Showing posts with label reviews coffee makers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews coffee makers. Show all posts

Friday, May 30, 2014

DeLonghi DC514T 14-Cup Programmable Drip Coffeemaker

DeLonghi DC514T 14-Cup Programmable Drip CoffeemakerI've had my DeLonghi Esclusivo coffeemaker for exactly 3 months. It brewed the best tasting coffee I've ever had. It was my favorite coffee maker by far for the following reasons: Coffee is delicious -slow brewing permits a more robust coffee. Small footprint on my counter. Stylish design. VERY easy to program and use. Large opening through which to pour water. Charcoal filter to purify water. Automatic shut off. Caraffe has large opening for easy cleaning. NON-DRIP POURING!! I was in heaven with this coffeemaker and knew I'd found the perfect one. (I've had many in my lifetime.)

Unfortunately, two days ago, the plastic surrounding the hot plate began to melt. The vendor from whom I purchased it has already refunded my money and has asked me to return it. I will NOT purchase another one for fear of fire hazard. This coffeemaker would have received 10 stars from me had it not begun to melt itself to death. For this reason, I'm heartsick.....it WAS the perfect coffeemaker.

Easy to use, attractive design, makes aromatic hot coffee. I like the aroma function that brews the coffee slower and uses the "shower head method" to better soak the coffee grounds while brewing. As long as the machine doesn't break down, the 5 stars will remain. Silly me, I thought maybe was made in Italy, but no, made is China. I bought this because of good price, free shipping and attractive design. It has more pluses than that. It is a good buy!

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I purchased this coffee maker in December 2009 and it worked well for a whopping 7 months. My son threw it in the trash but I remembered that it had a one year warranty so I dug it out of the garbage can. The piece needed to stop the water from dripping all over the counter is on backorder. I understand that backorders happen, but a 3 month backorder is unacceptable.

I spoke to Bev in customer service and she was as useless as you-know-what on a bull. She said that the part wasn't necessary to operate the coffee maker. I suppose she's correct, IF you prefer licking your morning coffee off of the counter top instead of sipping it from a cup.

Since my machine has been inoperable for three months, and there is no date in sight for the part's arrival, I suggested that they send me a new one. Request denied. I later suggested that they should extend my warranty since my 12 month warranty has turned into a 9 month warranty since the part is on back order. Request denied.

Unless you enjoy lapping your coffee from your counter, i would stay away from this unit and company in general.

UPDATE: Oct 30th, I received the wrong part from the company and must now wait at least two more months for the correct item.

Read Best Reviews of DeLonghi DC514T 14-Cup Programmable Drip Coffeemaker Here

I have used almost every brand of coffee maker. But when I made the first pot with my DeLonghi, I new then that I would never use another coffee maker. The coffee that was made from it was by far the best I have ever tasted, even comparing it with coffee shops.If you by this coffee maker you will not be dissatisfied.

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We purchased this coffee maker after doing a lot of researching and trusting many of the reviews on this site. However, we were really disappointed with the taste of the brewed coffee. We thought it was sort of muddy, at times almost chalky-tasting, and at the end of every cup there was a thick black bitter tasting 'sludge'. I am very experienced at making coffee and have never had this problem with any machine before.

Although we weren't 100% pleased, we decided to stick it out and try to continue using this machine. However, 2 more incidents have changed our minds and it's going in the trash now:

A) Our child accidentally broke the carafe, therefore, a word of caution: buying the matching glass 14 cup replacement carafe is nearly impossible. You can't buy it on Amazon, and when we decided to purchase from Delonghi, the only other place we could find one, it was $50 with shipping! If you do purchase this machine be VERY careful not to break the carafe!

B) Just today, the pressure gauge on the filter broke off rendering the filter now useless. Bear in mind, this machine was purchased only a month ago!

I felt compelled to write this review to anyone out there doing their research and thinking this is the coffee maker for them. We had a terrible experience with it from Day 1, and will now be purchasing a Cuisinart for our great past experience with that brand and their easy-to-find replacement parts.

Good luck in your search!

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Thursday, May 8, 2014

Black & Decker DCM18S Brew 'n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug

Black & Decker DCM18S Brew 'n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel MugI bought this coffeemaker for home about 2 months ago and I love it! It is extremely convenient to be able to quickly brew coffee for just one person. The best features of this unit are:

1. It has a built in, "permanent" filter which is a HUGE plus. No more running out of filters, EVER.

2. It is fast. In just a couple minutes I can go from sleep to sipping coffee.

3. It brews the coffee right into the travel mug. The unit I bought included an extra mug which is also a great convenience.

4. It is inexpensive!

The only downside I can see is that I would have made the travel mugs a bit larger, but that is not a serious problem. I would buy this coffeemaker again without hesitation.

I have had this machine for five years now so I thought someone might like to here a long term review. Mine does not have a stainless cup, but my cup is tapered like this one.

Pros:

1) Brews 1 cup (I'm the only one who drinks it).

2) Quick, about 2 minutes to brew and 5 to finish dripping.

3) Easy to clean. I have rinsed the entire unit several times.

4) No trash. Comes with a permanent filter.

5) Filter cleans easily. Just tap out the coffee in the trash and rinse.

5) Can be used with a timer. See below for explanation.

6) Takes up very little space.

7) Can be used with other cups. As long as you don't overflow the reservoir and your cup will fit under it, the cup will work.

Cons:

1) It is gravity fed through the filter so 5 minutes may be too long for some.

2) Be sure to line up the exit spout with hole. Once you get it you will see, but if you don't you will have coffee all over your counter.

3) If you grind you coffee to fine, you will get coffee grinds on the inside of the machine. No big deal as you can rinse the unit off easily.

Timer:

Once you activate the unit it will run until the reservoir is empty. The only way to stop it is to unplug it. However, if you plug it back in it will pick up where it left of. If you activate it with it unplugged, it will start as soon as it is plugged in. Therefore, if you want coffee when you wake up, all you need is a wall timer (about $5 from many sources). Set the timer to activate in the morning when you want your coffee. Prepare the machine like normal, depressing the activation button. When the timer turns on in the morning the machine will begin brewing your coffee.

Buy Black & Decker DCM18S Brew 'n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug Now

This nifty little coffeemaker is difficult to find in stores, so I was glad to see it at Amazon. It saved my marriage because my spouse doesn't drink coffee (hates the stuff) and there's no pot to clean. Even though it comes with a huge mug, the coffee tastes best when you use it with a normal china mug or cup, and with beans that are ground fine. I'm on my second one -it lasts about four to five years in daily use. Not bad for the money. I won't drink coffee that's been sitting for more than five minutes, so the Brew 'n Go is perfect. If you're the only Joe drinker in the house, it's an absolute must!

Read Best Reviews of Black & Decker DCM18S Brew 'n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug Here

For 17 dollars, come on!!! That's like one plain shirt in Old Navy.

Here let me help you out if this coffee maker and you are compatible:

1. Do you drink alot of coffee? If yes then dont get this. Get the six-cup coffee maker. This is for people who drinks 1-2-3 cups a DAY. If you drink more than that it might frustrate you to constantly fill the compartment every now and then. But if you're patient enough to wait for less than a minute, then get it.

2. No need for those filters. Saves the environment and money.

3. Do you want a quickie clean-up? If yes, the get this. Just rinse with water and you're fine.

Hey guys, I read tons of reviews before buying this. I liked it because its light, portable, cleans easily, cheap and environmentally friendly (not to mention economically).

There are some negative in Amazon because they follwed the guidelines in the paper. Here's my precaustions to have a perfect cup:

1. Make sure you dont fill it all with water. Try making 3/4 cups, just to be in the safe side.

2. Use Starbucks ground coffee---it'll make you feel glad you're saving $4.

3. You can use another mug or coffee cup to suit your taste. I got a smiley face mug from the 99c store. Some reviews mentioned that the travel mug smells like rubber when they bought it. duh! that's because its new. All you have to do is wash it with dishwashing liquid. If that's too difficult, then dont buy the coffee maker.

All in all, Im satisfied with my purchase. This is my first coffee maker (I personally bought) and it sure is very cute and useful. Its super cheap--but the most important aspect of it---IT WORKS.

Dont expect like those heavy-weight and dramatic coffee makers. This belongs to a whole new genre. Definitely not your poshy restaurant/hotel coffee maker. Its just a simple plastic toy-like coffee maker that works.

I think I better go. Im at work and making this review?! What's wrong with me---I just like my Brew N Go

Want Black & Decker DCM18S Brew 'n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug Discount?

After using a Braun KF400 coffee maker for a number of years, I decided to look for an alternative that was smaller, faster and easier to clean. I am the only coffee drinker in my household, so I rarely made a full pot with the Braun. At home, I would generally make coffee on the weekends (the coffee at work is fine) and would pour from the pot into an insulated mug. So the idea of brewing right into the insulated mug was appealing.

Enter the Black and Decker DCM18S. The mug holds 15.5 ounces of java, which was about what I was making in the Braun. I've owned the machine about 3 weeks now and have made coffee about 8 times. Personally, I find that 2 level coffee scoops work well for a full mug. I ordered from Amazon after failing to find the product in either Target, Linens `n Things or Bed Bath and Beyond.

I find the taste on par with the Braun, although I'd probably give the Braun a slight edge. The convenience of the DCM18S was worth the switch. Just simply fill the reservoir to the full line, put the coffee into the permanent filter, put some milk in the mug, cover the mug and press the ON switch. The coffee will flow off the lid, into the mug. You can also keep the lid off if you want to add sugar and stir. I don't use sugar, so putting the lid on while brewing helps keep the temperature high.

Clean up is easy. Just empty the filter of the grinds, rinse the filter, and clean out the mug. With the Braun, I had to clean the pot and the two piece cover, plus the mug. Also, the Braun's warming plate was hot, so I'd usually put a little water in the pot and return it to the plate while it cooled down. Otherwise, someone could get burned because they wouldn't know the plate was still hot. With the DCM18S, there is no hot plate, so there's no risk of getting burned by it.

I did try using a Melitta #1 paper filter instead of the permanent filter once. It was a little small for two scoops of coffee, so there is a chance that the grinds could spill over the filter and into the coffee. In my one test, I didn't get grinds in the coffee, but the permanent filter rinses out easily enough and you save the expense of paper filters.

A couple of minor gripes. While the handle on the mug is comfortable, the body of the mug is somewhat hot if you hold it in hand. The other gripe is that the fill line inside the reservoir is hard to read. I have a Brita water pitcher so I want to pour from the pitcher direct into the reservoir, and avoid pouring into the mug first.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the Brew `N Go. My rating is closer to 4.5 stars, but because of the quibbles and the fact that the taste of the Braun gets a slight edge, I chose 4 stars instead of 5.

Update 8/13/2006: After using the DCM18S for about 9 months, I began having a problem where the grinds would wind up in the coffee. I use two coffee scoops, but this wasn't a problem earlier. I'm not sure whether this is caused by the water overflowing or caused by the pulsing steam at the end of the process. Either way, it has happened enough lately that I took out my old Braun and "retired" the Black and Decker.

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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Cloer 12-Cup Bitterness Eliminating Coffee Maker

Cloer 5218NA 12-Cup Bitterness Eliminating Coffee Maker, Stainless Steel/BlackUpdate 9/27/12 Strange all of the negative reviews. Other then the original carafe which they did replace I have been using this every day for close to a year and have not had a single problem. Buying great coffee in the first place is important...

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Update: They have a new all glass carafe that has no spill.

I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to coffee but flavor is most important to me. For over ten years I have been roasting my own. I also use a burr grinder the second most important step in coffee flavor. The third step of course is brewing which requires the water temperature to be about 200 degrees F when it hits the coffee grounds.

I have a vac pot which guarantees the temperature is correct due to the fact it has to get that hot for the water to get to the top. But it takes time and requires cleanup. I have a French Press which is also great for flavor but requires clean up and to some can be a bit muddy. For weekday use when time is limited first thing in the morning I have had a Technivorm which is the only brewer certified by the national coffee association for its temperature. But for brewing coffee it fails for how expensive it is. It is built more like a backyard still. I prefer a cup of coffee so I've never owned an espresso machine. I've been searching for a new brewer for quite some time until I came across the Cloer.

My first interest in the Cloer was its maintaining correct temperature which is very important. I don't have a thermometer that would accurately measure the temp but the flavor is as good as the other brewing options that I have.

I have always filtered the water. The Cloer accepts a water filter model MAXTRA by Mavea.

It has a builtin timer so that you know when to replace the filter.

There are two sets of markers in the water reservoir to determine the correct level using a filter or not.

The basket swings out after pressing the button on top and is removable for cleaning. It will stop the flow so that you can remove the carafe during brewing.

You can brew up to 12 cups.

There is an automatic setting to turn on at a specific time but I will never use it as I prefer fresh ground coffee (immediate).

The brewer will shut off after two hours. The digital readout counts out how much time has passed after the brewing has stopped.

You can easily adjust the warming plate temperature by simply pressing the up and down buttons. There are indicators on the display. This is a nice feature as the plate on most brewers gets too hot.

This is a great little brewer with some nice features that isn't over priced, easy to use and brews at the correct temperature!

I compared the new Cloer 12-cup coffee maker to my go-to machine, a Bunn ThermoFresh, using my favorite beans, freshly ground in a Breville conical burr grinder; filtered water and paper filters in each machine. Cloer's machine produced a cup of coffee with more body and more complex and lasting flavor, which I believe is due to better extraction from the bean during brewing. Cloer uses a 'pulse' brewing system due to the way its two-tank hot water system works: cold water is taken from a reservoir about a half-cup at a time and heated to 200 F. before it is released through the grounds. This results in a more stable water temperature throughout the brewing cycle in comparison to machines that heat the water all at once and then begin cooling down until their heater cycles on again. The Cloer machine has water measurements marked on the inside of the tank and on the stainless steel strip on the control panel, with cups of coffee marked on the glass carafe as well. I find this handy for making a partial pot of beverage. Unlike the Bunn, which has a stainless steel thermal carafe, the Cloer machine includes a warming plate (temperature adjustable by set levels)to keep the coffee uniformly hot for the life of the brew.

The Bunn machine also has a two-tank system but its system serves a different purpose: a full pot of water is heated and then continuously showered through the grounds. Meanwhile, a separate tank of cold water is waiting to be drawn into the system in case a second pot needs to be brewed. The Bunn system is fussy in comparison to Cloer: to get a new pot of coffee out of the Bunn, I always have to put a new pot of cold water into the first tank. For me, this leaves day-old filtered and once-heated water sitting in the system, waiting for me to make a pot of coffee that will never be truly 'fresh.' It is not that Bunn's engineers are 'lame'; their machine is designed for holding hot water all the time and for being on day and night. Their first pot of coffee can be made without waiting for water to come up to temperature, which can be an advantage getting ready for work at home or in keeping the coffee flowing at the office.

As with so many things today, coffee machines are made in China to engineering specifications from elsewhere. Cloer is engineered in Germany. The materials used in making the machine are 'upmarket' where plastics are concerned, having a pleasant 'soft touch.' Parts seem hefty and solid and tolerances on the coffee maker for fit are good. As with all button displays/controls, it helps to read the users manual to set the machine up. The process is not tricky, just different. Where things need to come apart for cleaning they do and they give the assurance that they will fit securely back together as well.

NEW DATA: THE ORIGINAL CARAFE HAS BEEN REPLACED! This new carafe features a simple glass pot with a 'typical' plastic top that doesn't have any place for water vapor or coffee liquid to seep into before it leaks all over your tablecloth. Materials are still up-market but now the design works! Many of us found that the original carafe developed a small but annoying leak around the rim or spout. This did not make the machine unusable but minor mopping was required. I passed this problem on to Salton, the machine's importer, and they 'kicked the problem up the line' and I now have a new and completely functional carafe, provided free of charge. I am advised that future shipments will include the improved pot.

Buy Cloer 12-Cup Bitterness Eliminating Coffee Maker Now

I have owned many coffee makers over the years, but this one is perfect. The design is amazing; simple, beautiful, easy to use, functional. The coffee it produces is so smooth and bitterness free, that my husband and I talk about it every morning since we bought it. The coffee it makes is "head and shoulders" above any coffee maker I have ever owned.

The carafe pours without spilling. the reservoir is easy to access and even has a light. I am so glad I spent the extra money to buy it. It was so worth it. I had a Krupp before which i paid $83.00 for and it was a disaster.(Thankfully I took it back, and I rarely take stuff back) It dripped, the reservoir was difficult to pour into and it got coffee grounds all inside the machine and was difficult to clean, and the coffee was bitter.

I only use the best coffee and grind my own beans as it is such a treat to have great coffee in the morning. This coffee pot make the best ever!!! I just bought a second one for our office.

Read Best Reviews of Cloer 12-Cup Bitterness Eliminating Coffee Maker Here



I have been looking for a good coffee maker for a long time. This is my 5th machine, well the search is over. The coffee smells good brewing and tastes even better. I was getting a bitter aftertaste from my coffee I tried all different brands, did cleanings, nothing helped.

This company has won all types of awards all over the world for its'superior quality. I can see why. It looks very modern on the counter but more importantly it makes great coffee.

When you get it home all you have to do is wash the carafe and the filter holder. Plug in and set the time, run a water only cycle then you are ready to brew. After all my searching I wasn't holding my breath that this would be fantastic but as it turns out it is. You can use an optional water filter in it to remove impurities in you water if you choose. It is not included. I have a PUR faucet filter so mine is getting double filtered.

The secret to this great coffee is in the two heating chambers that make the water a perfect 200 degrees as it flows through 18 shower type holes. This is the perfect temperature for great coffee. I never knew what the problem was just that all the models I tried had the same problem bitter aftertaste.

It uses the #4 cone filters or you can use a gold or metal cone #4 filter (not included).

I had heard that the pour spout spills every time. I have not had this happen even using my left hand and I am right handed. I did notice you have to tip it more before it starts to pour but after the second time you are used to it. I really can not find any cons on this machine. It does all it says it will do and looks good doing it. I highly recommend this model to anyone who enjoys a great cup of coffee.

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I was skeptical about the promise of a coffeemaker that brews a less bitter cup of coffee. In my experience all my coffeemakers produce acidic bitter coffee. In fact, my husband and I gave up coffee for quite awhile because of the bitterness. This time I was wrong. The Cloer coffeemaker does make less better coffee. The aroma is wonderful and the flavor is full bodied.

I particularly like:

The timer. It lets me know when the heating element will shut off. That lets me judge whether I need to make another pot.

The carafe feels good in my hand. I have had no trouble with spills.

The filter is easy to install. I particularly like the ability to see how much time I have before having to buy another filter. Use the clean button to determine the state of the filter.

The brewing system is exceptional. I was surprised that heating the water in increments made such a difference.

Some things I wish were different:

While I like the carafe, I wish it wasn't glass. I have a terrible tendency to break glass pots. However, this coffeemaker makes tastier coffee that my Melita with a carafe type pot.

I wish I didn't have to keep heating the coffee for two hours to keep it serve-able. I do think the coffee tastes better over time if it's not being continually heated. However, with the Cloer, I can choose one of four temperature settings and keep it on the lowest one, so that's a plus.

I highly recommend this coffeemaker, if you love coffee.

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Friday, November 22, 2013

Jura-Capresso Impressa F9 Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center

Jura-Capresso Impressa F9 Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso CenterThis machine is excellent. Produces above average espresso on every shot. Foams milk well too.

I was an early buyer of this machine, and 8,513 shots later (yes it counts them), I know it is an excellent value.

I also would comment that the customer service is excellent. Sent in the machine once, and for $100.00 received a complete overhaul. (Sent in for a pump leak after a house move.) Came back like new, on time, and they paid for the return shipping. Can't ask for much more.

I will buy another super auto, from Jura/Capresso, when the time comes for a new machine. It might be many years from now...

I have owned this for about 9 months and gotten nearly 1000 uses out of it (it counts for you). It can equal most coffeehouse product you are likely to find, but as others point out, it is far short of what an enthusiast can create from more traditional equipment. You may also find the crema coffee settings to be something of an acquired taste (but you can make an Americano in just one more step, which is always great).

Also, we went through a brief episode in which it would refuse to brew anything (as if it didn't have the power to punch the water through the puck of coffee). I remedied this with a descaling cycle as well as wiping out the parts above the removable tray thoroughly. (I use filtered water in the machine, but the descaling seems to be a more serious cleaning than the normal automatic cleaning.)

Given this, I would recommend keeping large stock of cleaning supplies and at least doing the normal cleaning every couple of weeks, rather than awaiting the machine's automated recommendation to clean. My understanding is that there are no dirt sensors driving these messages. It is just a function of the amount of use.

Overall, I would buy this again for certain, and if/when it dies I will be looking at one of its more expensive siblings, not at other brands.

UPDATE OCT 2012: I am up to nearly 5,000 runs. The only change is that it heats up a little slower. What a quality machine!

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Saw a demo of this at a local Sur la Table and very impressed. The coffee it makes is outstanding. I plan to buy one later this year.

Amazon is being deceptive about price. They state list price is $2400, and they're selling it for $1798.95, at a savings of $601.05. NOT! Look at the Jura-Capresso website. The list for the Impressa F9 is $1799. That brings Amazon's big discount down to a whole $0.05. The higher end Impressa S9 is $2399 (and Amazon claims it is $3200). Do your research. Don't trust Amazon's claims for MSRP.

Read Best Reviews of Jura-Capresso Impressa F9 Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center Here

This is not for your typical coffee drinker. It could be, but isn't. The thing that separates it is primarily the price, otherwise just about anybody who drinks coffee should absolutely love this machine.

This machine can and does make excellent coffee, cafe americano. It makes very good, but not excellent espresso. You can do as good or better with this machine than you'll probably get at a chain coffee shop.

The key to quality coffee on this is to use HIGH QUALITY coffee beans. I mean specifically beans that are recently roasted. The more recently roasted the beans, the better off you are (optimum use date is 2 days after roasting). I recommend coffee from www.intelligentsiacoffee.com (try their accidental/occidental and house blends) or www.victrolacoffee.com (streamline espresso).

Make sure you use the high temperature setting for best results, also. When making espresso, I think it helps to warm the machine up for making steam before you make the espresso (gives more flavor).

The steam wand is OK, but somewhat limited in that it's hard to get some frothing pitchers maneuvered in for frothing.

True coffee geeks will want a high-quality espresso machine where you can control the tamping of your grind, along with a quality burr grinder because you're not going to get a "God Shot" from the F9.

But for the rest of us, and even coffee geeks that enjoy the ease of single-button coffee/espresso quickly in the morning, this machine is very capable.

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I have had this espresso machine for nearly two years now, so I know all of its "quirks" and benefits/issues. I feel compelled to write a review since I relied so heavily on these reviews when making this purchase...so here goes:

1) After much research, I purchased the F9 at Williams Sonoma, primarily because they used to have a policy that you could return anything, at any time, if needed. So, I figured that if ever I had an issue, I could just return it to my local Williams Sonoma and get a replacement rather than returning the machine to the factory and waiting. Turns out I did indeed have to do this once for an electrical issue, which was actually an issue I had with the wiring at the outlet--not the machine afterall! In any event, I don't think Williams Sonoma still has that same open-ended return policy. Be sure to research the return policy wherever you make your purchase!

2) Overall, I have to say I absolutely LOVE this machine. Here's how I rationalized payment for such an expensive indulgence: if you figure a Starbucks costs approx. $3, and you buy one everyday (which I was), it would take 600 cups to break even. Well, with the automatic counter on my machine, I have made more than 1600 cups! This machine paid for itself in the first year..easily. ok, so now that you're past the issue of paying so much for a coffee machine, here's more...

3) This machine is crazy smart. It knows exactly when to clean itself, or tells you when to start the cleaning cycle. To clean it, all you do is insert a tablet in the coffee powder drawer and it does its thing. It knows when it needs water, when the filter needs to be changed, etc. In fact, since we have a water filter built into our refrigerator, we just use that filtered water in the coffee machine and therefore we don't need to use the expensive water filters. Bottom line, if you just pay attention and clean the machine on a regular basis when it tells you to, this is a no-brainer machine.

4) The coffee and espresso are great. I've learned to make a latte just like Starbuck's and I haven't been back since. Some people complain that the frother doesn't work well, but here's the trick: first, you should use non-fat or low-fat milk. For some reason, lower fat milk froths better every time; second, be sure to clean the frothing nozzle after each use. Kind of a no-brainer, I know. Third, there are two settings on the frother, and you can change the setting by sliding the sleeve on the frothing tip up or down. Experiment with this and you will get the perfect froth, really.

5) As for the beans, we don't use overly oily beans as I have read that they can cause a build up and make the machine tough to clean, etc. I believe the "Illy" brand that comes in the metal tin is supposed to be too oily. Others may have a different experience, but we just use whole espresso beans from the grocery store.

6) Believe it or not, this machine heats up in about 90 seconds, if not sooner. As a result, we use this for tea and hot cereal all the time. This is an added bonus for purchasing this machine.

As for issues, I honestly don't have many. I guess the only things that bug me are the fact that I have to remove the drawer from time to time and dump the water which is ejected after each use. I have learned to keep a black coffee cup under the spout so that it collects the rinse water and i just dump it as needed.

The only other issue I have had with the machine is that the touch screen sometimes works and sometimes 'sticks.' I've tried cleaning the face, washing my hands, but sometimes this just doesn't work right. Fortunately, when it does 'stick,' it gets stuck on the setting I use, so it's not a huge problem.

Net-net, I highly recommend this machine. It took us several days of research and at least a couple of weeks to build up enough nerve to spend this much on a freakin' coffee machine, but I have to say, this machine has become my new best friend in the kitchen. Sad, but true! Do yourself a favor and buy one. Enjoy!

UPDATE: This machine is still going stung after almost five years daily use and 4100 cups of coffee! The only issue we continue to have is the electronic display panel continues to go dark at times, or flash and flicker. I'm sure we could send it in for maintenance, but we can't stand the thought of not having our machine for 3+ weeks.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Stella Inox Lucido 6-cup Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker #496

Stella Inox Lucido 6-cup Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker #496That's what I said to myself the first time I made a cup of espresso in my Stella Inox Lucido. I was looking for a non-electric, stainless steel stove-top espresso maker that had no plastic or aluminum parts. I also wanted the option of making one cup for me or two cups for for both myself and my husband. We drink more in our cup than the standard espresso sized cup. this has the stainless steel "mesh" which can be turned over for 1-3 cups, but I find that it works fine by just putting less coffee grounds into the basket. I also did find that you really should have at least 1/2 a pot of water for it to percolate properly, which means at least 3 espresso-sized cups must be made at a time. If I need to make more than one pot, I simply run it under cool water and it cools off very quickly so it can be handled and refilled right away.

This espresso maker is solidly built and Although I do not open it up by the handle, the handle feels sturdy. If I pour just half the pot into my cup and keep the rest in the pot, the thick stainless steel retains enough heat to keep the coffee warm for me to drink about 15 minutes later. I grind my coffee beans super fine and I get only a tiny amount of the finest powder in the bottom of the cup.

One of the best things about this espresso maker besides making great tasting coffee, is the ingenious handle design. Being angled out, if I set the pot just on the edge of the flame, the handle actually stays cool and I don't need a pot holder to lift it off the stove and pour into a cup.

I am so happy with my choice espresso maker, I can't think of anything I don't like about it. Like I said, Perfect!

Monday, July 29, 2013

Braun 3107 Tassimo Coffee Maker

Braun 3107 Tassimo Coffee MakerHot-beverage system brews drinks at the touch of a button in about a minute

Patented T-Disc system with barcode technology; customizable strength settings

Beverages pour directly from T-Disc into cup; no measuring, no fuss, and virtually no cleanup

Measures approximately 10 by 15 by 16 inches;

Makes espresso, cappucino, hot cocoa, tea, and coffee just with a push of a button.

The system works great and makes delicious beverages. Used it at work.

Used machine, bought to use up remaining discs after buying two new machines over the past six years; neither now functioning. This used machine works fine -so far. Good price. Good delivery.

Buy Braun 3107 Tassimo Coffee Maker Now

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Hot Water Pot with Reboil Function

Hot Water Pot with Reboil Functioni refer the Tiger brand than this one.i use this in the bedroom to mix baby's formular at night. i readly don't like it much as the Tiger i have it in the kitchen. You can not set the temp as you want.Tiger cost $30 more but it better than this