ground and it helps to neutralize the soil Ph; Gardenias love having coffee grounds in my alkaline soil from my experience).

My Senseo finally died and I didn't feel like buying a new one. A friend told me about this little one cup coffee maker that uses Senseo coffee pods so I bought one. So far it works like a gem. Sure it's a bit "plasticy" and cheap feeling but it makes me a mug of coffee on demand and is letting me use my collection of various Senseo (and other) coffee pods. A small mug is the largest you can fit under the spout so be forewarned about not being able to use a tall mug. Device allows for one or two pods. I'm pleased with it.

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I bought this coffee maker for myself for Christmas because I wanted a single serve maker, but I didn't want to pay the money for a Keurig. Imagine my surprise when I got a Keurig from my husband for Christmas....but I also got this. So we set up the Keurig and I put this away. Shortly after Christmas my grandfather who lives with me entered his final journey with cancer. I moved into his apartment to care for him 24/7, and I opened the Hamilton Beach so I could make a quick cup of coffee during the night while sitting up with him. I was shocked to discover that this little $20 coffee pot makes just as good coffee as my $150 Keurig.

1. It doesn't brew as fast as a Keurig that is "ready to go"...but it takes the same amount of time to brew a cup of coffee as a Keurig that has been "off" over night and you have to wait for the water to heat up. In my opinion, it is still faster than brewing a "traditional" pot of coffee.

2. I don't like really strong coffee, so if I'm using a smaller mug I can get away with using 1 pod of medium roast coffee. I've read some reviews of people who think 1 pod is too weak...I think that is a taste preference, and also depends on if you are using more water for a larger mug or not. Just my opinion and not a criticism of people who like really strong coffee. If you like coffee really strong, then 2 pods of medium roast might not work for you. Hard to say. :)

3. The pods are cheaper than a Keurig. We use this coffee maker along side our Keurig, and it helps us to save a little money by alternating machines. Both make good coffee, but each machine's coffee tastes different...this tastes more traditionally brewed than our Keurig. I know that might sound odd, but that is the only way I can describe it (and if someone else knows that I'm talking about and knows the answer to this mystery, I'd love to hear it!) Because of the taste difference, I prefer flavored coffees on this machine rather than the Keurig for some reason. Again..not sure why, but I do.

All in all, this holds it's own against a coffee maker 5 times the price. For someone who is looking for a single serve without the single serve price, this is a really good coffee maker!

Read Best Reviews of Hamilton Beach 49970 Personal Cup One Cup Pod Brewer Here

First, I bought this item at Walmart on clearance. Bought one for $10 intending to take up to the office. Our hot water spout on our water cooler at home (yes, it's that bad here) went out and this has replaced it. I ended up buying a second later at $9 (both included the free bag of pods) for the office since we're keeping the first one at home. My wife and I use it almost daily to make coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. We interchange the tea bag for a coffee pod (depending on the tea, I will either leave the bag in my cup or actually use the basket) and have great results. I prefer using this over the microwave for hot water as it doesn't take much longer and stays hotter longer. It's quick, efficient, and easy to clean. Hot chocolate will splash up on the basket if you put it in the cup first, so be warned. We've been using them for about three months with no problems. Here are my main talking points:

1. Single cup reservoir: you get about 8oz from a single brew and have to fill it up each time. This, to me, isn't that much of a problem as we keep it near our water cooler and I can get a 16oz cup of water from the breakroom at work to get me through the morning. I plan on buying a water jug for the office and will keep a gallon or so handy at my desk and just refill as needed. All in all, this is not a deal breaker for me although more expensive models have larger tanks (and a bigger footprint). For those making cups to go, this may not be the best option as you would want to brew two cups to get what you need.

2. Quick: thing brews quickly doesn't take any time at all. I actually find that it's done before I'm ready to drink most days. It's also no louder than any other coffee maker that I've found although I'm referring primarily to the 8 or 10 cup machines here never had a personal one.

3. Inexpensive: for my take, it was a test to see how much I like having a personal brewer. For the $10 I spent, I got 18-36 cups out of it (yes, I reuse my pods for a second cup sometimes... not terribly strong cup of coffee but I'm kind of cheap :o), get a $1.00 off coupon for the next bag of pods in store, and can even get another free bag for registering with Senso online (hello dummy email account!). So, for $10 it was a worthwhile investment and turns out, I love having a single cup brewer.

4. Works: it's not as fancy as the other makers you can buy, just fill it up and press the tab to get your cup started. Coffee comes out hot in no time, and you're ready to go. I can see maybe wanting some of the other features but, for the most part, this simple functioning machine does exactly what I need.

5. Versatility: As I said, we make coffee, tea, and hot chocolate in this thing. We put a tea bag in place of the coffee pod or just leave it in the cup to brew as the water comes down. For me, it depends on the tea and what I'm doing. For instance, when making a chai latte I will brew the bag in the cup and leave it for a few minutes, then add sugar and milk. Wonderful as going to the coffee shop. Also, it's got a small footprint that makes it easy to store doesn't take up much room in our small kitchen or my desk space at work (cubicle environment). I use an extension cord at work but that is mostly due to where outlets are, and you can tuck away extra chord inside the machine if using close to the plug.

I give it five stars because it meets or exceeds all my expectations make sure you know what you want out of it and you will be pleased. This works GREAT for someone like me, with minimal expectations who just wants coffee on demand without the budget for the top tier makers. Even at $20, I think this is a great deal. Check Walmart first though never know what you'll find!

Side note: I'm still looking for a reusable pod for this to save money on pods (UPDATE: we're considering buying an Ecopad tried product link but couldn't find the product we're actually looking at and it's difficult to know which is which so we haven't pulled the trigger)$5 gets you 18 pods. I reuse each day so not terrible, but as stated I'm pretty cheap.

12/16/2011 UPDATE: my wife purchased a Keurig B40 model at Walmart as an anniversary present for me so I can compare the two units a little bit. I will say that the K-Cups make a great cup of coffee (got 12 in the box with the machine) but I'm still not a fan of the waste. We have EcoBrew reusable cups arriving today or tomorrow from Amazon for it. My initial thoughts: this maker moves faster the Keurig takes 4 minutes to warm up. This unit is also quieter and has a MUCH smaller footprint. Keurig has a reservoir (48oz) which is nice but still has to be filled every few days. Also, the B40 has a small cup and large cup size why would I make a small cup if I can get a large cup out of it (remember, I'm cheap)? Larger setting is nice for travel cups though, and I found that the K-Cups are also reusable. I can get a couple small cups out of one cup or one large and a mediocre small. Still not a fan of the waste they produce though. Once up and going the Keurig actually makes faster. We've still go the other though, and I don't see us getting rid of it. I'll still use my other daily at the office as well. All in all, I personally feel like this little maker is on par with the $75 Keurig as far as what it produces in the end, just doesn't provide all the various options.

12/24/2011 UPDATE: We decided today that the Keurig is going back to the store for a refund in favor of the Hamilton Beach We're going to try the the Ecopad and maybe home made options. I'll report back in a few weeks on how it goes.

3/8/2012 UPDATE: I no longer use the Ecopad. I found it more difficult to use because the cap is a separate piece and it has to be cleaned out after every use. We've taken to following another reviewer's tip: I get a filter for a small pot (maybe a 4 cup or less if available), add coffee (1tsp to 1tbls depending on your preference), and create a sack by twisting the top. I don't cut the excess off I prefer to push it down to the side to ensure it doesn't open. If you overfill it, it will force it open and you'll have hot water and coffee all over the place. This has been the most effective method so far, and the least costly. We also use the Senso pods.

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I love my little Hamilton Beach one-cup coffee maker. No, it's not the absolute best cup of coffee I've ever had, but as a casual coffee drinker who doesn't really drink more than one cup at a time, it's perfect.

It did take several cups before I figured out how to make a good cup. I almost sent it back after the first couple cups. However, I found that if you make sure the edges of the coffee pod make a good seal in the bottom of the basket, it greatly improves the quality. Otherwise, the water runs around the pod and you get a VERY weak cup of coffee. I've heard pre-wetting the coffee pods helps, but I don't usually worry with that step.

Since figuring out how to make a good cup with the machine, the quality has been both consistent and good. I've had it for about a month and am getting ready to order my second bag of coffee pods. I would recommend to the casual coffee drinker.

Mr. Coffee GTF2-1 Basket-Style Gold Tone Permanent Filter

This makes delicious coffee. I was skeptical that I would have plasticy or metallic tasting coffee with a metal basket, but my coffee has never had such a warm woody taste since I started using the basket. cleaning is a little hard since I have to spray all the coffee out of it with the faucet hose, but it is worth the landfull space for me to spray a little bit. also keeps from filling my valuable cabinet space with a huge box of filters, and not to mention the hassle of separating them every time I want a fresh pot!

this filter is magnificent, and much better than the cheaper ones which my friends have gotten and had metallic tasting coffee.

This definitely improves the taste of the coffee. I've always heard that traditional filters suck up some of the flavoring oils from the coffee, but after trying this I am convinced. I have a 10-cup Mr Coffee, and it fits perfectly -almost as if this filter were made for it.

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The service was good, prompt and communication was also good about the shipping. The filter works well. we were hoping for a filter that had mesh on the bottom of the filter as well as the sides. We couldn't tell from the photo if that was the case. The filter does have a solid plastic bottom so we were a bit disappointed. The filter does fit our Mr Coffee coffee maker and that is the important piece. We are satisfied with our purchase though not delighted.

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This filter came free with my new Mr. Coffee. Walmart sells coffee filters 100/$1, that's about 500 to 1000 paper filters depending on your final cost for this filter. I've used a similar one before. It can last over 5 years, and it usually dies when the mesh cracks from age and repeated use.

Pros

It makes a slightly stronger brew because the filter allows more oils through and in the longer run, one saves buying paper filters. Its greener to use it, since its less paper and trash for land fills.

It has a flat plastic sealed bottom, so the coffee is forced to strain to the sides, slowing the transit of hot water through the grinds like that of a paper filter.

Cons

Cleaning. You'll use water, time and effort rinsing this filter, after tapping out the grinds.

Less grinds. The filter is smaller than the removable cup so it has less volume as a paper filter. Using 4 measures of ground coffee cause my grinds to overflow past the plastic filter and into my coffee pot.

To clean it easier, I leave the grounds in the filter to dry out. I tap the inverted filter directly on a trash can or plate, and nearly all comes off as a lump or flakes out. You can wash off the rest. Its not any more a problem that cleaning a french press.

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This is a great filter! I've had it for about a year, and use it at least once a day. I wash it by hand most days (which is very easy to do) and wash it in the dishwasher about once every two weeks, and it's still in great condition. The mesh basket drips well, and yet I have never had a coffee ground in my cup since using this.

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