DeLonghi Accessory Kit for Esclusivo Alicia Electric Espresso Maker

I purchased this accessory kit after getting my electric moka pot. It has some useful items, but others have limited value. What you get is as follows:

>> replacement gasket and screen. These are probably the most useful items since both (especially the gasket) will wear out and need replacing.

>>replacement full-size basket. This is also useful since it's nice to have an extra basket for when you want to do back-to-back brews, and don't want to deal with cleaning out the old grinds when they are still very hot. Plus, this replacement is made better than the one that comes with the pot (heavier gauge metal).

>> single cup basket. While you can brew a single cup using the full basket with the insert that comes with the machine, this is a bit easier to use. Handy only if you brew single cups.

>> splash guard. This is a metal screen that goes over the top of the dispensing pole (that's probably not the right term it's the thing that the brewed coffee comes out of in the top half of the machine). It prevents the coffee from splashing should it come out with some force, or if you have the lid open during brewing. Looks nice, but has limited value. Seems to address a "problem" that does not exist (I've never experienced any coffee splashing during brewing).

>>frother. While a milk frother can be handy, this is a very light duty device that runs on batteries. It works, but don't expect much from it.

>>scoop. Cheap plastic coffee scoop. Probably the least useful item in the kit.

If you're only interested in a replacement gasket, this kit is overkill. You can pick up a gasket on auction sites for a very small amount. But, if you need/want additional baskets, this is worth getting. I happened to find it on sale on another site for eight bucks, so at that price, it was a no-brainer. At full price it's not that great of a value, but worthwhile.

I have had my Alicia espresso maker for at least eight years. Love it! Makes great coffee and is very easy to use. I agree with other reviewer who mentioned that it is ideal for travel; just plug it in, and it is ready to go! The accesory kit is perfect..so cute..My machine is now like new...Looking forward to another eight years of use...

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Review of the DeLonghi accessory Kit...

This kit is great for the replacement baskets and o-ring seals. They have given a second life to my broken down Alicia moka pot.

The other stuff in the box is unnecessary, but fun to play with.

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If you enjoy expresso then you will definitely enjoy the use of this machine, not only does it make excellent coffee but one of the key factors for buying it is the capability of taking it wherever you want to go, vacation or otherwise and not have to worry about a stove. Highly recommend it.

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I was looking for a smaller (more shallow) filter for my 6-cup Bialetti moka pot but couldn't find it, so I took a gamble on ordering a kit of spare parts for DeLonghi Alicia. First, ALL parts fit my Bialetti unit perfectly. Not only did I find a smaller filter to make fewer cups or weaker coffee as desired, but now I have all spare parts I will ever need. Second, this kit has excellent value for your money: the replacement parts bought separately would cost much more. In addition to spare parts you get a sprinkle guard, a scoop, and a milk frother w/batteries. All components are packaged nicely in a box and come with instructions how to froth milk. Excellent value!

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Espressione CA4865 Supremma Super-Automatic Coffee/Beverage Center

After almost a month and a second try, I give up.

There are some pros, though, and it would be unfair not to mention them ...

Nice design, very attractive.

The coffee is not bad at all.

And, the customer support very competent and knowledgeable.

But ...

The machine seems to have a mind of its own.

The first one didn't work at all. I called customer support, but more to accomplish a formality ... When you pay $1,000.00 for a product, the last thing you expect is to have to spend the first day trying to make it work.

But I decided to give it another try.

The second one started just fine. User friendly, great coffee, stylish (looks great on the counter)...

After a couple of weeks, the output became inconsistent (some shots not even enough to fill a tablespoon). Resetting the amount of water didn't help. Customer service suggested that I avoid using the fine grind settings ... in other words: avoid certain settings, you may mess-up the machine. Well, this is not what I was expecting from a $1,000.00 machine.

At the same time, the brewing group started spilling the ground coffee all over the brewing compartment, without apparent reason (and, therefore, no way to fix it). Cleaning became a hassle.

The bottom line is ... not worth $1,000.00. This is the reason for the single star.

Purchased in June 2010. Went through a pound of coffee and contact with customer service just to get it operating correctly. Very tempermental. Requires constant cleaning, and need to adjust grind with every coffee purchase to minimize either clogging or grounds in base of unit. After eight months, the computer board fried. Sent it in under warranty. After return, worked better, but certain functions like cups made and adjusting grind period, no longer available. After another six months, the power board fried. Estimate is another $200 for repair plus shipping. Presently sitting on counter as decoration because it looks great. Should be more robust internally considering the initial price. Limited repair facilities available. Deciding whether to spend another $260 for repair plus shipping, or cut losses by buying cappucino at local barista. With only one year warranty and DIY manuals unavailable, appears there is an exclusive stream of income through constant repair and service. What do you think?

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Purchased this as a Christmas present for my wife who happens to love all things coffee. I figured a high-end, touch-screen coffee machine was the perfect gift, and it was, until it stopped working. Less than a full month into use this $900 coffee maker has begun to leak and won't even brew a cup as the equipment states there is an error. I gathered there was an error when water started to spew out the rear of the device, but there is no fix in sight and I already have been forced to take it into a repair shop. But at least the cool blue light on the side of the machine still works. Maybe the light was just foreshadowing how blue I'd get once I learned how much money I'd lost on such a shoty product.

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We've used this machine at our home overseas in 220-240V version for over four years and have found it to be flawless in performance, effortless in programming and use, so uncomplicated to use that we had this in a orthodontists office where adults and children alike used the machine. Purchased the 110-120V version and am delighted with performance (seems to be some improvements over orignal model we own) Creates an excellent crema at the perfect temperature when pulling a shot(s) of espresso or an americano. Preinfusion feature insures great results. Plenty of powerful, dry steam for frothing milk. A breeze to use the cappucinador by placing line into milk jug or container, frothing milk directly into the cup. Touch screen panel gives clear and straightfoward commands. Audible bell tone advises if there is an item not in place, not enough water or dump bin needs to be cleaned. Generally I make between 18-22 coffees before needing to remove and clean the dump bin. Pleasant cobalt blue power switch and cobalt blue light that illuminates the large water tank. Grinder adjustment is very easy. customer service taught me a trick where you can "increase the grind time" thus receiving optimum results from a hard or heavily roasted coffee bean. This gave us the capability of achieving a sold coffee cake or puck after each coffee. We owned another brand here in america and it was difficult to remove the brewing group (a key was required). This one extremely easy to remove for cleaning with one turn of a clip and one knob that you unscrew. All in all we view this machine as outstanding and our thrilled that we can recommend our friends to buy it on Amazon. Although the water reservoir and bean container is larger than a unit that we used from Switzerland, I'm going to contact the maker to see if it's possible to get even a larger water reservoir and a larger bean container.

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Originally I had high hopes for this fancy looking coffee/espresso machine. Being paranoid about setting up the machine correctly, I reviewed all of the poorly translated directions carefully.

Pros:

* Fancy design, automatic, decent water reservoir, easy to use point and touch selections

Cons:

* Produced severely watered down coffee even with fine grind setting and strong coffee setting.

* Even after several tests and inspecting the internal parts and brew group, non-drinkable coffee was produced.

* Significant amounts of water produced in the drip tray every time (not due to cup misplacement, apparently an internal function of this machine)

* After several more tests (10 cups), the machine internals were extremely clogged. This is most likely due to using the fine grind setting however all of that great coffee was inside the machine and not in my coffee cup.

If you are looking for an over-priced water cooker to clean often, this is your ticket. Otherwise, pass!

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Bialetti Mukka Express Cappuccino Maker

I was really excited to get this new product and I tried it right way. The first time I used it, I put the flame on too high and not only did I get milk everywhere (which I should have known from heating up milk and cream when making bechemel sauce or yogurt, milk goes EVERYWHERE when overheated) but water leaked as well.

I can't tell how many times I've used it since (sometimes twice or three pots a day) and I haven't had a problem with it at all. My guests love it as well. If the flame is medium, it doesn't leak. As soon as I hear the milk or cream frothing, I take it off the stove and put it on the sink (just in case, but it hasn't overflowed over since that first time I used it).

It's superfast, and it's supereasy to clean. This little product is saving me lots of money because I no longer desire to buy Cappuccino from Starbucks.

My only complaint about this product is that it has a two-cup capacity. That would be a two-espresso-cup capacity. So if you buy this product don't think it will make 16oz. And keep the flame low-medium. And take it off the heat when the milk starts frothing :)

ok, let's be honest, if your looking to spend less than $400 this is probably your best bet. Anything under that price is going to have it's idiosyncrasies (read "problems") But for the money this is a great buy, and if you take some time with it in the beginning you'll be happier in the end. And in the time that I have had mine here's what I learned.

First off read the instructions!

Throw away the first 3 5 cups (read "don't drink") think of this as seasoning your Mukka

Use a coarse espresso grind, too fine and the water doesn't make it through and then it's leaking all over your stove.

Don't pack-down (tamp) the grounds in the filter basket, see problem above.

Don't fill the filter basket with grounds while it is sitting in the water reservoir, instead hold it in your hand over the sink to prevent getting grounds all over the seals. See problem above.

Clean all the grounds off the seals. See problem above.

Wet the seals with water before brewing. See problem above.

Turn the heat down, adjust your gas so that the flame doesn't go past the edge of the mukka, this will improve your foam although I don't know the physics of it, it just seems to work better if the heat isn't too high.

Use "cold" Whole milk, I have tried 2%, half and half, 1/2 2% and 1/2 half and half, and had the best foam with whole milk, but it isn't ever going to be "micro-foam" and it's not going to come out white, cause the coffee does the steaming.

Let the Mukka steam the milk and then wait a minute leaving it on the heat till it steams again, I think that second boil is important for taste,and it makes the coffee good and hot.

Pour your cappucino or latte into a cup and IMMEDIATELY clean the Mukka, or at least soak it with water so the milk doesn't dry up. Don't worry your coffee will still be hot. See suggestion above.

on the steamer there is a black button you push for cappucino and below that a gray collar you can lift up. PULL UP ON THE GRAY COLLAR and rotate the steaming mechanism counter clockwise to remove the steamer. If you don't pull up on the gray collar good luck on getting the steaming mechanism off.

Cappucino button down

Latte Button up

Espresso no Milk, button up

Cafe Americano add water instead of milk, to line, button up

So with about a month of time in on my Mukka I have started to get good latte's from it, hopefully these suggestions shorten that time for you. And I have stopped going to "fourbucks" every morning so it is also saving me money.

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...and if you do it makes a great latte or cappucino. Follow the directions explicitly, or you could have a mess on your hands, as some other reviewers have reported. Now that I've had it a couple of months, it comes out perfectly (including lots of foam, if that's what you choose)99% of the time. When there is a problem (leaking, exploding, etc., as noted by others) it's because you haven't done something right. When instructions are followed, it works just great. Some things to particularly watch out for:

-Be certain the rubber seal is properly seated.

-Check to make sure you have properly screwed the two main parts together correctly and securely.

-Observe fill line guidelines strictly if you put in either too much water or milk, it will overflow.

There is nothing inherently wrong with the design when I've had problems, it's been my error.

The instructions are clear and thorough just don't be hasty or careless and you will love this item.

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I bought this little gem so that I could enjoy a quick cappuccino after dinner, and I'm 100% satisfied with it. It seems a few (several) people here have had issues using it, and 99.9% of the time, those errors are user-errors. That said, here's how I consistently get great cappuccinos with my Mukka Express...

1. Use the right grind. Most store-bought espresso grinds are too fine, as the Mukka explicitly states to use rough ground espresso. If you find that you have coffee dregs in the water tank after brewing, your grind it too fine.

2. I use a glass top stove, and the water measurement is 6 ounces. BE SURE TO GET THIS RIGHT!

3. Use medium-high heat. I set my cook top to 7.5, and my cappuccino is ready in just over 5 minutes.

4. Do NOT let any -and I mean ANY -coffee grinds remain on the basket or heater rim. The couple of times I have had seal issues, grinds were the problem. If you don't have a steady hand, just fill the coffee basket separately, then put it onto the heat tank.

5. I recommend using less milk than the directions indicate -especially as you first get used to using the Mukka. Since I also like a stronger cup, I fill the milk to around 1/4-inch below the recommended line. Experiment with this, starting with FAR LESS, so that you avoid potential froth-overs. The temp you end up using will also impact the amount of froth, so play it safe to begin with and use less milk.

6. MAKE SURE THE PRESSURE VALVE IS LOCKED! The only way the pressure stem will fire off and leave the Mukka is if it's broken or not locked in place.

7. If you aren't getting much foam, your cook top temp is too low. If it's foaming out and you haven't overfilled with milk, your cook top temp is too high.

So, if you follow the steps, you should have no problems getting a great cappuccino. After a few tries, you'll find the right settings for your stove. ENJOY!

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Sell your Starbucks stock because this product is amazing! In just 4 quick minutes a delicious frothy cuppucino is ready and it tastes better than Starbucks!! Forget the bad reviews, if you have half a brain this maker is no problem. Just add water to the line on bottom, scoop in a few teaspoons of espresso, screw on the top, add milk to the line, put it on the stove, wait for the button to pop and your done!

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Nespresso C90 Essenza Manual Espresso and Coffeemaker, Slate

I loved my Slate Essenza C90 manual machine for the 1st month. It was so easy and the espresso was delicious. Then one morning as I pulled my espresso, water started leaking out all over! The whole bottom tray completely filled with water and a lot overflowed. It had some kind of stoppage that forced the water to leak out.

It was literally on the 31st day of ownership b/c I checked my receipt and almost returned it to amazon. But the book it came with said to call Nespresso, that they would pick them machine up and even give a loaner until they could replace it with a new one, so I called them instead. The customer service rep told me they would email me a shipping label, so I could send it back and that they would send a new machine within 2 3 days. No pickup like the book said, but ok fine. Then they never send the shipping label. So I had to call back a couple days later. Now they finally send it.

So I send back the machine and two WEEKS later I finally get my machine but it is an ugly weird green color and REFURBISHED. It definitely does not work as well as the machine I bought did for the first 30 days the water drips out strangely and it is kind of leaky. I know it is refurbished because it said so right on the label but even if it didn't it just is obviously not a new machine in appearance and function.

Needless to say I am very unhappy with this experience. "Nespresso Lifestyle" my foot.

Not only that, but the customer service rep told me to send back the nice book my machine originally came with. The refurbished machine did not come with a book. All it came with was a paper pamphlet for the C100 not even the same model. So now I'm out that too.

UPDATE 4/27/09: I'm happy to report that I got a telephone call from a Nespresso Customer Service rep on Sat. 4/18. She said it was just a courtesy call and asked how I liked the machine so I told her the story as described above. She said that I should have gotten a new machine and that she would look into it. Sure enough, by Fri. 4/24 a brand new machinein the right slate color, with a new book and even new pods had arrived on my doorstep! I enjoyed coffee from it all weekend. They also let me keep the refurbished machine until the new one arrived this time, so I did not have to go without coffee. I sent it back in the mail today.

So, I'm a lot happier now with customer service, and would move it up to 3 stars. I will update this review again after 30 days hopefully the new machine will still be working!

Update 7/18/09: Well it is a few months later and I continue to be very pleased with my Nespresso machine. It is still working great and I absolutely love it. Just made my third coffee order, and worked out the cost. On average I am spending about $17 a month to drink my espresso every morning. That is about $50 less per month than the $2.25 I was previously spending at the coffee shop every day! It is also so easy to order them online, and they arrive within a few days. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase.

I experienced the perfect espresso produced by these machines because they were in every hotel room I inhabited in Europe. It was so easy and delicious, I ordered one the day after I arrived back in the states. I chose this machine rather than the C100 because I wanted control over how much espresso was pulled. This was a good choice, but you might want to purchase a couple of cups that will give you a good idea of just how many ounces you have while you are making it.

The machine heats up quickly, in under a minute. The first time you use it, make sure you fully charge the water pump which is super easy (instructions for this are with the manual).

I went to the Nespresso club online and ordered the welcome kit which offers 200 capsules at a fair price and includes a free wooden box. It was worth it...and they include the 3 brand new lines of espresso they have developed recently.

I strongly recommend this product to anyone who is disappointed at the occasional lack of quality in espresso products they receive outside the home, the tedious ritual of making espresso from coffee grounds, or people like me who are disappointed in the quality of my brewed coffee at home in the morning.

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Handpresso Wild ESE in RED

I have had this product for a couple of months now. I have a rich history of trying to find something to take with me on the road to the improve hotel coffee situation. I started with a single cup Melitta electric drip coffee maker (remember those!), a Krups, a Velox, an electric Bialetti moka pot, an Aeropress, etc. I hate to go to a hotel, find a maker with coffee filters and think things are fine until 6 AM in the morning when you realize BOTH filters are de-caf! The hotel coffee makers range from OK to horrible! The coffee too!

I purchased the HandPresso out of desperation! I have a semi-professional espresso machine (VBM) and roast my own beans. I was not impressed with the ESE pods, but am VERY happy with them in the HandPresso! I like the idea I do not have to touch grounds in the morning like with the Aeropress. I carry a cup, some pods, and the HandPresso. I boil water (I am still looking for a very small electric boiling pot, but have an immersion coil), pump up the HandPresso, pre-heat my espresso cup and the water cup on the HandPresso, dump both, re-fill the HandPresso, pop in a pod, and in 25-seconds or so have a great shot of espresso! Got carried away one morning and had 4 in a row! WOW!

This device is extremely well made and and will probably last a long time. It will get field testing from me. Hope the TSA does not think it is some sort of nasty device in my bag!! The coffee pods give it away.

I've had my Handpresso for over six months now. Being Italian-born and raised, I live on a steady diet of espresso and need my fix at least twice a day. My workplace only has a small coffee stand which makes the worst espresso in the world, and there aren't any other coffee shops in a 2 miles radius, so brewing my own was the only way to satisfy my coffee needs.

I previously bought a AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker, which is advertised as an espresso maker but actually produces something closer to a french press drip coffee. Granted, it was cheap but that's pretty much the only good thing about it: it does not make a real espresso and is definitely more high-maintenance and labor-intensive, requiring filters and thorough cleaning after each use. I stopped using it after a couple of days because it was too much of a hassle and the espresso wasn't very good anyway.

The Handpresso on the other hand is simplicity itself. All you need is hot water and ESE coffee pods (I use 150 Lavazza Gran Crema Espresso Pods). I've been using it 2 o 3 times a day for six months and couldn't be happier. Yes, it's a bit expensive but being able to get a decent cup of espresso makes it worthy of the premium price tag for me.

The device is very sturdy and requires only minimal maintenance (just rinse it out) since the coffee and filters are self-contained in the ESE pods. If you have access to hot water, it takes less than a minute to prepare the Handpresso, stick the coffee pod in it, brew a shot of espresso, discard the pod and clean the machine.

Customer support from the distributor is also outstanding -I misplaced one of the little rubber gaskets that come with the Handpresso (the only moving/replaceable part) and wrote to the distributor (Importika) and they mailed me a replacement free of charge. I was very impressed.

If you are an espresso-freak and want a truly portable and easy-to-use device, this is it.

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Initial Impression

I was a bit skeptical that I could get a decent shot of espresso from a portable machine. And while it doesn't develop as much crema as my home machine (and I wouldn't expect it to considering that machine is over $1,500) this thing is a GREAT way for me to get my espresso fix at work.

Value

The build quality of the Handpresso is top notch, commensurate with its price (i.e. you get what you pay for). It should last quite a while. I was pleased to find that it comes with an extra O-ring gasket.

It's already paid for itself in savings I don't buy espresso at Starbuck's anymore. It also IMHO brews a way more drinkable shot than Starbucks ever did they really need to clean their machines and train their alleged "baristas".

Tips

For hot water, I use my office kitchen's hot water dispenser and you really need very hot water to get a good shot, so take some care not to scald yourself. The only downside is I'm getting a lot of requests from co-workers to brew them a shot.

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Pros: Small size. Fun to pump up in the morning; it wakes you up! Nice to use just one espresso pod and neatly toss it away when finished (like a tea bag). Easy to rinse out handpresso and lid after use.

Cons: Clunky shape gets clunkier when you need to leave the unit and lid separate to dry between uses. Leaks in two places: the button valve, the sides of cap. When the handpresso is in the last unit of pressure, it spews crema in a wide radius surrounding the cup, not straight down into your waiting cup. Be prepared for a major spew cleanup. This means that you can not dispense espresso directly into a small 3.5 6 once cup. The bigger the cup the better so you can put the handpresso as low as possible so that the spewing is contained in the cup. However, you will need to pour from large cup to an espresso/latte/cappucino cup. With each cup change, the espresso cools off. (Yes, I heat the milk. Doing everything I can to keep things hot. :)) Handpresso is not cheap. Required espresso pods are costly.

I tried, but it's difficult to explain the ins/outs of the handpresso's cons.

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Like others on here I got the handpresso to make espresso at work. It worked great for about 5 months, then after it would no longer release the pressure unless you let it sit for over 20 minutes. When I emailed importika they informed me they would repair it, but I would be charged 15 dollars for shipping to and from.

This would be a great product, but however sadly it does not last long and the company that sells it does not stand behind their product.

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Bialetti Brikka Stovetop Espresso Percolator, 2 Cup

Just to clarify, you are not going to get the typical cafe-type crema with this. If done right, you can get great tasting-strong coffee that has a hint of crema that eventually disappears. With the right coffee to water ratio and pre-heating the water, you can great results. I typically do 15 grams of coffee to 60 grams of water, and warm up (not boil) the water for 30 secs on the microwave. I end up getting decent results, but play around with the water and coffee ratio to get the results you want, plus that's the fun part about owning one of these!

Love the coffee it makes!!

I have both Brikka and Moka espresso maker and I really prefer the coffee Brikka makes.

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Mr. Coffee LMX27 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Stainless Steel

We got old together. The only way that perk'er aged were dings I careless made.

I'm a coffee addict, so that's alota cups. I depended on the caffeine and good

flavor Mr. Coffee contributed to.

Meanwhile, I aged human-fashion. A few weeks ago I dropped my brew master, Mr. C, cracking the unit, breaking the carafe. Of course, I came back for more of the same.

This new and improved both graphically (my original Mr. C was a burnt-umber reddish color, for one thing) and in performance. Features are basically the same, but are upgraded in our techno-advancing times.

The flavor seems better; I used a coffee brand I favor; it tasted better; think 'flavor+') The perking process seemed not as loud, but still a pleasant wake-up

gurgle. I didn't have the urge to see if it was faster. Seemed fast, though.

Oh, to amplify the flavor verdict: Even with my diminishing 72-year-old taste buds,

the flavor seems richer; the aroma even better. I'm kinda glad I dropped my 'old'

Mr. Coffee Maker. Oh, and they didn't leap the price up, if I recall correctly.

What's the old adage?' If it ain't broke, don't fix it'? I'll add,

'If it ain't broke, make it better". Mr. Coffee did; I'm a happy

caffeine slurp'er again. Whew! Sure missed the tasty caffeine.

Until last year, I've always had great experiences with Mr. Coffee products. When I needed to replace an older coffee maker in May 2011, I naturally had my sights set on that brand because of those good experiences. I purchased the Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Chrome and regretted it from the first use. That unit overflowed nearly every time I tried to use it especially if the water filter was in place. I got rid of it and bought a cheap, no-frills Sunbeam model that didn't have all the features the Mr. Coffee model did, but had the distinct advantage of never overflowing.

I was so disgusted with the Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Chrome, I swore I would never buy Mr. Coffee again.

When I was given the opportunity to review the Mr. Coffee LMX27 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Stainless Steel, I thought this might be a good way to give Mr. Coffee another chance.

Unlike that dud Mr. Coffee unit I purchased in 2011, this model works beautifully. It hasn't overflowed yet, the features all work as they should, and the coffee tastes great.

This coffee pot has some pretty standard features that you might take for granted, but would sorely miss if they weren't there: automatic 2-hour shut-off, brewing pause & serve, and timed brewing. All of these features work very well. I think most coffee drinkers are used to these features, but I'll give a quick run-down of them.

The coffee maker will keep the pot warm for 2 hours and then automatically shut off if you haven't manually turned it off by then, allowing some peace of mind if you worry you've left it on after leaving the house.

The brewing pause and server is an extremely important to those in a hurry for a cup of coffee and for those of us who are just in a hurry. With this feature you can remove the pot from the burner and pour a cup even while it is still brewing. As soon as the pot has left the burner, brewing will pause until you replace the pot. I've used a couple of pots that didn't do very well with this feature if you poured a cup before the pot was at least 75% full, the coffee tasted terrible. With this maker, the coffee tastes the same whether it has brewed 2 cups or a full 12 cups.

The timed brewing works nicely for those of us who are always in a rush in the morning. You can set the coffee up the night before, and set the timer for the time you want brewing to begin. If you have set the clock on the maker correctly, brewing will start automatically at the time you've set. What a wonderful thing to wake to the aroma of fresh coffee...

In addition to those standard features, it also boasts a water filter, a special cleaning cycle, and a brew strength selector.

The water filter in this particular model seems to work fine. Unlike my other Mr. Coffee unit, this one doesn't overflow with the filter in. I haven't noticed any improvement in the taste of my coffee when I use the filter and when I don't, but perhaps there is a more dramatic difference in areas that have more chlorine in their water. The nice thing is that you can run the coffee maker without the filter if you decide you don't need it. If you do like the water filter, you can find replacement filters at most local stores and also here at Amazon's site. Mr. Coffee recommends changing the filter every month, and the ring that holds the filter has a handy dandy little dial so that you can turn it to the current month to keep track of when you last changed it. All you have to do is remember to set that dial to the right month when you change the filter (MR. COFFEE? Water Filter Replacement 6pk).

The special cleaning cycle seems to work fine. I always just ran some white vinegar and water through a few regular brew cycles with my old coffee pots. The cleaning cycle seems to remove a few steps but otherwise works similarly to my old methods. You can use either Mr. Coffee Coffeemaker Cleaner: 2 Packets or you can use white vinegar.

The brew strength selector defaults to a normal strength, but you can set it to strong if you prefer your coffee stronger, which I do. The brew strength can be set on normal brewing or timed (delayed) brewing and the setting seems to persist once you set it until you change it back to normal. I honestly can't really tell a difference in the strength of the coffee no matter which brew strength I've set it on. I don't know if that has something to do with the coffee I use or not, but I use Folgers 100% Colombian Ground Coffee, Distinctively Rich, Medium Dark Roast which is already pretty strong.

One of the nicest things about this coffee maker is that the carafe pours without excess dripping. I have a habit of pouring my coffee over the sink anyway in case it spills, but it is nice that this one doesn't drip when you pour it.

I can't stand the paper filters, and I use the Mr. Coffee GTF2-1 Basket-Style Gold Tone Permanent Filter I bought a year ago and it works very well in this model.

I would definitely recommend this coffee maker and it has certainly gone a long way towards restoring my broken faith in the Mr. Coffee brand.

Buy Mr. Coffee LMX27 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Stainless Steel Now

I purchased this coffeemaker about three months ago. It worked fine except for one key issue. It only makes lukewarm coffee. Thinking that it might need time to break in (for whatever reason), we continued using it for a month. It NEVER MADE A HOT CUP OF COFFEE. We had to microwave each cup before drinking it. So, I notified the manufacturer, and they very promptly me a new one. Their customer service was superior. However, we have been using the new one for a month, and it simply does not produce hot coffee. Since I have tried two brand new ones of this model and had the exact same results, I have to believe that the design is poor. This one is headed for Goodwill, and I hope whoever buys it doesn't mind lukewarm coffee. I would throw it away, but I hate to fill up the landfill. Maybe someone will enjoy it.

Read Best Reviews of Mr. Coffee LMX27 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Stainless Steel Here

The Mr. Coffee LMX27 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker is a good choice for a standard, drip coffeemaker. Coffee making is relatively fast and very quiet, and while it does have some potentially useful features like brew delay, self-cleaning, brew strength and the fresh brew timer (lets you know just how old the coffee is...no more thinking it's "fresh"...three hours after the fact), it's otherwise a very straightforward coffee maker. The inclusion of the charcoal filter is nice and was shared by our previous Mr. Coffee coffeemaker (buy the replacements online to save a few bucks). Although it's a bit of a pain, the fact that our water smells heavily of chlorine makes it very nearly a must in our situation. It's supposed to take out as much as 97% of the chlorine out. That's probably inflated, but it does seem to make a difference.

This is a fairly tall unit, so if you keep it under a cabinet, you'll need to pull it out a bit to pour your water. The backlit LCD clock is rather bright (no way to adjust this, as far as I can tell), but I actually like that (less fumbling through the dark in an undercaffeinated state). As far as looks go, it's pretty sharp with its stainless steel accents and "stretched" (taller) profile. It makes a decent cup of coffee too. You could do worse than the LMX27.

Want Mr. Coffee LMX27 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Stainless Steel Discount?

After trying three different coffeemakers one Cuisinart, and another Mr. Coffee model (CJX-21CP), I finally found one that made a great, SMOOTH tasting cup of coffee. This model has a shower head for dispensing the water on the water filtration disk,a water reservoir with a window, delay brew time, brew strength option (strong or regular), cleaning cycle, and Fresh Brew Timer feature that lets you know how long ago the coffee was brewed. All things considered, the most important thing is that the coffee is smooth and not bitter! Love this model!

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