Krups 203 Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder with Stainless-Steel Blades

I have had my grinder for 12 years now. It works the same today as it did new, and I use it about 10 times a week. For the money, it can't be beat. That said, this grinder is not for everybody.

This grinder is perfect for anybody with a coffee maker that uses #4 paper CONE filters (or slightly bigger or smaller). I emphasize PAPER because a permanent filter is not good for this grinder. Like any blade grinder, it will produce some dust. That creeps through the permafilter and into your pot is makes sludge. It sloppies up your coffee. Nothing gets through paper filters though.

It also grinds coffee fine. You really don't have a choice. It is ok for espresso as well if you are not a connoisseur. If you try a coarse grind with this unit, you will be out of luck. If you don't grind long enough, you will leave a few beans whole or in large pieces.

If you need anything other than a fine grind and don't mind using paper filters (I prefer them), then look no further.

I deducted a star because it has limitations, but the truth is, for probably 80% of the coffee drinkers out there, this grinder is all you need.

A little over 6 months ago we read about the benefits of grinding flaxseed and eating it with cereal, and decided to try it. So we bought the Braun KSM-2 grinder for the purpose, and it worked reasonably well.

However, while staying at a friend's house we tried the same thing with a Krups grinder, and found that

1. it ground the flaxseeds more thoroughly (we think it is because of the oval shape), and

2. it was quieter

We like the Braun's space for winding up the cord, and the Braun seems sturdy enough, so it's not a bad unit. But we bought the Krups and have been using it for a few weeks now, and we prefer it.

Our theory is that the key to the Krups's better grinding is the shape -seen from above it is an oval with one end chopped off. This shape appears to stop the forward momentum of the flaxseeds (or whatever) so that the blades hit them with more impact. That is, in a circular grinder the seeds tend to pick up speed and swirl around with the blades, but the shape of the Krups doesn't let the speed build up so much.

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We are serious cooks and take our coffee seriously. Own two of these and the first one is at least ten years old and the newest one less than two. Grinds whole beans according to your desired taste. We own two simply because we like plain as well as flavoured whole bean coffee and simply wish to keep the flavors separate.

Two helpful hints someone suggested that I pass on. Place this grinder on a small towel or pot holder as it helps muffle the sound. Secondly, invest in a good quality nylon paint brush that you can use to "sweep" out your coffee grinder weekly so that you have no grounds left as these can turn rancid over months and leave an awful taste.

Oh and if this or any appliance breaks down contact the maker not Amazon.com and they will replace it. Krups is a reliable maker and I know firsthand that they stand by their products.

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There are two things I take very seriously in this life: one is books, the other is coffee (not surprisingly, the often go together). While the bulk of my reviews are children's books, I felt it necessary to go against type and review this coffee grinder. Most coffee experts as well as everyday, casual drinkers agree that the best tasting coffee is brewed with freshly ground beans. Once beans are ground, they begin to oxidize, much like an opened bottle of wine. Old preground coffee has a tendency to taste bitter, and with the proliferation of inexpensive grinders, more and more people are buying whole bean coffee to grind right before they brew. Of course, finding the RIGHT grinder for the price is the tough part. Grinders exist in every form and size and expense bracket. Quite a lot of round, domed grinders I've used have unsharpened blades on a mount that is too high to really grind beans fine enough for specialty coffee like espresso or Turkish. The Krups has a few advantages over other grinders, namely these: ** The blades are sharp and mounted low in the housing. Maybe other manufactures are saving a few pennies by putting flat tongues of metal in their grinders, but they don't have the edge to pulverize beans like the Krups can. ** The machine has a higher RPM than other machines. This makes it easier to reduce grind times and with additional speed, can reduce whole beans to powder in less than a minute (I've had a Black n' Decker that couldn't grind beans for Turkish coffee if you held the button for half an hour). ** the housing is oval and the lid is flat. I'm not an engineer or physicist, but I think the flat lid and oval shape allow the beans to fall back towards the blades for further grinding (again, my Black n' Decker allowed the beans to spin around the lid in a whirlpool pattern that was pretty to look at, but pointless for actually reducing the grounds to the small particles I wanted). ** it has a large capacity. Do you like strong coffee?? Use more grounds, then!! The box says that you can grind up to 20 cups of java at a time. I don't know about the sorts of demitasses they must be using to gauge the volume of a "cup", but I do know that this machine can grind up enough beans for a number of very stiff MUGS of coffee. In the disadvantages column, the only one I could site is that the housing cup is slanted down, I'm assuming for decorative purposes. Hence, I'm forever spilling beans out of the lower side. My new secret is to measure the beans out in the LID, first, then turn the whole thing upside down and put the housing into the lid. Since I only use it to grind coffee (and while I drink my fair share, I don't have the thing running nonstop day and night), I can't speak with any aplomb about how sturdy a machine is or how long it lasts. I once dropped one after a year and broke it, but it seemed nowhere near quitting, so I can't vouch for how long it would work under normal, non-butterfingered conditions. My assumption is that anything with such a high RPM rate isn't intended to be kept running for long periods of time-creates too much heat and friction-so if you plan to grind coffee night and day, it's probably best that you spend the money on a professional model intended for cafes. All in all, a fine piece of workmanship and definitely worth the extra few dollars over many of the other, cheaper, more poorly-designed grinders on the market today.

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This grinder was the top recommended spice grinder in Cooks' Illustrated, and it does a good job, but it just won't come clean. Some reviewers have said that it is difficult to clean, but that's an understatement: it is impossible to clean after using it for spices.

I bought this grinder last night and after just one use of grinding spices (a mixture of dried chili peppers, coriander, cumin and black pepper), it looks five years old. Even after soaking the plastic lid in warm, soapy water and scrubbing it, the bottom half of the lid is a dingy brown: this staining would occur even in the black model since the lids of both the black and white are the same. The plastic lid has two textures: smooth and cloudy; the staining occurs only on the cloudy portion, but not on the clear portion. Also, the interface between the metal bowl and the white plastic is stained and it smells strongly, even after I wiped it with soap and water and a toothpick. While I don't mind the smell, in a few months the oils from the spices could turn rancid.

Update: January 2011: Three years ago at a big box store, I bought a Black and Decker coffee grinder for half the price of this one. It has stayed clean even from grinding hot spices. It also works for grinding flax seeds.

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Imusa B120-22069SET 9-Piece Stainless Steel Espresso Set with Stovetop Coffeemaker, Cups and Saucer

handle was very flimsy. the plates and saucers were a nice

though. this espresso pot works well just be gentle.

This little pot makes espresso so simple. The lower half boils water which is then forced by the steam pressure up through a funnel tube, through coffee, through another tube in the upper half. Since there is no recycling or percolating of the water, the lower half is not even get dirty and the funnel containing the grounds is easy to clean. Rinse and wipe dry -3 parts only. There is a gasket, but you should wait until that needs to be replaced before removing. Since there are metal perforated screens above and below the coffee I rinse in both directions to remove any coffee I cannot see. Reviewers have warned not to tighten the pieces using the handle and I must note that it is tempting to hold the handle when screwing on the bottom, but I abstain since I don't want a broken handle. It does not need much torque to seal since the rim is very smooth and gasket material is silicone rubber. No tamping is needed, in fact it is suggested to only smooth and not pack down the coffee. I think this is because the coffee will be expanded by the water, making the chamber always appear more full after brewing. Holds about 3 tablespoons of coffee and 9 ounces of water, but only about 6-7 ounces goes up to the top of the pot. When you hear steam escaping the process is over and you should remove from the heat. I am using an induction stove top with a Max Burton 6010 8-Inch Induction Interface Disk with Heat-Proof Handle (reviewed separately).

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Espressione New Café Retro Espresso Machine, Red

Got this for our office and it works perfect. The red one looks great on the bar and as far as making espressos it is easy to use. So no technical knowledge was needed. At first I had to question it's quality, when we got the machine I didn't know that it has to be primed, once it was primed though it is a great performer, brews espressos consistently, operation is quiet and it doesn't leak like the one I had before, and the amount of steam it shoots out is amazing froths up the milk for the cappuccinos in seconds. Not sure if you had to watch the starbucks folks do the frothing, this machine although small performs much better than most of their bigger ones. Love the front panel with the gauge, lights and switches, and the side knob controls the amount of steam it shoots out.

I'm not a fan of ground coffee and personally prefer the coffee pods, this is another reason why I like this machine, it works with either but I personally use the pods as they make less mess. Been using the machine for several months and have not had any issues. Based on the price, performance and it's looks I would recommend it. It may not work well if used in high traffic, but for home or small office like ours it's perfect, and it doesn't take up a lot of room. Even though I thought it had issues at first because of lack of knowledge that the thing needs to be primed, but once done it's been a great quality performer. A friend has red and black setup in the kitchen, and most likely will be getting one too.

I love Coffee and super fan of retro machines!! I am in love with the retro look and the price it is fair. True about the handle is a little tough but works better for me with the pods and less messy, and what it really got me it's the froths up the milk for the cappuccinos and lattes in seconds. I have tried other espresso machines before my opinion is this Café Retro has a good power for good espressos and nice cream. Really Happy with it ....

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I purchased this product about 2 weeks ago. I had originally intended on using my own ground espresso as I had been doing; but after using the machine a bit, I was much happier with the level of effort and quality from the E.S.E. pods. I found it very difficult to get the correct amount of grounds packed, without making it nearly impossible to lock in place. I don't think this is an issue with the machine, but rather a learning curve involved. Like the title says; i'm pleased, not ecstatic about this machine. I'm using the Espressione brand pods which are less than $0.50/ea in bulk.

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I just got this the other day and made my first cup of espresso, I thought the espresso was weak,

I tried to froth milk and it didn't really froth it just heat it up. I reread the directions and

looked at various websites to see if I was missing something and then tried again same result.

I put the exact amount of ground espresso, I used Illy, and it was still weak. The frother still

did not froth the milk. I will try one more time then it is going back to the store. I had a

inexpensive Krups steam espresso maker that is like 20 years old and frothed the milk great,

okay espresso but better than what this more expensive machine is making.

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This attractive machine has a red ABS plastic body, a temperature dial, a solid turn knob, and toggle switches which give it an impression of quality. It also has easily removable trays for effortless maintenance. Unfortunately, I could not make it produce decent crema in any espresso shot. I compared it side-by-side to a $70 Crofton machine (Aldi-brand) of noticeably cheaper construction, which had no problems producing good espresso shots (with plenty of crema) with the same brand of freshly-ground beans (dark roast/espresso-grind). We really wanted to like this machine, but will be returning it.

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Siege Automatic Drip Coffeemaker Cleaner

I hadn't cleaned out my Cuisinart Automatic Coffee Grind & Brew coffee maker in years. After trying many home remedies to clean it out, I finally bought Siege Automatic Drip Coffeemaker Cleaner and after 1 use, my Coffeemaker looked as if it was new. The stainless steel could be seen again. I highly recommend this product!

Mr. Coffee Coffeemaker Cleaner - For All Automatic Drip Units

We live in the Central Texas area and have very hard water that will cause excessive lime and scale build-up over time. This is tough on coffee makers and will cause them to shut off before the brewing cycle is complete and will significantly reduce the lifespan of most units. I have tried BrewRite cleaner which has virtually no effect, have had marginal success with CLR by running it through the brewing cycle several times. But Mr. Coffee cleaner worked on the first try. No more interrupted cycles! Got my first pack given to me and now I am on the hunt for more! Highly recommended for internal cleaning of the brewing mechanism.

I've used Brewrite coffee pot cleaner on my stainless steal carafe and the residue film just slips off. This product didn't touch it when used as directed. I had to soak the carafe overnight with another dose of the stuff and still had to use a steel wool pad to get it clean. I'm still looking for something like Brewrite! :(

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I used this product as directed and found that it was a waste of money. It didn't clean the pot or internal parts of the coffee maker that I wanted to clean.

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This is exactly what I was looking for. For months I had used vinegar to clean my coffee maker. Worst. Experience. Ever. This cleans the maker without the smell and awful, awful taste.

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I really like this product but it is hard to find and I live in a major metropolitan area. Rather than drive all over trying to find it, now ordering it online. It makes my coffee noticeably taste better and the brew cycle is faster after using the cleaner. I've tried other cleaners, but prefer this one. If you wait until your coffee maker is totally filthy and disgusting, not sure this will clean it. I use the cleaner every other month, brew coffee daily, decanter and filter go through the dishwasher daily.

Cuisinart DGB-650BC Grind-and-Brew Thermal 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Brushed Metal

I love the new look! We had the older version for about 6 years. This new one is sleeker and much easier to clean and keep clean (the inside where the grinder sits gets cakey due to condensation). I got it for $149, used Amazon Prime, and had it in a few days! I love it. If you're thinking of getting this grind and brew with stainless carafe, it is nice. Some parts will have to be replaced over the years like the older version, but the taste of the freshly ground coffee every day is worth it. I never pre-heat the carafe like the directions say because that defeats the purpose of the timer. I've never had an issue with the coffee temperature, it's always hot! I also recommend hand-washing over dishwasher. The carbon filters are similar to Brita and can be found for cheap at Kohl's. One other note is it only makes 10 cups as opposed to the typical 12 cups. This is fine for me because it's just me and my husband, but if you need to make a ton of coffee regularly, this may not be a good choice. Overall, I love it and I'm glad I traded up!

We had a DGB-600BC and used it daily for about 4 years. The grinder assembly finally seized and we could no longer remove it. We had been looking around for a new coffee maker, anyway, so we went ahead and bought this one (DGB-650BC) at a local store.

We've been using it for a couple weeks now and it makes a fine cup of coffee, just like the last one did. I noticed right away, that a few things that turned out to be issues with the last model had been fixed or improved upon with this one.

1) The grinder compartment is much better separated from the water reservoir and also designed better for all the grounds to go into the filter basket. The older model always left a bit of a mess, both in the grinder compartment and on the little shelf that separated the filter basket from the coffee pot, and around the burner plate. I haven't seen any of that mess with this model. I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

2) The little shelf I spoke about in #1 is now gone. That's a plus. Since this maker is designed better, it isn't needed anyway. Also, this shelf caused build up around the door latch making it hard to shut after a very short time. I'm glad it's gone.

3) The filter basket door mechanism is far better designed. The old model I had to slam shut, sometimes repeatedly, before it would stay shut. This one has a much better and more sturdy hinge mechanism and latch.

4) New to this model (the old one didn't have this) is a window on the side so you can see how much water you're pouring in. It's clearly marked and has a red floating ball to make it easy to see. I really like this feature.

The grinder seem a little louder than the old one, but I've never met a coffee grinder that wasn't loud and it's only for a very short time. I love having freshly ground coffee first thing in the morning.

As far as cleanup goes for the grinding assembly and filter basket, it only takes a minute or two. Aside from the coffee pot itself, there are 5 pieces to clean and it really is quick and easy to empty the filter basket and rinse the pieces.

In short, this is fine coffee maker, much improved from the DGB-600BC, and I am happy we upgraded to it.

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Let me start by admitting that I am a novice when it comes to drinking coffee, much less owning coffee machines. This is the first coffee machine I've ever bought, but I've been very happy with it thus far. If you purchase it, definitely read the directions as there are a couple of small points they bring out, that you wouldn't otherwise know. (For instance, when you place the goldtone coffee filter in, the handle which can rest in either direction, must face outwards.) I just mention this, since I am usually one to NOT read directions, and I'm sure most others who have owned coffe machines wouldn't either, but it seems valuable in this particular case.

The main reason I went with this unit, was Cuisineart had the only ones in Bed Bath & Beyond which can be programmed to grind then brew. I leave it on my desk at work, and have it programmed to grind/brew right before I arrive in the morning. And it's awesome. Only used it several times so far, but no complaints. Cleaning is relatively easy but (like any other coffee brewer/grinder I assume) you have to clean it every day. Not a big deal though, so far I've just been taking the grinder and filter parts out, and rinsing them out. Not sure how important it is to use soap...

The most valuable thing I can tell you, that you won't read on the box, is that the thermal caraffe REALLY DOES work great. I don't pre-heat the caraffe, since I have it sitting out from the night before. I have mine programmed to start brewing at 8:30am. And believe it or not, despite the fact that there is no heater that runs after it's done brewing... the coffee stays HOT for a long time. It stays piping hot for several hours, and even at 2:30pm, it is still drinkably warm. I never expected it to stay that warm for 6 hours, far exceeded my expecations.

Easy to program, but you have to remember to press the Program button each night before. Although, that's not really a big deal since you have to add water and all the other stuff anyway. It's a safety feature really.

Grinder noise isn't super loud, and it only runs for 60 seconds so who cares. Mine is sitting on my desk in my cube, but I program it to run before most people arrive in the office so it's not a problem.

Very short 2ft. power cord with the unit, which will be great for kitchen countertops where you can put it by an outlet, otherwise you might need an extension cord.

Can't speak about reliability. Hopefully they fixed some of the issues people had with this unit's predecessor. Will revise my review later if I have issues.

I've rated it 5 stars, for $129 I feel that I got what I expected and paid for, and really don't have any complaints. I also haven't seen ANYTHING in the market that does what this does, in the same price range. Is there not a demand for coffee grinder/brewers? I mean, why wouldn't you want to have something that you can program to do both before you even wake up? For me, there was no other choice.

Cuisinart has a more expensive model than this one, but it was $70 more and the only feature that really seemed to be valuable was it's "burr grinder" which is supposedly better. But it didn't seem like that was worth $70 more to me, so I thought this was the best value.

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I ordered this coffee maker knowing that Cuisinart produces very fine products but I have to say I am not real happy with this particular product. The grinder grinds the beans VERY coarse which doesn't make a very strong cup of coffee so I'm back to grinding my coffee with my burr grinder. The setting for 1-4 cups does not make the water warmer as advertised (it comes out luke warm) so I just don't push that button when making a small pot of coffee. I do find that when brewing a full pot it does keep the coffee hot for quite a while. I think, if I order another Cuisinart coffeemaker in the future, that I will pay a little more and get the coffeemaker with the burr grinder and with a hot-plate instead of the thermal carafe.

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For those who want grind and brew features this is the best product for the money. There are the higher priced models but some of us have to stay on a budget. Compared to the earlier version, I've had 3 of the earlier ones; they do tend to break down after 2 years. This model has significant improvements. The best is that it is so much easier to clean the grinding area. The earlier model was next to impossible, this more open design makes it possible to actually get those beans that get into the grinding area out.

In reading the other reviews I did have a few concerns.

1. The sediment from the filter: Well that's the reality of permanent filters. So it's convenience of not having to get those paper things out and over to the trash. If that detail is annoying use paper. Even the high priced machines have that issue and Cuisnart clearly informs you of this issue with a notice before unpacking the product.

2. Noise: The review that goes on about how noisy this machine is. Gad face reality, these are coffee beans getting ground up in somewhat large area in an enclosed area without a lot of sound insulation. It is going to get loud. No louder than a regular coffee grinder and a lot quieter than a garbage disposal. To avoid having the noise in the morning I do the unthinkable, grind the beans the evening before. OK, I'm not a purist.

3. Coffee not the right temp: Face reality, the carafe is going to be the same temp as the room it's sitting in. So it like most people who turn down there temp in their house at night to let's say even 68 degrees at night or even 70, the the physics say the carafe temp is going to be 70. Now, brew coffee and when it gets into the insulated carafe the temp is going to average out. Since the insulated model doesn't have a warming plate, you're may want to take into consideration that you're brewing into a room temp carafe and the coffee temp is going to cool down. Cuisinart clearly informs you that simply warming up the carafe with hot water before brewing takes care of this issue. I easily deal with this when the machine starts brewing you have a good 30-45 seconds before the first drop comes out and the machine does have a function to keep coffee from coming out unless the carafe is properly placed. That gives plenty of time to run some hot water into it, get the inside temp up and the result is coffee at the perfect temp. Now I do have to say that it is very easy for me because I have one of those instant hot water faucets at the sink so I don't have to wait for the hot water to start flowing.

There have been some very good user oriented changes to this model. It's not perfect, but for the money it's the best you're going to find on the market. Take the critics in these reviews with a grain of salt.

Of course one of the reasons I am really, really happy with this machine is that I ran into it when Amazon had it on sale for $110 with a $30 rebate from Cuisinart. My final cost was $85!! I called customer service to see how the rebate would work. They told me a mail-in coupon would come with the product. When the product arrived ( 3 days later, and I used the free standard shipping during the holiday period) there was no rebate coupon. I called customer service and their response was "we'll just add a $30 credit" to your account. I was expecting getting a run around anticipating that they would put the problem off on Cuisinart. But no, Amazon steps up to plate, resolves the problem in less than 1 minute and the credit appeared on my credit card the next day. Now that is customer service!!

My hats off to Amazon to putting the customer first. Beyond the coffee maker at $85 final cost with free shipping, I have to say that Amazon has matured into a very customer focused retailer. They have moved beyond good prices and the convenience of shopping at home; they are real competition to the brick & moter stores. Amazon's focus on the customer actually gives the retail experience a lot of us remember in the "old department store" days.

I have never taken the time to write a product review, but I do enjoy having them available to get unbiased reviews and input. This time I felt it was only fair to take the time to put a realistic perspective to some of the negative reviews while at the same time expressing my positive experience with Amazon. For me Amazon has primarily been a convenience factor, now I shop with them because of their dependability and customer service focus. Price is not the driver for me anymore. I've just learned that if I really want customer service, the most reliable and predictable place to shop is Amazon!!

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Chef's Choice 6800001 Cordless Electric Glass Kettle

After reading every single review and practically poking my eyes out....I decided on this one, in part because it has a glass pouring spout, glass interior and hidden heating element. No plastic touches the boiling water...only the condensation on the plastic lid. It's slim pickens out there these days. My 16-yr-old Russell Hobbs kettle suddenly bit the dust. It was a real RH (before the company was sold off) and it had the heating element inside the stainless steel kettle. Over 16 yrs, we went from a family of 6, hardcore tea drinkers....down to just the two of us. To go from that old RH to this glass one was a leap of faith. I initially am not disappointed. I boiled an initial pot of water & dumped it. Then I washed the interior out with soap & water before boiling two more kettles to spill out. It was easy to get my hand inside to clean it. It took 7 minutes to bring ice cold tap water to a rolling boil at the maximum fill line. I enjoyed a pot of tea without any strange smells or tastes. It poured nicely into my teapot without any spills from the spout. It looks nice on my counter top and takes up less space than my old kettle. It's not too heavy nor is it cumbersome in any way. I can't live without the speed and convenience of an electric kettle and this one makes me super happy. I'm like "so modern" now! The only downside was that Amazon did not have this kettle in stock so I made the purchase from a vendor and had to pay a shipping charge (I'm a Prime gal). The vendor did pack well and I received it within 2 days anyway, so other than having to pay for shipping, it was still a seamless purchase. I will certainly update my review if I encounter any trouble with it because I am a militant tea addict. You're welcome.

I just received this today, so only time will tell. I read a LOT of reviews before making this purchase and so far I am happy that it has none of the short-comings I've read about other kettles. My primary requirement was that the kettle not be plastic. I've read about many of the "stainless steel" models rusting over time or having plastic liners or other plastic parts. This glass kettle solves most of those issues. The only plastic inside the kettle is the bottom of the lid and a small frame that holds the metal debris screen in the spout.

Starts bubbling within 30 seconds on being turned on and brings 30 oz of cold tap water to a rolling boil in just over 2 minutes. Boils the 50 oz. maximum volume of cold tap water in about 5 minutes. Pours beautifully. No spills or slop. Well balanced. Easy to read volume gauge. When the lid release button is pushed, the lid locks in the open position making filling easy. The lid also 'locks' shut.

The cord isn't actually retractable, but can be shortened or coiled up under the base. The only feature this kettle lacks that some avid tea drinkers might like is a temperature control. The only feature this kettle lacks that I would like is an audible signal that the unit has turned off.

So far, so good as I attempt to eliminate plastics from all of my utensils, food storage and processing. I'm very much hoping this product endures well.

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I bought this as a replacement for a Breville Kettle.

[Good]

Glass design: really like being able to see what I'm boiling even if it is just plain water. I also really like the fact that glass doesn't rust, nor does it contain horrible, unhealthy chemicals that plastics tend to leech when they are heated.

The spout doesn't drip.

[Bad]

Overfilling is very easy (and makes this not so safe): At most match the 2nd highest mark for water. The highest mark will result in an overfill. What happens when you overfill and boil water? Well water will start coming out of the unit's glass and seep into the part where the glass and metal meet, meaning that water will get inside the unit. In other words this is a potential hazard. I never had to think about stuff like this with the competing metal electric kettles. (It is fine when you get into the habit of filling it just fine.) This design needs work. I'm willing to pay more money to get a better design. Chef's Choice, just please don't cheapen your products.

Capacity: Does not heat as much water as competing metal kettles.

Must hand dry: Like all electric kettles I've seen so far (even the Breville's), you have to dry the metal plate after use. Why? Because eventually it will rust. I found this out the hard way with past competing products. The reason? Well no matter how you tip the kettle, not all the water is going to leave the metal plate. This is easier to do with the glass container, since you can actually see the metal portions unlike the all metal kettles. In Chef's Choice defense, this is a problem that all products in this class (that I've used) suffer from.

Plastic: While it is nice that there's less direct contact with plastic and the heated water, it's still there on top as the lid as well as the filter. I would pay more to have no plastic in contact with the liquid being boiled. Having plastic in contact with the heated water negates the health benefit of the inertness of glass.

On / Off Switch feels like it's easy to break. I think Breville's switch design is better.

[Misc]

The price is fair.

The automatic off function works.

[Verdict]

I still haven't seen a perfect electric kettle. This may not be the one, but it's comparable to competing products. It's not bad.

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We really like the electric glass kettle. It brings water to a boil quickly and then shuts off right away. It also shuts off when I lift it off its base. Very efficient. It is somewhat larger than my need but overall I would purchase it again.

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After owning several Capresso H2O Plus electric kettles and having them all fail shortly after the warranty expired, it was time for a change. The Chef's Choice kettle has all the features that I grew to love in the Capresso. They include:

a fast boil of 8 minutes for a full kettle, way faster then my stovetop. I even use the boiled kettle water to pour into a small sauce pot for cooking on the stovetop. A nice time saver.

an all glass carafe, no plastic contacts the boiling water except for the small frame that holds the mesh screen at the spout. It's entertaining to view the water reach a boil.

an illuminated on switch that shuts off when the water has reached a full boil.

this kettle retains the temperature of hot water better then the Capresso. It maybe because the Chef's Choice has a larger boiling plate at the bottom of the kettle which is great.

the kettle has a nice brushed stainless steel trim around the outside. It fits in well with the rest of the kitchen.

initially the pot felt awkward to pickup and pour, but that's because this kettle has more heft then the Capresso. Now that I've used it everyday it feels and pours just fine, like anything new you have to adjust to the change.

lastly it looks great! Lets just hope it gives years of service. I hope this was helpful.

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Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Maker with Tote Bag

This is a great coffee maker especially for someone like me who wants to make only 1 mug at a time. I've tried all different kinds of coffee makers, but they don't seem to be optimized for making a single ~8 oz mug of coffee. I always ended up brewing multiple cups of coffee and throwing the extra away to get the one good cup I wanted.

I got this aeropress for Christmas 2006 and it is great. I followed the initial instructions, but preferred my coffee a bit different. So, I experimented with grind, water temperature, amount of coffee/water, etc., until I found the right combination for *my* personal preference. I use this to make a cup of coffee, not espresso (that is, I add water to the result to get "regular" coffee), so I can't comment on the quality of espresso taste. I have noticed that coffee beans/grind from different sources have their own "sweet spots" for best grind and coffee/water quantity to get the taste I prefer. So, now that I know how I like to brew a couple different types, I try to stick with those so that I don't have to go through the experimenting stage needed if I try a completely new coffee bean/grind. That works for me. This coffee tastes great. :)

Oh, I should mention that I have also used french press coffee makers. I really like the taste of french press coffee, but got sick of the grinds and/or sediment that always ends up in the bottom of the coffee and made the bottom of the cup taste gross. True to its advertising, the aeropress doesn't seem to leave grinds or sediment. I sip my cup kind of slowly and end up zapping it in the microwave to heat it up again several times. The coffee does not get bitter from sitting in my mug because there is not coffee grind sediment soaking at the bottom. That is a huge plus for me!

A few folks mentioned that the plunger can be hard to press. I have to agree. I've had 2 shoulder surgeries and it does take some extra effort to manage to push the plunger straight down. I can still do it, although I only have 2 scoops of coffee grind in at a time. I think it would be extremely difficult to press with too much coffee in it.

All this time of daily use, including travel, and there are no problems, no parts wearing out from stress, no cracks in the plastic. It still looks like new.

I donated my drip coffee machine, french press and espresso machine to Goodwill. :)

PS I noticed the aeropress is available via third party vendor and Amazon. I can't comment on the vendor, as I put it on my wishlist for Xmas and got it as a gift. I noticed there are separate reviews for each device/vendor, so will post my review under each.

I am very picky about my coffee. I only like espressos I get at restaurants and coffee shops about half the time. If you use a standard meat thermometer to ensure the water is between 175 and 185 degrees F the result is truly outstanding. It makes great espresso as well as coffee. You can easily control the acidity by using hotter water. I have owned espresso machines ranging from $100 to $300 and this little unit beats them hands down. Fantastic product!

Buy Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Maker with Tote Bag Now

After reading the reviews about this I decided to purchase one. This is one GREAT product. I have used it several times camping and it is so easy to use and clean. The coffee is great made from this. I also found that you can use the same coffee grounds at least twice and maybe more (just stir a little longer than 10 seconds.

Read Best Reviews of Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Maker with Tote Bag Here

Over decades of coffee brewing, I've tried electric & stovetop espresso makers, the Chemex, the Melitta drip filter & the French press pot. The Aeropress, made by the same folks who came up with the Aerobie throwing ring, makes the best coffee ever -extremely low in acid, intensely high in flavor. It's even fun to clean (you eject the compressed "puck" of used coffee straight into the trash & rinse everything off). Read the directions carefully: it's simple to use but quite different from other methods (for example, the manufacturer recommends using water heated only to 175F). My only problem is figuring out which one of my co-workers has swiped it on a given day.

Want Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Maker with Tote Bag Discount?

This is a great coffee maker especially for someone like me who wants to make only 1 mug at a time. I've tried all different kinds of coffee makers, but they don't seem to be optimized for making a single ~8 oz mug of coffee. I always ended up brewing multiple cups of coffee and throwing the extra away to get the one good cup I wanted.

I got this aeropress for Christmas 2006 and it is great. I followed the initial instructions, but preferred my coffee a bit different. So, I experimented with grind, water temperature, amount of coffee/water, etc., until I found the right combination for *my* personal preference. I use this to make a cup of coffee, not espresso (that is, I add water to the result to get "regular" coffee), so I can't comment on the quality of espresso taste. I have noticed that coffee beans/grind from different sources have their own "sweet spots" for best grind and coffee/water quantity to get the taste I prefer. So, now that I know how I like to brew a couple different types, I try to stick with those so that I don't have to go through the experimenting stage needed if I try a completely new coffee bean/grind. That works for me. This coffee tastes great. :)

Oh, I should mention that I have also used french press coffee makers. I really like the taste of french press coffee, but got sick of the grinds and/or sediment that always ends up in the bottom of the coffee and made the bottom of the cup taste gross. True to its advertising, the aeropress doesn't seem to leave grinds or sediment. I sip my cup kind of slowly and end up zapping it in the microwave to heat it up again several times. The coffee does not get bitter from sitting in my mug because there is not coffee grind sediment soaking at the bottom. That is a huge plus for me!

A few folks mentioned that the plunger can be hard to press. I have to agree. I've had 2 shoulder surgeries and it does take some extra effort to manage to push the plunger straight down. I can still do it, although I only have 2 scoops of coffee grind in at a time. I think it would be extremely difficult to press with too much coffee in it.

All this time of daily use, including travel, and there are no problems, no parts wearing out from stress, no cracks in the plastic. It still looks like new.

I donated my drip coffee machine, french press and espresso machine to Goodwill. :)

PS I noticed the aeropress is available via third party vendor and Amazon. I can't comment on the vendor, as I put it on my wishlist for Xmas and got it as a gift. I noticed there are separate reviews for each device/vendor, so will post my review under each.

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Hario Coffee Dripper V60 Size 01 White Ceramic

I purchased the Hario V60 01 ceramic pourover dripper along with the appropriate Hario filters, Buono kettle, and a Skerton (a Hario-splosion!) and am so pleased I could burst. I'm still working out the appropriate grind setting on the Skerton, but even so the coffee I've gotten from the pourover is just awesome. The quality is what you would expect: ceramic like a nice coffee mug. There are also ridges along the sides that keep the filter from plastering itself to the walls, preventing clogging since the coffee can run along the ridges instead of being forced to go all through the center bottom. The only problem I have is that I now want to spend more money to get the V60 02 and a carafe to make bigger batches of coffee!

Please be sure to get the right filters (i.e. specifically for pourover, and ideally the Hario brand) because, like in previous reviews, the filters are made to support the design of the dripper and the V60 is just one big hole on the bottom. If you use a filter that isn't designed to support the water and coffee, you'll probably experience ripped filters often. I suppose you might be able to double-up! May be worth doing the math to see if twice the number of Melitta or other filters cost less than the $12 for 100 Hario filters.

Also, it does take time to make pourover, so if you don't have 10 minutes to make coffee when you want it, it's probably not what you want.

brewmethods.com has some really good videos showing pourover (and other!) methods if you want to see it before you buy.

I've stopped using my french press and my aero-press because I like the cleanup and taste. I use the Hario Buono Drip Kettle with the small spout to pour hot water over this dripper.

Setup:

1. Weigh the beans with a OXO Good Grips Stainless Food Scale with Pull-Out Display and grind with a Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder, Black.

2. 21 grams of beans for 340 grams of water. Grind size is fine, but not like espresso.

3. Water temp 190-200F off the boil.

4. Water should be poured in the center (quarter size area)

5. The mug and and the hario v60 should be on the scale to measure the amount of water you add.

Brew Recipe

1. Boil water and pour into hario kettle.

2. Wet the filter and heat up the cup for ~10 seconds. (dump water in sink)

3. Pour 40 grams of water to pre-wet the grinds.

4. Stir and wait ~30 seconds

5. Pour 300 grams and final stir. (~2:00 2:30 minutes:seconds)

Add hot milk or hot water to dilute to your preferred strength.

Buy Hario Coffee Dripper V60 Size 01 White Ceramic Now

After using plastic drippers for over 20 years I decided to try to to find a more elegant solution that doesn't utilize plastic. I experimented with various ceramic drippers. One that I purchased was so large and top heavy, it kept falling over and was awkward to use. I gave up on the search until I stumbled on this dripper that I saw in a magazine under a "cool products" type of section. The product they were hyping was actually something else but they were using this dripper. I decided to order it and give it a try. It is a nice size, more reasonable for one cup than the one I had purchased previously. I also bought the Hario filters, which are pointed, and essential to using with this dripper. It has been a really good experience and I love the quality. I did not like pouring hot water onto plastic but for years it seemed there were no alternatives. I also realized for my entire use of hand pour coffee, I had been pouring incorrectly. I had been doing larger pours instead of short control pours. This has also made a huge difference in the taste of my coffee -the same coffee I have been drinking for over 20 years. This dripper simply feels like a more elegant solution to my coffee making and I am very happy with it. BUY THE POINTED FILTERS FOR BEST RESULTS!

Read Best Reviews of Hario Coffee Dripper V60 Size 01 White Ceramic Here

I've used a plastic one-cup Melitta for a year or so. Bought it while travelling, staying with non-coffee drinkers, and desperate for a good cup of coffee. When I returned home, I continued to use it 'cause I loved the simplicity of it.

But I really hate plastic.

When I read about the Hario dripper on the Real Simple website and found it came in a ceramic version, I immediately ordered it.

And yay! It arrived intact, pretty as the picture, with the filters I ordered. Only thing was, THE INSTRUCTIONS WERE ALL IN JAPANESE, and there were plenty of them! Well, OK, there was a picture of the thing with a few arrows. But I had to assume, with all those Japanese instructions, there had to be more to this thing than meets the eye.

Now, with the Melitta, I'd pour water in the middle to get the grounds wet, then fill up the filter, use a tablespoon to push the grounds down to the bottom, let it drain down, then fill it with water again. The coffee tasted fine to me. I just wanted something that wasn't plastic.

If the Hario promised to be any better, I decided on my own (after reading a bunch of reviews and intuiting from them how to use it) that I'd pour the water slowly and constantly down the middle and hope for the best. So that's what I do, and the cup of coffee I get is great. I think it's better than the one I get with the Melitta; it certainly takes more work.

But I'm subtracting a star for the deficit in instructions. I shouldn't have to guess how to use this device.

Want Hario Coffee Dripper V60 Size 01 White Ceramic Discount?

This review applies specifically to the 01 model Hario, the one-cup cone. There are plenty of on-line videos about pour-overs, all of which use multi-cup versions of the Hario. Great for learning the basics. However, the small size of this one presents some unique challenges.

1. Grind is critical, or Avoiding Spit and Donuts. Because of the dime-sized drain hole of the Hario and the small volume of grounds, getting your grind right is critical. Grind too coarse and the water runs right through the coffee. The bloom will be white and consist of large bubbles (the Spit). Grind too small and the water goes through too slowly. As you pour into the center, you'll push the bloom to the edges with a murky brown hole on the center (the Donut). Perfection will get you a bloom that looks like cinnamon on cream foam covering all the grounds.

2. Ground volume is critical, or Too Much is Just Right. My wife and I have decided that we need more than a tablespoon of grounds to get the right amount of oomph into the cup. At one level tablespoon and the proper grind, we hit the desired three-minute pour and rendered wonderful fruit with floral overtones but alas, too little body. So we're going to bump the grounds to a tablespoon and a half. YMMV.

3. Brew target, or the Carafe at the Old Ball Game. As I've grown older, my x-ray vision has begun to fail, so a ceramic mug is OOQ to brew into. We also decided that as attractive as the matching Hario carafe is, a 12-oz Ball jar makes a great target. Clear glass with two ounce intervals embossed into the glass, perfect size for the filter cone. When you're brewing one cup at a time, do you seriously want to measure cold water into your kettle in 6-oz amounts, heat it up, and do the pour-over? I don't. I want to be able to pour-over a cup for myself after I've made one for my wife so we can share at least part of the coffee together.

You'll know when you'e got it right it makes a great cup.