Capresso 153.04 C3000 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center, with Pump-Auto Cappuccino System

[T]he C3000 has the most effective auto-frother I've ever seen. You just fill a detachable plastic container partway with milk, plug it into the milk feed, and press a button for frothed milk. An adjustable plastic valve lets you control the milk/steam ratio to adjust frothiness. Since it's a 2-boiler system, you can run the steamer immediately before or after (but not during, presumably due to power constraints) espresso preparation. My only complaint is that you can't effectively use the steam wand to just steam milk because it is too short and not height-adjustable. With my Magic Deluxe, I can use the steam wand to make hot chocolate, or simply to heat my steamed milk to the temperature I want. With the C3000, if you don't get the milk temperature right the first time, you have to microwave it. Running it through the forthing system again doesn't work because it will scald the milk and also leave a bunch of foam behind in the milk container.

I was also disappointed that the system can't be plumbed in. There are semi-automatic machines ...that can be plumbed in. Also, it has a vibration pump, rather than the rotary pump used in almost all commercial machines and some...semi-commercial machines.

That said, though, the quality of the espresso it produces still compares quite favorably with what I've gotten from commercial equipment. Making espresso is trivial, involving only pressing a button and waiting. Every factor except the water pressure can be controlled to your liking, and the automatic cleaning and descaling cycles are easy to use, once you figure out how to read the manual.

If you want a machine that every coffee drinker in the house can use to get top quality espresso, and aren't too picky about price, this is the machine for you. If you want to economize a bit (and don't mind learning frothing techniques), get the Saeco Magic DeLuxe. Don't buy the Capresso C1000, though. Despite the similar name, that machine is far inferior to the C3000, and also inferior to the Saeco Magic DeLuxe, in my opinion.

As advertised, this machine is a marvel of automation, with coffee and espresso available at the touch of a button. The unit cleans and monitors itself. It's really quite easy to use; there is a helpful video included with it. The coffee is "crema coffee" which is very flavorful; devotees of drip coffee may find it a bit stronger than what they're used to. Everything is customizable and programmable.

If you've had espresso/cappucino machines before, you know that the milk frothing is a total inconvenience. Not so with the c3000; just hook up the included milk container to the steam arm and you have LIMITLESS steamed milk. Great for hot chocolate (or Cafe and Coco)......

The only downside is that there is more plastic used in the construction of the unit than I would expect given the rather staggering price.

Enjoy....you deserve it!

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If you're like me you're probably thinking "HOW MUCH for a *&%$ cappucinno machine???? You've got to be kidding me." The fact of the matter is that it's worth every penny to me. You see, I'm a Starbucks addict, an affliction that I probably figure costs my wife and I upwards of $10/day, or, should I say, used to cost us $10/day.

I'm a little bit of a coffee snob, and have 3 cappuccino machines sitting in my garage gathering dust. The problem was, THEY ALL (...). Really. Way too much time to make a latte, a huge mess, and it NEVER TASTED quite right. If you're reading this, you know what I'm talking about.

This machine does it all. It grinds, it taps, it brews, and it makes PERFECT latte's (yes, just like Starbucks). There's a small canister that holds the milk that you can keep in the fridge. When you want to steam, pull it out of the fridge, plug it into the machine, and that's it. When it's all said and done, I don't think it takes me more than 3 minutes to set up, make 2 lattes, and clean up. Between the time I save schlepping to Starbucks AND the $10/day, I'm way ahead of the game.

Besides, you can knock out cappuccino for yourself and a half dozen of your snobby friends in less than 10 minutes!!!!

If a coffee house quality drink is important to you and you don't want to end up with one more useless machine, bite the bullet and buy something you'll be happy with.

The ONLY negative I can possibly think of to say about this machine is that I figured that for as much as they were charging for this machine, the thing should probably have been in some sort of cool looking brushed metal or copper, not plastic (the picture makes it look like metal, at least I thought it did).

Hope this helps.

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This machine does it all one team at work invested in one, and they're the caffeinated pride of the office. However, don't compare the coffee as "just as good as Starbucks". Assuming you don't use Starbucks's 30'-overroasted beans, this machine will make coffee that's BETTER than Starbucks. Trust me there are enough coffee choices here in Seattle for me to judge. :)

In short, though, excellent investment.

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I am totally blown away at how great a cup of coffee or cappucino this machine makes! It rivals the best that you have ever had, in either Italy or the best restaurants in the world, it simply doesn't get any better. And it is so cool to use! Just push a button and have a perfect cup! It is so technologicaly cool, it puts a smile on your face. It adds such a sense of enjoyment to mornings and after dinner. I will probably use this device more than any other appliance or gadget I own, which makes the cost look that much more reasonable. Ain't life wonderful!

Nespresso CitiZ D120 Automatic and programmable Espresso and Lungo Machine w/Frother, Black

Pros

Great tasting espresso.

Very simple to use (you press a single button).

No cleanup (except for rinsing out the frother after use and emptying the used pod bin once a week).

Cons

The volume of espresso that comes out is surprisingly small, so I have to use two pods in order to get the coffee flavor I desire. So now the cost per cup is over a $1 and getting closer to what I pay at Starbucks.

The volume of the milk is also fairly small. The container looks large enough but you can only fill it about 25% full because it will overflow. And even then it's not enough to fill my grande cup. So I have to froth two loads.

Can't use a coffee of your choice such as locally made, you have to use Nespresso pods. And since I only drink decaf I only have 3 choices, and only 1 of those, the intense (rated 7) is bold enough. The other two decaf pods are too mild. And don't think you can fill an empty pod with your own ground coffee. I thought I could get that to work but there is no way because of the way the pods are sealed and the pressure involved, unlike a simple pod coffee maker like a Keurig.

Someone mentioned the espresso was not hot enough but I'm finding I burn my tongue. I always pre-heat my cup by running a long coffee without a pod inserted. This also heats up all the mechanism and cleans the nozzle too.

I am finding myself using this appliance on the weekends and for my daily coffee I'm still going to Starbucks to get that bold flavor I crave. It's convenient on the weekends because I don't have to leave home to get my espresso. We were using an older model Gaggia and making our espresso old-school way. This certainly tastes much better and is so simple. Hope this helps someone.

I purchased this as a used item and found that it was actually new--a great buy for $100 off the $299 regular retail price. The box had apparently been opened, but the trial capsules were still in the box. I am a coffee geek and also own another superautomatic machine. I purchased this one as a travel machine for trips to see the grandkids, since it is compact, and for its frother. The design is beautiful and seems well constructed, although it has more plastic than I anticipated.

The frother works just as advertised. In a little over a minute you have one large serving of hot milk with foam that requires a spoon! That is a good thing. The frother is also almost silent, another bonus. If you like very warm milk, you may need to nuke it for 15 seconds in the micro.

The espresso machine has one weak point for American "supersize" tastes. I like at least a 12 oz Americano or Latte with a lot of strong coffee flavor. I do not usually drink pure espresso. To get that I need to use 2 capsules. That is expensive. The coffee flavor is good, with a decent crema on top.

Watching You-tube I found a demo on how to re-fill the metal capsules very easily. Simply slice around the thin foil top, empty the capsul, refill and wrap thin foil over the top. You can usually get two more uses from a used capsule. I also purchased the disposable plastic caps, they are only about 2-3 stars in my opinion. So by refilling, the 75 cent new capsules become more affordable. I read that patents on this machine are expiring this year, so maybe other suppliers will get into the capsule business, thus lowering the price.

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Best of the best. Thats all I need to say. And the quality of the coffee and the quick ease of ordering from Nespresso makes it no issue at all.

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A few thoughts about my purchase:

1) Espresso is fantastic: thick crema made possible by a 19 bar pump

2) The milk frother is excellent: very thick and fine. I could not achieve this level of froth with previous machines with steam wands

3) Selection of pods is pretty vast. Limited editions are available ~once a quarter. Quality is excellent this view is confirmed by my brother-in-law, who is a coffee broker

4) Some cities has boutiques where you can purchase pods. If not, online shipping is very quick

5) Both espresso maker and frother are well thought out designs and easy to operate. Materials seem robust.

So far nothing negative to report. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase.

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Received it as a wedding gift. Husband and I drink a lot of coffee. We usually pay anywhere from $3-5 for coffee from coffee shops. With this machine alone, in the past 9 months it has paid for itself.

Pros: So very easy to use. Clean up is also easy. Machine can self-clean after each espresso is made with a single push. End product tastes great!!! Espresso is hot but not burn your mouth hot. I still feel that coffee shop espresso and lattes taste better, however this machine does come pretty close. We add sugar free flavored syrups and chocolate to our lattes and they taste great!

No problems with the machine after 9 months and almost daily use.

Cons: Frother has to be handwashed (I'm lazy). Capsules are about 50-60 cents each online and regular stores (target, walmart, whole foods) do NOT carry them.

Overall: Overall great machine! You can save a lot of money in the long run if you use this machine daily vs going to a coffee shop. Would recommend trying it out first, I think crateandbarrel, williams sonoma and sur la table do have the machine and will let you try the espresso.

Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder

I've been drinking coffee for years now and know a good cup from bad. I bought this unit after doing lots of research online and going to local stores and inspecting the grinders up close. I found that most machines in this price range are using ABS plastic where the burrs are located. This to me is a big NO NO and a huge red flag. The ABS will break. This unit uses nylon or UHMW plastic at first glance. These plastics are more ductile and will last. Being a machinist, i am very picky with build quality. The burr set is conical and looks to be Stainless Steel or somesort of hardened steel. Nonetheless, both good options and the burrs look very nicely built. They have been machined and ground and look a lot like burr sets you'd see in units that are 2-3 times the price. The outside of the machine is wrapped in rubber and looks nice. The top hopper is a clear plastic, but seems strong, especially where it matters (the point where it meets the machine). The container receiving the grind is GLASS wrapped in rubber. This is great!! No static, which means, NO MESS! My first attempt at a burr grinder was poor. I just bought something from the local superstore without any research. It had flat burrs and rotated at the speed of sound, or so it seemed. Everything was plastic and grinds flew everywhere. Hated that thing!

I'd say the only thing that may bother some, is that the timer goes 20 secs. Now for me this is more than enough, but for others its not nearly the time they would need. Bodum recommends after 1 20sec run to leave the machine idle for 5 mins to prevent the motor from overheating(i read the manual). I thought this would be an issue for me, but my daily use only requires a 10 sec run at a time which delivers about 1/2 the jar or enough grind to yield about 3-5 cups(my small french press is 3cup capacity, which is really 1 mug). I am not grinding for espresso and have not tried the finest setting yet, but intend to and wish i had to make this review more complete, but my results so far are very consistent and from what i can see im sure itll do a fine enough grind for espresso and if not, im sure it can be modded easily enough to provide. I plan to start into the world of home espresso extractions, but not at this time as im still experimenting with other methods.

Also if you were to use for espresso, it looks to me that you could easily remove the bottom jar, pop the portafilter in place(obviously holding it) and run the machine. The grind should fall nicely into the portafilter.

UPDATE (JAN 10/2011): I'm still using my grinder after 2-3 months and I still love it! I've started grinding for espresso with great results. Glad to see that most everyone is as content as I am with this little guy! Clean up is a breeze, and its never once clogged up on me personally, although i read one review where someone said theirs did. Happy Grinding!

UPDATE (April 2012): Grinder is still working great. I have some concerns. The glass jar has a very thin bottom and if your using anything other than a softer utensil, will break. I found a small hole in mine after a lot of use with a spoon. I've since been using a wooden spoon. My fix for this hole was tape.

My espresso 'machine' up to this point has been a Presso. The bodum at its finest setting works great with the Presso. Any finer and you'd never be able to pull a shot without breaking the Presso (which i've done). I've since bought a machine and with the pressurized basket the grind is consistent enough and fine enough to yield good results. Since I enjoy tweaking equipment to some degree, my next step is a single walled basket and bottomless portafilter. The bodum will in my opinion not grind fine enough for this set up. I have a hario mini for now, but looking to buy a more expensive grinder for espresso. The bodum will be for drip and french press which I believe it does a great job at. One thing about the bodum as compared to more expensive units is the bodum is quite light in comparison. I feel if the bodum was a heavier machine with more use of metals rather than plastics, it could probably be set up to grind finer and be a wonderful machine overall. But at this price point this is what you get, and for the money, it does a nice job.

One other thing, I roast my own beans and when I first started roasting the bean consistency was not perfect due to the method. This resulted in the bodum actually skipping during operation. I stopped it quickly enough as to not destroy it, but was a little alarmed. Now that I've changed my methods for roasting, the beans are always consistent and the bodum grinds them no problem.

UPDATE Dec 2012: I still use the bodum daily. It is a superb grinder for the money and I am glad it has served me so well. I tested the bodum against the Hario Mini and my friends Baratza Virtuoso grinder and found that even though the Hario and Baratza will grind finer, the bodum produces the most consistent grind, hands down! Considering the Baratza is triple the price I'd say I was quite surprised. You can get finer grind from the bodum, but I don't take any responsibility for anyone modifying their machine. I took the top burr out, and found that there are two tabs (plastic section that houses the burr) that sit on the threaded section of the bottom burr which allow for the grind settings. You will notice 2 beveled edges. If you sand these down slightly the top burr will come closer to the bottom burr. I took measurements before starting with calipers and started working from there. This does work well, just be careful as moving the burrs closer could cause them to rub against each other.

Hi. I've never done a video review before, so forgive me if I ramble or go off-topic. Feel free to skip through to any parts you think are relevant. I run the grinder for the first time about halfway through the video. The first half of the video is spent explaining why I bought a new grinder, and what I hope to get out of it (less mess, less noise, consistency in the grind.) Without giving away the surprise ending (there is no surprise), I can simply say that this is the best burr grinder I have ever owned. It is also only the second burr grinder I have ever owned, so I'm no expert :) Although, I was a barista for a couple years, and I can tell a quality grinder when I see it.

Cheers, peace, etc.

*EDIT* Having used the grinder every day since I received it (and sometimes twice daily), I feel I can now comment on its practical features. Although the grinder seems to create more static/dust when set to a more coarse grind (still negligible static compared to my old burr grinder), the lid on the glass grounds container does a good job of keeping the dust inside the containernot all over my counter. I love the consistency of the grind. No matter the setting, all the grounds seem to be of equal size, which means less sediment in my French press! The machine is also noticeably more quiet than any other grinder I have encounteredburr or otherwise. The twenty second timer fills up about half the grounds container, which is perfect for a 7-8 cup setting on my drip machine. All in all, I would still give it five stars. So I got that going for me, which is nice. Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder, Black

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When the magic smoke trailed out of my ancient Krups blade grinder, I knew I was going to bite the bullet and buy a burr grinder to replace it. Reviews led me to the Bodum Bistro, so now I'll share my thoughts as well.

I make coffee one cup at a time using a Melitta cone filter basket that sits on top of my coffee mug. If you have thus far avoided the hype that is single-cup coffee brewing machines, take the money you've saved and get yourself a one-cup filter and this grinder instead. A few experimental runs led me to the coarseness (just finer than drip) and time (7 seconds) required to grind exactly as much coffee as I need for a single cup. Now I leave the settings as they are and only have to push a button in the morning. I find that a pound of coffee lasts me longer now than it did when I was using the old Krups.

In a nutshell:

Pros:

Even grind with less dust and sediment around the work area

Acts as coffee bean storage

Makes more efficient use of the beans

Identical results every time

Glass catcher and plastic lid keep grounds under control

Small footprint and attractive design

Cons:

Stays on the counter all the time

Hopper doesn't quite hold a full pound of coffee

Settings are awkward to change if you need to change them often

Relatively small capacity per grind

Rubberized exterior requires frequent cleaning collects dust from the kitchen (flour, etc.)

If you make a full pot in a 12-cup drip machine every morning, this probably isn't the burr grinder for you. However, if you're a French press or one-cup drinker, I haven't seen a better grinder on the market to meet your needs.

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As others have mentioned in their four and five star reviews, this thing has a flaw. The max time in can run is 20 seconds and then you have to wait 5 minutes to run it again or risk motor burn out. Well I use a manual drip coffee cone most of the time. We also have a french press and espresso maker. I grind six scoops of beans for our carafe. It takes ~30 35 seconds to grind the six scoops so I have it set to 20 seconds. I grind for 20 sec, wait 4-5 minutes and then grind the rest. Waiting to grind is no fun. Why did they design this thing to run only 20 seconds every 5 minutes? This is annoying. Otherwise I have no complaints. I have used it twice so far. The mess is minimal and the grind is very even. It grinds so much better than the blade grinder we have been using for years.

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I have researched these things for hours before deciding to buy this unit. Here are my findings:

There are three units that were in the running (ordered by price):

a. Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder (the unit on this page and the one I ultimately bought and am very happy with) $89.99

b. Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder $199.99

c. Rancilio ROCKY Rancilio Burr Grinder with Doser $359.99

Now, if price is not an issue, by all means go with the Breville BCG800XL (really can't go wrong with that one). Also, notice that all of these are burr grinders (blade grinders are NOT the way to go) and all are excellent machines; all other machines researched under $400 have serious drawbacks trust me I've done the research.

Okay, now let's take a look at each one.

--a. Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder, Black this is an excellent unit all around and the one I bought:

- Grind:

Very consistent and perfect size for drip on drip setting; I have tried this with a drip coffee maker and it is excellent. Some say that it can't quite match the best machines out there for a cappuccino grind (i.e. very very very fine for very very picky machines) but I do not have a cappuccino machine and so this does not really concern me all that much.

- Mess:

Awesome, no mess at all. The glass catcher reduces the static on the grinds so that they do not jump (no idea how some complain about mess); no mess here.

After catcher is removed, no excess coffee spills out.

- Noise:

Not very loud at all; I thought it would be louder. Two scaredy cats in my house and both did not even wake up (same room as the appliance).

- Cleanup:

Super easy; just rinse the catcher and you are done.

- Features:

Timer -> 5-20 second; set it once, and it stays from grind to grind. 10 seconds was perfect for my mug (4 cups).

- Build Quality:

Excellent all around with a glass catcher and plastic hopper. The burrs are very well machined.

- Looks/Size:

The machine is on the small size but very good looking (I have a black one).

- Cons:

Motor "should" (at least that is what the manual recommends) rest for 5 minutes before every 20 second grind. Really, for me, this is not an issue as 20 seconds produces about 6-8 cups of medium strength coffee.

Bean hopper is not tinted so leaving beans in it (especially in the light) may not be a great idea but you should not leave beans in the hopper in any case as suggested by all of the other machine's manuals.

Some claim that very very fine cappuccino grinds are not acceptable for very picky cappuccino machines; go figure.

Adjusting the grind size can only be done with the motor running (or so claims the manual). Not a big deal for me since I do not plan to adjust it ... well ... ever after the initial setting (doesn't have to have beans in it but just running motor while adjusting).

--b. Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder if money is not an issue, why not I could find really nothing wrong with it except the price.

- Grind:

From doing much research, this thing really gets it right for anything you want; even the pickiest cappuccino machines like this thing. French press is also no problem.

- Mess:

No mess; static is eliminated by their special technology that slows the coffee grinds before they get to the catcher.

- Noise:

Very quite.

- Cleanup:

Cannot comment on cleanup but people have said that it is not a problem.

- Features:

Built in doser very nice; will auto grind correct amount based on your cup and strength setting.

Nice LCD screen.

Bean hopper is tinted.

- Build Quality:

Customers claim that it is very solid and well built.

- Looks/Size:

Looks very nice.

- Cons:

Price.

--c. Rancilio ROCKY Rancilio Burr Grinder with Doser if you want the best, this is it for a reasonable price (reasonable to some, all depends).

Specs:

I am not going to go into detail about this one but needless to say that those very serious about their cappuccino grind, etc. and for whom money is no issue should probably get this machine. Frankly, for this much money, I see no reason.

Conclusion:

The Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder is an excellent all around machine with very minor (at least to me) drawbacks and if one is to consider the price/performance ratio, simply cannot be beat. Best of luck and hope this review saves some hours of research.

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Lavazza BLUE Espresso Dolce 100% Arabica Capsules

We started buying Lavazza's blue caps a few months ago and have not looked back. It's perfect every time, no change every time ya make it. Intense taste with a nice high toned aroma. I know I should not be but some days I find myself making 5-6 cups!

Of all the Lavazza Blue capsules, the Dolce is my favorite. It is not sweet as the name implies but not bitter either. It holds a nice crema for a long time.

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Not a strong flavor. I didn't like it because it was very weak in flavor. Do not buy this product!

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This Lavazza Blue espresso flavor has a nice smooth flavor with a long-lasting crema. It is my son's favorite for making cappuccino. You cannot beat the Lavazza Blue system for espresso. A perfect cup every time with no fuss! The sealed capsules guarantee a fresh result everytime.

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Cuisinart DCC-2650 Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

As did many other people, I really struggled to choose a new coffee maker once my 10yo Krups Aroma Control went toes up. I've only had this coffeemaker for a few days, but so far, I'm very satisfied with this purchase.

First, it's a handsome machine that's easy to clean. ("No more rhymes now, I mean it....") I'm not sure if it's made of coated real metal or a plastic faux metal. Either way, it's a nice-looking machine that complements our other stainless steel appliances, and it's easy to wipe off fingerprints, etc. It also fits underneath our cabinets.

Second, in the Amazon reviews of various coffeemakers, there's a lot of talk about whether the coffeemakers produce hot coffee. Those comments weren't very helpful to me, because I never knew what the users meant by "hot." So, I've measured and quantified the temperatures for you: [a] At the time that this coffeemaker is done brewing, the coffee has consistently been about 175 degrees F. To me, that's plenty hot. [b] When the hotplate is set to M, the coffee has consistently been 160 degrees F, which is exactly the temperature at which I prefer my coffee. [c] When the hotplate is set to H, the coffee has consistently been just under 180 degrees F. [d] I haven't tried to set the hotplate to L, because the coffee would presumably be less than 160 degrees F, which isn't as hot as I'd like.

Third, the machine has produced good coffee. Much better than my Krups Aroma Control, and comparable to what you'd get at a coffee house. (I don't have a grinder, so I have my coffee pre-ground, which can affect the taste a bit.)

Fourth, I can unquestionably taste the difference between the bold setting and the regular setting. I did a little taste test using exactly the same coffee, exactly the same amount of coffee, and exactly the same amount of water. And, there's zero question that the bold setting produced noticeably bolder coffee.

Fifth, it's a user-friendly machine that's easy to set up, program, and use. The auto-brew feature, brew-pause feature, and auto-off feature have worked as advertised. Initially, the toughest part of using this machine was trying to figure out how to remove the lid from the carafe. :)

Sixth, the machine beeps five times when it's done brewing. In my view, the beep isn't unduly loud or obnoxious: It's loud enough that when I've auto programmed the machine, I can faintly hear it in our bedroom on the opposite side of the house. However, it isn't loud enough to wake our baby (whose room is directly above the machine) or freak out our cat -and when I'm in the kitchen, the beeping hasn't yet struck me as being too annoying. That said, I'm not sure why it isn't possible to turn the beep off, and I'm not sure why they chose five beeps instead of just one, two, or three.

Seventh, the machine brews reasonably quickly. I usually brew 6 cups of coffee -which yields two "real cups." From the time that I hit the "on" button until the fifth beep signal, it has taken about 6 minutes.

Hope this helps, and best of luck with your decision.

Several weeks ago,my Cuisinart 12 coffeemaker poured out it's last cup of coffee. I purchased the DCC 2650 because of the fast brew, visual water table and appearance. I want you to know I had a model many years ago and when it retired; I purchased another upscale brand which let me down. The purchase of Cuisinart is based on the ability of cuisinart designers who build a better machine. This is way easier for me because I love to be able to to see the level of the water from the outside. Actually, that feature has been on my wish list for cuisinart. The button plaement on the top around the clock is functional and easy to use.The reg or bold button works like a dream and the pot stays on for four hours which I prefer to other coffemakers which shut down after 2 or 3 hrs. I do not use the auto turn on or the grab it quick cup feature. I like the carafe heat temp on the right which allows a person to have warm to very hot coffee. I purchased the burr grinder from cuisinart. I replaced the cuisinart blade grinder and believe me this machine is a great companion to this coffeemaker. Now, I would never tell anyone how to spend their money but if you are on the fence, GO FOR IT!

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My venerable DCC-1200 Cuisinart died so thought I'd try this one out as it appeared to be a newer/upgraded version of the 1200 and that's how I'm approaching this review. As I write the 2650 is $20 more than the 1200. It's a nice coffeemaker, does what it's supposed to and does it as good as the the 1200, but not worth the extra $20 in my opinion.

The good:

I like the new overall look of the design though there's something to be said for the "classic" look of the 1200.

The lift lid to access the cone filter doesn't drip condensation all over the counter behind the unit when you open the lid to toss the previous brews grounds/filter like the 1200. Haven't noticed much dripping anyway but what little there is it keeps self-contained.

Uses the same carafe as the 1200 (and I image many other Cuisinart models).

Seems to brew a bit faster than the 1200. Haven't timed it but wouldn't call it "extreme", whatever that means (see below).

The not so good:

Don't be fooled by the stainless steel looking exterior. It looks nice but is plastic, not real metal like the 1200.

Overall feels "cheaper" than the 1200 (which has a good solid feel to it).

The brew strength selector (regular or bold) seems to make no difference, at least that I can taste to this point.

From a brewing function standpoint the only thing different than the 1200 is the strength selector.

Haven't done an official measurement but the "hot" setting doesn't seem as hot as the same setting on the 1200. I could be wrong on this (my wife still has her 1200 will update review if I ever do an official measurement).

Maybe I'm just getting old but I find the bolded black text "Extreme Brew" proclamation on the front of the unit (under the properly muted Cuisinart logo) very annoying and if I can find a way to scrub it off without marring the surface I will. What's so "extreme" about brewing coffee? Yes I know they're trying to draw attention that it supposedly brews a bit faster than other units, but come on. Ruins the clean lines of the design in my opinion.

Neither good nor bad:

Water level view window on the side. Don't really care much about that since I know exactly how much I'm putting in already but imagine others will like that.

The cone filter holder is totally different from the 1200. Still takes the same style filters but holds it differently. Not sure if it's any better but it does the job.

Overall a good coffeemaker, but if I had it to do over again I'd buy another 1200 model and spend the $20 I saved on some good coffee. 4 stars overall, minus 1 for points mentioned above.

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The clock on the 2650 model is easy to set. It is a small clock; it is not too difficult to read the time except for the PM indicator, which is in the upper right corner and not well-lit.

For the first 4 brew cycles, I used a paper filter along with the gold filter because I was only making 4 cups and did not want the water to run through too fast. The coffee was a good strength for me and there was no overflow or other problems. When I made more than 4 cups, I did not use the gold filter (just the paper) and the coffee was just the way I like it.

The finish is a nice metal-looking finish; it is plastic but looks like metal. It does not make fingerprints as stainless steel does and is easy to keep clean. A quick wipe with a damp cloth cleans it easily.

I believe the instructions say to use 1 tablespoon scoop per cup. I use 1 heaping tablespoon for every two cups and that works for me...this is a matter of personal taste. So if you like a really strong coffee, you will use more coffee. Note: I have not tried the "Bold" setting because I do not require a "Bold" taste. I like it hefty, but not bold.

The beeping sound made from this unit is very soft/quiet. Compared to my previous unit (a Kenmore), it is almost un-noticable. I have used the automatic brew setting for 4 of the 8 days of using this coffee maker and the beeping did not wake me from sleep. I could have used my previous unit as an alarm clock.

Other reviewers stated that it can be difficult to poor the water in the back of unit. The best angle is from the right side, so it is easy to see that a left-handed person might find filling the unit difficult. I am right-handed and I feel that it is much easier to pour the water if I do not put the pot lid on the pot prior to filling unit with water. The lid holds back some of the water making the last part hard to pour. With the lid off, I did not have difficulty filling the unit.

The adjustable hotplate setting is nice. I keep it on the center (medium) setting and find that perfect. The unit also has an auto-off setting that is adjustable; I have mine set on 2 hours but it will go up to 4 hours.

I tested the 60 second power-out memory of the settings because I had to unplug my coffee maker for a moment. When I plugged it back into the power, my previous setting were there.

Cons for me...

It is not easy to see the small PM indicator on the upper right corner of the clock display...even with my glasses on (and my eyes are not that bad). A blue type of back-lighting or a larger and brighter clock face would have been a better option for this model.

The pot lid is not hinged; it must be removed to fill the pot with water and then replaced for brewing. For me, it took a couple of days to get the feel of the replacing the lid effortlessly.

With that said, I like this coffee maker and I recommend it.

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We've had a long line of Mr. Coffee machines, and none of them lasted over a year or two. We only make one pot of coffee per day, and turn the machine off after 1-2 hours. So it's not like they get heavy use.

I decided this time to try a more expensive/better quality coffee maker, and after reading many reviews chose the Cuisinart CDD-2650. I didn't buy it from Amazon, but I wanted to share my thoughts. We've been using it for a week now.

Pros:

It brews FAST, which is a big help on busy mornings. A full pot only takes about 5 minutes to brew.

It's attractive and looks nice on my countertop.

It's programmable, so I can come downstairs in the morning to a full pot of fresh coffee.

It has a control for the carafe temperature. We like it piping hot.

The pot lid fits so tightly that it's almost sealed, which keeps coffee fresh.

It has a 3 year guarantee, so I'm hopeful it will last several years.

It comes with a permanent filter, so you save on buying disposable paper ones.

It beeps five times to tell you when the coffee is done brewing.

I had mistakenly written earlier that this machine doesn't have a way to keep the pot turned on longer than an hour. In fact, it can be adjusted to stay on 1 4 hours. Turn the programming knob to "auto off" and just select what you want. The pot beeps once to warn you before it turns off.

Cons:

The time display panel is tiny, and ours has black spots on it, obscuring the AM/PM display. I thought about returning it, but decided it wasn't worth the effort.

The basket is cone shaped, and not big enough to make a full 12 cups if you like it strong. I overfilled it the first time I used it and it made a mess inside the machine. I had to unplug and rinse it all out, and then reprogram the clock so don't overfill the basket!

Overall we're happy with this machine, and will update this review if it breaks or we have anything else to add. It's expensive at $87, so it better be a workhorse!

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Saeco Focus Automatic Espresso Machine

This review applies to the steel version as well, except for the aesthetics.

The design and layout of this machine has been well-thought out by Saeco. I had a difficult time choosing between the steel and the black version, and ultimately chose the latter because I preferred the contrast of the black and chrome (and it matches my decor better).

The set-up of the machine is a bit confusing because there is a small insert paper with instructions that slightly conflicts with the full manual. Perhaps the translation from the original Italian is not entirely accurate. The insert indicated that the supplied intenza water filter must be installed but this is optional and is not supplied with the machine. So don't waste your time looking for it. Once it is up & running, familiarizing oneself with the meaning of the icons on the LCD is important.

Thankfully, Saeco designed the machine with access to the water tank in the front. The spent grounds compartment is also in the front and the beans go in the top. This is important for a compact machine as the potential buyer probably has size restrictions. Some superautos, like the Jura Ena 3/5 have the water tank attach to the back and the Gaggia Platinum I considered has side access.

The draw of a superauto is the ability to go from bean to cup with one machine at the push of a button. In this regard, the Syntia performs very well. The bean hopper and water reservoir are small, but if you want any compact machine then this obviously is necessary to retain a small footprint.

The espresso the machine produces is quite nice. I choose the strongest setting (3 bean icon) for a dark espresso. I also prefer to produce a double (click twice) rather than a long coffee for a cappuccino so it is not watered down. The machine grinds & brews twice in quick succession when double clicking.

I would prefer a more solid feeling (seems to be part steel & part plastic at the top) however it does a surprisingly good job at foaming milk for cappuccino. The foam I've produced is slightly too stiff & aery but I think it is more a technique issue at this point. Hopefully with practice I'll get just the right consistency between airy & dense. It is also excellent for steaming hot chocolate, Italian style. Just toss in your preferred hot chocolate mix with some added chocolate and a little milk and steam it until all is melted. Go bitter and serve it with some sugar on the side to taste.

Clean-up is a breeze. The tray pops out easily. The top comes off via a magnet and you can rinse it in the sink. The water & spent grounds reservoirs pop out from the front easily for rinsing. Wiping down the machine is not a problem.

Overall, I've been very pleased with this small machine. It is very easy for anyone to use and you can get great results without much effort.

There are those purists who swear that a super automatic can't produce the same results as a manual machine or even a semi-automatic and then there are those who just enjoy tinkering around with their espresso machines. This might not be the best choice for those people but if you are pressed for time or just want a decent cup of espresso or a quick latte or cappuccino without all the fiddling, the Saeco Syntia Focus more than fills the bill. I've owned a semi-automatic for years and while I can usually produce a decent shot with it, I've never truly become proficient; they can be finicky little devils. The coffee I've gotten from the Saeco is rich in crema and aroma and is at least as good, if not better. It's also a good deal faster with much less work.

The stainless steel Rapid Steam (single) boiler heats up quickly so there's minimal waiting and a very short interval between steaming milk and making coffee. Although the machine is a super-auto, there are some choices that are programmable so you can customize your cup. You can adjust the settings on the grinder if you prefer the grind to be coarser or finer and you can bypass the grinder entirely and use pre-ground coffee if you wish. You can select the strength of your brew from mild to medium to strong. It also allows you to adjust the amount of brewed coffee produced when you press the espresso or the long coffee buttons.

The Focus comes equipped with a Pannarello wand for frothing the milk for cappuccinos. Although some people don't care for them, the Pannarello is reputed to be more user-friendly than a conventional steam wand. Just make sure to run water through it after each use and regularly remove the tip and rinse it under running water. I drink more espressos than anything else but I've been experimenting with the Pannarello and find it easy to use. If you've never used one, with just a little practice you'll be able to produce an acceptable microfoam without spraying milk all over your kitchen.

The Syntia Focus is relatively compact, so it doesn't take up too much valuable counter space. The actual measurements are 10"W x 16.5"D x 12.5"H although they are slightly different in the product description. Maintenance is simple and straightforward. Pretty much everything that you need to access on a regular basis--the water reservoir, the coffee grounds drawer, the bean hopper and the brew group are positioned at or toward the front so the machine doesn't need to be moved for cleaning or replenishing. Saeco recommends that you remove and clean the brew group at least once a week and descale the machine every 3 months. None of this is particularly onerous and is a small price to pay in order to keep it functioning in good condition.

I've really come to appreciate the speed and ease of this small machine and to relish the delicious coffee that it produces on demand.

********************

05/23/2013

Since the machine is almost two years old, I thought it appropriate to update the review.

I still use it every day, making a minimum of two and often many more, cups of espresso and the occasional latte and cappuccino. It has never failed me nor come up short of my expectations.

The maintenance routine is as I expected. It takes but a few minutes each day to complete the routine tasks of washing and filling the water receptacle, emptying the spent grounds and cleaning out the drip tray. Once a week, I clean the brew group and every 500 brews or so, I lubricate it as instructed. Every few months (depending on usage) a light comes on to indicate that the Saeco needs descaling. It takes a few minutes but it's a simple procedure and the manual walks you through it. For a precision machine to function as well as it does day in and day out, I'm more than happy to do my part to keep it going smoothly.

I loved the Saeco Focus when I received it and if anything, I'm more enamored of it now than ever.

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Using a semi-automatic espresso machine (Francis Francis X5), I'm well aware of the craft of grinding the right grind, metering the right dose, tamping with the correct pressure, and using a stop watch and measured shots to fine tune technique. That approach made great coffee, when I invested the time in the process. Sadly that wasn't always what I wanted to do the first thing in the morning. ESE pods sped things up, but really seemed pricey, as does any of the K-Cup systems. Do we have a solution?

Yes!

Do you have to grind coffee--no

Do you have to meter the dose--no

Do you have to tamp the grounds--no

Do you have to stand around and time pulls--no

You really just set it and forget it. Throw some beans up top, add water on the left, and press a button. Afterward, you empty the drip tray and ground canister on occasion. That rocks! Cappuccino and lattes do require manual frothing/steaming, but that's rather easy to do, and the ample boiler makes that a breeze.

Really my only complaints are that the water canister is a bit small (the ability to connect to a water line would rock), the controls, while simple, are far from intuitive, and the machine required a tweak to make a good solid puck (thus affording great espresso). These are rather petty complaints, but at $1000, that's what you get. Bear in mind, the $1000 investment does allow you to use whole beans (preferably top quality ones without too much oil) rather than ridiculously pricey pods of K-Cups. It won't pay for itself anytime soon, but I somehow feel less wasteful. Go figure.

Anyway, this machine makes great espresso without the fuss. That's what a superautomatic machine is all about.

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I have own the machine just for a couple of days now. Easy setup following the written instructions. The machine does need to pour a few shots before in actually pour a resonable coffee. Even at the maximum strongest setting the expresso shot is still fairly weak to my taste. However, once I adjusted the length of the shot (how much water is used with 1 dose of expresso) I got strong enough coffee but not the strongest. There is one more adjustment to improve this further that is I can adjust how fine the coffee is grounded. The machine is sleek and easy to use. So far, I am happy with the buy although I hope I could make stronger coffee still.

Nov 13th A quick update to say that using the finest grind and strongest coffee strength, I was able to pour a strong double expresso. Delicious. Must remember to empty the bottom tray regularly or it overflows with water.

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So, consider, that I'm a coffee addict. And a gadget addict. I started with the cheap Krups espresso, graduated through pod machines Senseo, Keurig, Nespresso then settled on the Breville expensive machine. By chance, I happened on the Talea Giro Plus, because it was on sale at Costco, and I was intrigued by the automation. I currently have the Talea Giro, but when the Syntia went on sale, I figured okay, time to upgrade! But from my perspective, the only plus is that the machine is GORGEOUS. It is just a beautiful sleek compact black shiny machine. But is there such a thing as TOO automated? Maybe, only in the sense that you have ONLY TWO choices of sizes small and large. (The Talea Giro Plus is negotiable, you set the dial anywhere along the spectrum, so it's highly more programmable that way). But that's not my principal objection to the Syntia. The coffee was WEAK. I set it to maximum beans (3 bean display), and set it too finest grind, and made mutiple cups of coffee, both small and large, and not a single cup came out as strong as the Talea Giro, the Breville, or coffeehouse coffee. It was too weak for me. And I will add, in case you're wondering, that I used VERY strong coffee beans dark roasted blend from Costa Rica from Costco, that makes great intense espresso. I don't find the water reservoir that small, though the bean holder was more shallow. So, I'd pass if you like strong coffee, because it's not adjustable."

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Cuisinox COF-11 Double Walled Coffee Press, 1-Litre

This press is a joke.

At fifty bucks, it ought to be fairly well made. It isn't.

The joint where the handle connects to the main body was badly oxidized, bright verdigris green, out of the box. The spout and handle are not 180 degrees apart from each other, more like 169 or something. Off enough to be plainly visible, and worst of all, the spout is displaced clockwise, so that pouring with the right hand is that much more awkward. It wouldn't be so bad if it was off to the left, counterclockwise...

But the press is super thin wall, full of dents and bulges, sounds cheap and tinny, the plunger screen is lame, and to top it all off, (literally) the knob on top was drilled all crooked and wonkyquite obviously, visibly so.

After trying the overpriced and poorly-made (but more substantial) Frieling press without good results, and this one with worse results, we're almost ready to go back to paying $20 every so often to replace the glass beaker in the good old Bodum. Sigh.

This item works wonderfully, Previously we had a glass french press, and had to replace the carafe 3 times at $20 a pop. This item is not only unbreakable but keeps the coffee hot for an extended period of time.

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After fifth breakage of my Bodum carafe I decided to give up on coffee presses. I then discovered this press and received it today as a gift. I had to respond to another reviewer who found so many faults with the fabrication. None of the faults she mentioned are evident in mine and having designed and manufactured metal products for many years I rate the quality high. I have no idea why ours are so different. And I'm sure my carafe won't break. I have not used it as yet.

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Whenever I see a company so lacking in creativity and originality that they must copy the designs of others it makes me fume. This is reprehensible. Cuisinox has lifted the world famous FRIELING shape, proportions, and the handle is only slightly changed. The lid design and spout have been changed, but the overall look is a total ripoff. For just a few bucks more why not buy the REAL Frieling, not a rip off? I would feel the same way if Frieling knocked off a Cuisinox design.

Why support design rip-offs? Get real, Cuisinox...why be fake?

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This is a high quality press. I have been long awaiting a press here in Afghanistan and it only took about three weeks to arrive. I can't keep up with the grounds fast enough!!! Thanks

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