Showing posts with label stella espresso maker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stella espresso maker. Show all posts

Monday, May 12, 2014

Forever Espresso Inox 10 Cup Espresso Maker.

Forever Espresso Inox 10 Cup Espresso Maker.This worked well for about a year and a half until the handle broke off. Yes, if you didn't know that "made in PRC" meant People's Republic of China" you may be annoyed, but I realized that to begin with. Now that I have to replace it, I will go with an as yet undecided higher priced, but still stainless steel competitor, hopefully that will last longer.

I bought the 6 cup one last year and now the 10 cup one. They work great. I use the small $20 Krups grinder for grinding the beans (and flax seed too). It is also perfect little machine.

I especially appreciate the simple elegance of this way of making a good strong cup/s of fresh coffee. The stainless steel is also a big plus compared to the aluminum version. I mean, using aluminum to cooking anything is pretty lame (and unhealthy?).

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I try to stay away from stuff made in China and I would really appreciate it if product info would state where things are produced. Here it said: real Italian Coffee maker created in Italy.... On the box it says: made in PRC (China). I think this is fraudulently advertised!

Read Best Reviews of Forever Espresso Inox 10 Cup Espresso Maker. Here

The quality of this coffee maker is below par! the lid screw fell off after about six months and the handle fell off after less than one year. I am going to escalate to manufacturer. I'm lucky that I didn't get burned! do not buy this coffee maker!!!

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I first switched from aluminum stove top espresso makers because of concerns about aluminum. I made the switch to Italian stainless pots that were beautiful but had two problems, they overflowed constantly (smell of burnt coffee throughout the house plus a nasty mess on the stove) and the gaskets wore out (at the worst possible times) and had to be replaced. I tried the six cup and then the ten cup Forever model a couple of years ago as they were very competitively priced. I saw from the reviews that they were made in China but so what, many, many consumer products are.

Both do a great job of making espresso. They never overflow and a permanent silicone gasket never needs replacing or reseating.

The ten cup model's handle was somewhat loose when I got it. Taking it apart it did not seem to be the metal fitting that attached to the pot that is the problem but the way the plastic fits to the metal tab. I couldn't tighten or otherwise fix it but it has worked fine for a couple of years.

It has started to get looser and since I don't want a bath of hot espresso down my leg I am replacing it with another Forever pot. For $50 you can't beat the overall value. If the handle didn't have this problem this would be the best value in the market for this type of product.

Got to go, coffee's ready!

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Jura Impressa F50 Classic

Jura Impressa F50 ClassicI bought this machine in August 2011 and has suffered repeated power failures. it just randomly decides to not turn on. It has been returned 7 times since purchase. everytime it does the same thing.

It works fine for 2 3 weeks. then refuses to power up. so I call Jura and get an rma. ship it back. I pay shipping both ways. I get the machine back and it works fine for 2-3 weeks.

Please dont ever buy this machine

ugh.

1500.00 paper weight

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Friday, April 18, 2014

Charcoal Water Filter- Fits all Cuisinart water filter holders

Charcoal Water Filter- Fits all Cuisinart water filter holdersWhy pay out the wazoo for something when you can get the exact same thing soooooo much cheaper!! It fit perfectly, looks exactly like what came out of coffee pot...I went to Cuisinart website and they wanted some exhorbatant amount for them!! Great to know I can get them here!! Only thing that could possibly be better is cheaper shipping, the shipping was more tham the actual tem!!

Exactly as the filter that came with my coffee maker but half the price of ordering from Cuisinart. Will buy again.

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I absolutely love my Cuisinart coffee maker and it has alot to do with their charcoal filtration system. The coal filter makes your coffee taste so much better. I can't really explain it but my coffee tastes more pure, if that makes sense. The coffee makers are reasonably priced and the charcoal replacements last 30 days each and cost three dollars or less. You definitely get your moneys worth. For a happy purse and taste buds, give this a try!

Read Best Reviews of Charcoal Water Filter- Fits all Cuisinart water filter holders Here

When the old used filter was removed and to see what it blocked, convinced me these are worthwhile. Small price to pay for that good cup of coffee

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Works great in my cuisnart! With hard water I am trying to keep my machine working longer. So far this is working.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Capresso frothPRO

Capresso frothPROI was worried to buy this because there were no reviews on it yet. I used it today for the first time and I could not be more happy with it. It says not to fill milk past the froth indicator line inside the pitcher, I know why now. It creates the most thick rich froth that you can imagine all the way to the top of the pitcher. After you pour the heated milk out (which by the way is heated to 150 degrees checked with thermometer)you will have to spoon out the froth because it is so thick. I gave it 5 stars because it does exactly what it describes it will do. The only thing negative that I could possibly say is that I do think that steamed milk and froth is sweeter in flavor than just heated milk and froth. I make caramel macchiatos at least twice a day for my wife and myself so we do a lot of frothing. This frother will make this super thick froth in around 2 min or so and then automatically shuts off too cool. I wait till it shuts off and then hit the espresso button on our espresso machine and then pour the heated milk, add the espresso and top with that thick froth decorate with the caramel and kick back. I thought at first this was going to be an expensive learning adventure but now I am very happy to have bought it. It also will make thick heated and frothed hot chocolate.

Who says you can't have it all? You can have your hot chocolate and your cappuccino too with this handy, convenient little machine. I'm no Einstein when it comes to operating appliances but this gadget is easy to operate and produces the most delicious hot and cold drinks you can imagine. The frothing mechanism is unbelievable. Now I can have my cappuccino without having to pay a king's ransom to Starbucks. In addition, it's easy to clean and that's a real plus in my book. Anyone who has ever had to deal with cleaning some of those razor sharp "jig-saw puzzle" pieces you see on a lot of appliances (my blender has been known to attack) will just love the safe, user friendly frothPRO parts.

And speaking of safety, there will be no burned lips and tongue with this little machine. It has three button settings and has the ability to control the temperature of your hot chocolate by just pushing the right hand button if you just want it WARM instead of HOT. Another plus is that you can froth your milk without the heat if ICED lattes are your drink of choice. Overall, this would be an excellent addition to your kitchen or a great gift for newlyweds who love cappuccino, latte or any hot or cold coffee drinks but can't afford those "Coffee house" prices.

Now that I've listed all the pros, let me add a couple of cons.

#1 The machine is a little pricey at the sixty dollars.

($ 35 to $40 would be a much fairer price). The machine

is a simple mechanism and made in China so there can

be no excuse like "union wages" to justify the $60 price

tag.

#2 The power cord could have been a little longer to provide

more options as to where it can be plugged in.

#3 Be careful not to touch the BOTTOM of the milk pitcher

once you have heated your milk and removed it from

the heating base and DO NOT set it down on a laminate

surface (like formica) because that baby is really HOT

and can leave a burn mark.

For performance and ease of operation this product falls into the 4 to 5 star range. The pricing, etc. rate 2 ½ to 3 stars. Overall rating 3 ½ stars.

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I am so happy I bought this machine! I have a DeLonghi espresso maker, and it makes great espresso, but the milk frother on my machine is a joke. In looking for a better milk frothing solution, I tried Aerolatte machines, but I wasn't satisfied with their weak results either. Luckily, I stumbled onto this device.

To be clear, I was seeking out very thick, creamy, meringue-like froth. My espresso machine and the Aerolatte made foam with bubbles far too large to support this type of froth, so I was skeptical when I saw that this machine advertised "meringue-like frother," yet works on pretty much the same principle as an Aerolatte frother. Nevertheless, I decided to try it out, and on its first run, it gave me exactly what I was looking for: mounds of soft, pillowy forthed milk that looked more like whipped cream or meringue. I was also left with just enough steamed milk at the bottom of the pitcher to make my cappuccino.

Making frothed milk with this machine couldn't be easier: add cold milk, put on the lid, and press a button. A few minutes later, the machine automatically shuts down when it's done. As I said, you're left with mounds of perfect frothed milk, and just enough steamed milk to finish your drink. The pitcher has a nonstick surface, so cleanup is pretty simple and doens't take much time.

My only complaint is that it's a bit difficult to remove the frothing disk from the bottom of the pitcher, and the instructions don't provide any guidance or tips. My technique is to reach down underneath the disk and just pry up one side until it pops off. The disk is quite firmly connected to the pitcher and is made of thin plastic, so it doesn't seem like the best design. Like a previous reviewer, I was initially scared that I might break the disk, but it hasn't happened yet, so maybe it's more rugged than it looks. There's a little tab that sticks up from the center of each disk--it looks like it's for gripping the disk, but I didn't have any luck removing it that way. Another complaint is that the disk-mounting assembly sticking up at the bottom center of the pitcher is like a little needle! I got a pretty bad poke when figuring out how to attach and remove the disks, and, again, I didn't see any warning in the instruction book.

Overall, however, these are very minor complaints, and I'm more than satisfied with this unit. It is a bit pricey for such a specialized machine, but if you'd otherwise be buying your coffee at a coffee shop, you'll make up the cost of the machine and then some in no time!

Read Best Reviews of Capresso frothPRO Here

This frother was great while it worked... easy to use, great frothy milk, quiet.

After three months, it just stopped working. Their customer service department insisted I return the broken frother before they would send a replacement... understandable if this was an expensive coffee maker but much less customer-friendly for a less expensive appliance which broke so quickly.

I asked to speak to a manager to see if the policy could be waived (I'd return the broken frother in the box they sent, they could even charge me while I held both). Seemingly annoyed at being bothered, the manager practically berated me for asking and, literally, mocked my speech before unapologetically telling me "this is how it is".

My previous coffee maker was Capresso with which I had quality problems (returned twice) and I've also given two other Capresso products as gifts (this Frother and a coffee maker) which both subsequently broke. Clearly, I like their products but, more clearly, they have a big quality control problem.

With such quality problems and horrible customer service, I will no longer purchase Capresso products.

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My first impression of this frother was a mixed one. It did not look like it was worth $60 even though it performed rather well in the beginning.

As time went by the frothing became worse. Now, after a little less than a year, I have to cycle it about three times to get enough froth for one cup of coffee. I don't know why, but it does not produce the thick froth that it once did. Many reviewers have had this same problem. I have experimented with different brands of milk without any luck and whole or 2% doesn't make any difference either.

The worst problem began today. I am lucky that I was at home.

I had finished my coffee earlier, cleaned the frother and placed it back in the base. Thirty minutes later I went outside for a less than 2 minutes. When I came in the frother was running. There were no lights on. I lifted the pitcher and set it back down thinking it would turn off but it did not. I lifted the pitcher several times but each time I placed it on the base it started again. In a few seconds it started to smoke and an eletrical smell filled the kitchen. I unplugged it and it continued to smoke for a few seconds. Obviously the frother is a fire hazard.

UPDATE:

I called Capresso customer service and they replaced this unit. I was leary of using it but I did anyway, but never leaving it plugged in when it was not in use. This second frother did not last as long as the first one, only a few weeks jsut long enough to finish out the one year warranty. It sometimes does not even spin, and when it does spin it doesn't froth the milk but about once every 4-5 tries. The sound it makes varies from a low rattle to a high whir. I have used the product as directed making enough froth for one cup of coffee a day about 5-6 times per week. Needless to say I am through using Capresso products and do not recomend them to you. A friend has a Capresso coffee maker that he has had replaced as well because it was defective.

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Primula Double Wall Classic Coffee Press, Glass/Chrome

Primula Double Wall Classic Coffee Press, Glass/ChromeI purchased this because I was so impressed with the design. It has an air gap between the inner lining and outer glass wall. This means that it is extremely well insulated, and will keep the coffee hot for a long time. This is much better design than the solid glass french presses, which allow the coffee to cool down quickly.

This is the problem with this unit though, which makes it useless. The little pour spout is not designed properly. When I go to pour coffee from the press, the coffee simply runs down the side of the press as if there were no pour spout there at all. This is a fatal flaw. If I try to pour fast or slow it does not matter. There is not a pour speed at which the coffee will pour out of the press. It ends up running down the outer wall, and then dumping on the table.

I am just curious . . . did they never actually try and use this product? How could they ship something that so clearly does NOT WORK?

While looking for the right French press for mostly making tea, I really wanted a glass dome, for the visual aspect, as well as double walled. This double wall does keep liquid hot longer and adds to durability. I love that it has no metal rings or handle as well. The internal metal pieces unscrew in seconds making it very easy to clean.

After reading about the pouring problems I asked at the store if I could try pouring. I have NO PROBLEMS POURING. This is really a great press and I am happy with this choice after some extensive searching.

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Love the design; but like the other reviewer, I'm often surprised by the lack of "form follows function" in many products. However I do enjoy the challenge of making them work... in this case, IF the wide collar of the lid (which I think inhibits pouring) is thin enough, I'd suggest cutting-out an upside-down 'U' shape (diameter of a dime or nickle) & lining this up w/the pour spout.

I regularly use Bodum + other double-walled glassware & love the technology... I may buy this French Press just to see if my idea works.

Read Best Reviews of Primula Double Wall Classic Coffee Press, Glass/Chrome Here

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Jura-Capresso 13187 Impressa E8 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Black

Jura-Capresso 13187 Impressa E8 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, BlackI have to say, I *love* my E8! I tried one at a store and, after a lot of research, settled on Jura Capresso because of the cleaning cycle feature (most others you have to remove the "brew group" once a week or so and manually clean it I was *so* not going to do that!). I settled on the E8 versus other JC's because of the price and the features... the higher-end models' extra features (none of which directly affect the quality of a single cup) were worth the additional cost, especially since I live alone.

I've no complaint about the temperature of the coffee, as long as I pre-heat my cup. A little hot water out of the spiget does the trick. I use a decent coffee bean from a local store and have excellent results. I did have to play around with the grind settings, but I expected that.

The frother (I don't have the fancy add-on) does a better-than-decent job of frothing/foaming milk; however, it's not as good as a coffee-house machine wielded by a pro, with perfect-temperature milk and a cold pitcher. However, it works much better than any home-based espresso machine I've encountered, and much better than what one often gets from a disaffected coffee counter person.

The flavor is rich and full like cafe crema or espresso ought to be. While, again, a true barista with a true pro machine and the best beans can indeed produce a better cup, this is far better than what I typically get in a high-end coffee shop. That's part of what originally sold me on it I found out the store that I sampled it at used "cheap supermarket beans" (as they put it).

One does have to be careful with the beans; if they're oily, they'll cling to each other and not make their way down the hopper. The solution? Stick your finger in the beans and swirl once, or don't use oily beans (oily doesn't necessarily mean more flavor). I like the beans I use but they do stick slightly, and a little touch with my finger fixes the 'problem'. The manual, video, web site, and talking chicken that came with the product makes this very clear.

Cleaning is a breeze every couple of days I empty the hopper that catches the pucks (grounds). Once a week or so I rinse out the drip tray. Every once in a while it alerts me that I need to run a cleaning cycle: in goes the tablet and that's it.

My only complaint and I knew this going in is that for $1000 it ought not be 100% plastic. The spigot that the coffee comes out is plastic, and raises/lowers. I'm always careful, because if something that I have control over is going to break, it's going to be this piece. More expensive models have metal for this piece, but I couldn't see adding $500+ dollars for this.

I was originally concerned not having a cup warmer might be an issue. It says it has a passive cup warmer in some of the online literature, but that's baloney the top doesn't get any warmer than rooom temperature. However, it is no inconvenience (and I'm pretty lazy) to release some water from the spigot into the cup, and let it sit for a few seconds.

This is just about the best thing ever! I used to go to coffee shops and drop $7 $10 a day. I figure I'll make that back after costs in about a year. It's not expensive it's economical in my book!

OK, this thing ain't cheap. I mean, how can you ever justify spending $1000 on a coffee maker?? I named mine Miss AnniBirthenTine. She was so expensive, that she was my 'Anni'versary, 'Birth'day, and Val'enTine's day gift all rolled into one item! That being said, I admit I have a bit of an unhealthy relationship with my coffee maker. I love her. Fine. I said it.

One thing I have noticed is that Miss Anna is smarter than I am. She tells me when to clean her, fill her with water, etc. And, I love that. She's clean and polite never demanding. Here and there she does some things I am not sure of, but nothing has been serious. For instance, I also experienced what the reviewer who gave one star said intermittent coffee part way through she would just turn off. I did not call customer service, but instead did some troubleshooting on my own. I came to the conclusion that the beans I bought were a bit oily (which is warned against in all the manuals and videos) and were jamming the works. I ran it through a clean cycle with a tablet and she has been a happy coffee maker since.

Miss Anna has been a part of our family since early Jan 2005. I drink Capuccinos every morning and use the hot water a lot during the winter for tea and soup. When I am feeling rather saucy, I even make espresso with half and half. YUM. You would have to rip this thing out of my cold, dead arms to get it away from me. I love Miss Anna. When I am away on vacation, I am sad about the mediocre swill people call coffee that I have to settle for until I return home. As long as I don't think about the money, I love this thing more than I can describe.

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I bought this machine about two years ago. At the time I thought it was pricey, but decided that in the long run, it would pay off. It has.

PROS:

CONVENIENCE. There is nothing like coming down in the morning, pressing a button, and having a good coffee, which is freshly ground for you while you wait. The separate boilers allows you to immediately switch from foaming milk to producing espresso.

EASE. My partner and parents (who wouldn't touch my Gaggia classic because it was too complicated) all use this machine without hesitation.

DURABILITY. After two years, our well-used machine (2-3000 cups) has not needed a repair.

VERSATILITY. The coffee bypass is extremely convenient, given that my partner and I frequently prefer different roasts it is very simple for one of us to grind our own and use the bypass to produce our preferred cup.

ECONOMY. The initial price tag for this machine is high. But when you compare it with the cost of buying 1-2 cappuccinos per day from your local barista...you can quickly see that the machine pays for itself.

CONS:

COFFEE QUALITY: Very very good, but I suspect that the pressures are just not quite high enough to make the coffee of nirvana. Still very good.

FOAM QUALITY: We've never been able to produce the perfect foam from this machine, but again the quality is high enough, and the convenience makes it worth it.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE: The machine does require regular (about every 5 wks) cleaning and descaling, using tablets purchased from the manufacturer. It's a slight inconvenience, but the procedures are easy to follow and take about an hour each.

*****

UPDATE THREE YEARS AFTER PURCHASE: After three years of use, our Jura has started giving us an "Error 8" message and its first major repair, which is to replace a large chunk of the brew group. The repair guy claims that this is a common error for this machine, and is expected to cost us ~$150. We also estimate that we pay about $100/year for cleaning tablets. I still really love this coffee machine (we use is several times every day) but thought that these additional maintenance costs would be useful to see in a review.

Read Best Reviews of Jura-Capresso 13187 Impressa E8 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Black Here

I think I am a bit of a coffee snob. I have had this machine for a few weeks now and it's going strong! I absolutely love it! I was concerned reading other reviews about Starbucks coffee not working so good in the machine, but the 'espresso' roast is working fine in my machine and I have had no problems yet.

The crema on this machine is wonderful! We're making coffee all the time. My guests are in awe of the machine, marveling at how quickly it brews fabulous coffee drinks! I made 6 different drinks the other night in just a few minutes and everyone loved them. It's great for entertaining.

My only issue so far is finding the right milk to froth. The fat free, lactose free milk that we normally drink doesn't yield much froth (it's barely milk to begin with). So, I'm going to try 2% and see how that works.

I really can't say enough good things about this machine. It does everything it's supposed to do and so far, has impressed the most discriminating coffee snob....ME!

Buy it, you won't be disappointed. It's worth every penny. I am going to name it I like it so much!

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You are buying convenience here, it does not make great espresso, but good enough for not so picky drinkers that want a quick shot without much work. Very good for a quick latte too. It is very picky on beans, if coffee does not come out like one reviewer mentioned, it is likely that the grind is too fine and you need to set the grinder a notch or two down. eg. I have no problem with Lavazza Top Class at the finest setting, but need to dial back a notch with Lavazza Super Crema because it was clogging. The brewing temperature is not a hot as the S series but still hotter than most other super-auto out there. I would get the the S if not for the aluminum thermoblocks.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Espresso Machine Maker Saeco Talea Touch S-Tt-St

Espresso Machine Maker Saeco Talea Touch S-Tt-StThe Talea Touch makes terrific coffee and has functions that are well thought out and easy to use. The only problem is that they can't make one that works.

I bought mine in Dec. 2009 from Seattle Coffee Gear. By March 2010, I had returned my third defective machine to Saeco. All three had different problems; the first leaked all over the counter when brewing (an internal hose defect), the second could not be programmed or hold a date and time; the third has a steam wand that leaked (poured) water during the brew cycle enough to fill a shot glass for each coffee made. As of September, I have had to return it two additional times for repairs a total of 5 times.

Saeco will fix or replace this again but what does that tell you about their QC? Saeco customer service has been helpful and courteous once you reach them. Be prepared to wait > 45 minutes on their customer support line to reach a human being.

Saeco came highly recommended and it does makes great coffee and lattes when it works. If you like Audi's, this may be the coffee machine for you.

One last note, I have attempted to submit this review many times at Seattle Coffee gear and somehow it never appears on their website.

We have has this machine for over three years now and LOVE it! Perfect lattes every morning. I love that everything is automated. It takes all the guess work out of the process. I would recommend this machine to anyone and would buy it again in a heart beat. It has paid for itself by not going to Starbucks every week. We don't have the milk island so can't comment on that.

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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