Black & Decker Programmable Coffeemakers

Here's a quick video that shows the Black & Decker 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker in use. You'll see it's main fault... which would be pouring liquids... which, well, is what it should do best. So, along with all the other reviews that say "do not buy this product," I concur. This thing is just horrible.

The DCM2160 Coffeemaker has a few design issues.

1) The most bothersome for us is that the carafe dribbles when pouring a cup of coffee or using it to fill the water tank.

2) Another issue is that the lid of the coffee maker is hinged at the back and allows the water condensation that collects on the lid to drip down the back of the coffee maker and end up all over the kitchen counter.

3) Another, but less severe, issue is that the drip apparatus is connected to the lid so it gets in the way when trying to fill the water tank.

If you enjoy wiping down your kitchen counter every time you make coffee and every time you pour a cup, this is the one for you. FYI, I did try to inform Black & Decker but have not had a response to the comment I submitted on their website.

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I wrote a review a while back when I first bought the black-colored version of this coffee maker. I wrote about the clock not working for more than a day, and also gave measurements to show that the coffee maker does not work well with overhead cabinets because the lid raises up and hits the cabinets.

Well, today the coffee maker died. It stopped pumping, and the heater element isn't turning on. I only had this coffee maker for a few months, and already it is broken. For $29, I did get what I paid for.

BUYER, please beware! This is a VERY cheap coffee maker!!!

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I was looking for a reasonably priced coffee maker that got the job done without too many bells & whistles. This appliance is excellent, autoomatic on & off, warming plate up to two hours, NO-Drip carafe! It is simple and efficient and makes a great cup of Joe. KQ

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Based on Consumer Reports recommendations, and the company's description,I ordered the Black & Decker DCM2500 Coffeemaker. It arrived promptly through Brand Variety, but on first use, I discovered a serious leak in the carafe between the plastic top and the glass. I contacted Black & Decker about the defective carafe asking that they send me a replacement. They told me that the carafe was not covered by the warranty, but that they would sell me a new carafe. I then contacted Brand Variety who said I could return the coffeemaker for a credit on its cost. They promised to send me a prepaid return label, but their letter did not contain the return label. The policy seems to be spend millions for advertising, but only pennies for customer service.

Derrick Bell

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Chemex - Chemex Bonded FP-2 Filter Paper (Designed only for Chemex CM-1) 1-3 Cups (100 count)

Chemex, in my opinion, makes the best damn regular coffee. I've tried french presses, vacuum systems, etc.; Chemex 8 Cup Coffee Maker CM 8A tops them all. And it's not even the coffee maker that is the key but the filter paper. Since the Chemex system was invented by a scientist, back in the '30's, I can only assume he was using some laboratory filter paper in his shop and figured out that was what was making his coffee taste so good.

As far as I can tell, Chemex filter paper removes the slightly sour/acid taste from coffee, that I find objectionable. This, in turn, lets through the complex bitter/sweet flavors and allows me to taste them more fully.

For what it's worth, I grind my dark roasted beans right before using them, grinding 6 cups worth for wife and myself. We've also made our own ceramic coffee pots that have the same size top, to hold the Chemex filters. Works just as well as the Chemex pots. Now, if I can just find an auto-brew device that can use Chemex filters for work...

I have been using Chemex for 40 years. I wouldn't change for the world. The BEST coffeeis made with Chemex filters.

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I like these and would recommend them for the Chemex Coffee Maker. Do yourself a favor and use only genuine Chemex filters in the Chemex Coffee Maker, it's the only way to assure great tasting coffee. As usual, Amazon shopping was flawless... easy checkout and quick shipping.

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The Chemex filters were fine of course. You need a Chemex coffee carafe to use them. I highly recommend this for any coffee lover. I have the 2 cup carafe which I use to make a large mug of coffee. It's a bit more time consuming that an automatic drip method but using the Chemex makes a far superior cup of coffee. Bold coffee flavor, no bitterness, just the right temperature. I ignore my plunger pot now in favor of the Chemex...every time.

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These filters really work as advertised to take some of the acids, fats, oils and bitter flavor elements from coffee. I was skeptical of the manufacturer's claim, but have been a satisfied user for many years. The filter paper is somewhat heavier than other filters. That seems to do the trick. I just wish they were less expensive.

Breville BES840XL the Infuser Espresso Machine

Bottom line: I was expecting the Double Boiler to blow the BES840XL out of the water when it came to shot quality. That was not the case at all. While the milk texturing capability of the 840 is a pale shadow of the DB, and it lacks the multitude of convenience features of the DB, the 840 absolutely holds its own with regards to shot quality.

Full review:

I've been using the Breville Double Boiler espresso machine for nearly a year and have been very pleased with it. I was hesitant at first, but great shots and the many, many convenience features won me over. So, when the opportunity came up to compare their top of the line Double Boiler (DB) with their new machine (I'll call it the 840) I thought it wouldn't be a fair fight. Well, I was wrong.

I've never been a fan of thermoblock machines since the temperature stability is just not there. Breville seems to have solved that using two methods. First, the thermoblock is really a thermocoil -it's a solid block of metal that has two channels machined through it: one for water, the other for the heating element. Cold water enters at one end and emerges heated at the other. They also added a PID for temperature control. Collectively, these techniques produce excellent temperature stability for shots, and very fast recovery time.

The machine itself is classic Breville design -lots of stainless and high quality plastic. It has a small footprint, and looks much like the baby brother of the DB.

But it's the shots that count. I started with an easy test: Lavazza Super Crema. It's not a high-end bean, but tasty, and one that I've found is very forgiving of less than perfect prep. After a few test shots to get the new machine dialed in, I pulled a double shot from both machines. I could not taste the difference. Did it again and had others taste it, and they agreed with me -no appreciable difference in taste, mouth feel, crema, you name it.

The next test was a little more challenging -Lavazza Dek decaf. Decafs in general are (to my palette) more sensitive to temperature variations, and the Dek is especially sensitive. Again, both machines produced the same quality shot. The 840 seemed a just a bit less consistent when I did back-to-back shots quickly, but the difference was very minimal.

My final test was with one of my favorite beans Red Bird. This is where I did taste a difference between the 840 and the DB, but it was subtle. The shot from the DB was more creamy and full-bodied. But the 840 shot was quite good as well. The small differences became almost nil when I made Americanos from Red Bird.

For my tests I used my Baratza Vario grinder for both machines. While I have a Breville Smart Grinder it does not pair well with the DB (although it is excellent for any non-espresso use). I tried it with the 840 and got better results, but still much prefer the Vario to the Smart Grinder for espresso. Still, the 840 appears more tolerant of lower-level grinders. I also found I needed to go slighly coarser with the grind for the 840 than the DB.

The DB does pull ahead strongly in two areas -milk foaming and convenience. The thermocoil just can't match the steam production of a dedicated boiler. It did a decent job with milk (albeit with the annoying thump-thump-thump sound that every thermoblock design makes), but it was much slower than the DB and the steam was a lot wetter. Functional, but not at all impressive.

As expected given the price, many of the DB's convenience features are not found on the 840. However, the 840 does have a few of the DB features such as a dedicated hot water dispenser. This is operated with a knob (turn one way for steam, the other for hot water). It splatters more than the DB when dispensing, but the temperature is spot on: I got 197 with the 840 and 197.5 with the DB (same thermometer held in the water stream for 10 seconds).

The 840 also appears to have the same excellent quality head gasket as the DB. The portafilter is well made, although I was really disappointed to see that it was 54mm, which means I can't use my 58mm VST baskets, tamper or the bottomless portafilter I have for the DB. The included tamper is decent quality, and stores easily in the machine. The shot volume is programmable and can be overridden in manual mode. It has a three-way valve so you can backflush (plus it keeps the puck dry). It has an automated cleaning cycle and a "clean me" light, which is handy.

Misses are often related to convenience issues. I wish it was a bit heavier or had better gripping feet, since it's relatively easy to jar when you're putting on the portafilter. A bigger water tank would also be nice. The thing I missed the most was a water level indicator. I didn't expect it to have all the bells and whistles of the DB, but no water level indicator? That seems to be a basic feature that should have been included.

My concerns are two-fold. Breville does not seem to have mastered the reliability issue with their espresso machines. I'm on my second DB, and it is again starting to act up. The Breville customer service has been great in replacing machines, but I'd rather not have to deal with that at all. Plus, with only a one year warranty and no local service centers, I don't have the warm fuzzies about getting years of service out of either of these machines.

My second concern is about scale build-up. It's harmful in any machine, but truly deadly in a thermoblock/coil design. Breville includes their water filters (the same as with the DB) and recommends a descaling every month and a filter change every 2 months. The fact that they are taking such precautions tells me that they are concerned as well. If you get this, don't skimp on descaling!

But those concerns aside, I'm really impressed with the performance of this machine given the price. While it is not perfect, it holds its own where it counts: what's in the cup. This is definitely a machine that should be on your short list in the under $600 category don't let the thermocoil design scare you off in favor of a SBDU design. At this price point it's a 5-star machine. I'll update this should reliability issues warrant a revision in the score.

Sorry for such a long review, but feel free to post a question if there's something I didn't cover.

If you can't decide between the two, maybe I can help. I've owned the Breville Barista Express BES860XL Machine with Grinder almost 2 years. Eleven months into my 1-year warranty, I woke up to find water all over the counter. Breville has superior customer service and replaced my leaking Barista Express within a week. Two weeks ago I woke up to the same thing with the warranty replacement. It turns out that the Barista Express has a 2 piece ThermoBLOCK heater and the gasket where the 2 pieces join together eventually leaks.

This new Infuser has a one-piece ThermoCOIL heater. Will this one last longer? Only time will tell and I will update this review if I have a leak with this model.

Where the new Infuser excels:

-Smaller footprint, the Infuser measures slightly over 10" wide

-Hotter espresso, 5 degrees hotter according to my thermometer

-Quieter pump

-Drip tray is easier to clean

-Instant hot water feature (The Barista Express has only a steam wand)

-Around $100 less expensive than the Express, but you are lacking a grinder

Of course, the new Infuser also has its shortcomings:

-No grinder either buy a separate grinder or use ground beans

-Smaller water tank (61 oz. vs. 67 oz)

-Not as "beefy" as the Barista Express, so you need to hold it stationary when inserting/removing the Portafilter or it slides across the counter

So which model has the better tasting coffee? I can't tell any difference both are/were just as good as what I used to pay for at the coffee shop.

My only complaint is for what these machines cost, a one-year warranty is almost a joke.

Added on 1/4/2013: This ground espresso is VERY good: Lavazza Crema e Gusto Ground Coffee, Italian Espresso, 8.8-Ounce Brick

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Got this machine from Amazon about two weeks ago now. Setup was a breeze and the machine works very well. Overall very satisfied.

Pros:

-Looks great

-Pressure gauge is very helpful though good shots are usually pulled on the high end of the pressure range

-Pre-infusion has generated good results

-Pre-programmed shot amounts are really helpful

-Machine prepares quickly

-Quiet operation

-Steam arm is long and on a great ball joint

-hot water dispenser is nice

-Great tamper holder built into machine

-large water tank

-Includes both pressurized and non-pressurized baskets

-Uses a thermocoil instead of a thermoblock

-Easy cleaning cycle

Cons:

-Shots pull fine, but come out not as hot as expected (when pulled stand alone). I haven't measured temp on them but if cups and porta-filter are warmed as suggested in instructions i'm sure I would have better results.

-In-spite of built in feature to cool water down to make a shot after steaming, the water stays too hot for a good shot. You have to wait a min or run a bit of water through it first to get the right temperature for the shot. This makes it difficult for latte art purposes because you can't swirl your milk forever. I usually just pull my shots first and then steam last. Shot looses a little but when drinking the latte you couldn't tell the difference if you tried. This problem is not as much of a problem as it is just the limitation of single boiler machine. I just didn't like how it was advertised as being able to pull a shot very quickly after steaming. I mean...you can pull one....just not a good one.

Overall very good machine and I'm very happy with it. I would recommend it. I use it in conjunction with the Breville Smart Grinder which has also been a great product. 1 year warranty on all Breville products

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TL/DR;

I snagged this guy for $334 and I gotta tell you it's really good, especially for that price. The coffee is noticeably better than that from a Krups Espresseria we have at work (and even that machine makes great coffee) and at least as enjoyable as anything I used to buy at local coffee shops. The machine itself has great ergonomics and is attractive to boot.

Plenty of other reviewers have covered the basics, I'm going to add my view of choosing this as an espresso noobie.

I had a long conversation over at coffee geek forums before finally decided to purchase this machine. The advice basically boiled down to "Breville sucks except for the Breville Double Boiler machine, thermoblocks/thermocoils suck, and it's not comparable to serious espresso machines" with the alternative view being "I have the Breville Double Boiler and the 840XL makes comparable espresso -I couldn't tell the difference, I was shocked." The other piece of advice I got that was really helpful is to go for the 840XL over the 860XL (which has the built-in grinder). I was convinced that having a separate grinder would result in a better grinder and less likelihood of the machine failing.

I decided I was fine with a Thermocoil over a brass boiler because the 840XL has a pretty high-wattage one. From what I read, the boilers with PID's can produce more consistent results, but at the same time they're finicky because things depend one where you are in the broiler's cycle and also take a long time to heat up.

I was getting really sour shots at first; I can't say whether that was me or the machine. I literally pulled my first shot of espresso ever on this machine. I tried using a thermometer to measure the water temp and it can be a bit lower than ideal brewing temp when you first use it, so I usually run the steamer for 10s or so before brewing. Also I learned a great trick/cheat for dealing with this -just let the first 2 seconds of the shot dump out and then put your cup under. Once I did this I've had nothing but excellent coffee from the machine. Once my technique improves I'll try a full shot again and mess with tracking temperature.

The machine itself has really good ergonomics -it switches easily / quickly between brewing, steaming, and hot water. The pressure gauge is nice; it's really helped me as an espresso noobie figure out my grind, dose & tamp. The steam wand is very easy to manipulate and there's plenty of room on the platform for steaming and using even some of our larger mugs to pull shots. I really appreciate the magnetic tamp holder, it's a great idea. It's also very easy to clean and attractive. The only ergonomic issue is that you can't see the water tank from the front and it's easy to forget to make sure there's enough water, but you learn quickly to just check before brewing so I don't count this as a major negative.

Overall I *love* the coffee and the machine and we no longer make routine (and expensive) trips to coffee shops.

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The Breville BES840XL has one major improvement over the older Breville espresso machines: it uses a thermocoil as opposed to a thermoblock. Breville's machines that use the thermoblock design are notoriously prone to a leakage problem a problem I was to learn about firsthand on my old BES860XL (another reviewer here had the same problem).

My 2-year old BES860XL began leaking water after only 4 months of moderate use (1-2 cups of espresso daily). Fortunately, the leakage occurred during the warranty period, and Breville promptly replaced the unit after I contacted them.

The trouble with the thermoblock on my old BES860XL (and Breville's older machines) is that it's composed of 2 halves that are joined together and sealed with a gasket. Over time, the gasket breaks down, which inevitably leads to water leaking through it. The new thermocoil, on the other hand, is a one-piece construction that solves the problem of potential leakage inherent in the old design.

The Breville BES840XL produces great-tasting espresso -ONLY if you use FRESHLY ground high quality coffee such as Peets, Starbucks, or Illy. The unit does not have an integrated burr grinder like the BES860XL, so you will need to purchase one separately if you don't already have one. You might consider getting the very favorably rated Breville BCG800XL, or the more affordably priced Capresso Infinity. Whatever you decide on, DON'T be tempted to use pre-ground coffee. Pre-ground coffee simply isn't the same.

The steam wand, like the one on my BES860XL, is a little slow, but it produces perfectly textured milk all the same. To turn on the steam wand, you give the knob a quarter turn in the counter-clockwise direction (the same knob also dispenses hot water through the hot water spigot when you give it a quarter turn in the clockwise direction). The knob for the steam wand simply turns the steam on and off; the steam pressure is not variable.

The Breville BES840XL also does not have temperature or bar pressure controls like those on professional machines.

The package comes with the basic accessories to help you get started right away: single wall and double-wall (pressurized) filters (each type comes in 2 sizes: single shot and double shot -for a total of 4 filters), portafilter, frothing pitcher, tamper, and frother attachment.

You may wish to get a thermometer to make sure you don't underor oversteam the milk. Other accessories that aren't supplied that you may want to get are a knock box and some espresso cups.

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Bottom line: Despite the lack of advanced controls, the Breville BES840XL delivers very high quality espresso and textured milk. The quality of espresso is comparable to that from coffeehouses. This unit is definitely worth consideration if you're looking for a quick and easy way to make coffeehouse-quality espresso right in your own home.

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Nespresso D60 Pixie Espresso Makers

Addendum, 2012: In order to remove the water tank effortlessly, you need to OPEN the lid of the water container. There are latches on the lid itself which engage when the lid is closed! If you open the lid, the tank comes off without any resistance. If you keep it closed and try to remove the tank, you will have to force it and and will break the plastic. II've been using my Pixie for a year multiple times a day and it still runs perfectly. I descale the unit every 4-5 months and I've never had any problems with leakage after it's been descaled. One year in and my Pixie is jsut as good as the day I bought it.

I previously used a Tassimo system as my primary coffee maker but moved to a Nespresso Pixie when Starbucks dropped Tassimo. Since I've switched to the Pixie, I couldn't be happier and I've never had coffee this good at home.

First of all, the Pixie is a very stylish machine and it seems extremely solid in construction. The Pixie is made of aluminum and heavy plastic and it feels very substantial to handle/use. Secondly, the machine has a surprisingly small footprint, which is very nice if space is at a premium. I've only had my Pixie for a month but I use it about three times a day and so far, nary a whiff of any reliability issues. No leaking or inconsistent coffee temperatures, as reported by one reviewer.

The coffee produced by this machine is wondrous! No it doesn't produced shots which are equivalent to those coming out of an $8000.00 industrial espresso machine however, for a single shot pod system, the coffee the Nespresso Pixie makes is excellent. Consistently good aroma, body, taste and crema, commensurate with the stated characteristics listed in the Nesspresso classification for each type I've tried. I tend to drink lattes most of the time however I've consumed at least one of each type I received in the LARGE (200 shot) "Welcome order" as a strait espresso/lungo and all of them were firmly between good and great to my tastes.

Operation of this machine is drop-dead simple. Lift the large bar up and the Pixie top opens up, drop in a Nespresso pod, pull the bar down and press one of the two brew buttons (espresso & lungo) on the top. Thirty seconds later, enjoy your beverage. One beautiful design feature is that the next time you swing the bar up and open the Pixie, the previous Nespresso pod falls into a catch basin which holds 12 or so spent pods. When the container is full, the entire piece pulls away from the unit along with a drip tray for disposal or recycling of the used pods. No fuss, no mess, a 25 second boot time from power-on to brewing and great coffee to boot.

If you like espresso drinks and are extremely busy or don't want to deal with the mess, hassle and complication of a traditional machine, it's really hard to beat the Nespresso Pixie in form, function and price. I love mine so much I might have to order a second unit for my parents house. Each time I go back to visit them, I can't stand the fact that I don't have access to good coffee without driving out to Starbucks and throwing 5 dollars down a hole. With my Pixie (along with my Capresso milk frother) I can quickly make a latte which is almost as good for less than $1.50. In my opinion, if any product ever deserved a mythic sixth star, the Nespresso Pixie is it!

Addendum, June 2012: I've had my Pixie for about nine months now and I have zero problems to report. This little work horse keeps chugging along through multiple uses each day without incident. I did have to descale the Pixie after six months and I used the Nespresso descaling kit to accomplish the task...also worked like a charm. My water reservoir hasn't developed any cracks, as described by another reviewer, and I still heartily recommend my Nespresso Pixie.

Update, January 2013: My Pixie is still chugging along without incident. I use it daily and descale it every six months and so far, not a whiff of any mechanical problems. The Pixie is built like a tank.

I wanted to love this Pixie, I really did. As a Nespresso addict with a C101 and a CitiZ, this seemed like a logical next step to espresso nirvana. Lower power consumption, faster start-up times, smaller footprint what's not to like? Oh, and Made in SWITZERLAND too my other Nespressos had already been outsourced to a foreign supplier.

Unfortunately, the Pixie arrived with the water reservoir already cracked. Odd since it was in the original, unopened box and also sent well by Amazon (double boxed).

On closer inspection, the cracks in the reservoir were along stress lines of the cover. Two design faults of the new model are 1. the cover of the reservoir has clips which go into the coffee maker and steady it since the reservoir is plastic however, those stresses over time will crack the reservoir along where the clips are and 2. to keep a low profile, the reservoir base sits directly on the counter, not on a separate base (see CitiZ for better design). MORE stress every time you shift the coffee maker around to refill the reservoir or clean under it etc.

Bottom line Pixie is going back. Nespresso needs to rethink the reservoir design both how the clips attach and how the base sits on the counter. Not recommended.

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It's been about two months, I hate writing rewiews as soon as I get something. I want to give it some use before I write about it. We've used this unit at least 1-4 times a day. I particularly like the Lungo feature as I'm more of a volume drinker. Partner likes the espresso feature. Personally, I use the espresso cups for my Lungos and they're totally fine.

Features I like:

1. It's compact but not tiny. We've taken it on several trips so we don't have to drink hotel coffee. It packs well.

2. Quick operation: I can turn it on and easily within a minute (and that's pushing it) it's ready to go.

3. Automatic Shut off: After nine minutes the unit automatically shuts off. When you're rushing out the door for work, the last thing you want is "Did I turn it off". It's not going to burn the house down, but if you're energy conscience then knowing it's not just sitting there all day keeping the next cup of water warm, you'll like this feature.

4. Location of On/Off swtich and espresso/lungo switches: Easily accessible on the top back of the machine so you don't have to worry if you need to place it next to a counter wall or something and block the on/off swtich on one side or the other.

5. It does come with a selection of cups so you don't need to blindly order online right away* **.

*Never order from an "ESPRESSO" Vendor from an online retailer, go directly to Nespresso. The cups are $0.57-$0.64/cup. I've seen vendors on Amazon selling them for $1/cup and shipping takes longer and costs more.

**I highly recommend the "noob" box. It's the special 200 cup with a box and some additional material. I think you can only buy one per machine, but it will give you a good feel for what you like. Espresso is not all the same.

P.S. We did end up purchasing the milk frother (not on Amazon-got it on sale at the Mall) after about three weeks and I'm amazed at how fast it warms the milk and froths it. If you start it when you turn on your machine, it'll be done long before your coffee.

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I own a CitiZ with the attached milk frother for home use and I was so impressed I just had to get a Nespresso for my office. Didn't want to spend the CitiZ money again though, so I opted for the less expensive Pixie in the Steel Blue color. I was a little hesitant to buy given some of the negative reviews, but I took a gamble and I'm so pleased that I did. My Pixie doesn't leak or have any other problems. It's just as bulletproof as my CitiZ, although the Pixie appears to have more plastic parts than the metal/metallicized plastic of the CitiZ. It's just as loud as the CitiZ is too (not louder and not quieter). I supposed the machines have to be a little loud given the 19 bars of pressure that are pumped through them. Same great espresso from the machine too. Again, I've had no problems whatsoever with mine, and I would recommend a Pixie to anyone considering purchasing a Nespresso in this price range. One tip the machine prices vary by color, and those prices even fluctuate day-to-day. I would advise adding the machine you want to your shopping cart and then waiting a few days while monitoring the price of the item in your cart. I purchased the Steel Blue Pixie when I noticed the price jumped down to one hundred sixty-four dollars and bought it then. Some of the more popular colors seem to be consistently high in price though. Happy tasting! (P.S. Anyone want to buy a slightly used Keurig K-Cup brewer? :)

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i like espresso shots. it's the only type of coffee i drink. if you are like me single household, espresso drinker, never have milk in the house 'cause it'll spoil... you will be very happy with this machine.

i used to have a $499 breville espresso machine. it looked like a tank, but has a flawed flaky pump design. when my third replacement breville gave up its ghost yet again, i got myself this nespresso pixie.

i am so happy with it. this machine makes it so convenient to get a shot of perfect espresso as you get up in the morning. the workflow with the breville was get espresso coffee, put it in the dispenser, clean up the espresso that spilled, press the coffee, pop it in, pour the shot, put the spent espresso in the trash or garden, clean the dispenser, clean the espresso coffee from sink. with the nespresso, it's pop in the capsule, pour the shot, enjoy.

and the coffee is awesome perfect layer of crema, perfect water to coffee concentration ratio. honestly, better coffee than i managed to make with the breville machine. and i'd like to challenge whoever claims they can "taste the difference" between this and a $3k machine to a blind test. :) the pump in this little thing is a champ. also the comparison with Starbucks if that's your standard for espresso excellence, i pity you. :) it is not because i hate big chains starbucks is inconsistent in the quality of coffee roast as well as in that experience of the baristas. you'll get 3 average and 1 horrible espresso shot for every great one. my frame of reference for an espresso are small bars in Italy or Spain (the latter preferably a carajillo). yes i lived there. and yes real espresso shots are small. and strong. and the nespresso pixie delivers.

"but they will limit my choice of flavors" you might say as an aficionado. honestly, haven't you typically mostly bought the exact same brand of espresso coffee over the years? a big can of Illy or so? don't get me wrong, i like Illy, but the *huge* advantage of Nespresso for a coffee lover is the ability to easily a d conveniently experience different styles and flavors at home. and they are quite pure and consistent. when you go to Starbucks most of the time you don't know or care what coffee they serve. i owe it t Nespresso to truly establish what my coffee preferences are, and i have been an espresso fan for more years that i care to say. if you'd asked 2 years ago what kind of espresso i like, i'd say "as black and strong as possible". well now i am more nuanced. if i pour myself a Ristretto at 5.30am in the morning, it's like whoa, too much(10 intensity, rightfully). let's take it slow my first shot is a Rosabaya (6 intensity). but i'll get the Ristretto on those days when i need an early jolt, you know. it's fun, a world of nuances that wasn't quite there without the Nespresso system. Sure i could have kept 10 different cans of espresso beans in the freezer but who does that? 2 different types was the max i ever juggled before.

i had some reservations about the capsule experience (you don't get to "see" the coffee or touch it) but i don't miss the resulting messy coffee grind business in my kitchen.

sure i feel guilty about the aluminum pods i produce, but then again the big Illy cans I used to buy aren't a marvel in recycling technology :) and yes, i recycle the pods.

the ONE negative is probably getting used to a haphazardly put-together USA Club Nespresso website that is *slow* to navigate and actually provides you with zip information on your order status. you can't even look an order number in there, so you just have to trust the system. :) the follow-up is supposed to happen in email (order confirmation, shipment notification), but the system is very inconsistent (downright Italian :-D) in sending out shipment info... :) eventually you get your capsules though. just make sure you keep an emergency stash. :)

the latter part of the review went to the Nespresso *system*, which truly is what you buy into with this. the Nespresso Pixie is an absolute steal at its price level, the pump and resulting coffee quality murder what you get from far more expensive machines no doubt. but it comes at a cost: capsules. i believe nespresso makes most of its $ with the latter. :) i for one have absolutely no reservations anymore: this system allows me to enjoy the best coffee i have ever had at home. and i used to own a machine 3 times the price of the Pixie... and have tasted coffee from $3k Sur La Table machines.

ps: i am getting a second machine for my office it is perfect for that too given the clean nature!

ps2: on the "flawed water tank" design... geez, how ham-fisted can people be? in dealing with a plastic water tank i would assume sheer force isn't the way to go. and why even take it off for refill? i just leave it on and open the lid for refill and pour water in out of a glass. once a week i'll clean the tank, and if you open the lid it is dead easy to get out. read the manual :)

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Mr. Coffee BVMC-KG2 Single Serve Coffee Brewer

I bought this single serve brewer at a local department store before realizing that Amazon carried it. Anyway, like most Keurig licensed machines, the Mr. Coffee version produces a fine cup of coffee at $25 less than the similar Keurig brand brewer. In addition, the Mr. Coffee appears to be better constructed than the Keurig Mini Brewing System. The only "con" is that the Mr. Coffee produces only a 8 ounce cup of coffee while the Keurig Mini produces 8 & 10 ounce cups. You can get almost 9 ounces, but you risk a little water going into the overflow reservoir. Nonetheless, I am very happy with my Mr. Coffee. Incidentally, this model BVMC-KG2-001 is the successor to the Mr. Coffee BVMC-KG1-001.

I purchased this machine after having used a friend's Keurig on a few visits out of town. I really loved the convenience but was put off by the poor reviews of most of the Keurig machines, and the size of them. I decided this smaller machine (which is still a bit bigger than my 1-4 cup Mr Coffee machine) was the best bet for me.

Here are some things to think about when purchasing this machine:

No water reservoir fine for me as I was used to pouring water into a regular coffee machine every day and I am the only user of the machine, but for maximum time saving and multiple users, one might be better off choosing a model that has a reservoir.

Water temperature at first I thought it wasn't hot enough, but then I remembered that I had always nuked my coffee after pouring it from the pot before. For very hot coffee, I would still need to do that, but the temp it comes out at is fine for me. I usually finish within 15 minutes, and it is still warm by the time I'm done.

Dispensing size There is an 8oz mark, and there is a Max mark in the water tank. Max is a little over 9 oz, which is what I always use. If you pour more that that in, the excess will drain into the drip tray before brewing. When testing, I used 10 oz (over the Max line) and got less than an ounce in the drip tray.

Coffee strength this is related to the dispensing size and is the biggest limitation for me. I like weak coffee. I have tried 6 different k-cups so far and found that using the max water amount wasn't quite enough water for 3 of the k-cups I've tried (I'm cycling through a variety pack of 12). I haven't tried the bold flavored ones yet. For this fact alone, it would be better to have a machine that dispensed more water, but once I settle on some flavors I will buy going forward, I'm sure they won't be the bold ones.

Mug size there is a removable drip tray so you can fit a travel mug, but after taking it out my 16oz travel mugs are still too tall for it.

Reusable filters I purchased the Ekobrew filter and tried my own coffee in it when I wanted some decaf last night. It worked great.

If you really want all the bells and whistles and maximum time saving, I suggest getting one the more full featured models. I've had this machine a week and I'm really satisfied with it, especially for the price, which was ~ $72 when I purchased. If I find that I want to upgrade in the future, I will take this one to work.

Also, I think there are models with cup sensors. I haven't made this mistake yet, but I have a feeling that one day I might brew some coffee and forget to put the mug underneath.

**6 week update** I am really very happy with this coffee maker and so glad I purchased it. I did notice a problem a few times where the water didn't brew, it just went right into my mug cold. What happened is that I got things out of order. Water goes in first, then the Kcup. If you start messing with the order, this machine will let you know it doesn't like that.

Buy Mr. Coffee BVMC-KG2 Single Serve Coffee Brewer Now

This was my first Keurig coffee brewer, and it worked exceedingly well. The design and construction are both good and it never gave me a moment's trouble. If you are looking to produce a reasonably good cup of coffee really fast and with no fuss, I think you'll be pleased with the purchase. That said, I have stopped using this machine after one month and now make coffee using another method. Let me explain why because there are some limitations to the Keurig method of which you should be aware.

The chief selling points of the Keurig method are speed and convenience, but the method's speed is, in fact, an Achilles heel. The hot water comes into contact with the coffee for a maximum of 30 seconds, and that simply isn't long enough to produce the rich mouthfeel and complex flavors of slower methods such as a French press or a Chemex, both of which allow the coffee flavors to be extracted over three to four minutes. (Espresso coffee tastes great despite its short contact time because of the extremely high pressures and very fine grind, neither of which are present in the Keurig method.) The first K-cups I used were the Folgers "Lively Colombian," and I don't think I have ever tasted a thinner, more flavorless cup of joe in my life. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give the coffee those pods produced a 3. Things improved markedly when I used Green Mountain Coffee Roasters "Nantucket Blend" and "Dark Magic," both of which I'd rate a 7, and which I recommend.

The experience left me reconsidering what it was that I wanted out of coffee and I decided that, for me, taste was more important than speed and convenience. I have since replaced my Mr. Coffee Single Serve unit with a Kyocera Ceramic Coffee Grinder ($41.70), a Bodum Bistro 17-Ounce Mini Cordless Electric Water Kettle ($29.95), and a 3-Cup Chemex Glass Coffeemaker with Handle ($33.15). My new morning coffee ritual takes under ten minutes all told, from the grinding of the whole beans to the brewing of the coffee to the poured cup, and it allows me to start my day with a cup of coffee that rates a solid 10, with flavors a Keurig-method machine can only dream of. The entire setup cost me under $105 (not including shipping), and I am definitely saving money over time by avoiding the pricey K-cups.

Bottom Line: With the right K-cups, this Mr. Coffee unit does an excellent job of producing good coffee. If speed and convenience are your top concerns, you'll probably be very happy with it. Just understand going into this that the speed and convenience come at a bit of a price in terms of the quality of the coffee produced. If you want excellent coffee--cups that rate a 9 or 10--you may want to look into other methods, such as Aeropress, Chemex, or French press.

Read Best Reviews of Mr. Coffee BVMC-KG2 Single Serve Coffee Brewer Here

I'm a coffee snob, but at work I really don't have time to brew the perfect cup. The K-cup system seemed to offer a good compromise. I could have hot coffee at the touch of a button. Keurig has dialed in reasonable grinds, brewing times, and water temperature (all variables that can make or break a cup of coffee). The brewing process seems to take a couple of minutes (heating time for the most part) and the pump is not "whisper quiet," but it does not disturb me when I'm sitting three feet away and having a conversation (I'm a little hard of hearing, too). This isn't gourmet coffee, but it's pretty darn good when I need a reasonably good cup RIGHT NOW.

At least it used to be. I ordered mine on February 18th. I've had it at work for almost exactly two weeks. Today it failed. The pump runs. The water heats. But it does not flow through the machine to brew any coffee. Internet searches suggest that it could be scale (but it isn't, not in two weeks!), a clogged filter between the water reservoir and the pump (since the reservoir isn't removeable, I have no way of checking--but I brew with filtered water only), or a damaged pump.

It doesn't really matter what the cause is. I'm not going to take it apart and try to fix it! From the complaints I've read, my problem is not uncommon. This model goes back. Since I liked the coffee and it fit into my office life, I'm going to try another version--all the time keeping in mind that pump failure MAY be the bugaboo. On the other hand, a clogged filter can be cleaned with a removeable reservoir model. I will order one of those and cross my fingers.

Most people don't have a problem, I'm sure. And I'm not going off on the companies involved. Mistakes happen. But I'm willing (at this point) to try again. Go ahead and try getting one of these (or another model, the problem seems common to most Keurig-based machines). Just don't be too disappointed if you need to return it soon after you get it.

As far as coffee speed and quality of brewing, I'd give the WORKING machine 3 1/2 stars. Since it FAILED, only the single star as a Caveat Emptor device.

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ASIN B004T6EK3O Someone put me out of my coffee-addicted misery. Clearly the universe conspires against me.

I bought this model for one reason when I sorted my Amazon results by reviewer ranking, it was number one. I've already been through THREE Keurig B-70 B70 Platinum Single-Cup Home Brewing System they had an average lifespan of nine months. Then I went through one Mr. Coffee Single Serve Powered by Keurig Brewing Technology, which lasted a depressing two months. This model, however, has them both beat. ONE WEEK. That's right seven days. Six days worth of coffee. As of this morning, it grinds and grinds and grinds and then, drip!, a drop of brown water falls into the cup. The grinding sound is so relentless that I've been waiting for the thing to explode.

Some quick notes, since "it breaks in a week" is clearly the biggest problem:

The button you press to open the top (where you put the water) is awkward. It opens smoothly and that's nice, but it doesn't catch easily when you close it. It's annoying.

Unlike the Keurigs, but in common with the other Mr. Coffee, this thing has no reservoir. You have to add water every time you want a cup and wait out the heating each time.

Speaking of heating, I hope you have a microwave, because this coffee isn't hot. I use Coffee-Mate Regular Powdered Coffee Creamer, 16-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12) and this maker always leaves little un-dissolved bits floating in the coffee. Yum.

With no digital screen, it's possible that this thing gets scale-y fast and you'll never know. With a regular maker, a routine cleaning schedule might be enough, but with these things, a screen to tell you that it needs de-scaling is almost a necessity.

As with all other k-cup using machines, this makes weak coffee, but only because of the k-cups. Get a Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter and control the strength for yourself. A little.

Final word One week, for this price? Please. I'm beginning to hear the call from the crummy old ten dollar coffee pots that at least lasted. My last one of those made it eight years!

AnnaLovesBooks

EDIT, later the same day. I have found a way to get a cup of coffee. Coffee addicts will find ways... The machine has been making an horrific grinding sound and dripping. If I remove the cup of grounds and run JUST water through, it goes through fine. Then I was able to make a cup. So, for whatever reason, the problem seems to be that the water can't get through the grounds. While this work-around is okay, it shouldn't be necessary. I'm not asking the thing to push water through a brick wall, it's loose coffee grounds.

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