Showing posts with label home espresso grinder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home espresso grinder. Show all posts

Friday, January 3, 2014

Tassimo T20 Single-serve Beverage Maker

Tassimo T20 Single-serve Beverage MakerI recently had a Keurig that just stopped working out of the blue. It was no longer under warranty, and the company wasn't able to fix it, so I decided to look for a new one. After finding out about all the great lattes and other milk based drinks tassimos can make, I decided to go with the t20. I've had it for about two months now, and am loving it! I'm really impressed with the cappuccinos and lattes. There aren't as many different t-discs available as k-cups (for keurig), but the taste and quality and variety in those that they do have makes up for it! The machine itself is smaller than the Keurig, and I think it looks nicer, as well. It's not super quiet, but certainly not too loud, either. Overall, I love this product for its ease of use, quality of beverages, and superiority over its competitors. If you like creamy, steamed coffee drinks, you should definitely look into the tassimo!

Tassimo vs Keurig: battle of the century.

Tassimo is hands down superior in terms of everything except price. The main selling point is the design of the "T-Disc" vs the "K-Cup".

Keurig's K-cup is a literally just a cup that water pours through to brew whatever is inside the cup. One size fits all. It's good for coffee but it can't do cappuccino (they have "cappuccino flavored coffee" but that's not quite the same) and you don't get to pick a size.

Tassimo's T-disc has a bar-code on it to tell the machine what to do, which allows for a lot more variety. Pressure, temperature, brew time and volume of water can all be set by the bar code, so you can buy 4.5 oz drinks, 8 oz drinks or 12 oz drinks (there may be 16 oz but I'm not sure -I mostly get 8 or 12 oz). It can do pretty authentic espresso and foamy cappuccino (which it does by brewing two disks -one for the frothy milk and another for the espresso. I mix in a hot chocolate to make a "mocha latte").

Grocery stores around me sell both the K-cups and the T-disks, though I mostly buy refills from Amazon (which has more variety). There's chai latte, earl grey tea, all sorts of coffee and cappuccino. I think you'll find you pay a little more than a Keurig but you get much stronger product.

Cleaning is easy. The machine will come with a "cleaning disk" that just runs hot water through the system to flush it out. The spout, splash guard and cup stand can be removed and put through the dishwasher. Eventually the "clean" light will flash. When that happens, you put about 50/50 vinegar and water in the tank, put the cleaning disk in and HOLD the start button until the lights flash together, then it will run a cycle to clear any mineral deposits out of the system. This is all in the manual but by the time I needed to do it I had to look it up on the internet because I'd long since misplaced the manual, so maybe this will help someone else too.

All in all, great product. Saves me a bundle on going to Starbucks.

Buy Tassimo T20 Single-serve Beverage Maker Now

I am writing this review b/c I have noticed there are many more different single-serve machines out there now, and they're much more expensive than this one. I also notice there are newer and more expensive Tassimo brewers now, and I can't say that the price difference is worth it. I have this model and can't imagine what can be improved upon.

The Tassimo is wonderful. I have always stayed away from single-serve pod brewers b/c they seemed gimmicky and I've watched them come and go and didn't want to get stuck with a machine that I can't use b/c no one stocks the refills. However, 2 years ago, these were being demo'ed at many stores during the Christmas season. I took a sample again and again, and I couldn't resist buying one. It has more than paid for itself by saving the expensive trips to Starbucks. There are all sorts of different T-discs out there--even chai latte and hot chocolate.

What sets this apart from others like the Keurig, for example, is that it does real cappuccinos and lattes, and they're coffee house quality. As another reviewer explained, each T-disc has a barcode that the machine reads. The barcode tells the machine what it needs to do for each specific drink. For example, it takes the milk disc for the cappuccino and steams/froths it. It reads the espresso disc and knows what it needs to do to make an espresso.

I bought mine just about exactly 2 years ago for my husband. He really likes it b/c you don't have to mess with filters and measuring coffee and water, etc, so this is a great time-saver in the morning when you're getting ready for work. You just pop in the T-disc and press a button. After 2 years, we haven't had a problem so far. (I hope I didn't jinx it by saying that!) There was a recall, and Tassimo sent a replacement part, but mine has been working fine so I haven't even bothered with the replacement yet.

Just be sure to use it properly. We've figured out that it makes a better cappuccino or latte if you use the milk disc first, then the coffee disc. Also, there's a sign on the machine that says you aren't supposed to open it when the green light is on. Wait until the orange light glows. We've followed this rule, and it's been fine for us. Finally, I thought the machine was broken when I couldn't get it to work. I put the T-disc in before turning the machine on, then turned it on and pushed the brew button. It didn't do anything. My husband figured out that you are supposed to turn the machine on first, then open the lid to put the T-disc in. The machine has to know that you put a new T-disc in.

If the coffee is too strong for you, there's a button that will glow green for a few seconds to let you add more water. Hold it until you get the desired amount of extra water.

Read Best Reviews of Tassimo T20 Single-serve Beverage Maker Here

I'm that person who is forever searching for the perfect cup of coffee! I've been the owner of many different drip machines, and espresso machines as well. Not one produced the flavor I was looking for. I received the Tassimo T20 and four different kinds of T-disks for Christmas this year. Within minutes of opening the box, I had a latte! The T20 has a very intuitive design, and after a skimming of the instructions, I was easily making quality mochas, vanilla lattes, and caramel macchiatos!

If you're like I am, and you don't really like drip coffee, but you can't afford to go to Starbucks everyday, this machine is for you! (Sign up to receive ads from Bed Bath and Beyond, they send out 20% off coupons often! Why not save money on something awesome?)

Now when I make a cup of coffee I actually drink it! I really love my Tassimo, and I'm excited to keep using it.

Want Tassimo T20 Single-serve Beverage Maker Discount?

My children gave me a Tassimo last year for Christmas. I had really wanted a Keurig, but settled for the Tassimo. However, it did not work, and I promptly forgot about it. I " found " it a month ago, and knowing how much my kids spent on this, I called the company. They PROMPTLY replaced it! I couldn't believe it!! The customer service dept. was great, and A full year later, and within 5 days of calling them, I had my new brewer. Well, this one worked! and I am LOVING IT!! I am a BIG coffee drinker, and never really thought I'd enjoy a cup at a time brewer, but this one, is just fantastic! The coffees are full bodied and the Lattes are creamy, coming with their own milk T-discs. You can also purchase Hot Chocolate ( cadbury ) T-discs so my daughter is enjoying it as well. Tassimo's lattes and special drinks also having a foaming milk on top. To get this from the Keurig, you have to purchase their special programmable machine that costs about 200 dollars!

I never write reviews unless I dearly love a product... this one, is a MUST!!!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Nespresso D121-US-BK-NE1 Citiz Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Milk Frother, Black

Nespresso D121-US-BK-NE1 Citiz Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Milk Frother, BlackI started out getting my spouse a manual espresso machine and burr grinder as a gift, but it quickly became obvious that we weren't going to use them very often because of the time and number of steps involved in making espresso, cappuccino, and lattes by hand -grinding beans, brewing, steaming milk, multi-step cleanup. Weekday mornings are hectic, and who has time for all that?

So the manual machine and grinder went back to the store, to be replaced by the Nespresso CitiZ with Milk. Think of it as a Keurig machine for espresso shots. It's simple to use -just insert a prepackaged espresso capsule from Nespresso and push the button for a small or large shot. This machine is a 19-bar pressure-driven espresso maker, and when combined with the high quality grinds available from Nespresso it brews a very nice cup of espresso with surprisingly rich crema.

The CitiZ with Milk also includes a built in milk heater / frother unit that can either produce hot thick milk for lattes or foamed milk for macchiatos and cappuccinos. The frother is easy to use just select the mixing attachment you want (one for un-frothed milk, one for foamy frothed milk), add some milk, pop the cover on, and press a button. The frother heats the milk and optionally froths it, then turns itself off when it's done. Pour the milk over your espresso (or vice versa) and you're done.

One area where the machine could stand improvement is the temperature of the milk. The aeroccino accessory only heats milk to around 150 degrees, so your coffee beverages aren't very hot. They're not as hot as using real steamed milk, so if you like your cappuccinos and lattes hotter than this you'll need to microwave them for a few seconds before drinking.

The only other downside is that you have to buy the capsules from Nespresso, and in many areas they're only available online, so you have to plan ahead lest you run out. At $0.60 per capsule they're more expensive than grinding your own beans, but considerably less expensive than going to Starbucks every day. A wide variety of beans is available in a range of strengths with different characters, but only 3 of the 16 varieties are decaffeinated. If you're a decaf drinker you'll wish you had more options.

Other than that, we've been delighted with the Nespresso so far.

I received this Nespresso machine as a gift and loved it so much, I bought an identical unit for my office. The quality of the end product whether expresso, latte or cappuccino, is very good.

The problem began 6 months later when the built-in frother began to malfunction. I got online and found recommendations about not placing the unit back in place after using it, not keeping power turned on except when in use, etc. After trying this, the frother began to work again. However, several months later, it no longer works and nothing has seemed to work. If you can find a number or place to return these machines to Nespresso, you are better and more patient than I. Not only do I not have the box to ship it back in, nor do I want to forego my morning expresso for weeks on end, but I can't find a place to contact. Customer service is definitely lacking. Eventually, I bought a new stand-alone frother to carry me over. Eventually, the expresso part will die and I'll be forced to purchase a stand-alone of that.

Buy Nespresso D121-US-BK-NE1 Citiz Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Milk Frother, Black Now

I love this machine! The espresso it makes is delicious every time, and is very fast and mess-free. There are a variety of flavors Nespresso makes to try (buying from their club is the most cost-effective way to get your capsules) and I have enjoyed trying them all in order to find my favorites. I have had my Citiz Espresso Maker about a month and have loved every minute of getting to know it!

You should be warned: the Aeroccino Milk Frother does not make the milk particularly hot. Now, don't be mistaken I love it. I think it makes beautiful foam, and heats milk to a temperature that I consider to be *immediately drinkable* but if you like your latte to be HOT, you should skip the Aeroccino and just get the espresso maker on its own. I hated having to steam milk on my old espresso maker I found the process loud, messy, and the spout hard to keep clean. The Aeroccino is super easy to clean (I rinse with water after each use), super easy to use, and I don't mind WARM versus HOT milk, so I am very happy.

Also, I am going to mention (because it was a big concern for me as a non-dairy person) that it will warm AND froth/foam both SOY and ALMOND milk perfectly. The foam is lovely with both, and the "milk" is warmed and smooth. It has no problems with the slightly thicker consistancy, and comes out beautifully.

Read Best Reviews of Nespresso D121-US-BK-NE1 Citiz Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Milk Frother, Black Here

Pros:

I loved the weight of this machine, it was well packed, easy to setup and really enjoyed the ease of use. I really like the attached milk frother (Its heats up just enough milk and the magnetic frother works great).

The machine is super easy to use , you lift up, drop the pod, close and push the button. couldn't be easier. It has an auto shut off too so if you forget to turn off it's not an issue.

Cleaning the milk from the frother was a breeze. Cleaning the pod catcher after they drop into it was simply and well thought out.

Now for THE CON:

My goal was to use this with the refillable pods and not only the Nespresso pods. I purchased the ones that seemed to me to be the best, the CoffeeDuck Refillable Coffee Capsules For Nespresso 3 Pods These Espresso Cups fit all Nespresso machines from after October 2010 and those turned out to be a disaster (they melted after a few uses). I did more research and realized that I was not the only one to have those issues, so I ended up returning the machine as i was not willing to drink $5-$6 worth of pods a day ( to me that beats my purpose)

In conclusion, if you want an espresso here and there this is ideal, if you are hoping to replace your coffee maker with this think again . There doesn't seem to be a refillable pod at this point in time that will allow to do this without melting after a few uses.

Want Nespresso D121-US-BK-NE1 Citiz Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Milk Frother, Black Discount?

This is an easy review as it is the second Nespresso Citiz I have purchasedone for home and one for office. A great cup of espresso and easy milk frothing with these machines. While the capsules are pricey, the end result is wonderful and would be hard to match without spending a great deal more and losing convienance.

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Saturday, November 9, 2013

Aroma cups 6/3

Aroma cups 6/3I just got this, and just tried it our for the first time, and I am madly in love with this espresso maker. The look is fantastic, I mean how often do you get to cook with something you're likely to see in the MOMA design wing? However, it's one thing to make a pretty object, but it's another to make a beautiful object that functions better than any other of it's kind: the design is fantastic. It pours without a single dribble, the handle doesn't get hot nor melts like your usual stove top maker, and it's Stainless Steel which means you're not going to leach out any nasty chemicals or flavors. I also love it because it give you the option to make a half batch, allowing this to function as a 3 cup when it's just you or a friend, or a 6 cup when you have company. I almost bought the 10 cup just so I could have the versatility of a 5/10 cup... but i'll never drink that much coffe... I mean it is espresso... which makes the 3/6 size ideal! I had lots of Bialettis when I lived in Italy, but I have a feeling nothing will be better than the espresso I make from my new Stella.

I too have had numerous aluminum stovetop espresso makers over the years, and when another bakelite handle came loose after about one year of daily use, sending its coffee maker into the recycle bin, I decided to try spending a little more for a better product. I finally decided on this one largely because of Marfa's glowing review (and because I thought it downright gorgeous in the photos). Marfa was spot on. This thing functions flawlessly, makes the best coffee I've ever had at home, is easy to clean (still not a trace of calcium sediment after four months of use) and doesn't give me a daily dose of aluminum. Oh, and it's actually more beautiful in person.

Buy Aroma cups 6/3 Now

I was hesitant to buy this expensive stove-top beauty with fears it would have the dreadful chemically coated interior water chamber that most 'Made in Italy' makers currently have, but, alas, it's pure stainless steel! The unit is quite heavy and feels high quality. You can see that the cylindrical base is welded/attached to a metal plate to conduct the heat properly. Screwing the top piece on is a bit tedious because you have to get the grooves perfectly aligned...The spout pours very nicely, and the handle does get hot, so I use an oven mitt while pouring it into my cup...My coffee tastes good, but I am not a gourmand, so I have no idea how it 'froths' or tastes in comparison with other stove-top makers....All in all, I'm just happy that the metal is quality and not contaminating my coffee with aluminum or chemical coating, as used on some other units that don't use pure stainless steel....

Oh, the one tricky thing that I have yet to figure out completely is that the espresso insert/holder is adjustable inside...It does make it easier to clean, but I have yet to figure out if it is meant to be adjust to add less grounds for a 3 cup vs. a 6 cup...I just push it the farthest down it will go and fill it with coffee to make a strong cup...

This unit makes one large cup of coffee for 1 adult...or probably two of those tiny espresso cups for 2 people.

Shipping from the supplier was fast and it came in probably only 2-3 days max. via Fedex Ground.

Read Best Reviews of Aroma cups 6/3 Here

I am so disappointed at spending $163 (with shipping) for your Stella Aroma coffee maker, only to receive it

1. obviously broken, the hinge in the top cap is broken, and the cap was crooked.

2. someone had written phone numbers and stuff on the product box, so it had obviously been sent to someone else, and then returned, and you sent it out again to me!

the product was just stuck inside it's box, no instructions, no packaging to protect it, just a card.

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Amerihome CFU30 Coffee Urn, 30-Cup

Amerihome CFU30 Coffee Urn, 30-CupTHIS PRODUCT IS ABSOLUTLY BAD. BRAND NEW COFFEE POT IS LEAKING CONSTANTLY. I DO NOT RECOMEND THIS PRODUCT TO ANYBODY.

I chose this item over a well known brand, because it has the stainless steel canister. The dispensing lever broke off in the first 10 minutes of using the product. Their customer service was not much help. Instead of replacing the product, due to their own faulty part, they are sending the part assembly that broke, and I am expected to try and fix the unit myself. I am NOT happy with this solution. I would not purchase from this company again.

Buy Amerihome CFU30 Coffee Urn, 30-Cup Now

Saturday, July 6, 2013

CBTL Kaldi S04 Single Cup Brewer

CBTL Kaldi S04 Single Cup Brewer, White/SilverUPDATE! I gave my review another star since the capsules are now available locally at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Being able to conveniently buy capsules is important to me.

If you are short on counter space in your kitchen and you want both a single serve coffeemaker and an espresso machine, this unit is something you may want to consider. It takes up about the same amount of space as a Keurig machine, if you are familiar with those.

Set-up was easy, insert the screen in the water tank, give everything a good rinse, pour in some water up to the fill line 40 ounces(I prefer using filtered water), plug it in and follow the simple directions in either the manual or the quick start guide.

Once the machine has primed itself, you are ready to choose your brew. Pull the handle back all the way, drop in the pod with the top facing the front of the machine, snap the handle back down, and choose your size by pressing one of the 3 selections:

Top button: 1.5 ounces for espresso

Middle button: 3 ounces for a long espresso

Bottom button: 8 ounces for coffee, 9 ounces for tea

The next time you brew another cup, when you lift the handle backwards, that disposes of the previously brewed capsule into the storage bin behind the drip tray. This should be dumped into the trash as part of your daily maintenance, in addition to always making sure you have adequate water in the tank (you don't want to burn-up your pump). Also rinse the storage bin out with hot water after you dump the capsules, it gets a little skanky in there if you don't!

All the coffee flavors I've tried are very aromatic, rich and flavorful. The espresso capsules all produce a nice crema on top. Even though hot chocolate is sometimes listed as available in a capsule, I don't think those are out yet (as of 11/1/12). I'm not a tea drinker, but I did try the Tropical Passion and it was good.

I'm concerned about availability of coffee capsules, but I've ordered more capsules from Amazon. They are available on their Subscribe and Save program, at least I get free shipping that way, but the capsules at this time run 62 cents each.

UPDATE November 2011 these capsules are now being sold at my local Bed, Bath & Beyond, even more flavors than are offered here at Amazon.

NOTE: Every 2 to 3 months the de-scaling warning light comes on, this is what I use it takes about 45 minutes from start to finish: Urnex Dezcal Home Activated Descaler, For Home Coffee & Espresso Equipt., 4 1 oz Packets.

If you want a frother, they also have a separate one available, it's great.

CBTL LM-145P Milk Frother, White

My wife convinced me and finally bought for me the CBTL Kaldi S04 Single Cup Brewer, Red. After having this device in my countertop for the last 4 days here are my findings.

The Kaldi makes superb espresso brews. So far we have tried the Carnevale and Premium Decaf Espresso. These 2 are both excellent. Brews a the standard Expresso shot or a tall espresso which is about 5 ounces. Both brews leave a nice layer of crema that lasts to the last sip. However, I also tried the French Roast as being one of the dark/bold selections; this one missed the note by being 'lite' for a dark brew; it does have a very nice smooth flavor, but it just misses the dark punch of a bold selection. I would place the french roast as a medium roast. We just came from Bed Bath and Beyond and purchased a package of the Starbucks Verona which was my favorite T-Disc on the Tassimo; well, even the Verona is on the lighter side; tastes good, but lite!

It has a small profile that does not take much counter space and has a very modern stylish look. it is not very noisy like the Keurigs and takes just a couple of minutes to finish the brew.

The items that could be improved: The water tank could've been made a little bigger to hold more water; if you are just brewing espressos, perfect size, but if you brew coffees the water tank is small. Secondly, the used pods fall into a reservoir which is not very hygienic, since the pod is full of water it will drip outside the pod and into the reservoir, which if it is left like that for a day or more, it will rot and smell bad. There is no way to put a tall cup under the nozzle, so you have to use low profile or espresso cups. However, as an added bonus you can use the new Starbucks 'Verismo' pods on this just fine as the pods are the exact same size; not sure who copied who but if you are a Starbucks fan this is a very good extra bonus.

I also own 2 Bosch Tassimo T20 1 Cups Espresso Machine and Bosch TAS1000UC Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer, Anthracite brew bots that make excellent espressos and coffees; and while I am happy with this device I think the Tassimo with the Bar Code technology is what puts it into another superior level. However, the CBTL pods are available at BBB, Target and obviously here at Amazon, so that is what made it atrractive as an alternative to the Tassimo T-Discs which suffer for good distribution.

Follow up after 10 days:

I noticed that brewing regular coffee, the temperature of the coffee was not hot enough; I contacted CBTL Sunday, left a message and they promptly returned my call next day (not from Asia). They sent me instructions how to program the temperature settings which are not very clear in the manual.

I am using the CBTL for espressos, as they are very very yummy; but regular coffee (at least the French Roast) is pretty lite to my taste buds; so I am using the Tassimo for regular coffee.

Instructions for setting the temperature from CBTL:

"Programming the Coffee Temperature

Your CBTL System uses one main heating element for all the drink options (espresso, coffee and tea). Should you find that you would like to increase the temperature of the water that is being dispensed, you can do so be following the below steps. Please note that this will only raise the temperature approximately 6 Degrees Fahrenheit.

1. Switch the appliance off and raise the lever

2. Keeping the short espresso and the brewed coffee buttons pressed down, turn on the machine

3. The multifunction alarm light will stay on with a fixed red light

4. Press the long espresso button to highlight the short espresso button. This will raise the temperature approximately 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit

5. Press the long espresso button to highlight the long espresso button. This will raise the temperature approximately another 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit

6. Press the long espresso button to highlight the brewed coffee button. This will raise the temperature approximately another 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit

7. The turn the machine off and on. "

6 month update: This brewer continues to be 2nd best to my Tassimo; I just can't stand that the coffee is not hot enough even at the highest setting and have to reprogram it often; other wise is just warm. Secondly, the extra dripping of coffee that continues even minutes after the cup has been brewed makes cleaning a lot more often if not daily; since the pods also fall into the same place, they also keep dripping inside the reservoir. The high note of the device is the quality of the Espressos; they are superb and the small foot print of the brewer.

Buy CBTL Kaldi S04 Single Cup Brewer Now

I owned a NESPRESSO maker (model C101) for six months because my wife being French swore by them. Never owning a pod based coffe maker, it made wonderful espresso for the time it was in our possession. I had fair expectations for what it could do given it was such a small compact machine but I always found the espresso (even the strongest pod) a little weak. Also, I found the pods difficult to locate and often I would purchase in bulk from ebay to get a deal for a pod that was often coming in around 90 cents a piece. But since I had nothing to compare it to I didn't venture out to locate greener pastures.

I had little to complain about UNTIL i went into a coffee bean location to purchase something before work (to be frank I don't enjoy their in store coffee and was there due to limited options). They had a demo CBTL KALDI S04 for customers to sample SO instead of ordering a coffee I decided I would try the machine first and if it was miserable then I would purchase my typical americano from the cashier.

Well I can only tell you I was STUNNED. The coffee was strong, the creme thick and the double shot setting was plentiful (at least a third more than the Nespresso machine) and was just as good as any thing I would have purchased.

I can only generalize but most American's, and clearly I enjoy a stiffer and stronger cup and this machine provides you with such a coffee both in espresso form and coffee form.

Additionally the pods themselves are very convenient and are about 40 cents a piece and can be found in store and bulk buying isn't required and if you order 40 dollars a more a month from the subscription service they offer free shipping.

DON'T order the teas for this machine. To be honest, the machine doesn't understand the idea of steeping. You can't pressure brew tea. I've tried chai and Moroccan mint and they're tepid and tasteless.

I've tried all strengths of the espresso pods and they're all excellent. The coffee pods which are not espresso are good but are not as exception as the espresso and all brew hot but not scalding nor luke warm. I do recommend using a small metal cup or a small thick walled porcelain cup. A large cup dissipates the heat much faster, something I found happened with both the machines.

The only down side is the lever is sometimes very difficult to pull but that is the only down side.

And to clarify I use my at least 4 times a day.

Read Best Reviews of CBTL Kaldi S04 Single Cup Brewer Here

I am very impressed with the CBTL machine and coffee capsules. I had a Tassimo for many years that I liked (as well as other coffee and espresso makers before that) and I am elated that I found such a great replacement! The Tassimo was good but since their move between Braun and Bosch, and the rise of Keurig, I don't think Tassimo will be around much longer.

I was seriously looking at Keurig, which others in my family own. I was also looking at Nespresso. In the end, CBTL is the way to go. The price is great. The Kaldi model produces amazing coffee and espresso. It is simple to use and is very clean and elegant. The Nespresso options were way too expensive and only do espresso. I tried Nespresso samples in stores and CBTL is just as good if not better. I also think CBTL does a better job with espresso than Keurig. Keurig makes a good cup of regular coffee, but if you want really good coffee AND espresso, definitely go with CBTL. K-cups and CBTL capsules cost about the same, but I give end product quality points to CBTL.

I'd also recommend CBTL's milk frother. I've made lattes, mochas, chai teas and steamers--all of them taste like the expensive coffee shop versions for a fraction of the cost. I can't say enough good things about the CBTL products. I hope they start making Keurig nervous!

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I've had this unit for about 6 months now and LOVE it. It doesn't take up too much space, is very easy to operate and clean. The flavors of the drinks are all pretty good, with the Italian espresso being my favorite. The Kaldi even makes crema with both the espressos and the coffees, so you know you're getting a good brew.

The unit is loud, though, so I have to wait until my preschool aged kids wake up in the morning before I brew my coffee as I don't want them to wake up until necessary.

Although I love this machine and wouldn't trade it for any of the other Single cup brewers out there, I docked one star because during the 6 months I've had this item, I've gone through about 15-20 pods that didn't work. Keep in mind that I use about 2 a day. I put them in properly, but for some reason, the machine would get stuck after poking a hole in one of the ends of the pods, so I'd have to toss it. When I put in a new pod right after, it works fine, so I'm not sure if it's a defective pod or if something's going on with the machine.

Other than that, it's perfect and amazing! The barista at the CBTL store I purchased this from even said that the Kaldi probably brews better coffee than when you can get at CBTL because each cup is a fresh, clean brew.

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