Bennoti N-1001 Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

The first couple of machines we got did not work properly or leaked. We finally got the machine sorted out, but now cannot find the pods anywhere, not even on Amazon. I can only order them direct from Bennoti whose prices are almost double what I used to be able to get them at drugstore.com. I called drugstore.com who said that the manufacturer (Bennoti) stopped making the pods. I refuse to pay $25 for 30 pods. I cannot find any cheaper pods that fit the Bennoti machine, although there are a lot of cheaper pods out there that fit other machines.

The Bennoti is a very nice, easy-to-use espresso capsule machine. It's quick and offers nice crema. Prime each new cup for about five seconds to warm the outer hardware. (Leave your old capsule in for the prime.) Also warm your cup with water to boiling in the microwave. Use heat-retaining cups to keep the espresso warmer longer. Double up each cup by inserting a new cap half-way through for ultra-rich espresso with very nice crema for a machine of this price. Doubling up also helps the quality because the Bennoti caps themselves aren't the best. (Hence the four-stars.) The customer service is laughable, and they're still sending me dual orders of the wrong coffee. Oh well, I'll just keep drinking it.

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I cannot give a review on how this machine works since I have been waiting almost 3 months for the coffee to arrive. Despite many phone calls with varying excuses ranging from your order was back ordered to your order was never processed I am no closer receiving the coffee for this machine. I would suggest if your looking for a espresso machine that will actually make espresso you stay away from Bennoti, as they don't seem to know what the hell they are doing.

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We have used a Bennoti machine for at least two years with no problems. It is extremely simple to use. Two suggestions: do not run machine when water has run out; prime the cup by using the previous capsule to half fill with warmed watery coffee-then change capsule, throw out the watery coffee and fill for real.

As for the company, there has been too much posted on various websites to ignore. We bought directly from Bennnoti with no trouble, but others have reported problems. We buy capsules from Amazon or Richardsolo. I imagine that buying machine via Amazon would be best because you would have access to their customer service which has always impressed us.

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I BOUGHT THIS PRODUCT BECAUSE IT SAID IT HAD A BUILD IN GRINDER WELL NO BUILT IN GRINDER AND IT USES PODS WHICH CAN BE FOUND NO WHERE. This product sucks.

Hario MSS-1B Mini Mill Slim Coffee Grinder

Things you need to know before buying:

1. This product is small, very small. It is about 7 inches tall and 2 inches wide at the base. I knew it was small before buying, but cannot say that I wasn't surprised when I opened the box to see just how small it is.

2. The instructions in the package come in Japanese (no English translation). Be ready to figure things out for yourself, most notably, how to adjust the grind (it's at the bottom of the grinder, you have to manually turn a nut to adjust the grind from finer to coarser and vice versa).

3. It gives you up to 2 cups worth of grind space. Perfect if you grind you coffee just before drinking (like me), but not so if you want to grind large quantities at a time. This is very much a grind-as-you-go grinder.

4. As someone mentioned before, the finest grind takes a while to get all the beans grinded. Keep at it.

5. The grinding handle detaches and reattaches, it's not one whole product. You'll just need to store the handle near the grinder.

6. It's a great budget grinder. It grinds the beans at a consistent grind. That's what you're looking for. But, you're going to have to work for it. Be sure you don't mind the work before buying this product.

Overall, I'm a satisfied customer. I've used this grinder religiously every morning for about 4 months now.

Update (11/21/12): Over 2 1/2 years later and an additional 200+ reviews since I wrote this one, I'm still using this grinder every morning to grind my coffee.

Now this grinder's greatest asset is becoming my biggest downfall: I'm officially getting tired of manually grinding my coffee. I have lost all hope that it's going to break: the only chance I have of convincing my wife to let me buy a $200 electric grinder that can equal its quality. Such is life.

'Hope you found this helpful!

I researched for a while before settling on this product. There are alot of people reviewing it that say it is too much work and it takes too long. First of all, that is not the case. It might take 1-2 minutes for enough coffee for 2 people and it is not difficult by any means. Second, if you are looking at getting a MANUAL coffee grinder then you have to expect it to take a little bit of MANUAL labor, that's kind of the idea. I guess people are too used to their automatic, electronic kitchen devices that don't require anything more than the press of a button. On that note, electric coffee grinders have a high rate of failure, something they call planned obsolescence. With a manual one there really isn't anything to have go wrong.

If you understand what you are getting then this is a great little product. The reason I decided on this one is because it has a lid to keep the beans from bouncing out which means you can hold the grinder in your hands and at an angle while grinding, as opposed to having to keep the device planted on a counter top or table while grinding. With this one you can walk around or go sit down or whatever you want while grinding. It also has a very easy adjustment mechanism to change the coarseness of the grind and the whole thing is very compact. The burs are ceramic so they will never wear down. To me, for the money this is the best one out there.

***UPDATE*** March 2012

I've had this grinder and have been using it for about 18 months. I have had no problems and am still very happy with my purchase. The ability to change the coarseness of the grind is one of my favorite features. If I want my coffee to be REALLY strong I can grind the beans into a fine powder (which takes a little longer) or if I want it to be regular strength I can set it to a more coarse grind (which takes less time). With a little experimentation you can find the setting that works best for you. This is a solid little contraption and I would still highly recommend it.

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I bought this item because it wasn't possible to properly clean my electric burr grinder and my wife kept yelling about the noise and coffee dust. The HARIO does a good job of grinding the coffee and is pretty simple to operate but it's slow and takes effort. The directions are in Japanese but all you really need to know is pop off the handle and clear top, pour in the beans, put it back together and grind, grind, grind. My only grumble is that the HARIO is so small and slick that you have to death-grip the thing while you're cranking. I haven't experimented much with adjusting the coffee grind but that's accomplished by turning the little wing-nut thing on the bottom of the grind section. Screw it tighter for finer coffee or loosen it for a coarser grind. If you unscrew it all the way you can disassemble the device for cleaning. The bottom line...if you need a small, portable grinder for about one cup of coffee, it's worth the money. If you need quantity, speed and complete ease of use...look elsewhere. Thanks for reading my review.

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I don't need to add to the overwhelmingly positive reviews that already exist. This mill is fairly simple to use even without English instruction.

In case you're a potential user, but worries about the lack of English instruction, this translation will hopefully remove your concern.

Front Cover page: nothing critical.

Back cover page: Turn the nut at the bottom clockwise to make finer grind, counterclockwise for coarser.

Inside page #1: Top: Cautions

1. Turning the handle when there is nothing inside or turning it counterclockwise will damage the burrs. Don't do it.

2. Turning the nut/dial clockwise too far may damage the burrs.

3. Small piece of coffee bean can get stuck and prevent coffee from falling down. This may result in turning the handle without actually grinding any coffee bean. Tap the coffee mill occasionally to prevent this from happening.

4. Over time, the mill wears down. When the amount of coffee beans you can grind decreases significantly, it's time to buy a new one.

Bottom: Directions

1. Grind a small amount of coffee beans to see how much you need to turn the nut/dial to get the fineness you need.

2. put 1-2 cup worth of bean into the hopper: 1 cup = 10-12 g, 2 cupts = 20-24 g (see marks on the hopper). Don't over-load above the 2-cup mark.

3. Hold the mill firmly in one hand as you turn the handle slowly. Make sure the hopper cover is closed tightly.

Inside Page #2: Top: drawing that shows individual components, pretty self-explanatory.

Bottom: Care instruction

1. You can take apart the mill for cleaning

2. The nut/dial can be removed by turning counterclockwise.

3. After taking the nut off, you'll be able to take out the inner and outer parts of the mill/burrs

4. Oil from the coffee bean will get on the mill. Wash with soap.

5. Do not put the parts in dishwasher. Do not use bleach.

6. Do not lubricate the mill with oil

I hope you'll enjoy your new grinder as much as I do.

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I bought this along with an Aeropress coffee maker AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker with Bonus 350 Micro Filters specifically for use when traveling. The combination makes the best coffee I've ever made myself (and I've been doing this for over half a century). The combination packs into a very compact space, made it through TSA without a hitch, is apparently almost unbreakable (so I would not have worried had I checked my luggage, but I have learned to pack for up to 3 weeks with a carryon and this combination fit in very well). If this is set on the finest espresso grind it can take over 10 minutes to grind a full load (beans in the top, adjust the grind wheel on the bottom, easily used) but set slightly coarser it took about 2 minutes or less to grind enough to put through the Aeropress. I grind whilst watching TV (public television, of course) so I can take whatever time I need. The espresso grind, by the way, is a hard press with the Aeropress but it works. In short, combining this product with the Aeropress allowed me to buy beans in New Orleans and make coffee the way I like it. One must take along a heating coil if one's hotel does not reliably supply a coffee maker (mine did not); the total package along with a baggy full of coffee beans kept me going in the morning without having to pay for room service or spend time I didn't have during a conference finding a restaurant.

Bottom line: I am overjoyed with this product and with the combination I described above. Highly recommend.

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La Pavoni EPC-8 Europiccola 8-Cup Lever Style Espresso Machine, Chrome

I bought one of these a couple of months ago and although it is a bit expensive it is one of the best purchases I've made in a long time. It looks great. It is so well made, it feels like it will last forever as it is so simple, no electronics to break down no plastic bits to break off. You get a huge amount of control over the way the coffee tastes, it's all in the speed of lowering the handle and the tightness of grinds. It takes a few attempts to get it right but once you've worked it out you'll never look back.

My parents bought this about five years ago and I followed suit about a year ago. When she first bought it I thought they were crazy, but when it got there I understood why.

This machine is superb for almost any kind of coffee. Sometimes I like a strong espresso and sometimes I like a cold cafe sheccerato which is a cold coffee and is great. (To make it you simply get a shaker (like a martini shaker) and fill it with ice and a few teaspoons of sugar. Brew the coffee and while it is still very hot throw it in the shaker and shake it strongly for about a minute. The result is an ice cold frothy espresso, great for warm days forget Starbucks imitation stuff, this is much better).

As other people have said, it takes a little bit of time to get it right. Typically I've found that very thin grains are not the best to work with, something between your typical Illy coffee grain and the larger cheap grains usually works well. It take a bit to get used to, but once you start to get a hold of the whole concept it works superbly well. Frankly, even when you do a poor job the coffee is still good.

In addition, my parents have had this item for about five years and have not had a single problem. It's extremely easy to clean and if you are in a rush it's also a great machine since it loads so quickly and easily.

Also, if you are running out the door you need not wait for the water to completely heat up. You can run it after just a few minutes (of course your coffee won't be as warm, but it doesn't have to heat up completely in order to use it). For those quick out-the-door mornings, this is great. You won't have the best espresso in the world, but you'll still have one that beats just about anything.

I've been through about three [price range] machines in the last few years and they all broke or just didn't taste right. ... You have to be able to taste the difference between good and bad coffee to enjoy this machine. If you don't you probably won't enjoy this machine as much. In other words, if Folgers Instant coffee tastes good to you, move along.

It's also worth getting good coffee for this. ...

In the end, if you are looking for a high-quality product that makes high quality coffee, this is a great choice.

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Manual machines, without question,produce the best cup of espresso. I have owned them in the past, and recently purchased a brand new La Pavoni. The machine arrived broken. I could not even get one cup of espresso. I called thinking that La Pavoni would have me send back the machine and replace it. WRONG. I was told that this was not allowed, and the only option I had was contact one of there US Service Agents and arrange to have the machine sent to them for repair. Even then they indicated that the repair expense would be my responsibility.

At this point what do you do? So either I keep the machine as a useless decoration, or concede and try to fix it.

I tried the three numbers they provided. About 10 days have gone by, and I have called each number numerous times to no avail. You never reach a real person. Only a tape recording informing you that they would contact you as quickly as possible.

So, yes, a manual machine is the best, but La Pavoni warranty and service is horrible. If you want a manual, try a different vendor.

Don

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You'd better know your coffee before you even start looking at this espresso maker. It is a manual pull espresso maker, meaning there is some art and a lot of trial/error incurred when making your coffee. That said, this has produced some of the best espresso I've ever had. It's a smaller maker, and is great for someone who just wants about 4-6 espresso shots before needing to refill. (I work out of home office, so this is perfect...)

PROS:

* Small, means it doesn't take up much counter space.

* Manual Lever If you want fill control over your coffee, this is the way to go.

* More than enough steam pressure/volume to steam 12oz+ of milk.

* Solid construction. It is mostly all metal.

* Comes up to heat FAST. (About 5min with a full tank.) The head also comes up to temp quickly.

* Visible water level

* Easy clean drip tray

* Easy screw-off levers, knobs, etc easily replaceable/customizable.

CONS:

* The base is lightweight, and could be more solid. It feels cheap compared to the solid construction of the boiler/head.

* The steam nozzle does not swivel out, causing you to have to steam your milk VERY close to the boiler. (Ouch!)

* Must wait for it to cool before refilling due to steam pressure.

* The default tamp that comes with this unit SUCKS. Too small for the basket..leads to bad coffee...why, Pavoni, why?

CAVEATS:

* Not a "push button, receive coffee" type of maker. This is a pro for me, but you should be well aware that this requires finesse and patience.

* Ensure you are comfortable with servicing it yourself or OK with mailing it to a service center. This is not a throwaway item after a few years, and can be a lifetime purchase.

MUST ALSO BUY:

* 51mm Tamp. Seriously. Don't even use the one that comes with the unit. It will ruin your pulls. 51mm is the correct size.

* DEEP milk frothing container. Because of the angle and stiffness of the steam arm, you WILL spray yourself in the face if you don't have a good angle on it, and something to catch the overspray. (I use my mug, and have given up on having fancy foam.)

* Nylon brush Coffee regularly gets stuck in the area between the head and steam curtain on this unit. Clean after every use.

* Insulated espresso mugs/shotglases On bigger units, you can sit what you use to catch the coffee in on the unit to warm it up. Not so here. I use glass shotglasses that I heat up with hot water prior. (I'm cheap, ok?)

* Conical burr grinder A consistent grind is very important for this maker, as it is the difference between great coffee and awful coffee. This unit is sensitive to the grind, so once you have the right grind, it is very helpful to have that dialed-in on your grinder for every grind thereafter.

Why I rated 4/5 instead of 5/5??? Because of the craptacular plastic tamp, the inflexible steam nozzle, and the flimsy seeming base. Don't get me wrong, I would have zero issues recommending this unit highly, I think they just could have gone that extra little bit.

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I've enjoyed 3.5 years of incredible coffees with this thing, not to mention that it's beautiful and a conversation piece. Other than a single gasket overhaul and regular cleaning I didn't have maintenance issues But the design flaws have taken their toll. A year ago the base slowly started to rust because the steam wand tends to drip water under the tray (admittedly I could have been more diligent about mopping it up, but I shouldn't have to be).

Then this morning, the portafilter handle broke into pieces. Underneath the plastic handle grip, the metal of the handle had completely rusted through because, unbeknownst to me, moisture was getting in there as well.

Considering that the machine is now 33% more expensive than when I bought it, I say buyer beware. The portafilter is replaceable but hard to find. While I'm at it, I should also warn that the steam wand isn't going to give you enough steam for professional barista-quality froth, and that it gets a bit wonky to make multiple drinks in a row. I might add that I say all this with somewhat of a broken heart.

PS I had tried to change my rating to 3 stars but apparently because I had previously rated it I can't change my rating.

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