Sensio 90017 Bella Professional 12-Cup Coffeemaker

In a Nut Shell Has12 cups capacity, 24 hour clock/timer, brew pause, programmable shut off, gold tone filter, heavy, and die-cast aluminum.

Comment Even tho I have a pretty collection of coffee makers, I wanted to try 'something different', so I opted for Sensio's Bella Professional line.

READ the latest Update below.

* The Good -

1. Brews an Excellent pot of your favorite Java (kirkland's colombian supreme).

2. Brewing Time initially was Very Good compared to others, I have used before like the all-time favorite Krups line.

It's a Top Loader for both your Java and H2O and has the much sought after Radial Spray Head, which ensures an even coffee extraction. I strongly recommend using Filtered H2O

for all of your Brewing needs and using Reverse osmosis seems to be the best Option in "Hard-Waters" country, like here.

3. 1 year later, it's still working but the Tropics cause much deterioration and is taking it's toll.

* The Bad -

1. Expensive: Over 100 hundred Bucks + S/H Charges add up quickly.

2. Clock is very SMALL, totally worthless, as it does not have any Numerical Characters, like a regular clock, just 'subdued' lines, nice Blue glow though.

A much larger Round or rectangular 'clock & Coffee Function' window would have greatly improve it.

3. Using the Decanter to fill a Cup, results in Dripping coffee all over the counter, unless you Hold the decanter at a Perfect 20 to 25 degree Angle & Axis, which is difficult when it's Full.

This is mostly due to the way that the decanter's Flip-top is finished-cut at an angle. They should have looked at a mr coffee, Cuisinart or Krups.

4. The Pause n' Serve function is limited to 2 Quick cups only, otherwise, it will start to 'overflow' at the filter/basket, which can be a mess!

5. The Heating Decanter area gets grungy quickly from the spilled coffee and needs constant cleaning, as opposed to the Krups.

6. The Front Face Stainless has developed a 'smudged' appearance, not the Highly Polished finish that I expected, while this in itself does not affect the Function,

aesthetics are an important factor, for me.

7. It's sold and labeled as a 'Professional' coffeemaker, which it isn't and it's definitely NOT 'bella (beautiful) either!

* Update June 2010 I have downgraded this coffee maker to barely 1 Star. Here's why, the Decanter Warming plate has now degenerated to a Rusted, Crackled, Paint-less, Ugly Mess!

It also started to SLOW DOWN in it's percolating phase to the point where I have just replaced with a new mr coffee maker.

I expected more out of a 100+ dollar coffee maker.

This is the first time I have ever written a review about any small appliance purchased online. I am a long-time gourmet coffee nut, and have purchased many high-end coffeemaker brands over the years, including Krups, Braun, DeLonghi, and others. They all made great coffee and lasted a very long time. I purchased this Sensio 90017 Bella 'Professional' Coffeemaker in mid-2010 to replace a Krups that finally died after years of great service.

I suppose I was seduced by the great looks and supposed high-end features. But after this 'professional' coffeemaker broke down completely 7 months later, I contacted the Sensio 'Customer Service' department, located in Montreal, Canada. My unit simply would not brew at all, it just beeped continually. Be forewarned upfront that there is no service department anywhere to ship the coffeemaker to for repairs, so you are out of luck if it breaks down. And Sensio refuses to replace their coffeemakers should they break down during the one-year warranty period. This was very surprising.

I was also shocked to learn that the stated one-year warranty on this expensive coffee maker was not honored. Consumers beware: the company 'pro-rates' your warranty and will not repair or replace your coffeemaker if it dies within one year. Instead, they will refund you the pro-rated value left on the unit. For example, if you paid $100 for this coffeemaker and it broke down in 9 months time, you would receive 3 months (out of 12 months total warranty time) worth of the original value. Which equates to 25 percent, or $25 money back. I have never heard of such a policy in my life.

When I asked if I could have it repaired or replaced, they refused, as did the manager I spoke with. And here is what you have to do to get your pro-rated money amount back: cut the cord off the coffeemaker, type up a letter, attach a copy of your sales receipt, and SHIP IT ALL TO CANADA AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE!! Needless to say, for those of us who live in the USA it is not cheap to ship a package to Montreal. Do you think it is worth it for me to receive about $30 back when it costs a lot to ship the package and go through all this hassle?

Not only were the customer 'service' representatives very rude, it was obvious they did not care about their products or how consumers feel. I tried my best to get them to be reasonable, but they really don't seem to care about honoring the warranty. I was told there is absolutely nowhere to get the unit repaired, and that they no longer replace defective ones. Absurd.

While the unit worked, it made great coffee. And I would concur with other reviewers on the uselessness of the clock (it only illuminates while brewing and you can't make out the time). The other major annoyance for me was that the lid could not be removed from the glass carafe, making placing it in the dishwasher impossible. So much for the claim that the parts were dishwasher safe. And the carafe drips when pouring water into the unit or brewed coffee out into a cup.

If you want a coffeemaker at this price to last at least one year, and to buy from a company that actually cares about service, the warranty, and customers, then avoid Sensio at all costs. Also beware that this same model is now being sold under other brand names, such as the Food Network and a few famous chefs. You will recognize it by the looks and round blue clock with the nearly invisible hands. Sorry to have to complain, which I despise, but this company really does not care about its products.

Thankfully Amazon listened and refunded me my money. I was told they would contact Sensio about their warranty policy. Anyone have a recommendation on a sub-$100 coffeemaker that makes great tasting coffee and lasts?

Buy Sensio 90017 Bella Professional 12-Cup Coffeemaker Now

Thought after our wedding to get some of the most expensive appliances for our kitchen as we are just starting out. The coffee machine power quit after 12 months. I took it apart, have to literally damage the stainless face to access the switch. I heard they have a terrible warranty, so I thought try myself. No good. Into the landfill it goes. We had a junky coffee machine with an actual clock before and it was indestructable. What the hell? Pretty disappointed and out $120.

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We were looking for a new coffee maker that wouldn't dribble water condensation all over the counter top every time we opened the lid. Well, this one solved that problem, but the host of other issues does not make it worth the money. It is a handsome color for our kitchen and makes a very good cup of coffee. Other than that, it gets very low marks.

1. The first problem is the single entry/opening for adding both water and coffee grounds. I have seen this in other coffee makers and it is bad news. You always end up with coffee grounds in the water reservoir, and with this model it's virtually impossible to clean them out.

2. There is no water level window. You have to actually look into the reservoir and watch the water fill pretty awkward if you're a little short. Also, it has "steps" for the even numbers of cups for your water level. If, however, you want to make something in between, like 3 or 5 cups of coffee, it is total guesswork as to how much water to add. Most coffee makers have the same even-number set up, but since they have a window you can tell when you've hit the half-way point between two evens. Not so easy when you are peering in from above.

3. The coffee grounds basket has to be seated exactly right. I don't just mean line up the little notch on the rim of the basket; you also have to hold the handle of the basket up and while doing so, push the basket down into it's precise spot, and then drop the little handle. If you make an error with this step, the drip-stop function will be engaged, even though the carafe is in it's place. So the basket fills with water, but has no way to escape and you soon have an explosion of coffee and grounds all over your counter top. Once again, coffee grounds end up in the water reservoir, with no good way to clean them out. Even after we figured out this issue, and learned to properly seat the basket, we still miss once in a while and have a coffee catastrophe all over the kitchen.

4. The heating element is another problem. We've only had this maker a few months, and already the heating element looks 10 years old. You have to be sure to clean the heating element between each pot of coffee, and be sure to DRY your clean carafe before you place it on the heating element. Otherwise, any coffee or water seems to react with the heating element and the heat itself to ruin the finish on the element.

5. The programmable part is kind of a joke. It is indeed a programmable coffeemaker, and with much trial and error we have managed to get it to autostart coffee in the morning. The manual is rather vague about how to set the autostart do you put the left-side dial on BREW or ON? I called and asked a rep, who knew nothing about coffeemakers, and he determined that you put the right side dial on AUTO ON and the left side dial on BREW. This of course was wrong. Put the left side dial on ON. To just make coffee without programming it, you of course put the right side dial on PROGRAM and the left side dial on BREW. Yeah, that makes sense. NOT.

6. Another irritating feature of this maker is its auto-off which is not programmable. My old maker allowed me to program how long it could stay on, and since I like to putter around in the morning and sort of sip slowly through my cup, I usually set it for 4 hours. If I turned it off and wanted to heat it up later, I could just turn the maker back on and the heating element would do its job. But not the Bella. It automatically turns the heating element off after 2 hours. No ifs, ands or buts. If you still have a little coffee in the carafe you'd like to heat up, you are out of luck. If you turn the machine back on, it will sense whether there is water in the reservoir. If no water in the reservoir, it turns itself back off. And voila, cold coffee remains cold.

So, while the description calls it fully-programmable, it is not.

I would give this product only one star but it does make excellent coffee, so I gave it 2. There are surely other coffee makers out there that also make excellent coffee without all the hassle, and for less than $100.

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I didn't make coffee in this product, so I can't attest to that function. I expected it to be a little more substantial, but it looked and felt a little cheapish. I don't think it was horrible, just not what I was looking for. Actually, I was getting so sick of these kind of coffee makers, cold coffee, short life,etc, that on a whim I purshased a Farberware stainless steel percolater. It makes fabulous coffee and it is really hot and so flavorful. Everyone that comes over raves over the coffee. Best part. It was only about $48 on Amazon! You will have to grind your own coffee to the percolator grind in the store.

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Gaggia for Illy Espresso Machine

I really enjoy making and drinking espresso, so I jumped on the chance to review this Gaggia espresso machine.

* How does it work?

This machine is very easy to use and care for. There are two compartments: On the left is a removable water tank, and on the right is the removable drawer for the spent pods. To brew you just pop in an espresso pod, which must be the Illy brand or compatible, and press the brew button. 30 seconds later you have a hot cup of espresso which is very drinkable. For those of you who don't like straight espresso, you can add hot water (via the steam wand with the turn of a know), you have an "americano". You can also set the machine to brew longer, which will give you a fuller-tasting americano. To make a cappuccino (less milk, foamier) or latte (more milk, less foam), just fill a large mug with milk, then press the Steam button and wait for it to heat up. Turn the steam knob with the tip of the wand submerged in the milk and soon you have hot frothed milk.

* How does it taste?

Straight Espresso: I drink espresso straight, about 1-3 times a day. It is so concentrated this way that it is very easy to taste any defects in the espresso. This Illy machine, using the red medium roast capsules, made a very mild and drinkable cup of espresso with nice crema and very mild bitterness. It wasn't the best espresso I've had, but better than you get from many "espresso" cafes in the US.

Other drinks: The steam wand is an automatic frother type, which means you can make nice foam without practicing on a commercial machine for a week. If you are making other drinks with added water, sugar, and/or milk, I recommend going with the darker roast (blue) Illy capsules, as you'll want the more robust flavor to stand up to what you are adding.

* Likes:

Super easy to use. Compared to my manual grinder and espresso machine, which leaves a huge mess and takes lots of practice, but can make better espresso, this Gaggia machine is dead simple. You can't really mess it up with this machine.

No mess. I spend a lot of time cleaning around my grinder and espresso machine.

Price: Very affordable.

Brand: Gaggia has been making espresso machines for decades. I have one of their grinders and it has worked without any issues for many years.

* Dislikes:

Coffee expense. See my thoughts on pods/capsules below.

Packaging waste. Pods don't seem very recyclable/compostable.

Hard to find capsules. Order online or go to a fancy kitchen store. My supermarket didn't have these capsules.

Build quality. You get what you pay for. Nice design but it is mostly plastic. This is expected at this price range.

* Summary:

If you want an affordable machine that uses no-mess, Italian-flavor Illy capsules, this is a solid little machine. I recommend it with my caveats about coffee capsules below. 4 of 5 stars. Will update this review if anything breaks.

* Footnotes: Coffee capsules (a.k.a. pods)

I'm not a big fan of coffee capsules, but I did not count this against this review. The benefits and drawbacks of capsule machines are pretty obvious: You pay 3x the price for coffee, waste 3x the packaging, and make 1/10th the mess of a manual grinder and espresso machine. You have very little control but the results are pretty consistent. Getting really fresh coffee is pretty hard. Illy has made a science of packing coffee for long shelf life (nitrogen purged canisters, for example), and it always seems to taste decent. But getting a local roasted bean that was roasted a week or two ago and extracting it just right can be worth it. The choice is yours. If you want the simplicity of capsules but don't want to waste so much packaging, you may want to consider a fully automatic machine. These machines are 3-5x as expensive as this one, and do require more maintenance, but offer the simplicity of one button brewing and no separate grinding, and the ability to use whatever whole bean you want.

Again I didn't count the capsules against this rating of this machine but now you know..

UPDATED MAY 31, 2012; LAST PARAGRAPH.

In the past six years I've owned two other brands of single-serve espresso makers. And I still love my Nespresso machine the best. I don't drink a lot of regular coffee, but I do enjoy my shots of espresso in the morning, and I particularly appreciate the ease and simplicity of these single-serve machines. So, when offered an opportunity to review this Gaggia machine*, I enthusiastically agreed, then waited impatiently for it to arrive. Neither of my other two machines have a milk frothier. This one does, so I was especially looking forward to that new experience, too.

There are a lot of espresso machines available. How do you choose? Consider how much convenience you need in a machine. If you decide on the convenience of a single-serve machine, then you better do a lot of research on the flavors of the espresso offered in the proprietary capsules/discs/pods of each brand. Consider the footprint/size, color and style of machine that will suit your kitchen. When you've got those questions answered, then it's time to compare prices.

Personally, at our house, the workers in the family wake up and are out the door one short hour later. We are away from home for the next twelve hours. So, our philosophy is this: Connoisseurs may debate that taking shortcuts by using a single-serve espresso maker cannot produce a "perfect" cup of espresso or, latte or cappuccino, but for the people in our family, these single-serve machines allow us a little luxury while expending a minimum amount of time. We're willing to sacrifice perfection for the opportunity of a few sips of wonderful coffee. What have we learned? We feel that flavor is NOT diminished by using a single-serve machine.

This is what I learned when we experimented with this Gaggia machine: We not only get beautiful espresso, but the milk frothier with this machine produces terrific foam--with tiny, tiny bubbles--very easily and in a minimum amount of time. We love the Pannarello Wand! I don't know how I've lived without a milk frothier all my life....We are having a great time and a lot of fun with this frothier--in the morning and after dinner, too. (We've been experimenting with steamed milk and froth and some of our chocolate, mocha, coffee and French vanilla liqueurs. Very nice!)

This machine only uses illy brand capsules--called iperEspresso capsules. I don't have any problem with a machine that only uses proprietary capsules; my other two machines are the same way. The problem I did have with the illy brand capsules is that I couldn't find them anywhere in the Houston, Texas area.* I contacted customer service at the company that distributes this machine in the US, and they were surprised to hear that I couldn't find capsules in my area. I was told that they are easy to find in many other areas of the country. So, if you do NOT want to take advantage of the company's mail order delivery service immediately (as in PRIOR to receiving your machine), check out capsule availability before you decide to buy this machine.

Another important point: Capsules are available in only four different types of espresso--two strengths, one lungo and one decaf. (One of my other machines has 16 different blends of beans.) If you are already an illy fan, you already know this: The flavor, aroma and crema is top notch: Not bitter, a little citrusy, robust-all-around nice and consistent. The intensity of the dark roast is not as high as available in some other brands. And I found that I did not appreciate the medium roast when milk was added.

A few other observations: 1.) The water heats up quickly: Equal with the other machines I have. 2.) Clean-up is not difficult. 3.) Customer service is friendly and helpful, but not available on weekends or holidays--but hey, that's okay, since during the week you get to talk to a real person from the first hello! And, it sounds as if she's always smiling! 4.) This machine is black and blocky--no beautiful design here. There are other companies out there that produce white and other colors. And there are some beautifully designed machines, too. And some have smaller footprints if you're short on counter space. 5.) The platform for your cup is adjustable, but the height allowance is still limiting. There are machines that allow for a taller cup. (Sometimes I like to froth my milk in a cup, then add a shot of espresso to that same cup. I know, unconventional, but it works for me.)

Here is a short list of what you need to buy and/or have on hand before your machine arrives: Capsules--crazy as it sounds, not a single espresso capsule arrives with the machine; a frothing pitcher, preferably stainless steel and 20 ounce size is recommended; a variety of cup sizes--take a look at the Bodum double-walled cups, they are great.

*I was offered this machine through the Amazon Vine Program. Because I had such difficulty in locating capsules, the Vine Program removed the machine from my list of items to be reviewed. I was told I was not required to review this product, but they did not tell me I couldn't review it.

UPDATE: We still love our Nespresso machine the best. The frothier on the Gaggia machine has stopped producing the great foam that it used to create and now we get a lot more larger bubbles. I've faithfully cleaned the frothier per the instructions, but it's still not working right. I continue to look for the pods at the grocery stores, but--still--no one is stocking them. I do see they are available by mail from Amazon.

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Machine initially was good, but failed in short order, where the machine couldn't generate the pressure needed and struggled to put out a succession of drips of lukewarm espresso. No parts on hand led to a 6 week delay, which has just been updated to a 12-14 week delay. Whole latte love does not offer an advanced exchange program, nor a loaner, nor the option to swap out for a refurbished model, so be prepared to wait, and wait, and wait.

Whole latte love has been courteous and professional, and their service staff has been very helpful. That doesn't change the fact that my machine is out of commission for an extended period.

Not sure if this is simply a failure to stock parts or if this model has such a high failure rate that they can't keep them in stock. Either way, one may wish to take this into consideration while making your purchasing decision.

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I had another Illy machine a while ago and did enjoy it. This one in comparison is so much easier to use. It is no wonder it's the top seller in Italy.

Illy makes great coffee. And their capsules for these machines give you ease of use and consistency. The set up was pretty straightforward. Fill with water (after rinsing), prime it and add a capsule of Illy coffee. Now, keep in mind this machine comes with NO capsules. I knew that from before so I ordered some from Amazon and they arrived about the same time. You would think they would include a couple of capsules just to get you started. They have a long shelf life so that shouldn't be a factor.

The machine worked flawlessly. The crema is wonderful to see at the top of the glass. And the taste was excellent.

You can also use the wand to steam milk if you like. This is very easy to use and do.

The only thing I would point out is that if you don't use this for a bit, you will need to prime it again. Not a long process, just a bit inconvenient. The solution is of course to use it regularly. The coffee is a bit expensive, but it takes minutes to get an espresso, a great tasting one at that, and there is no clean up.

I very much recommend this great machine. It also looks good on your counter.

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I bought the Illy-Gaggia Iperespresso Pod machine for my wife. She absolutely loves it. Since we have twin infants and are regularly in a state of sleep deprivation this little unit sure does the trick when holding one infant in arm! The crema is perfecto and having the ability to set the "pull" of the shot is super useful as we both like it a bit shorter and rich. We've been using it daily for two months now and have not had any mechanical issues or quality issues with the pods. The only downside for us, being mindful of waste and design issues, is the necessity of sourcing non-recycable/reusable pods that have to be thrown out. The other part of the pod dilemma is the cost per pod...hopefully one day it translates to less then $.70 cents per shot on average. Aside from that we're both happy come morning, afternoon, or evening shot!

Cheers

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Philips Saeco HD8751/47 Intellia Focus Automatic Espresso Machine

The hopper seems to jam up pretty often--even using dry beans--because of the safety device they've added (a little dome with holes in it). Consequently, about every 3 or 4 cups it will think it has filled the chamber with enough coffee when it hasn't, giving you weaker-than-green-tea coffee. So, AT YOUR OWN RISK, read the following......

To avoid the empty chamber problem, you simply have to bend/clip off the little plastic safety guards that hang down from the safety guard, and voila, it makes awesome drinks! Once you do this, you will love this machine. BUT of course, then you must be absolutely, positively sure to keep fingers and children away from the hopper/grinder, and you do this at your own risk. Obviously, a finger in the grinder would mean serious injury, or heck, even death I suppose......

Saeco, if you are reading this, please fix your hopper safety device so that your machine works properly.

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Gaggia 11202 Baby Espresso Machine, Silver

I bought this machine after reading reviews of its great espresso and I have not been disappointed with its internal workings. It can do a really good job pulling shots if you get the grind and tamp right.

However, after a couple of weeks of use, the power switch got stuck in an always-on position and I had to unplug it each time I wanted to power down. This wasn't much of a surprise given how cheap and flimsy are all the buttons -they feel like cheap plastic toy parts -but it was enough for me to return the machine and upgrade to the Gaggia Classic. The Classic and Baby have the same internal parts and so make the same quality espresso but the housing and buttons of the Classic look like they might last more than a month. You can save $100 or so by going with the Baby and likely be very happy with the espresso quality, but you need to be comfortable with the risk you're taking on.

With the Baby model, I found I needed a *very* fine grind (#2 at commercial coffee shops) to make a decent shot. The Classic appears to be happy with a more conventional #3 or #4 fineness.

This machine has the ability to produce great coffee with the correct grind and sufficient tamping. Unfortunately the switches on the front of the unit are substandard compared to the rest of the unit. My steam switch has gone faulty after the first week (refuses to lock on!). If you can put up with regular replacement of switches then the resultant coffee will satisfy.

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We've had our Baby Gaggia for a little over a year now and are already on our third set of buttons. After regular use the buttons that run the steam, the brewing, and power the machine stick or break outright. The plastic buttons are incredibly cheaply made and, even when handled with delicacy break or simply cease to function. What's equally surprising is that the rest of the machine seems to be well made, which makes me wonder why they would use such inadequate parts on for its cheapest components. Don't buy this machine if you want reliability.

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I've had my Baby Gaggia for only a week now, and so I cannot comment on the longevity of the plastic housing/buttons. It's true they are not made of metal, and they might look cheap if you are expecting an all metal machine. I searched for a machine with fine internal workings, simply couldn't afford the higher priced models. Mine came from Whole Latte Love's outlet section, where it on clearance for $349. The Classic Gaggia was $497, as was the Gaggia Baby "D".

As promised, the espresso is delicious, and tastes better than anything I've ever bought at Starbucks or other local espresso bar. This is with medium roast pre-ground Illy coffee. I've been buying espresso at coffee shops for over twenty years, and have consumed it in Rome and Paris and other big cities in Europe, and never thought I could own my own machine. I can honestly say that after a bit of practice, my Baby Gaggia and I am making espresso that compares very well, and that's with Illy pre-ground medium roast coffee. With a good grinder (like the Gaggia MDF) and better water I think it could be even better. It's a good idea to have some decaf (Illy medium roast decaf) on hand, too, so you don't overdo it.

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Second Generation Coffeeduck PERMANENT Refillable Coffee Filter for the Senseo SUPREME & DELUXE ONLY

For starters, this definitely DOES work with the Senseo Supreme that Amazon sells. I don't know what problems other people had, but I have a suspicion that it comes from how sensitive this is to correctly loading the coffee.

The Coffeeduck works great if you use it correctly.

I'm giving it four stars, instead of five, because it's tedious to use. And if you don't read the instructions and pay attention to what it says then you're going to be unhappy. I've had this for two weeks, using it about five times a day, and I've got the routine figured out. If you're not mechanically inclined then you probably won't like this. A friend watched me use this and immediately said "I'm just going to stick with the pods".

You cannot fill the Coffeeduck all the way to the physical top of the metal carrier. If you do this then the Senseo will not close. I suspect that this might have been the problem for the other reviewers here that said these aren't compatible. Instead you fill it to a smaller lip 2/3 of the way up (the instructions describe this, but you need to pay attention to the instructions). The tricky bit is that you need to get all the coffee crumbs off of that lip, which can be tedious. If you don't do this correctly then things won't work well (the Senseo won't close, or you'll get watery coffee, or it will leak water).

Also, if you pack in the coffee too much then the Senseo won't be able to pump the water through the coffee, and instead the water will come spewing out the sides of the machine and all over your countertop. I don't think there's anything the coffeeduck designers could have done to improve this. It's just something you're going to have to learn.

Note: I suspect the Coffeeduck for the base model Senseo is easier to use. The metal coffee carrier for that unit is smaller, and there won't be the internal lip, making cleaning off the excess coffee crumbs far easier (fill it, wipe it, and go). If you haven't bought a Senseo yet, and you think that a Coffeeduck will be one of your primary uses, then I would get the base model Senseo along with the Coffeeduck Classic that is designed for it. If I had that model I would probably give it five stars.

This has been my favorite purchase of 2009. We have a Senseo Supreme and our coffee selections were very limited until Coffeeduck. It works perfectly every time, but should only be used with finely ground coffee.

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Use fine grind and it won't leak any water. Espresso grind won't allow the water to filter through.

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I own the Senseo SL7832/55 Single Serve Supreme Coffee Machine, Chrome. None of the Coffeeduck items mention this model. I contacted them in Holland and they told me this model would work in the 7832/55 but it doesn't. It fits too tight and strains the Senseo machine to close the lid. Since it doesn't fit, I really can't review it.

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Pros:

1. Works with Senseo SL7832/55 Supreme.

2. Saves money over time since Senseo pouch averages about 25-60 cents per cup of

coffee.

3. More choices of coffee. You're no longer limited to what the Senseo offers.

Cons:

1. Must use fine grinds in order to work properly. Unless you can get a grinder

that gets you the perfect grind everytime, you will probably experience water

leakage and grinds overflowing in the machine from time to time. Packing the

coffee grinds too tight will result in grind/water leakage also.

2. Time consuming to fill and clean. Like another reviewer mentioned, you have to

be careful when filling the coffee and keep the rim clean of any coffee grind.

After the brew, you will end up with quite a bit of watery sludge which could be

time consuming to clean.

3. Less or no foam. If you like the foam produced by the Senseo pods, you'll be

disappointed with the amount of (or lack of) foam the coffeeduck produces.

Conclusion:

While the Coffeeduck works as advertised, I feel that it defeats the purpose of buying a Senseo machine, which is the ease of use in the first place. With the Senseo, you can have a brewed cup of coffee with 2 press of buttons within a minute. With the Coffeeduck, I traded the convenience for the freedom of packing my own coffee grind. Unlike using the coffee pods, it has been difficult to get a consistent cup of coffee using the Coffeeduck. If you want the same convenience of using a Senseo pod but with your own coffee, I would suggest trying out other methods of using a paper coffee filter first.

Professional Series PS77611 Programmable 12-Cup Coffeemaker

It is difficult to pour the water into, the sides are narrow. The glass does not even have the number of cups on it and for a coffee pot that is suppose to be that much $ should at least have that. Its ok and only worth what I paid so I do not feel as if I received a great deal.

unless you want to taste and smell plastic in your coffee. I bought it as a gift and returned it.

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