Mesa Home Products Rotating Coffee Pod Carousel in Brushed Copper

Was excited to find a K cup holder that wasn't the standard looking carousel, until it arrived. SO disappointing! The carousel itself is wobbly and lopsided, and the wires that hold the cups aren't any uniform shaped so half of the cups fall right thru. If you squeeze the wires together more closely then you can get some additional cups to stay, but some of them still fell thru. Stick with a standard carousel or drawer, not as decor friendly, but at least they'll hold your cups!

I was happy to find a coffee carousel that wasn't the same old, same old that you saw in all of the stores. I was surprised about the height of this, for some reason I was thinking it would be a little shorter, but I am very happy with it. I gave it to my mother-in-law for Christmas and she absolutely loved it. Its a space saver and the brushed copper color adds a nice touch.

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Nespresso D520 Gran Maestria Espresso Maker, Platinum

I bought this machine from another high end housewares store when they were on sale recently. I sold my Delonghi super auto as I was so sick of all the tinkering and cleaning. This machine is perfect for my needs.

I want to turn it on and be able to pull great shots with little effort. Yes, I know some people would say this is not the true espresso way...but in the AM when I need a great latte or doppio this machine does the trick. The heat up time is under 30 seconds, the espresso varieties are delicious and I can always get the exact same shot. I love that the dials on the front of this machine allow we to adjust quickly the amount of water passed through the capsule. Sometimes I add a little more water with the capsule in place so I can get a little more from the capsule. I will say that pulling a lungo capsule on the longest setting is a bit of a stretch and definitely makes a light shot.

-The fit and finish of this machine is gorgeous. I love the way it looks in the kitchen, with it's cool LED lights and finish. I am a sucker for packing and marketing so this is just the kind of thing that calls out to me.

-Getting the capsules from Nespresso has been painless and the iphone app allows me to quickly order as soon as I notice my supply is low. I wish there wasn't the $6.99 2 day delivery charge. But those are the breaks and when you buy into this system definitely keep in mind the cost of these capsules. .60 or .65 a piece. The quality and flavor make this worth it to me and I am glad to have a consistent high quality shot.

-The aerocino attached to the base is great as well. Dense foam and nice light steamed milk. My daughter also loves the steamed milk with a little vanilla flavor as a snack.

-This machine is also great for dinner parties. I can open the case of capsules. Guests can check them out and make a choice. People enjoy tasting and comparing. Makes coffee tasting fun and easy. No grinder, no tamping, no steaming and stretching milk by hand.

-I would definitely buy this machine again. I find it to be worth the premium prices and only being able to get capsules from Nespresso.

Enjoy!

Recently purchased the Gran M. was a bit worried as I've been disappointed in the past with other machines.... I must say I'm really happy with it. The coffee is surprisingly good and clean up super simple. It's so simple and fast that I find myself using it all the time. Other machines I've had sat idle and I made far to many trips to the local Barista.

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I did not purchase this machine from Amazon I purchased mine directly from Nespresso. It is a great machine and makes a great cup of coffee with a good variety of coffee pods to choose from. I live in Florida, and I wanted to leave a comment for other users that may be in high humidity climates. I had issues with the milk frothing (aeroccino) not consistently frothing the milk. It would work sometimes and other times not. It was very frustrating for a number of months, until I called Nespresso to complain. I got right through to an American support person and when I told her the issues, she immediately asked the state I lived in. When I said Florida, she said for high humidity climates like Florida, they recommend using only Organic Milk for frothing. Well my first thought was, give me a break no way is it the milk I am using. But she said she would make a note in my file but she was certain if I switched to Organic Milk my frothing issues would go away. She said it has to do with the extra stuff in regular milk and how they interact in the higher humidity climates? Well, low and behold she was right. Since I switched to Organic every single froth has been perfect. It took me a very long time to get this information, and I wanted to post it here just in case someone else is having similar issues. I have used all types of Organic milk to test things out Horizon, Ogranic Valley (boxed (shelf stable), whole, 2%, 1% vanilla, etc and it sure seems as long as it is Organic it froths to perfection every time. Hope this info helps someone.

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My girlfriend and I received the Gran Maestria as a housewarming gift from my mom in October. Purchased it from William Sonoma at Stanford Mall, but when we got home it was the wrong color and looked to be like it was a returned item as some paperwork was missing and there was a scratch on it. We were not notified of this and returned it the next day. Unfortunately, my mom wasn't able to try it because she had to return back home to Hawaii before we got the correct, new machine. OIur first experience with a Nespresso didn't look promising.

Alas, we got our beautiful machine home, plugged it in, and brewed our first latte. We were truly impressed with the quality of the espresso and it tasted much better than the one we tried in the store before we bought it. My girlfriend uses it religiously in the morning and we have one at night with dessert. So far the machine has worked flawlessly, which we'd expect from a $600+ machine, but you never know now days with so many products being made with only the bottom line in consideration.

I've never used any other espresso machine, so I can't really comment on clean-up, but I can tell you that the Nespresso is easier to clean than a regular coffee maker.

I ordered our first set of capsules on Nespresso.com, which was a breeze and they arrived so quickly there is no need to get them from a store. But now that Nespresso has opened a store in The City next to Union Square, I can pick up our monthly supply on my way home after work.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a fantastic espresso and who are looking to impress guests. It definitely adds class and pizzazz to our kitchen. In fact, I love our Gran Maestria so much I just purchased the U (in orange) for my desk at work. I just hope the loud brewing sound doesn't annoy anyone. If it does, they will forget about it once the rich and bold aroma of my espresso fills the air. Enjoy!

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Waking up to a cappuccino. The perfect amount of frothy, earthy espresso dripping into my warmed Spode Christmas mug, organic, grass fed cow's milk foamed in just under a minute spooned on top, it is a singular pleasure. A high end luxury, that brings a certain specialness to the moment, puts love in my heart and makes me want to hug and kiss any cat, dog or human within arm's reach.

Considering the consistent, delicious, simple, fast and ease of cleaning this machine, I can't imagine why you would spend more on an expensive espresso machine you need to constantly maintain. Everything is recyclable. It's a treat anytime of day.

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Keurig B31BLACK K-Cup Single Cup Coffee & Tea Brewing System, Black

We love this brewer. The best benefit is a fresh, just-brewed cup of coffee every time. The k-cups are more expensive than buying bulk coffee but we were throwing away partially brewed pots of coffee every day with our old brewer. Plus, the savings in time not having to clean the carafe and dump the filter of grounds and then cleaning that is well worth it. Also, you can purchase a reusable filter for it if you want to continue to use non-kcup coffee. Believe me, it is still WAY less expensive than what you pay in the popular coffee houses and the coffee is just as good, or better.

It won't accommodate a tall cup but it is simple to brew into a glass measuring cup and then pour that into your tall cup or travel mug.

Helpful tip: We did have a clogging problem at first. The manual doesn't tell you that there is a "top needle" that can get clogged. Just remove the gasket and take a straightened paper clip to unclog it. If you use your own coffee, use a coarser grind to avoid that problem. HOWEVER, we were leaving the k-cup closed up in there and the grounds were getting cold and stayed stuck in the needle. We found that if you remove the k-cup right after brewing, it doesn't get clogged EVER. Have not had it happen since we discovered that. By the way, Keurig's customer/technical service is absolutely top notch! They stand behind their product and more than make up for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

For those of you who are confused about the amount of water to pour in, we just take the cup we are brewing it in, fill it with water and pour it in. We never worry about seeing where the water level is.

A trend I have noticed in many of the negative reviews of the smaller Keurig brewers (both here and elsewhere on the internet) is that I think people are unfairly rating down the product due to issues that aren't really the brewer's fault. Note: I'm not saying that Keurig machines are some sort of holy, blameless things that never fail...I'm sure people have had problems with them, but it seems some people are being very unreasonable in spreading bad word of mouth about them. A few things:

1. People having overflow problems This seems really weird to me. The fill-level indicators are pretty darn accurate in my experience, but I get the feeling some people are just FILLING the reservoir with water completely. (which you're not supposed to do) and then taking off, leaving the machine to do it's thing and then winding up with a mess. Important note: the reservoir holds probably around 15-16 oz of water, but the machine is not made to properly brew more than 10oz at a time. I think they stress this in the manual for a reason. Fill your mug with water first, and use that as the measurement. Pretty simple.

2. The coffee not being strong enough Given the fact that there's something like 180 types of coffee for the machine, this seems like a really vague comment. I mean...are you brewing dark roast or extra bold k-cups? When I've tried those, I definitely get a damn strong cup of coffee. Are you brewing breakfast roasts? Then, yeah, it's going to be pretty light. If you are making dark coffee and it's coming out weak, then yes, there may be a problem with the brewer, but I'm guessing people are putting in blends that aren't stronger cups and expecting the kind of paint-stripper coffee they're used to making by hand. If the bolds really aren't doing it for you, may I recommend brewing an 8oz cup, then brewing a second 8oz cup with the same k-cup and combining them. Alternately, get the reusable k-cups and put stronger coffee in at a higher fill rate (say 3 tbps).

3. The coffee is not hot enough Again, this seems vague and personal preference-ish, yet people are rating down the machine because the near boiling temperature the coffee dispenses at apparently isn't insanely hot enough for them. Yes, in some circumstances, the heater may not be working, but I know people who like coffee hotter than the sun for some reason. Here's the thing: maybe you DO like scalding hot coffee. But just-at-boiling/just-under-boiling temp is generally considered the proper brewing temperature for coffee, at any roast. Also, using cold water will generally get you a crappy cup of coffee, in ANY machine. Chilled water generally wreaks havoc with the thermostats in coffee makers and in some instances the machines will simply heat to compensate for the temperature, but not actually boil the water. Use normal tap water for better performance (purified, preferably).

4. There are dry grounds in the k-cup or reusable k-cup This is something that people need to be very sure about. When coffee grounds are brewed at very high temperatures at high pressure, the grounds do NOT end up looking the same as the grounds do when you use a drip process (which results in a kind of brown sludge). If the grounds are being brewed right, they tend to bunch up and almost crystallize, with the high-heat, steam, and pressure almost "drying" them out for lack of a better way to put it. The grounds almost go through a kind of "spin cycle" like laundry does in a machine. So, the leftover grounds will NOT look like the wet, brown mess you get in drip filters. Are you SURE the grounds are dry and not being brewed or are they simply looking like the way high heat/pressure used up grounds tend to look? Does the coffee seem definitely weak and not brewing right?

About every 10-12 cups of coffee I suggest making sure the bottom k-cup assembly is clean and the needle is clear, then also clean the upper assembly and needle. Run the brewer every now and then with water, but no k-cup, which should help clean the top part. You shouldn't have to descale except maybe once every 5-6 months, and if you're using filtered water even then it shouldn't even be much of an issue.

I'm not saying Keurig brewers are perfect..I know some people have legitimately had bad experiences with them (and many have pointed out that the quality of water pumps they use are not exactly top of the line), but I think it's unfair to 1-star the product when many of the issues are not quite what they seem.

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I recently purchased both the Keurig B31 and Bosch Tassimo T45 personal brewers. My initial search was for a personal brewer for my office since the coffee provided at work is terrible. This review is written from the angle that I needed a brewer for my office cubicle, however I will add some insight for those looking to purchase for home use. My 3 main factors were 1)Convenience/Ease of Use 2)Price & 3)Coffee Quality. I opted with the Keurig for work and the Tassimo for home.

CONVENIENCE/EASE OF USE:

The Keurig wins for this factor since it is MUCH quieter than the Tassimo. As stated before, I sit in a cubicle at work so I didn't need a loud machine to disrupt my co-workers. We have `white noise' in our office and you can hardly hear the B31 as it brews. The Tassimo at home is louder and would definitely disrupt my co-workers sitting next to me. However, it is not so loud that it would wake someone up who is sleeping in the house. There are some good videos on YouTube of sound tests of the B31 and T45. I found the videos made the B31 sound louder than it actually is, while the Tassimo's are pretty accurate.

The Keurig brews a little faster than the Tassimo which gives it a little edge as well, but both are right around 2 minutes.

PRICE:

Since the coffee at work is free, price was a big factor for me as well. I didn't need something that was going to greatly increase my weekly spending. The Keurig B31 ($99.99) is cheaper than the Tassimo ($169.99). However, Bosch currently has a $50 rebate on the T45. Couple that with a 20% of BBB coupon and you have greatly reduced the price of the Tassimo machine.

The k-cups are also cheaper than the t-discs. I found the k-cups to be around $0.50/cup. The t-discs will run you $0.60 $0.80 for regular coffee and $1.25 for the cappuccinos and lattes. Depending on how much coffee you drink, this could get expensive.

Since I use the Keurig every day at work and the Tassimo only on the weekend, this made it the better choice for my desk.

COFFEE QUALITY:

The Tassimo wins this hands down. I found the Tassimo coffee (specifically Seattle's Best and Gevalia) to be much better than the k-cups. The flavors out of the Tassimo seem richer and fuller and the aroma that comes from the machine when brewing is much stronger. The k-cups do produce a good cup of coffee, but I found the t-discs better. I have been able to get close to the flavor of the t-discs by trying different brands of k-cups, but haven't found one that matched it in flavor exactly.

Conclusion:

I found the Keurig B31 to be the best option for my cubicle at work based on convenience and price. I would recommend the Tassimo for those who are using it at home. Or you could purchase both and enjoy the best of both worlds.

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Like many on here I could have written a glowing review on this mini and heck I may have but can't remember. You add water with each cup being careful not to overfill it, you buy pricey pods no secret there, it makes a great, hot cup of coffee, etc, all of the things it is SUPPOSED to do. I learned all of the little tricks, tips, paper clip cleaning of the needle and so on and so forth BUT how much time do you really want to spend cleaning the machine and unclogging the needle? I've been on the phone with Keurig when it didn't brew and their service department is excellent (shouldn't you always develop a relationship with CS within what 2-3 months of ownership?). I know this little machine inside and out. Like I said it makes great coffee but only when it feels like it! I swear this thing has a mind of its own. It randomly leaves water inside the heating element quick fix by turning off the machine, holding down the on button and pumping the water out. It randomly explodes the pods at the seams sending coffee grounds all through the pod housing this trick is usually discovered once my coffee appears with a multitude of floating grounds no biggee you just pull out your handy dandy fine sieve and filter it into another cup. Don't we all want to mess with that in the morning? This morning prior to the explosion it just didn't work at all...turned it off, pulled the handle, etc. and finally it was ready. I'M DONE. Sorry Mini I wanted to love you but you will be going back from where you came before I'm no longer under the return window. You'd looked cute sitting there on my counter top and 75% of the time you were great but the other 25% with your finicky self has just ruined this relationship.

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I wish I would have read the reviews before buying the Mini! Mine died after to months of average use. Currently it makes about 1/4 cup or less. After reading what others have gone through I am not going to bother fighting with it or costumer support but because I love the product and convenience I am sizing up to a model that has better reviews and is more long lasting. I am giving this company a second chance only once. Don't bother getting this model because in a few months you will need a new one.

Holstein Housewares H-08006 6-Cup Stainless Steel Espresso Maker Mate

This is my third stove-top espresso maker. They get heavy usage from me and I couldn't live without one. Now, keep in mind that it is technically a percolator and doesn't really make espresso, but you can't beat it for great coffee flavor.

This design is sleek and has a small footprint, especially as compared to an espresso machine. This pot is attractive enough to be left out of the cupboard while not in use. It's also much easier to clean than a machine, however, the stainless steel needs to be wiped down after washing or it will show spots as all stainless steel does.

You can adjust the strength of the coffee by adjusting the grounds-to-water ratio to suit your taste. Also play with the fine-ness of the grind of coffee. As I use it to make lattes at home, I use a fairly fine grind and don't fill the water chamber all the way up to produce a stronger brew. You will notice a few grounds toward the bottom of your cup of coffee, but that is customary and not intended for drinking.

My past espresso makers have all tended to "spit" a bit toward the end of the perc, which makes for a messy stove. The particular upward lip design on this pot prevents that from happening. Use care not to get grounds in the threads between the chambers to avoid dripping while pouring.

A couple of other notes: this handle really does stay cool enough to use right after the perc is done. I did receive the spare gasket it was tucked into the upper chamber.

Highly recommend!

I bought this because it was inexpensive and I wanted to try a stovetop expresso maker...also it is not aluminum...I have had it a week, and I'm really pleased...it doesn't make real expresso, but it does make great coffee..even from my cheap storebrand ground coffee (I regrind to get finer)...It's simple, it cleans up well, it's all around a fine coffeemaker.

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The Holstein makes a great cup of strong coffee but it's not espresso.Its very easy to use and clean and it works just as fast as any automatic drip with better results.After a few tries I was thinking of returning it but it would be great for camping or as a back up because all you need is water,coffee, and heat and you can't beat the price. So it looks like I'll be spending to get that 9 bars to get my true espresso but I will keep this one in the stable.

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I have had an Italian aluminum stove top espresso maker for 15 years. It truly makes espresso. I decided to switch to stainless steel because of the possible Alzheimer's link from aluminum. This coffee maker isn't designed well. Some of the water stays in the bottom even if you put it on high. More importantly, it makes mediocre coffee and not espresso. I am sending it back and buying a more reputable and expensive brand.

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This is the cheapest stainless steel one there is and when compared to the Primula aluminum, it performs amirbly.

It doesn't have a pretty spout. It doesn't have a nice rounded top part. This is true, but it is well built. One thing that I like better about it is the screen and gasket is built into the bottom of the top part. With that said, I like that the Primula doesn't have a rubber gasket in with the actual coffee, because it doesn't need it. Actually, I'm not sure this one has to have it. The coffee isn't going to leak back down to the bottom, is it?

Anyways, it makes great espresso. It helps if you use Guatamala coffee if you are going to make Cappucinos though. You need the bite with the milk added.

Also, you don't get as many coffee grounds in this compared to the Primula. Of course, I didn't grind the coffee for that one.

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Jura-Capresso ENA3 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center, All White

... when I looked at the price of these coffee machines, but I am so pleased that I made the leap. It's an expensive luxury, but we've come to feel it's a "must have" if really good coffee is of importance to you. We had had a Capresso coffee machine to make lattes and other treats, so I was familiar with the brand. That gave me the confidence to trust that Jura-Capresso made a machine that might be worth the investment. And boy, are we thrilled!! The coffee is dependably wonderful every time. We don't throw out the last half of a pot nor do we feel compelled to keep drinking just to finish that pot. Each cup is made hot and fresh every time. While it may be pricey, we recommend it. If you need just a little encouragement to switch to such a machine... Go for it!

We bought this machine five years ago to replace a Starbucks basic espresso machine that had lasted for ten years and was still going strong. I got it for my husband's birthday because we make espresso daily and wanted something more "automatic" than our basic machine. Within six months of daily use (4-6 shots/day) it was putting out weak shots despite replacing the filter and descaling regularly. We sent it back to the manufacturer where they replaced the burr grinder and cleaned the internal mechanisms and returned it for no cost. Great customer service. Unfortunately, every six months since then we've had to do the same thing and, since the warranty was only for one year, we've paid to ship it cross-country every time since and had to go without the machine for two weeks at a time each time. I am loathe to replace it because it was so expensive, but I am sick and tired of this song and dance. When I finally do bite the bullet and replace it, I won't be buying another Jura despite the helpful, courteous customer service. I wish I had stuck with my Starbucks machine that only cost about 1/4 the price.

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This has to be the best splurge-buy I've ever made. We've been brewing at least 4 cycles every day for the past 3 years, and it has never failed us. We like setting it for a 4 oz. cup, and brew a "2-cup" double per cycle to make a nice 8 oz. cup of lungo. We were worried at first about using the oily dark roasts that we love so much, but it turns out the trick to a strong cup every time is to gently tap and stir at the beans as it grinds to encourage them to fall down the hopper into the grinder. We love using the steamer wand as well for steaming milk. We always use filtered Brita water in the container, and we changed the water hardness setting for descaling to account for the Brita water. I just can't get over that they provide you with six levels of water hardnesses to set!

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Kalorik 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker, Black/Stainless Steel

Materials and construction seem very cheap. The spring in the part that allows you to take the pot out while still brewing, fell out while I was unpacking it. I returned it and purchased a Zoji. I am pleased with that coffee maker.

Cuisinox Milano 6 cup Espresso Coffeemaker

It Appears That After Some use with the Reducer (week) I noticed pitting upon further inspection, I now believe the reducer handle to be aluminum. I rubbed the handle on a sheet of paper and the metal rubbed off onto it. :| So now Im off to make tea without the reducer :P I have yet to contact the company in regard to this, but may soon since they neglected to mention it and state "highest possible standards in the industry. Featuring a heavy gauge 18/10 stainless steel construction".

It makes great coffee. If anyone says it doesn't, they are using it wrong, or they arn't using high quality coffee or they just don't like strong coffee. It ain't rocket science. Put the water in the bottom, put the coffee in the basket (How much is up to you.), screw it together and put it on the stove. On my gas stove it takes about 3 minutes. There is a thin crema, but this is not really espresso. The coffeemaker is well made with heavy guage stainless steel. Even the gasket seals tight without overtightening. Some complained about the handle getting hot, but suspect they are using a electric stove. Mine does not get hot. The spout is good it doesn't drip like my old one did. This is the only coffeemaker I use except for my Illy espresso machine so I use it everyday. It's expensive, but you will use it for a long time.

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We love LOVE this stovetop espresso maker. We used 4 aluminum ones before we finally made the switch, because we were nervous about spending so much money on such a small little thing. It was worth it in clean up time alone! After days of use, the aluminum maker would look dingy with little that could clean it up. This one doesn't even look dingy right after a brew! A quick rinse for a second brew, and it's ready to go. It is much more durable. The handle of the aluminum makers kept breaking off. NOT THIS ONE! This one never leaks out the sides if I don't put it on tight enough. You know what I'm talking about if you have used an aluminum one! This one never leaks out the top or bubbles over. It's fool-proof! Just what I needed! :) Now, my only wish is that it was bigger! I recommend this maker over and over. Enjoy!

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I bought one of these several years ago in an outlet shop outside Milan. It was the only one they had! I travel for extensive periods, living in rented accommodation and the one thing from my kitchen that travels is my coffee maker! I just ordered a second one from Amazon as it is the only place I have found another! I concur that stainless steel is highly preferable to aluminum; my physician told me years ago to NOT use aluminum as heat tends to spin off harmful molecules....Don't know if it's true or not but my Milano and I are not easily parted. Above all it makes great coffee.

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OK I like coffee but always thought stovetop coffeemakers are just the same. Well I guess they are not the same. I finally gave up my aluminum stovetop pot and use this one and the coffee is so much better. So smooth! The aluminum one makes a good cup of coffee but this makes a great one. The design of this pot is just so beautiful, I can never go back to aluminum or to another brand again. Thank goodness I bought this when it was on sale.

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Cuisinart SS-700 Single Serve Brewing System - Powered by Keurig

This unit replaces a Keurig mini that I now us for travel. It makes a flavorful, hot cup of coffee. I have been a Keurig fan for three years. I purchased this machine in Feb. 2010 from BB&B. Like other readers, I have had a few pump problems when there seemed to be an air lock in the pump and water would not flow into the heating chamber. The instruction booklet tells you to turn it off and unplug the unit, then restart. I have found that when I refill the water tank I just need to make sure it is properly seated and tap it to make sure the water is getting into the hose that pumps it into the heating chamber. I also use the hot water feature the first "brew" after refilling the tank to make sure the pump is pulling water. (The easiest solution to the pump "problem" is to not take the water chamber off of the base and just refill it with a pitcher as needed.) I did some online research and found that this pump problem was suppose to have been fixed since I purchased my machine. I might have returned this machine for the newer "fixed" model if the BB&B where I purchased it had not closed. I love the coffee from this machine and have had no further pump issues since employing the solutions noted above.

As many others here, I have evolved from a Keurig system. So for those thinking about buying a Keurig, please fully read all the reviews you can. If it wasnt for me being the only coffee drinker in the house, I wouldnt require a single cup brewing system. So for those looking into buying Keurig brewing system, consider the Cuisinart. It is licensed to be manufactured by Keurig, bu appears to be much better quality. I had my first Keurig go out with within 6 months. Then my second stopped functioning properly after less than 45-days. Same issue as another review, the Keurig Platinum began brewing small, random sized amounts of coffee and would also get confused on how much to brew and when to stop. Found out once it was returned to the store, the unit was recalled (for defective water pumps). Which also meant ALL the stores in town were ALL sold out...as they were all returned to the vendor.

Now, my buddy convinced me to get the Cuisinart. I have owned many Cuisinart kitchen utensils, but never anything electric. So I was skeptical to say the least. But at the same time I had to replace my last 2 Keurigs. So why not.

Now, 2 months later, a whole lot of coffee (125 servings +) and it is working great! I can only hope that Cuisinart has a more reliable vendor for there water pumps than Keurig. As that seems to be the big issue with all Keurig machines.

The Good:

-Power Switch is on the side of the machine (compared to the back of the machine on Keurigs)

-Water Tank Size

-Replaceable Charcoal Water filter

-FREE, reusable Keurig coffee filter

-Quiet

-Reliable (so far)....what a concept

-More cup size options

-"Rinse" button

-Pre-set water temps

-Auto On/Off

-Read-Out display clearly states "Not Ready" and "Ready"

-"Hot Water" button will dispense a full cup of hot water (which ever size you have selected will be dispensed in hot water)

The Bad:

-Power Switch is on the side of the machine....PUT IT ON THE FRONT ALREADY!

-Large footprint

-"Low Water Level" flashing blue LEDs are annoying. Its a clear water tank, I can see its low/empty

-Bottom catch/drip tray doesnt stay in place very well

-If you place a K-Cup inside the unit before its "Ready" (see above in The Good), it will not recognize the K-Cup once it is ready to brew. So you must lift and close the access lid one more time to allow it to brew. Not very time saving.

-"Hot Water" button will dispense a full cup of hot water; so if your machine is used primarily for coffee, you will have random loose chunks of old coffee grounds floating around in your cup of hot water since its inevitable to NOT get coffee grounds on the unit.

-Parts are not necessarily dishwasher safe. So I suggest hand washing periodically.

I will try to remember to give a 6-month review on the quality.

*****FOLLOW UP*****

08/01/2010 (175+ K-Cups)

Sadly, this follow-up is not what I had hoped. But, maybe it needs to be de-scaled/cleaned? Anyway, here is the new "problem"....(tsk tsk tsk)

The Setup: The machine, after brewing a cup will "prime" the system by sucking in what I would consider about 1/2 of the water necessary to brew a cup into the system itself. I would think this is done to heat the water inside the system, so the water temperature stays at a more consistent/constant temperature. This makes sense considering the machine has pre-set water temp setting and it must be quite difficult to keep the water exiting the system at a constant temperature.

The Fail: After brewing only one cup, the system triggers the prime function and sucks in how ever many ounces it needs. But, it doesnt suck in any water. The machine makes all the appropriate noises, but the water level inside the tank stays the same and it wont stop! This function normally takes about 3-5 seconds to complete. 10+ seconds later, it still has not achieved anything (poor little water pump)! That will be the number one killer of a water pump is dry-cycling. Argh!!!

So the solution so far is to shut off the unit, turn it back on and viola! It works! Now every time the unit does not have enough water inside, it will always prime itself by pumping in the appropriate amount of water. So this causes the water pump to work 2-3x more than most coffee pots. Maybe its over working the pump?

*Clean/De-Scale the unit: This is recommended every month or so. I have chosen NOT to do it since I use bottled (distilled) water 100% of the time along with the little charcoal filter that comes with it. I dont want to go waste 3 bottles of water cleaning out a system that should be perfectly clean anyway! I would assume the clean/de-scale is meant for people who have good tasting tap water (which we do not have in Las Vegas).

Maybe the charcoal filter is "clogged" and not allowing water to seep through as quickly? Who knows...

Ill update if anything else goes wrong!

*****FOLLOW UP*****

8/28/10

Problem continues as posted above. I have de-scaled the system, but it didn't help. The entire system was perfectly clean and de-scaling did not dislodge anything. Ive come to now realize this isn't really a problem as much as it is an inconvenience. You must cycle the system off/on to make it work. I let it sit a few night ago for about 3 minutes, and it never remedied itself. =0(

*****FOLLOW UP*****

11/27/10 (Unit #2)

Finally had to replace it! The machine has gradually become slower, noisier and overall horribly inefficient. The machine would take forever to heat up, multiple attempts to suck water into the machine from the reservoir and then began dispensing water back into the reservoir and not brewing coffee. Last 5 days before the machine was finally returned for a new unit, brewing coffee was painful and time consuming. Took 3-4 cycles to brew a single 12oz cup. Got it replaced and got a new one last night. Amazingly, this machine really got worn out fast. The new one its a whole lot quieter, faster and some simple things like the on/off switch works a lot easier and other issues.

*****FOLLOW UP*****

03/05/2011 (Unit #3)

The water pump again took a crap on me. The unit and pump had once again slowly gotten noisier and slower. This time (the past few weeks) the unit took about 10 seconds of wait time to simply begin brewing. Just as a reminder. I am the only person using the unit. The unit runs about 1.15 servings a day on average. Pretty crappy reliability. But...more "free" coffee and a new Keurig "Make Your Own" filter. Im up to 3 now!

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I have both Keurig and Cuisinart K cup machines...

About me... I am an embedded systems design engineer and know about control systems and such.

Food processing products should only use parts ( components ) in the water / control systems internal to the coffee maker that are "fit for purpose" as designed to be use with WATER.. as a coffee maker uses water.

I have opened several of my failed Keurig and Cusinart K cup machines and found that they are using an AUTOMOTIVE Market Pneumatic Solenoid Valve made in China.. part number SH-V0829...Google this number if you want to check and see this. It is designed for auto seat cushon inflation and has a built in LEAK RATE of 1CC/Min at 4 PSI for air compresser unloading used in seat cushon inflation systems. It is NOT WATER PROOF and DRIPS inside the coffee makers in the transformer and the air pump near the bottom getting the electric motor wet and make it smoke.. My coffee maker was way too young to smoke .. hahha just a joke..

The folk that make this coffee maker IN CHINA think most folk are too stupid to find out about their use of cheep and unfit for purpose components inside their coffee maker. I have attached a DOOR and Hinge on the back of one of my coffee makers that I keep repaired personally.. and buy the replacement control solenoids on ebay to keep my coffee maker working.... THIS SUCKS..... I was ripped off...

I did not pay for a rusty solenoid that leaks water inside my $250.00 coffee machine. When I call Keurig... they do talk some but avoid the topic of this solenoid.. just reading a standard reply statement... When I talk to Cuisinart.. they have nothing to say but want my $10 for shipping a replacement unit... also with the same defective solenoid inside of the same type and part number...

I want to like my coffee maker.... but I do not like being treated like a fool ...

My old Mr Coffee has very nice insides... good design.. and lasted a long time... I am wanting to see Mr Coffee make a K cup that I would like... Cuisinart and Keurig are only about making money .. and not delivering INTERNAL quality of their product with this machine.. They come from the SAME China factory...and they are made using non water proof no O ring air only pneumatic solenoid valves... The part numbers are on the side of the solenoid if you care to open up your machine and look... Do not have it plugged in if you do.. safety first..

I hope you like having RUSTY water in your hot water for making tea and coffee.... the solenoid does rust internally as it is only for air usage...not made for water exposure...

I have photos and also plan to use this experince in a control system class I teach at a University as an example of poor ethics in business manufacturing...

I need not say how MAD I am over this discovery .....and the lack of interest from the folks that make this product..

Barnum and Bailey.. a sucker is born every minute... that must be their motto..

I must be a sucker... THAT SUCKS

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I have been using a Keurig Platinum Machine for about a year now and had to replace it 2 times. Once for both hot and cold water draining out of the bottom of the unit and the second for making expresso size cups when I asked for the 11.25 oz. cup. I returned the Keurig and got this Brand New Cuisinart about 3 weeks ago. It works great, the water container is larger and the max cup size is 12oz. I get great cups of coffee and the machine works beautifully. I use regular tap water with the charcoal filters and the coffee taste is super. So far this machine is the best I have had and I think Cuisinart makes a superior product every time. You can make your own Kcups since Cuisinart has included one in the side of the machine for your delight at no extra cost.

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My wife and I began the "single serving" coffee maker quest 4 years ago. We went cheap at first, purchasing a Black & Decker unit for $56...what a disaster!!! Water all over the place and extremely disappointing flavor results. So we decided to quit messing...I do mean MESSING...around and got ourselves the Bunn "My Cafe'" for $350. We were satisfied with the results despite the noises it produced, but found that again, the inconsistency of the results due to varying fineness of the grind between different brands. Too course, it was weak, too fine, the machine had a heck of a time pushing through the water so you had to perform two cycles to get the amount of coffee we desired, plus it put a strain on the pump and discharge line. Well after a year or so, the inline check valve on the discharge line split...leaking water all inside the machine and all over the counter. We decided to get another one since overall we liked the results....and it worked fine, right up to the date we got the Cuisinart SS-700. The deciding factor was we were seeing that Pods were going the way of the Betamax...getting scarce, and expensive online (shipping etc). So I started making my own pods with the "Perfect Pod Maker"....what a pain in the %#*! It was time to make the

switch to the Keurig system! Friends of ours had gotten the basic model Keurig maker a year ago, we weren't particularly impressed with the flavor, plus the noise was horrid. So I did my research and found that the Cuisinart model consistently review positively, and one independent testing outfit said it was flat out the BEST...period. So we took the leap.

First off, it looks impressive! But as I found out, that impressiveness went way beyond it's looks. The initial set up was straight forward and effortless. Even setting up the clock/automatic functions was a piece of cake. My first actual test of it's coffee making abilities was with using the included My K-Cup reusable filter with the coffee I was using to make my own pods with.....ASTOUNDING!!!! 1000% difference in flavor. Plus the noise level was extremely low, it went through the cycle effortlessly. So I said, "okay, what will the pre-packaged cups do?" I was blown away! Fantastic flavor, the temperature was spot on, and virtually no mess. I have since brewed a dozen different flavors/brands, and each one becomes my new favorite....SOLD!!!

I have gone through this long, drawn out review to indicate that I have seen all the rest/best....folks, you CANNOT GO WRONG with this machine. It is the rare combination of not only looking great...my wife LOVES that part, but we both are giddy about the results it produces. And it does so not sounding like a 747. I think what separates this unit from the others is the brewing temperature. All I know is that we are both rediscovering the pure pleasures of a good cup of coffee that is hassle free to make, from a unit that is pleasing to the eye. Take it from someone who has been on all sides of this "single server" equation... the Cuisinart SS-700 will bring you great coffee pleasure...end of sentence!!

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