Magic Chef Espresso Cappuccino Machine

This is a good quality espresso machine. My only complaint is that the seller wrapped the original flimsy product box with brown paper and shipped it. By the time it arrived, the side of the box was caved in and I thought the item was certainly broken. Fortunately, it wasn't broken, but since I bought this as a Christmas gift, I found it pretty embarrassing to give this with the box in that condition. Simply enclosing it in a shipping box would have prevented this issue.

Bodum Chambord 8 cup French Press Coffee Maker, 34 oz., Chrome

Okay, to some the idea of using a French press coffee maker is a little too precious, bordering on snobbishness. I used to be in that boat until a few hours ago. Tonight on a whim, I purchased this Bodum French press. Now I should warn you readers that it is generally NOT a good idea to test out your shiny new french press when you are getting home at 10:30pm on a Monday after spending way too much money at Target when you just ran in to get "dog food". I write this review so heavily caffienated that I will probably stay up until dawn tonight re-organizing my closets or alphabetizing my CD collection or doing some other useless task. Despite being a daily coffee drinker (of the muddy variety the office's Bunn machine churns out), one cup from the french press has knocked me into the stratosphere, and that alone is worth giving this product 5 stars.

My caffiene overdose aside, this press produces the best coffee I have ever had at home, and it truly rivals or surpasses coffee I've had at coffee houses. It's slightly more involved than using an automatic maker, but not difficult at all. The unit itself is pretty sturdy, and looks lovely.

French press coffee is a great alternative to using those smaller 1-2 cup automatic drip makers. Being single, I've gone through my share of those, and the coffee they make alway seems about ten times worse than the coffee from a normal-sized drip maker. If you like to make a large pot of coffee and drink it throughout the morning, I would suggest picking up a good quality carafe or thermos to keep the coffee warm.

Pros:

-Best tasting coffee you'll ever have at home, period.

-Strong, full bodied flavor

-Pretty easy to prepare

-Impress your friends with your snobby european coffee-making ways :) (looks good on your counter too)

-Great for making small amounts of coffee, for one or two people.

-Priced about the same as a ho-hum auto drip coffee maker with no extra bells and whistles, yet makes coffee a million times better.

Cons:

-More cleanup than using a automatic drip maker

-No heating element to keep coffee warm. Use a thermos/carafe if you want to sip several cups over a few hours.

8-cup capacity is based on a 4oz beverage size. Not really a "con" but something you should be aware of. If you had a large group you were making coffee for, it might get a little tedious to be constantly making a fresh batch of coffee.

Couple other notes: Coarsely ground coffee is recommended. This is no problem for people that already buy whole bean and grind their own, but it will be an extra step for some people. Also, I recommend picking up an Aerolatte milk frother if you want to make truly effortless cappuchino. I find that there's plenty of time to warm some milk in the microwave and froth it up while the coffee brews for 4 mintues. A $20 Aerolatte milk frother + $24 french press = coffeehouse coffee at home, whenever you want it. That's really a tiny investment for coffeehouse quality java!

I also purchased a smaller 1-cup Bodum press to take to work. Tomorrow I plan to smile smugly while my co-workers chug down the crap that comes out of the Bunn machine. If my boss is really nice, I may let him use it too. Maybe.

I previously owned a (much) smaller version of this press, which made an excellent cup of coffee. But that was the problem. It only made a CUP of coffee. I usually have two, and what if others want coffee? It takes a while, going one cup at a time.

Needless to say, I upgraded to this larger press, which makes about 3 times more coffee. It makes the best coffee ever I could never go back to a junky old drip coffee maker after this. Yeah, it's more work than a drip coffee maker, but really, would you rather have quick, easy coffee that tastes bad, or a delicious cup of coffee that takes 5 minutes more?

Using this is like steeping tea you boil some water, grind some coffee beans (I hope you're grinding your own coffee beans!) and pour the water over the coffee grounds to let them steep for 4 minutes. Then you push the knob down, which filters delicious coffee into the water and leaves the grounds at the bottom of your pot. Then, voila! You've got about 3 cups of yummy coffee, depending on to what extent you water your cup down with cream and sugar.

If you're one of those people who just CAN'T WAIT for their coffee, you'd be better off getting a typical drip coffee maker. But if you love coffee, and want it to taste as good as it possibly can, you have to buy this press.

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A french press is one of the best methods of brewing coffee at home. I have never liked the "drip method" machines like Mr Coffee which, in my opinion, produce a very bland cup of coffee. Some reviews have mentioned the extra effort involved in comparison to a drip machine. This really is not a big issue. You have to boil the water separately and remember to press the plunger down when the coffee has finished brewing. The clean up is about the same.

Some tips for getting the most out of this machine. Always use coarsely ground coffee. I've found a 9 second burst with my grinder works best. You'll have to experiment. I also gently shake the grinder while using it. This results in a more even grind. With this approach I have very little sediment in my final cup.

Allow the boiled water to cool for a minute before adding to the grounds. This seems to produce a less bitter cup. Finally, stir the grounds and water with a chopstick or similar. Let the coffee brew, then press the plunger down *slowly*.

If making more than one cup per person, store the extra in a vacuum flask. The coffee cools very quickly if left in the press.

Always clean your grinder. Oils accumulate very quickly resulting in increasingly bitter coffee.

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A friend loaned me this great coffee press. It's the best coffee brewing system I've found, but more time consuming to use and clean up. Please note also that 8 cups is wildly optimistic. That's four-ounce cups. I real life, you get about two good 10-12 ounce mugs of coffee.

At the time I ordered, the item was described on Amazon as having a glass beaker, but the one I received was plastic.

Some may prefer this because it's unbreakable; I was disappointed. I specifically wanted the glass one because I trying to avert plastic's that might leech chemicals into food. The plastic version also differed in that filter screen was held together with some plastic components, whereas the glass version uses all metal parts (with the exception of the lid).

I ended up returning the item (which sours the whole on-line shopping experience) and buying a glass version at a local retailer instead. One where I could verify I was getting the glass version that I desired. I'm very happy with it and use it daily.

So, if you want to order this item from Amazon, please double-check that your getting what you want.

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Many coffee drinkers are inflexible on one point and that is the necessity to brew coffee in a glass container only! I used to be in this "glass camp", and I broke beaker after beaker in every coffee press I had. I am ham-fisted and lack the delicacy needed to make any glass coffee maker last longer than a few weeks.

I had a Brazilian polycarbonate coffee press and it lasted nine years. It finally came apart because it had been made in two pieces, and the two simply came apart because they were not injection-molded as one piece.

Then I discovered this Bodum Chambord 8-cup press and am delighted to say that it is absolutely perfect for me. The beaker is made of polycarbonate, like my old Brazilian one, but unlike that one, the Bodum is one solid piece, with no mold marks, seams, or anything else to come undone.

One other nice thing about it is that the beaker is big enough in diameter so that I can get my hand in it easily, and that's a big plus for cleaning the coffee pot thoroughly.

The coffee tastes great, needless to say, and unless I do something exceptionally stupid, this coffee pot should last me the rest of my life.

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DeLonghi DCF212T Drip Coffeemaker with Convenient Front Access

When my $100 coffee maker quit, I researched coffee makers and found this model from DeLonghi I hadn't heard of before. The design of this model sets a new standard for on-the-counter coffee makers. It is incredible to be able to put the filter, coffee, AND WATER in the maker without moving the machine. The caraffe doesn't drip when pouring into the swing out arm (or into the cup later) so there's no messy drips to wipe up at any time.

The digital clock isn't the quickest to set since you have to hold a button in as it changes in minutes only, but hopefully that won't need set often.

The "aroma" button really works! There actually is a difference in the brewing aroma with it on.

Most importantly, the end product was a great cup of coffee! I'm thrilled with the coffee maker and haven't found a single negative aspect yet, including the price. I HIGHLY recommend this model. Kudos Delonghi, you really outdid yourself here. Amazon's shipping was simple and fast. The whole purchasing experience was exceptional. A+++++

I just got this coffee maker a few days ago and for the most part I like it, but, and this is a major but for me, the coffee just isn't quite hot enough. I find myself throwing my cup in the microwave to get it piping hot, not scalding but hot. It's nice looking, the front water loading is convenient, the coffee tastes good, but I wouldn't buy it again because of the temperature issue.

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I had the same leaking problem that another reviewer had. After about 1 month of daily use this unit starts leaking from the back and liquid coffee goes down to the warming plate making a mess and causing a burnt coffee smell. The company kindly sent me another unit but the same thing happened. So now they are sending me a second replacement and I chose a different model which hopefully will be more reliable. But based on the review on that unit I am not optimistic that unit is any better.

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Summary: it died after 40 days.

I did my homework before picking this one, relying a lot on other reviewers' comments. I concede that the pour-from-the-front feature was appealing, but after getting the machine, I realized that it's not such a great design. Because the water channels through this front access swing-out arm, it's very difficult to REMOVE unwanted water, not to mention grounds that somehow end up in the reservoir. When I used a flashlight to examine the reservoir, I was appalled at how scummy it was, even after only a few weeks' usage.

The digital clock is terribly clumsy. To set the clock or brew time, you must hold down a single button until it reaches the desired time. The brew time defaults to 6AM, so if you want to set it for 5AM, you must cycle through 23 hours of counting.....and if you want to change it for the weekend, it's very awkward. Hey, this is 2008! Can't you do better than this, DeLonghi? This is a stone-age digital clock!

But the bottom line was simply this: the heating element stopped working after only 40 days of use. That's simply not acceptable. In the past, a coffeemaker could be expected to last for many years of daily use. Sadly, none of the "imported" coffeemakers I've tried recently can match that performance. This model was an exceptional failure.

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I bought this coffee maker about 4 months ago and it is already in the garbage. After the first month coffee would slowly come out of the carafe around the silver strip near the bottom and get on the burner and the smell of burnt coffe would fill the house. Then this weekend as I was filling the carafe with water it cracked. Carafe's online are $20 + shipping. NOT WORTH IT! So, I went out and bought a Cuisnart Coffee on Demand 12 cup programmable coffee maker and so far it is wonderful! Flavorful and hot coffee and even better there is no carafe to worry with!!!

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BonJour Stove Top Espresso Maker 3-Cup Caf? Milano, Polished Aluminum

My son gave me this 3 cup BonJour espresso maker for Christmas. I was not expecting much but was actually pleasantly surprised. First let me address the previous poor reviews. First, the pot is small and yes avoid putting the handle directly over the flame or heating element. I am fortunate as my gas stove has 5 burners (4 different sizes). The smallest size is meant to be a warming burner. It is perfect for the espresso maker as the heat is directed to the bottom of the pot. The handle stays cool throughout the 4-5 minutes it takes to brew the coffee. Secondly, I have not yet had a bad pot of coffee from this simple device. I suspect that one of the reviewers either had a defective gasket between the upper and lower portion of the pot or just did not tighten it enough.

With my old Mr. Coffee electric coffee pot I always used to steal the first cup of coffee from the brew before the process was complete. The rest of the pot, of course, was never as good as the first cup. This espresso maker makes every cup like the first cup of the old Mr. Coffee and takes less time to brew. This espresso pot makes 3 cups of espresso. Be warned that this is no more than 5 oz of very strong coffee without being bitter. One cup of espresso coffee is only about 50 ml (1 2/3 oz). I usually put the whole amount (5 oz) into my stainless steel travel mug and top off with hot water from my tea pot. I am told this is the "Caffè Americano" way of preparing coffee. I just love it. I have a pot at home and one in my travel trailer.

Pros:

Coffee tastes great. Rich and flavorful without bitterness.

Simple design, simple to use.

No paper filters.

Takes only minutes to brew.

Easy to clean.

Low cost.

Less waste. I never throw away coffee because I made too much.

Cons:

May not really be a con but must use a different size pot to make more or less than the 3 cups of espresso this pot was designed to make. These types of espresso makers come in a range of sizes. I have seen 1,2,3,4,6,9 and 12 cup sizes (some are different brands).

If you start a pot and walk away and forget you may come back to a mess. This is not an automatic coffee maker and you should not leave the area for more than a couple of minutes. After a while you can tell when the coffee is done by the sound. The coffee is done brewing when most of the coffee has been pushed up into the upper chamber. Towards the end of the process the pot begins to gurgle as it pushes out the last of the coffee. The pot should be removed from the heat shortly after the gurgling starts, within a minute or two. Do not leave the pot on the heat after the gurgling has stopped. The bottom chamber will be empty of water and you will only be heating the metal.

Additional comments: It is now 6 months later with daily use of this espresso maker. Still works perfectly. I have found that this pot also makes a great Thai tea! I fill the brew cup with the tea, brew and pour the rich crimson liquid into my stainless steel travel mug. I then add sweetener (I use saccharin tabs), a shot of sugar free liquid creamer, milk and ice. As a diabetic, I can still enjoy one of my favorite beverages!

What a piece of garbage.

I gave it every chance. I experimented with different grinds running the gamut from coarse to fine, different amounts of coffee in the basket, different water levels in the lower chamber, different flame levels on my gas stove ... 1/4 of the time, it would very quickly brew a batch of really strong, delicious coffee. The REST of the time it would make boiling noises and blow steam out the pour spout, but all I'd get in the top of the pot would be a thimbleful of undrinkable sludge. I thought this meant pressure was escaping from the base, but I could never figure out where the leak was. The gasket was new with no cracks in it, the parts were screwed together as tight as they would go, and I never heard any hissing nor saw steam escaping from anywhere except the pour spout where it is SUPPOSED to come out. After each failure I'd have to wait for the pot to cool off, then take it apart and find the bottom chamber full of a dark liquid that looked a lot like (lukewarm, metallic-tasting) coffee ... but why didn't it squirt up into the top? There's no way to pour coffee out of the bottom! After wasting uncounted amounts of time and coffee beans trying to get this thing to work, I had to give it up as a lost cause. Into the recycling bin with this worthless hunk of metal!

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I purchased this item because I needed a cheap espresso maker for the summer and didn't want to pay for starbucks. Not only did the espresso taste absolutely dreadful (there were grounds consistently in the bottom of the cup), but the plastic handle started melting within one week of use, and by three weeks of use, the entire handle had completely melted off, causing a smelly mess for my stove. I knew this was going to be a cheap espresso maker, but there's a big difference between cheap and completely unusable.

Read Best Reviews of BonJour Stove Top Espresso Maker 3-Cup Caf? Milano, Polished Aluminum Here

I have 5 (3 cup),2 (6 cups)and 1 (9 cup) espresso makers. Out of those, one 3 cup and one 6 cup are Bonjour. I use the 3 cups almost every morning, when the husband wants espresso I use a 6 cup one and when we have company I use the biggest one. I have many because I don't run the dishwasher daily. Out of all of them, the best ones are my 3 cup Bonjour and my 6 cup Bonjour. I just love them! The coffee always turns out aromatic and flavorful. I use them in a regular glass electric stove and when we loose power, in the burner of the turkey fryer and even though the 3 cup is small, I have never had any issues.

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I confess I bought my BonJour Stove Top Espresso Maker at the Goodwill for $2. It'd be worth paying full price, however, because the coffee it makes is delicious. It's much, much better than my electric espresso maker; sweet, smooth, and not sour or bitter. It took a little experimenting to learn how to use it, but it's not that hard to figure out.

1. Place the pot at the edge of the burner, so that the handle stays cool.

2. Try about two coffee scoops per batch, about 5-6 oz of water. The water doesn't fill the bottom chamber. I put in a little more than I expect to get out.

3. Turn the heat on HI until the water boils, then turn it down to MED or whatever temp will maintain the boil/perking.

4. When the perking stops, take it off the heat.

I get a few dregs in the cup but not enough to bother about.

Gaggia 12300 Baby Class Manual Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel

We got the Gaggia Baby Class 12300 over the weekend. I must confess that I purchased it not here at amazon (although I am an amazon shopper for life, I think). Firstly, the built of this machine is by far superior than my first esp machine, breville cafe roma which I had to dispatch with a heavy heart, because it was a good (cremaaaaa!!!) espresso machine. I also have a Delonghi 702, which got great reviews, but I cannot get good crema from it, so it's going back. Stainless steel casing, the cash basin is cast iron, and the filter weighs about a pound.

After carefully reading the manual,(I rarely do with other new "toys"), using this machine is easy to use. I always "prime" the machine as instructed by running it without the filter attached until the cup is filled with just water.

I usually use a clear mug/cup to see the beautiful crema that comes out.

The frother: one of the reviewers that I read was mildly complaining about it falling off. If you read the section on how to clean it and put it back it should not happen anymore. Tip: youtube has videos from casualfilm that shows you how to prime, make capuccino, clean, the machine.

Cappuccino: Wow! that's all I can say... first you make your espresso, and by the time you put your milk (stright from the fridge) the machine has warmed up already that it only takes a few seconds to heat up the milk and create a great frothing.

I have nothing but praises for this machine!!! I will try to update in about a month....

You pay for what you get. The Gaggia is pricey BUT it is worth the price for a great cup of espresso. We have previously owned two much cheaper models by other manufactures and they never produced a great cup of espresso. The Baby Gaggia is extremely easy to operate and contains all quality parts, most importantly it produces a world class cup of espresso or cappuccino. It is a great reminder of vacations to Italy.

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I had a Gaggia Classic for years, which gave one consistently great shot after another. I upgraded to the Gaggia Baby Class, and after 7 months I have given up. It has gone back for service twice, and each time came back not working properly. When I complained, I was told the problem was a "new" problem, and even though it was still under warranty, I would have to pay shipping ($50.00).

My new Baby Class is inconsistent and pours great shots alternating with shots I have to throw away. Service from Whole Latte Love/Importika has deteriorated since I had my first Gaggia machine. I have finally given up and gotten rid of this machine and purchased a new one, a different brand from a different vendor.

Very disappointing.

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This is a great looking machine and functions very well. It takes some time to get the crema right but it when it works properly, it's excellent.

However, after using it regularly for four weeks, it seems the filter becomes very clogged very quickly and has to be cleaned often. The holes seem quite small and the water accumulates in the awkward catch tray quite often. It's frustrating because water also accumulates under the machine. Lots of cleaning involved. Didn't happen on our old Saeco. Suppose it could be the grind but its been the same used from day one. At this point, I would not rank it over 4 stars.

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I've had the Baby for just over a month. I have experienced none of the issues I read about in a couple of the reviews. No leaks, primed right out of the box. It heats up quickly and makes a really good espresso and froths milk with no fuss. The only complaint I have ,and it's minor, is the placement of the power switch. In this price range I don't think you're going to find a better espresso machine.

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Alessi Miniture La Conica Espresso Maker H.3.75"

This mighty mite makes a powerful yet tiny cup of brew. Its 0.95oz output is miniscule, but with great patience, I am able to make enough coffee to stay awake long enough to make enough coffee to stay awake to make enough coffee. About 40 pots a day is all it takes.

Best of all, I can brew with a lighter! Yet another addicting pastime brought to you by Bic.

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