Showing posts with label used espresso machines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label used espresso machines. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Toastess TFC-25T Silhouette 800-Watt Personal-Size Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Travel Mug

Toastess TFC-25T Silhouette 800-Watt Personal-Size Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Travel MugBought a 8oz single cup coffee maker the other day, but

was displeased with it, was not enough to fill my coffee mug.

It was just enough to fill a tea sized cup.

I then bought this unit, that provides 15oz of coffee.

Fills my coffee mug with a little left over.

Note: you can add just a tad more water, to provide

two cups of 8oz coffee.

Very well constructed unit, and also looks great on the counter.

Also take note, it does shut off automatically once coffee

finishes brewing, which is approximately a quick 2 1/2 minutes.

Works well, and makes a great cup of coffee.

I'm a college student, so I was interested in something cheap and compact, but still functional.

This coffee maker is a BREEZE to clean, just rinse out the permanent filter-no other mess involved) even for someone as lazy as me, and works impressively fast. I am still in awe of the fact that seconds after I turn it on, it is pouring HOT HOT coffee into my cup. It is also a simple enough design that I can trust my roommates to use it without worrying they'll break it...(and also cheap enough that it wouldn't matter terribly if they did)

The only other mug I have used with it is as tall as the one included and I would caution against using a cup/mug that isn't tall, as I suspect there would be some splatter.

Another feature I love is that it is incredibly easy to use it as a water-heater; even if you need more than 15 oz., it works fast enough that you can just use it multiple times.

All in all, I am completely satisfied and have no complaints whatsoever. (I have had it for about a month, during which I've used it about 4 times a week)

Buy Toastess TFC-25T Silhouette 800-Watt Personal-Size Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Travel Mug Now

I am a serious coffee drinker and when my last single serve coffee maker finally died, I ordered this one. After reading all the reviews I thought this sounds like a great coffee maker. My new coffee maker arrived and I made a cup of coffee for the next day to take on my comute to work only to discover that my coffee tasted blah hot water (just like one of the reviews stated). When I did read that review I thought, well they didn't add enough coffee, so the next day I made another cup of coffee, I made sure to put more coffee grounds in the filter. Well, to my dismay, blah hot water again, but with just a hint of flavor. For the amount of coffee you have to put in the filter to just get a good cup of coffee is not worth the cost of this coffee maker. I returned this and ordered my old brand the Black and Decker Brew-N-Go. Now this is a coffee maker, I should have just ordered it from the get go.

Read Best Reviews of Toastess TFC-25T Silhouette 800-Watt Personal-Size Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Travel Mug Here

I recently bought this coffee maker and am impressed with what I got for the money. It's utterly simple to use and it's basic, a nice difference from the expensive and complex machines out there. I'm impressed. If you want to fill up your travel mug, it's perfect because that's what it seems meant for. It comes with a travel mug. Anyway, I've only had it for a couple of weeks, and can offer just two possible things worth considering: First, for some reason you have to unplug the cord from your outlet once the coffee is done. That has taken some getting used to. Second, once the coffee seems done, I have to put a coffee cup in place of the travel mug to catch drips. There is a removable drip tray, and I'm still getting used to figuring out when it's done and when I can pull the travel mug out from under the drip-thing. So the price is right, it comes with a permanent filter so buying paper filters isn't necessary, and it's simple, looks nice and is easy to use. So far I really like how it has simplified my life. The best part is that I was able to throw out my Cuisinart piece of expensive coffee-maker junk.

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I use this coffeemaker everyday and it is a sturdy and compact design just like I was looking for. It also brews coffee quickly, about 3 minutes for 15oz. The nylon filter is great, no more emptying paper filters, and does not allow grinds through.

Things I don't like:

>The mug does not keep the coffee warm for very long 4/5 minutes tops

>Coffee drips behind the mug while brewing and spills pushing the mug all the way to the back of the maker HELPS with this.

This gets an OK overall review, the biggest frustration for me is the coffee spilling during brewing.

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Saturday, June 21, 2014

Mr. Coffee BVMC-ZH1 Power Serve 12-Cup Coffeemaker

Mr. Coffee BVMC-ZH1B Power Serve 12-Cup Coffeemaker, BlackCoffee is one of my four main food groups, so I am always pleased to try a new twist on coffee brewing. The Mr. Coffee Power Serve is a carafe-less coffee brewing system with a convenient, delayed brewing feature, a pause and serve feature, and cup-at-a-time dispensing.

You notice immediately upon unpacking that there is no carafe! The coffee is brewed directly into a reservoir, and you dispense your coffee directly into your cup or mug by pressing it against a pedal in the front. You can brew up to 12 cups at a time, and it takes 10 minutes to brew a full 12 cups.

The reservoir is designed to be used as a pitcher from which to pour the fresh water, but since it is a square shape, I found it to be a little awkward. I use a water pitcher instead. One very nice feature is that there are clearly marked "steps" in the back of the machine where you pour the water that makes it easy to add exactly the right amount. This is a big improvement over the hard-to-read marks on the side of most brewers.

There is a digital clock on the front that allows you to prepare your coffee maker before you go to bed, set a morning brew time, and wake up to freshly brewed coffee. Additionally, there is a brew now button, which lights up while the coffee is brewing. A loud beep that signals when the brewing cycle is done. On the front and on both sides of this coffee maker, there are clear panels which let you see how much coffee is left in the reservoir.

The brewing basket comes out easily for cleaning and for adding your filter and coffee. It uses round, basket-type filters rather than the cone shaped ones, but sadly there are none included in the box so be sure and buy some if you order this Mr. Coffee.

The dispenser is motorized so your cup is quickly filled when you press your mug to the pedal. You can also dispense a cup of coffee before the brewing cycle is done for those days when you just can't wait. There is a small, detachable drip plate on the bottom of the machine so if you spill a little, it doesn't end up dripping under your coffee maker.

The coffee reservoir sits atop a warming plate, which is supposed to keep the coffee at optimum serving temperature after brewing. I personally don't like my coffee to stay on a warming plate since I think it takes on a bitter taste, so I push the brewing button again when the brewing cycle is finished and that turns off the warming plate.

One negative for me is that the coffee reservoir is black and smoke colored plastic. Since that is where the coffee sits, it needs to be cleaned regularly just like a coffee carafe. However, it is not as easily done because of the square shape, and the dark color makes it hard to see if it's clean. I found a soft bristled brush that seems to work OK for this, but it's not as easy as cleaning a glass carafe.

The coffee is good. It seems to bring the water up to correct brewing temperature, so you end up with a nice cup of drip-brewed coffee.

I think that for people who have trouble with breaking their coffee carafes, or perhaps for people who have active young children, this is a novel take on a drip coffee maker.

This coffeemaker was bought to replace another carafe-less coffeemaker from 'Cuisinart', which gave up the ghost. Coffee, is a must in our family 1x/day-weekdays and 2x/day-weekends, not counting friends visiting or family coming over.

In the past I have had 3+ Mr. Coffee units and been fairly well pleased so I thought this one would be a decent unit. Boy was I surprised.

The Good:

1) I liked the speed at which it brewed very nice and fast

2) The layout of controls is simple and uncomplicated

3) The coffee tasted as it should no odd tastes that we could determine

4) The water fill area is nicely wide compared to others that I have used

5) The ease of cleaning IMO

The Bad:

1A) Purchase Date: 7/13/2011

1B) Date of First use: 7/14/2011

1C) Stopped working date: 8/21/2011

1D) Length of product life: 5 & 1/2 weeks (39 days total)[TOTALLY unacceptable]

2) The inability of setting the length of time for the auto shutoff my Cuisinart had a 2/3/4 hour setting choice before it shutoff

3) As some have indicated sputtering/spitting when getting the last amount of coffee

4) The inability to easily determine how much coffee is left in the reservoir

5) The stiffness of the dispensing lever arm It would push to unit backwards and away from me, so I usually had to hold on to the top when dispensing.

6) The stiffness of the top cover lid, as it would not stay up & open when trying to fill the unit; it kept swinging shut so I would hold it with my hand..

This is not a product I can recommend. I will be contacting Mr. Coffee and see how well their customer service is, but the product still does not impress me.

If your particular unit performs well and is still working, then I am glad for you and hope it lasts. As for me and the others who have had issues, I hope we can find a unit that keeps working for at least a couple of years.

Clifford Phillips

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The coffee maker that I received made coffee but the dispenser did not work. I contacted Mr Coffee's customer service and they sent me a new machine without any hassles. I always appreciate a company with good customer service. The new machine works well.

This coffee maker is rather bulky. It takes up about the same amount of counter space as my old coffee maker: Cuisinart 12-Cup Brew Central Coffeemaker, but the Mr Coffee is larger on top and this adds a lot of bulk. The other thing I don't like about this coffee maker is that the reservoir is plastic. If you drink the coffee right away it's not a big problem, but if you let the coffee sit for a while it tends to get a plastic flavor. I prefer coffee makers with glass carafes.

Read Best Reviews of Mr. Coffee BVMC-ZH1 Power Serve 12-Cup Coffeemaker Here

With my first purchase the tiny spring fell out of the brew basket and wouldn't go back in. Customer service said once this happens, the brew basket is useless. They couldn't replace the brew basket by itself, so they sent me an entirely new coffee maker. No complaints on customer service, but the spring part of the brew basket is so fragile I knew I would have another problem with it, so I was sad to find out that this expensive coffee maker would be a temporary item for sure. The new one came right away too, so that was nice.

Fast forward to this morning (after delicately washing my new brew basket by hand) and now the water reservoir will not suck water. The machine was puffing smoke and shaking like it might explode. I took the plastic pipe out and it's not clogged so that means there is something wrong with the base unit. My husband tossed the first base out in the garbage from his garage so I couldn't mail it back to Sunbeam and now I can't salvage it for parts.

7 months of use for $70. Not a total loss, but still not worth the money or grief. The two stars are for a reasonably tasting cup of coffee and good customer service. The product itself is flimsy.

*** Update: They're sending me a second replacement with no hassle. I didn't expect that. The coffee maker is still lame for breaking down constantly, but if it's replaced each time without red tape I guess I can't complain that much.

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Have had this product for about a month now and it's a really nice coffeemaker. Easy to use, coffee tastes great and unlike my previous Brewstation coffeemaker this one doesn't give me the worry of the coffee running all over the counter. There is no little filter inside the water/coffee basket to dislodge to allow the overflow. Much larger area to pour the water into the coffeemaker as well so less chance for spilling when pouring the water in.

Another great feature is that the coffeemaker beeps 3 times to signal when coffee is done brewing but you can also get coffee from it while brewing. It has a 2 hr auto shutoff for safety and will beep 3 times also to let you know it's shutting off. Brew time is relatively quick so is a plus for this coffeemaker. It also has a clock/timer that you can program to brew coffee so it's ready when you get up in the morning.

Only downside I can see so far is that in order to get your coffee from the coffeemaker it must be plugged it. It has a pump that pumps the coffee up and out from the inside as opposed to gravity with the Brewstation so if your electric goes out after brewing your coffee, you would have to pull the canister holding the container physically out and try to pour a cup of coffee from it in order to get any coffee.

UPDATE 5/13/11: Plugged in the coffeemaker this morning and turned it on. While it brewed I went to take care of my daughter in the other room. Came back to find a HUGE mess..Coffee all over my wood laminate kitchen floor!! Ugghh. The coffeemaker had been making occasional 'weird' noised the past week or so and now today this mess. Am calling the manufacturer as soon as they are open to let them know how upset I am over this. It was purchased 3/25/11 and it's only 5/13/11 so definately not made well to hold up. I brew 1 to 2 pots per day so I give coffeemakers a run for their money for sure but no way should this product give out so soon. Luckily I still have my receipt for it so hope I get reimbursed for it. Need to add I made sure the bottom was seated in the coffeemaker properly and the 'arm' for water to go into coffee grounds was over the coffeefilter as well. Everything in place so it was not any fault on my end..just defective on coffeemaker's end.

Will be going today to get a replacement..back to the good ol' brewstation for me I guess unless I can find a good deal on a professional coffeemaker of course. Steer clear of this Mr Coffeemaker for sure!

Saturday, June 14, 2014

DeLonghi ECAM22110SB Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte and Espresso Machine

DeLonghi ECAM22110SB Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte and Espresso MachineWe bought this after a couple of months looking (unsuccessfully) for a replacement for our 15-year-old krups drip brewer which we loved until it finally pooped out and started leaking like a sieve. At some point in our search we said "maybe we should get serious." This is the first super automatic espresso machine we've ever owned so I can't compare it to anything but I will say this: we love it.

We knew enough to know that "super automatic" is important if you don't like the actual manual process of making espresso (we don't) and since this one doesn't actually say "super automatic" but rather "compact automatic" I was a little confused but eventually learned that compact automatic just means it's a super automatic with a smaller footprint. For those really ignorant like us: Super Automatic means you fill the bean bin and the water bin once every so often, and then it's ready to go. When you want a drink you turn it on and press a button single espresso, double espresso, single lungo, or double lungo. Then you watch as it makes a bunch of interesting noises then fills your cup with beautiful, steaming hot frothy coffee. Then you drink it. Super automatic.

The benefit of a compact super automatic is the smaller footprint of course. The downside is that you have to fill the bean and water reservoirs (and empty the dregs basin) more frequently than "regular size" super automatic. For us it is about twice a week two adults home all day and we like coffee. We're actually probably going through more than normal right now because we're enjoying playing and experimenting with strengths, mixes, quantities, etc. It has been a few days and already I've figured out my tastes but it's still fun trying new things.

If you love coffee and want to treat yourself this is a winner. The small footprint is nice it doesn't look like a commercial espresso machine sitting on our counter (though it's bigger than a regular drip maker). Again I don't have anything to compare it to since this is our first one but I can't think of anything about it we don't like. You have to remove the outside part of the steamer/frother to clean it, or you can leave it off when you froth and avoid that cleaning step. But I don't do any frothing anyway (wife does).

It's super. It's automatic. It's compact. It makes incredible espresso, americana, lungos, long blacks, cappucino, and lattes. We are very happy. I will post back after our first full cleaning.

August update: It has been 8 months and we love it just as much as when we first got it. We cleaned it once it was trivial. No issues except that one bag of beans we purchased from Trader Joes were a little oily and they got stuck in the hopper another reviewer also mentioned this. I removed the little cap from over the hopper (2 philips head screws) and left it off not sure how or if that can hurt anything but it has worked fine since.

Seriously we love this thing. There is nothing like feeling an urge for a cup a joe and 3 minutes later having one in your hands with nothing to do or clean up. And it is goooooood stuff. We were talking the other day and decided it's the best luxury gift we've ever given ourselves.

PROS: Makes very good coffee and lattes. Sleek, good-looking appliance. Works as you would expect.

CONS: (very minor) Chrome "heating" plate doesn't get warm enough to heat anything (who cares?). Beans on the "oily" side don't always feed smoothly from hopper to the grinder.

I've owned several automatic machines over the years from Saeco and DeLonghi (most recently the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine) that have acted as our go-to small office coffee makers. (I'm a latte-holic myself, 4 to 5 a day, and admitting that is the first step toward recovery I'm told...) I have a tendency to wear them out in 2 to 3 years because they get a lot of use, 5 days a week. But that is to be expected, at least by me, as these really are intended as home-use machines. That being said, this is a fine machine for it's job which is to keep me in lattes!

It makes very good, tasty shots of espresso for those lattes, steams my 1% milk great with a nice, dense foam, and the regular coffee drinkers are very happy with their full coffees.

Tip: Best way to froth the milk?: swing the frother arm all the way to the left and stack your steamed-milk container with your cold milk in it on top of an empty coffee mug off to the side on the counter. That way your milk container is high enough to just sit there with the wand in it as it steams. You can walk away for a couple of minutes and do something useful. Just don't go too far away and "forget" it's steaming what a mess! But the frother "froths" really well all by itself, doesn't over-bubble and spill over the side like some past machines have done. Well-designed.

Right out of the box, it made a great-tasting first latte for me. One of the best, actually. I left the grinder on the factory setting, and set the rotating knob to between 1:30 and 2:00 o'clock position (just guessing) and it made both a great double-shot of espresso AND a great-tasting regular coffee on my first two tries (I used the "double" buttons on both the espresso side and coffee side that'll make more sense once you see the machine and read the instructions).

I've only had it about a month, but so far so really good. The only minor issue is that bean hopper "con" above. It's a bit shallow in slope, so my slightly oily beans (Costco/Kirkland espresso, roasted by Starbucks beans) get stuck sometimes during the grinding portion of the process, and I have to lift the lid and stir them a bit with a spoon to make sure they get down where they need to go not a huge inconvenience.

I've had a couple of the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnificas DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine mentioned earlier, and they are GREAT machines! (that's the one I have at home for weekend use). I'm hoping this latest DeLonghi for the office lives up to that model's standards. By the way, the model number for replacement water filters is: SER 3017. Google "Water filter SER 3017" though, to find it online, because it doesn't show up on Amazon. And DeLonghi customer service was no help at all via an emailed question about the filter, which should be a concern to them I would imagine. Hey Amazon, how about linking to the company that sells the filter?

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Bought this machine and right out of the box it was not drawing the beans into the grinder.Tried calling the manufacture and all I got was we can return it for repair.

It's only a day old.So I got on Amazon.com and looked at the reviews and see I am not the only one having this problem.So here is the fix.List off the cover to the bean bin and remove the mushroom cap inside the bean bin where the beans go into the grinder.This can be done by removing two little phillips screws and pulling the mushroom cap up and out of the bean bin.Save this piece just in case you would need warranty work for something else.Now there is no problem with beans feeding into the grinder.My guess is that it's a safety thing so one would not reach in and put there fingers into the grinder.Hope this helps someone else.

Read Best Reviews of DeLonghi ECAM22110SB Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte and Espresso Machine Here

I have used other automatic espresso machines and I find this Magnifica to be better for many reasons.

1) settings to control strength, temperature, coffee grind coarseness, auto-off time interval, and cup size

2) small footprint in terms of machine size

3) easy to access the water bin which can slide out partially and be filled while it is in place. Very nice feature considering you add water daily like you do with all machines.

4) machine auto-rinses. Some machines make this an option which is really about maintaining the machine.

5) perfect user interface. Easy to use

6) Great coffee.... Great coffee

7) Excellent frother. Many machines (Jura) don't stack up

8) easy to clean! The brew unit comes out and it doesn't require service at the factory. Look for this feature!

9) by-pass doser option. Many machines have this but not all machines in this price range

10) Decent price range and reputable company

11) Nice looks; It is a value blend of plastic and metal where needed. Sure it could be all metal but that would only drive up cost with little to no benefit.

I am happy with the purchase and I have had this for 4 months at this point.

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I am guilty of not reviewing most of the products I buy on Amazon and some of the other websites but I decided to take the time to review this machine because I went through such a difficult time trying to get the best espresso machine without breaking my bank. I purchased this with these things that important to me: Time, ease of use, quality of the drink and again the most bang for the buck. Please keep in mind I have never tried to manually prepare espresso drinks myself but I have tried espresso from local mom and pops shops as well as the more known coffee shops here in New York.

Out of the box the machine is pretty straight forward and comes set for a standard espresso shot. The DVD is very helpful when trying to figure out this machine. It walks you through most of the functions. Depending on whether you will like your espresso shots really strong or not then you can play with the grinder settings and water settings. There are also settings to make the water hotter from the start to make the shot hotter. There is also automatic turn off and you can set this to your liking as well. Bypass doser for decaf, buttons will prepare one or two shots as well as two different settings for long coffee. For detailed videos I would check out Seattlecoffee Gear and youtube. They tell you not to use Dark Oily beans in the grinder because they can get stuck and clog it up. If you prefer the dark beans just try Lavazza or some good brand italian beans at your local espresso house. They can run you a pretty penny but for some its worth it.

I normally put the machine on before I get in the shower. When I come out I press the double shot to prepare my shots and wallah...it's all done in a matter of 60 seconds. I usually drink cold drinks so I use cold milk but I have made several friends shots and they loved it. As far as the shots not being strong enough or not having enough crema, I really have to say that not one person complained about anything yet and I actually find the reg shots of espresso to be way to strong for my taste. This machine is great I love it and have made 2 or more drinks everyday since I got it a month ago. So far so good!

Bottom line, if you are always rushing to get to work, gym, and other places you have to be and you want that cup of espresso before you go this machine is for you. If you enjoy making espresso from scratch and controlling every single part of the process this ISNT for you. As far as quality of drinks I LOVE IT and others who I've made drinks for have said they loved it as well. If you can catch a steal with this machine at around $500 I would say most def GO FOR IT!

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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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Friday, November 15, 2013

Black & Decker CO100 Spacemaker Traditional Multi-Purpose Can Opener, White

Black & Decker CO100 Spacemaker Traditional Multi-Purpose Can Opener, WhiteIf you have a recessed under-cabinet surface like I have, with a 1 1/2 inch skirt, nothing provided with the unit will enable you to mount it. The spacers are insufficient and the screws are too short, and nowhere in the documentation is there a cure. But before you go crazy trying to find screws and spacers long enough to jerry-rig a mount, as so many have done, call Black and Decker customer service and get parts. They know about the problem and have long screws and mounts to correctly mount the unit.

I haven't yet been able to try mine, so I don't know how good it is. But whoever is responsible for the absence 0f longer screws or advice on how to get them ought to be skinned.

The Amazon.com process, super deal, and availability for this unit were enough to sell me, but there were also other factors.

Initially I was becoming desperate as there were very few choices and none locally on this island out in the middle of the Pacific ocean.

First I needed a replacement for my 15 year old underconter machine.

Second Nothing that sets on the counter is welcome in my kitchen unless there is no other way.

Third I read all of the reviews of all existing in the market place machines.

Nobody really liked any of them for a variety of reasons not related to opening cans.

Fourth the reviews of this machine by all concerned were better than for other machines.

The bag ripper and sharpener are wasted on me I am far too tall to use them and the sharpening steel and fillet knife are too handy anyway.

YES SHARPENING STEELS WORK REALLY WELL AS THEY LEAVE THE PERFECT EDGE FOR PAPER AND MEAT WHEN USED ON CARBON STEEL BLADES. You already know that you only use one knife in your kitchen for everything short of chopping. If you lost it you would be devestated.

THE GOOD NEWS

IT WORKS LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO

IT COMES WITH ALL THE STUFF YOU NEED TO MOUNT IT

THE BAD NEWS

THE DESIGNER WAS PROBABLY 80 P0UNDS AND 4 FOOT 8 INCHES TALL

YOU REALLY HAVE TO DUCK DOWN TO SEE HOW TO SKEWER THE CAN TO GET IT GOING

BUT IT WORKS WHICH IS BETTER THAN THE OTHERS. My old presto worked a lot better but it was made in the U.S.A. and that is a hard act to follow. For a Chinese can opener this one is pretty good.

Today that is as good as it is going to get for stuff you can buy over the counter and if you want a better one you will have to get the commercial hand crank $300 wall mount one that will pull the top off anything all day long for a hundred years.

I AM PLEASED WITH IT AND WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL IT FAILS AND BY THEN ALL CANS WILL HAVE RIP TOPS LIKE CAMPBELLS SOUP.

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I had a Rival under the cabinet can opener that was terrific. It had a button to push to swing it up and out of the way when not in use. The Black and Decker is larger but fits well under the cabinet. So far it has proved to be very effecient. I haven't tried the bag opener yet but all in all it is a good product.

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seems to work fine as a can opener but very loud/grindy sounding motor. I really do not like the fold down front cover and would not have bought this item had the listing made it clear to me that there was a fold down front cover. the last Spacesaver can opener from B & D that we had the entire opener rotated out of view for a closed, smooth surface when not in use.

also, I've had numerous Spacesaver items coffee makers, can openers, etc., over the years and not a single one of them used the same hole pattern for mounting. this one was no different. had to drill 4 new holes in the counter even though I was replacing a B & D Spacesaver can opener with a B & D Spacesaver can opener. why the heck can't B & D get smart about this simple stuff and use a common template for their mounting for a given product line??? seems SO common sense.

sorry, not at all impressed with this product and I'm being generous giving it 3 stars.

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It was easy to install under a cabinet. It works well and is easy to keep clean. I highly reccomend it.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Keurig Cafe One-Touch Milk Frother

Keurig Cafe One-Touch Milk FrotherI am the world's biggest Keurig milk frother fan, so why am I giving it only 3 stars? Because this expensive and addicting accessory only works reliably for about three months. It froths milk for those first few months like nobody's business, perfectly heating your milk with a snowy mountain of froth on the top and then it stops working. I know this through extensive personal experience, because I have (hangs head in shame) actually paid for three of these puppies that's how obsessed I am with them. I returned the first one after a surprisingly contentious phone conversation with a Keurig representative who all but accused me of breaking the item. "You can only use skim milk with it", she admonished me, even though the advertising blurbs for the item say nothing about that. I have dutifully complied with the rules for frothers #2 and #3, but yesterday, when the third one gave up the ghost, predictably, at the 3-month-mark, I decided that my dysfunctional relationship with the Keurig frother has to end. Time to start buying half-and-half again.

The first unit was purchased last Saturday, and Saturday afternoon, I made delicous and abundant froth for my coffee. The next morning, my husband made it, and it only half frothed. Monday, the unit did not work at all; replaced it. Monday afternoon, new unit must not have heated long enough. No work. Replaced it, thinking third time's a charm--Fool that I was. These units are definitely lemons--not charming. The third one shut off this afternoon after around 35 seconds. I think that is the problem, they are shutting off prematurely. What are the chances that my local Bed, Bath & Beyond got stuck with a shipment of lemons with electrical cords and cheap, plastic frothers?

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Found this item cheaper at a local "Bed, Bath and Beyond" store ($79).

This product works as advertised. It has three parts:

1. The base (which plugs into the wall and provides the electricity)

2. The decanter which contains the electrics that heats the milk. There is a socket under the decanter the plugs into and sits loosely the base.

3. The removeable lid that has a stirrer attached to it.

3. The stirrer, which is a tiny wire whisk that you can remove when you only want to heat the milk.

Its very easy to operate... You put the correct amount of milk into the decanter(There are two fill lines, one for froth, and one for hot milk), place the decanter onto the base and press a button. The wire whisk spins around as the unit heats the milk and you get a nice single serving of froth. Remove the whisk and you can simply heat up the milk. The unit shuts itself off automatically when it is finished properly frothing or heating your milk. There's no guesswork at all.

Not only does this product prevent you from cooling off your coffee with cold milk, it makes your coffee look and taste better too. Funny how simply placing a layer of froth on the top of your coffee makes it look ten times more appealing. We tried it using Mocha, Donut Shop, and Butter Toffee flavors. It worked great in each one of those.

After you're done, it's very easy to clean up. Just rinse the decanter out with water (and dish-soap if you want) and rinse off the whisk and stirrer.

Is it worth $80? We think so because, like the Keurig, there's no guess work. Just pour in the milk and press a button.

Its great for getting creative with your coffee! For instance, we created a layered mocha: Pour the froth on the bottom of the cup, add Chocolate Syrup and then the coffee on top of that.

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I READ REVIEWS OF HAVING ONE OR MORE OF THESE SUDDENLY STOP WORKING IN A MONTH OR TWO. I SPENT THE $80 AND LOVED ITTHAT IS UNTIL IT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AFTER 1 MONTH. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON USING AND FOLLOWED ALL DIRECTIONS, KEPT CLEAN, ETC. $80 FOR SUCH A SHORT TIME IS A WASTE. WORSE IS THAT MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE READ SOOO MANY REVIEWS OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING. SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE WITH THIS PRODUCT. F.Y.I KEURIG'S CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE. THEY DON'T STAND BY THEIR OWN PRODUCTSHAME.

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My family LOVED this at first! We made hot chocolate, lattes, delicious toppings.... and then it broke. We blamed it on ourselves and bought another one. Then, the next one broke. Again, we mourned the loss of all the yummy drinks... Nowwe are without. :(

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Sunday, August 4, 2013

Jura-Capresso 13289 Impressa S7 Avantgarde Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center

Jura-Capresso 13289 Impressa S7 Avantgarde Automatic Coffee and Espresso CenterNot sure if the first reviewer is misdirecting his dissatisfaction. Sounds like the spending of the vacation money was the real problem. Because this machine is perfect, and I have nothing bad to say about it. Other than that it does look a little Spartan, but only in a minor way.

It brews an wonderfull espresso, with thick, golden, foamy crema. It brews it absolutely perfectly, and consistently everytime. Overall the functionality of this machine is superb, and very customizable. Each button can be programmed to YOUR specifications, so easily a monkey could do it. The cup warmer is genious, the clean-up is easier than ANY drip maker I have used/owned. Overall the machine is also very quiet.

The 'Foofy' drinks (as I like to call them) are top notch! My wife prefers the lattes, Chai teas,etc. The frother on this machine has it's own dedicated thermoblock boiler, so there is no lag time, and the froth is excellent. Micro-bubbles as good as any Barista. Water filtering system is great, easy to activate, grinds, tamps beans which is excellent. Also has a chute for already ground coffee, good for Decaf, or flavored.

I guess you could complain about the plastic on the outside, but this does not bother me at all. and frankly seems easier to keep clean, which is a concern since milk etc splatters on the machine when you froth. Also keeps the machine lighter and enables you to move it without breaking your neck.

The ONLY difference between this machine and the S9A is the following:

Exterior look, S7A has black accents, S9A has the same plastic accents, but in silver.

S9A comes with the Frother X-Press, which quite honestly is useless unless you are entertaining and brewing several milk drinks at once. Anyway, frothing in the cup is fun.

The cup warmer on the S9A has stainless tray, whereas the S7A is plastic.

Otherwise, the functionality and insides of the machines is the same. And this is where both of these machines shine, on their functionality. They brew excellent, hot, delicious, rich, coffee in less than 60 seconds. They are tried and true, well-reviewed models.

If you are in the market, don't think twice about a Jura, the quality is fantastic, and end result brew is second to only a Semi-Auto.

My wife and I purchased an Jura S7 Avantgarde for each other last Christmas. Due to its high cost, and a few reviews relating faulty machines, we did opt to buy from a company with a lifetime "no questions asked" return policy. Also note that this is the same machine as the S9 for about 300.00 less. We have found the the black color is much easier to keep looking clean.

In the past year, we have used the machine multiple times daily. When we first started using it, I was disappointed in the quality of the coffee it made. I was thinking about returning it because for 2K, I expected excellent taste. However, after reviewing the instructions more throughly, and trying different combinations, I was able to make drinks up to my expectations. If you think that you can buy this machine as a no-brainer expresso maker, you may be disappointed. However, if you are willing to experiment a bit, you will find that this Jura is capable of making excellent expresso, lattes, cafe americano, as well as some of the best pressure brewed coffee you've ever had. If you are a die-hard expresso purist, you probably aren't reading this review, but if you are, I will say that while this machine will come close to the best espresso machines, you will note a difference. For the vast majority of people, the convenience and multiple capabilities of this product are worth it.

Since the machine is completely programmable, you can vary the combinations of water temperature, water quantity, grind setting, powder quantity, expressing time, etc. Once you have discovered the correct combination for your favorite drink, it truly becomes a "one button" machine. (for that drink) I have found that the grind setting has a significant impact on the taste of the coffee, so if you are experiencing problems, start there. Also, while the instructions suggest using a finer grind for ligher beans, I have found that a coarser grind is better. Don't forget that your water will affect the taste of the drink, so try using some R/O water for your experiments.

Pros: Small size fits under cabinets Programmable Easy care Excellent capabilities Simple use after initial set-up

Cons: High cost of maintenence products. Initial Investment Bit noisy during cleaning cycles Learning Curve

Update December 2010:

As much as I hate to say it, we ended up getting rid of our Jura. After sending it back for repair a couple of times, I still could not get the grinder to make a fine grind without which you cannot make espresso. I have replaced it with a Saeco Syntia, and am getting a much better cup of coffee for about 1/2 the price.

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After much research, we purchased this machine as certified pre-brewed. We knew we wanted a Jura, and our budget only went so far. Instead of a new lower end machine we spent our allotted amount on a CPB S7 avantgarde. It arrived in only 48 hours, with Saturday delivery.

We wanted a machine with Xpress froth, and the double boiler so we wouldn't have to wait between frothing and brewing or vice versa. The menu display and buttons are very clear and intuitive, the machine is easy to clean, and best of all, whether it's crema coffee or espresso, all have come out wonderfullly. We are picky about our coffee drinks and this machine has been flawless in executing them. FrothXpress makes excellent steamed milk and creamy fine froth. The siphoning feature is brilliant.

As for being factory reconditioned, the machine was either hardly used or wonderfully refurbished, because it has not a scratch on it and in every detail appreared to be brand new. The included DVD is very clear.

Five stars for the S7a, which seems to be identical to the S9 except for color and one-touch cappucino though the S7 is essentially a 1 touch machine with a separate step for frothed milk.

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I'll keep this review simple... the S7 AG my wife and I got about 3 years ago has worked flawlessly. I clean it on a regular basis, which I have also heard is key not only for the sake of better tasting coffee, but also for the life and performance of the machine.

We make shots almost every day and I guess we've made upwards of 2,000 drinks, and still it runs well. Prior to the Jura, I went through THREE Francis!Francis! machines (even the cool stainless version). In each case, the pump just didn't have the strength to push through proper espresso grounds (pods were OK), and I prefer fresh-ground flavor. Since the Jura has a self-contained, and yet full-automated system it was the only machine on the market at the time that made sense to me.

Apart from the cost, it is a great machine that pulls a perfect shot every time. Until recently, it was the most expensive appliance we had in the kitchen...

Enjoy

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I've now owned the Jura Capresso S7 superautomatic espresso machine for several years, so I've had plenty of time to get to know the unit. As far as superautos go, it makes excellent espresso. Now do understand that the superautomatics are a compromise. You will likely never pour "The Crema of the Gods" that you *might* see every now and then with a quality manual machine. But this unit will give you very good shots with great consistency.

Frothing milk is also a weak spot of many superautomatics, and the S7 is no exception. It simply doesn't have the horsepower of a quality manual machine to put out that super-dense froth replete with microbubbles. I've tried to froth both manually and also with the optional frother and I get the same so-so results.

On the plus side, there are greater customization options than I've seen on any other superauto that I've used. You can control the temperature of water, the quantity of coffee, the quantity of coffee, the fineness of the grind and so on. The unit is very easy to clean, but be sure to wipe off the shower-like head with a damp paper cloth. There are many machines that are a major pain to clean, and the Jura-Capresso units really stand out as you merely drop in a cleaning tablet and follow the instructions. As a side note, the Jura-Capresso branded tablets are fairly pricey. Instead, I recommend the Ornex Cafiza tablets which are much, much cheaper and seem to do the exact same job.

So it it worth a couple of grand? That's a very subjective question. Frankly, probably not. However, it is a quality machine that will last you a very long time. I do recommend it, despite the high price and a few aforementioned shortcomings.