Thermos Nissan 16-Ounce Compact Stainless-Steel Bottle

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This compact Thermos is excellent for how HOT it keeps the coffee, and what is also incredible is that it is Light & Compact, it fits perfectly in my backpack. Before I ordered the Thermos, I read some of the reviews and have to agree with 99% of them on the Lightness, Compact, and most important of all How Well it Maintains the Temperature of the Liquid. A great Bargain for what it costs. Ordered this for my daughter. She packs it in the morning to be able to take her coffee with her to grad school. She said it keeps it hot for hours. Nice smaller profile, doesn't take up too much room in her messenger bag. She loves it. Came quickly.

Jeremiah's Pick Coffee Fogbuster Whole Bean Coffee, 5-Pound Bag

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Product Description

We roast our coffee daily. ensuring that the coffee you buy is fresh. We use only the finest Arabica beans from the world's premier coffee-growing regions. Our flavor is what sets us apart. You'll taste the difference in these distinctive blends and varietals. The surprising combinations of pure and robust flavors will fulfill the desires of even the most sophisticated coffee lover. We are certified kosher by Vaad Hakashrus of Northern California. I moved from Northern California to the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas. I can get Starbucks at the nearby grocery stores or more expensive "gourmet" coffees, but that's about it. I have been on the lookout for robust,full flavored whole bean coffees at reasonable prices. I tried Pete's espresso blend and liked it, but it wasn't available the last time I checked. So I tried this Fogbuster and I like it even more. Good thing, since it comes in a 5 lb. bag. If you like Starbucks French Roast, this compares quite favorably.

Espressione Classic Coffee Pods, Box of 150

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From Espressione come these pods containing 100 percent arabica coffee for fuss-free espresso brewing. Each sealed pod, which resembles a round tea bag, contains the proper amount of ground coffee (7 grams to be exact) to make a single serving of decaffeinated espresso. Afterward, the pod can be tossed away. There's no messy, uncertain measuring of coffee into an espresso machine's filter and no messy cleanup. The espresso for the pods comes freshly roasted from selected Italian roasters. The pods fit espresso machines using the trademark E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso), including certain models of espresso makers made by Briel, FrancisFrancis!, DeLonghi, and others. --Fred Brack

Product Description

Espressione Classic Espresso is a rich blend suited for the North American palate. Each ESE (Easy Serving Espresso) pod contains seven grams of coffee that have been compressed into a convenient filter package that eliminates the need to guess and gauge the exact amount of coffee needed per serving. Produced by an Old World Italian coffee roaster, Espressione coffee blends are of the finest quality, featuring the best varieties of Arabica and Robusta coffee.

Cuisinart Supreme Gring Automatic Burr Mill (CCM-16PC1)

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First, after checking the Amazon listings, I noticed a similar model (Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill). I'm not sure if this model is a newer version of that one--because they look awfully similar--but I did notice that some of the reactions to that other model are fitting for this one.

After my initial use, the first thing I noticed was that the grind (I used the lowest "coarse" setting) didn't seem as consistent as I thought it would be, considering the point of using a burr grinder is to get a consistent grind. There was a fair amount of dust that came through, in other words.

For the price, I can't say I expected it to be perfect, and honestly, this bit of coffee dust (maybe half a teaspoon)doesn't much bother me. A common complaint for the other model is that the plastic hoppers attract the coffee dust due to static cling. This is also true here, but for me, not a problem.

Overall, I like the way this grinder works. Just realize going in that this is one of the cheapest (price-wise) burr grinders on the market, so you can't expect it to function like a $400 model. If you're just getting into grinding your own coffee and want to begin to experience the benefits of burr ground coffee and french presses, I'd say this is a great place to start.

If, however, you already own expensive coffee equipment (say, an expensive espresso maker for instance) you might want to spring for a higher quality burr grinder.

The other model had many people mentioning the motor dying after 6 or so months. Some customers said that it was due to a buildup of coffee dust between the hopper and grinders, and that after unscrewing the top and cleaning it out, the motor worked again.

I've only had my grinder one day, so I can't comment on this yet. But I plan on updating this review periodically as I use my grinder.

Finally, a call for consumer support:

I am using this grinder with my French press, which needs a coarse grind of beans. I am testing the different settings (as there are about 5 or 6 "coarse" settings to choose from. I started on the low end of the coarse cycle.

My suggestion? If you get this machine, why not tell me, in the comment section, which setting works best for you with use of a french press. I will also update, once I've used all the settings, to tell you what I find in terms of the best setting.

UPDATE #1: I've now used all the coarsest settings except the very last (coarsest), and not surprisingly, the coarser the grind, the better the coffee when using a French Press. I'm sure other factors are coming into play, such as the amount of coffee I use, the temperature of the water, and the steeping time. But without a doubt, the coffee tastes much better than when I used to use a blade grinder.

I'm still experiencing a certain amount of "dust" with every batch I grind. Interestingly, the dust seems to clump up and stick to the edge of the container after being expelled. I'm not sure if this is common for everyone, or is possibly it has something to do with the quality of bean I'm using. But I'll be sure to update once I use a different type of bean.

The good news is that when the dust clumps like this, it's easy to brush away and avoid.

More Updates to come.

UPDATE #2: I decided to dial back the coarseness of my grind, so for french press I think I like the third to last coarseness setting the best. The machine continues to expel around half a teaspoon of coffee dust (clumped against the container) per grind, which I know most die-hards would find unacceptable, but for a novice like me, isn't too bad.

I've taken to scooping the dust into a separate container to save. My guess is that for every one pound bag of coffee I grind, I may get enough dust saved to brew one drip pot of coffee. Sure, it won't be as fresh, but it's better than using it in the french press and getting more "sludge", or throwing it away and wasting it.

I have also decided to change my initial 4-star rating to a 3-star. I still like the machine, but I do think the lack of grind uniformity and amount of dust is annoying. I reiterate: If you are a novice/just getting into grinding your own coffee, this machine is a good fit. But if you have expensive equipment (espresso machines, etc) spend the extra cash on a better grinder.

Handpresso Wild - Black

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Product Features

• Hand-powered espresso machine
• Handpresso Espresso Machine
• On/Off Switch
• Dimensions: 8.5 x 4 x 3 "

Bodum New Kenya 34-Ounce Coffee Press, BlackBodum New Kenya 34-Ounce Coffee Press, Black

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Awards and Accolades In 2004 the Bodum Chambord coffee press received the American Culinary Institute's award for best French press coffeemaker. The American Culinary Institute judges food preparation products such as mixers, waffle makers, and electric teakettles. These products are judged on criteria important to consumers such as ease-of-use, safety, and the quality of the food produced. The institute also judges food preparation products used in restaurants and hotels, including institutional mixers, large-volume coffee machines, and food slicers.

Instructions for Use 1. Place pot on a dry, flat, nonslip surface. Hold handle firmly, then pull the plunger straight up and out of the pot.
2. For each 1.25-deciliter/4-ounce cup, put 1 rounded tablespoon or 1 Bodum scoop of coarse-ground coffee into the pot.

Caution: Use only coarse-ground coffee. Fine grind can clog the filter and create high pressure. Place coffee maker on a heatproof, nonslip surface.
3. Pour hot (not boiling) water into the pot. Leave a minimum of 2.5 centimeters/1 inch of space at the top. Stir the brew with a plastic spoon.
Caution: Metal spoons can scratch or chip the glass beaker and cause breakage.
4. Place the plunger unit on top of the pot. Turn lid to close off the pour spout opening. (Does not apply to the Brazil models.) Do not press down. Let the coffee brew for at least 4 minutes.
5. Hold the pot handle firmly, with the spout turned away from you, then using just the weight of your hand, apply slight pressure on top of the knob to lower the plunger straight down into the pot. Lowering the plunger slowly with minimal pressure produces best results. If the filter clogs or it becomes difficult to push down the plunger you should remove the plunger from the pot, stir the brew, and then slowly plunge again.
WARNING: Using excessive force can cause scalding liquid to shoot out of the pot.
6. Turn the lid to open the pour spout and then pour coffee.
7. Unscrew the filter assembly and clean the plunger unit after each use. All parts are dishwasher-safe.
Safety Instructions

• Not for stovetop use.
• Check glass beaker for scratches, cracks, or chips. Do not use a pot that is scratched, chipped, or cracked. Install a replacement beaker before using the pot again.
• Keep children away while using. Hot water is a hazard to small children!
• Do not allow children to use this coffeemaker.

Scald Hazard

• Excessive plunging force can cause scalding hot liquid to shoot out of pot.
• Do not plunge with force.
• Turn lid to close spout.
• Use only coarse-ground coffee.

Company History
In 1944 Peter Bodum, the father of today's owner, Joergen Bodum, started Bodum in Copenhagen. Times were difficult at the end of World War II; there was hardly any trade and people were out of work. Peter Bodum managed to wholesale a very small variety of housewares products by Danish manufacturers.
After the war Peter Bodum got an import license for kitchen and tabletop products; he traveled all over Europe and ended up importing kitchen and housewares to Denmark. As in the rest of Europe in those days, a lack of products in Denmark meant a market existed for almost anything to be sold. He specialized in glassware from Eastern Europe.
In the '50s Peter Bodum started developing his own products. He collaborated with the Danish architect Kaas Klaeson for a range of coffeemakers. At the time, industrial-design-type kitchen products were very rare. The first Bodum product to hit the market in 1958 was the Santos coffeemaker--based on a vacuum coffee brewing system. It became an instant sensation not only in Denmark but in all of Europe. Bodum still produces the original Santos design to this very day.
Bodum grew steadily during the '60s, but sadly, in 1967, at the age of only 57, Peter Bodum passed away. His wife managed the company until 1974, when she offered her 26-year-old son Joergen to join her in the management of the company. Joergen quickly brought on board Carsten Joergensen--then a teacher at the Danish School of Art in Copenhagen--and soon put him in charge of overall design for Bodum, including everything from products to corporate design, exhibitions, shops, buildings, catalogs, and advertising. It turned out to be a very long and fruitful collaboration. The two men began to fulfill Bodum's credo--"good design doesn't have to be expensive"--in lots of different ways.
In 1974 the first fruit of Joergen and Carsten's collaboration was introduced: the French coffee press Bistro. It was also the first incorporation of the new Bodum design language--beautiful simplicity and excellent materials for everyday life. Many more variations of coffee presses followed. Since 1974 Bodum has produced over 50 million French presses, taken the leap from "coffee" to "kitchen," and developed and produced a large variety of beautiful household and tabletop designs.
In 1979, when he took over the company, Joergen Bodum decided to move to Switzerland in order to be more centrally located in Europe. He chose the Lucerne area, where Bodum's head office has been located since the early '80s.
In 1980 Bodum Switzerland and its design unit, Pi-Design, were founded. Then, in 1986, the opening of Bodum's first shop in London marked another milestone in the Bodum history. It was designed not only to be the perfect showcase for the large variety of Bodum products but to embody an even stronger presentation of Bodum as an international brand. Many more shops in many more cities all over the world followed: Paris, Copenhagen, Zurich, Lucerne, Tokyo, New York, Dallas, Okinawa, Auckland, and many more. To this day there are 52 Bodum stores worldwide.
With more and more of its own stores in place, Bodum continued broadening its collection of beautifully designed everyday life products--from kitchen to home. Today Bodum offers its customers everything from the latest coffee- and tea-making products to tabletop, kitchen, storage, textiles, bathroom, and home office products. Some stores also have a café where Bodum's own selection of coffees and teas are served.
The Bodum Group is, and always has been, a 100 percent family-owned business. Today the company operates in 14 different countries with over 700 employees worldwide. Bodum has holding companies in Denmark and Switzerland as well as 12 sales companies, 3 production companies, and a design company called Bodum Design Group, located in Switzerland.

Product Description

The French press coffee maker is accepted worldwide as one of the best methods for brewing coffee and our New Kenya coffee press is sure to deliver not only gourmet coffee flavor, but modern design. The durable and heat-resistant glass beaker is partially encased by the black plastic frame of the New Kenya coffee maker. The frame covers a part of the sides and bottom of the beaker, making it safe for the tabletop without using a trivet or coaster. Simple to use, the French press is a proven method for brewing flavorful and balance coffee. Coffee is measured in 4 oz. cups, so our 8-cup press will brew 34 oz., serving three to four people. For best results, use coarse ground coffee. Just add the appropriate amount of ground coffee to the beaker (we recommend one 7 gram scoop per 4 oz. of water). Fill the beaker with hot water (just off of a boil). Leave about an inch from the top of the beaker. Give the coffee a stir with a plastic or wooden utensil to mix it completely with the water. Set the plunger and lid unit in place with the safety lid in the closed position. Allow the coffee to brew for 4-minutes and then press. Turn the safety lid to the open position, serve and enjoy. Clean up is easy too – just scoop out the grounds with a rubber spatula, and rinse the beaker and filter. There is no paper or additional filter required. The 3-part stainless steel filter system is built right into the press. The stay cool handle is built right into the sturdy New Kenya frame. All parts are dishwasher safe. The New Kenya is also available in 3, 4, and 6 cup sizes.

mypressi TWIST Portable Espresso Maker

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The Mypressi is very well made and feels solid. It's evident that care was taken during design- all pieces fit together nicely and seams line up providing a nice presentation. The instructions provided are clear and simple.

From the time it took to unpack the Mypressi to my first double espresso being pulled was about 2 minutes including the 25 second pull time. Disassembly was equally quick and easy. The clean up was minimal and the Mypressi could easily be used during a hectic morning or on the go.

Three baskets were provided, I learned that the "pressurized basket" works best with espresso ground using the machine at the grocery store. The grounds didn't quite get fine enough to use the "standard basket." Luckily the instructions have a well laid out FAQ for situations like this. The water bowl has a very good marking inside of it so there's no guess work involved when adding water for a single or double shot.

The espresso produced was very impressive. To put it simply, my local coffee shop just lost a customer.

Every aspect of this product makes sense and its really clear that the inventors thought it through. Overall, the Mypressi far exceeded my expectations. It's well made, simple to use, and makes really good espresso! I have only made 5 shots so far, but they all come out very nice. I use Lavazza "il perfetto espresso" from [...], which (in quantity) costs about 1/3 of what I used to pay for the illy at WholeFoods.

In reply to Francesco Fato: I think there is no point in preheating the lower hemisphere because the plastic has a low heat capacity and never holds the brew. But you may as well go naked and remove it as suggested by "Reflex". Today I used the pressurized cup without the lower hemisphere and had it squirt directly into the pre-heated milk. That created a great froth for my latte.

I wonder when people will stop using their big and noisy machines in favor of the mypressi.

The cartridges cost between $0.50 and $1 a piece depending on quantity etc.

Bodum Brazil 8 Cup Coffee Press, 34-Ounce

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Let's face it, dumping coffee grounds into a bucket of hot water is nothing new. The Bodum Press is a refinement of the cowboy coffee brewing method, minus the campfire & straining it thru a sock. In My world, there is no such thing as "too Strong" for coffee. There IS, however, too bitter & too acidy. The press does what perking, dripping and steaming ground coffee cannot do: produce a stout, yet smooth cup of coffee - just like the stuff made around decades of my campfires.

Model Brazil, made in Denmark by a Swiss Company & called a French Press. No wonder the confusion over exactly how many cups this actually makes. The Euro-instructions for the press say 4 oz. per cup, but even my fine Bavarian China cups (from when I lived in Munich) are 6 ounces.

Just look at it this way: It holds 32 ounces of water.

The instructions on your roast coffee container usually say to use 1 TBSP per 6 ounces of water (NOT 4 ounces & NOT 8 ounces). Again, in MY world, 32 ozs. makes about 2 cups of coffee.

I toss in 6 or more scoops of ground coffee, pour in hot water & wait the obligatory 4 minutes. The result is a smooth coffee that you can drink by the quart without that nasty heartburn/reflux side effect.

It's ideal for work, where the office sissies are afraid of offending anyone with REAL coffee, so they make it weak. I simply step up to the hot water spigot & take the Press to my desk.

Now, you, too, can have coffee the way you like it at work without having to cover up someone's botched brew with that foo-foo Vanilla, Hazelnut, Irish Cream or other phoney-flavored faux creamers.

Cleanup? Swirl around some soapy water, & dump the grounds down the sink - just be sure to have the water blasting & the garbage disposal running, so as to not plug up the sink trap.

Even if you already have the coffee-brewing apparatus of your dreams, buy the Bodum 32 oz. model. You won't be disappointed.

Handpresso Wild Outdoor Picnic Set with Deluxe Case

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Product Description

The Handpresso Outdoor Set has all you need to enjoy your espresso on the move. The Handpresso Outdoor Set contains:

• Handpresso Wild
• 4 Transparent, unbreakable polycarbonate cups,
• 11oz. Thermo-insulated stainless steel flask w/ thermometer
• 2 Small napkins
• Black case with brown interior
• Storage for ESE Pods Specifications :
• Weight: 3 lbs
• Size: 10.5? x 8.25? x 3.5?
• Color: Black

Frieling Stainless-Steel 35-Ounce French Press

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I have been using a Bodum glass press pot for several months now. Been wanting a stainless to keep the water hotter during the brewing process. Actually placed an order for the Bodum Columbia, but received this one as a present so I canceled the order for the Bodum.

This pot works extremely well and is very attractive. It is quite substaintial which makes for a very nice feel. The coffee certainly comes out hotter than it did with the glass pot - a definate plus.

I prefer the bottom portion of the filter mechanism on the Bodum vs. this one (the top two pieces of the filters on both are identical). This one's bottom filter element is not flat like the Bodum. It has a slight curve upwards at the edges. Thus the trapped grounds are harder to clean out w/o disassembling the filter vs. the Bodum. It really isn't that big a deal, but I just like the Bodum design better. Unfortunately, both bottom elements have different thread diameters, so the parts aren't interchangeable.

That one small negative aside (you most likely wouldn't see this as a negative unless you've used a Bodum), this is a very nice pot. As a matter of fact, both this pot and the Bodum would benefit from the use of a one-piece filter instead of the three pieces ones supplied with both. If you have one of these, the Frieling will be flawless.

Another nice thing with the Frieling is that you can get a matching sugar and creamer. I'm not sure if you can with the Bodum. If you are into entertaining small groups, this is a vote for the Frieling too.

Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinders

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First, I have to thank everyone who reviewed the product for warning me about some of the design issues of the product. I read reviews to look for failings in a product and then buy if the price and performance outweighs known problems.

Now, the review. Five stars. Yes, you need to know where to be careful, but you'll definitely enjoy the coffee.

The important stuff. This is where you have to be careful.
- Unpacking - There's a big "PUSH" label that seems counterintuitive, but I pushed and the receiving drawer came out the back of the styrofoam. I could see how people might break this.

- Assembling - the removable burr wheel needs to be seated, mine wasn't so the hopper didn't seem to fit. Turn the burr until it matches up to the bottom and it drops a fraction of an inch to seat. Line up the black dot on the hopper with the mark on the right and gently push down and twist. The plastic on the hopper and drawer feels weak and flimsy, but it works fine once you have the product going.

- Grinding - 16 settings in groups of four. If 1 is extra fine and 16 is coarse, I found #4 and #5 ideal for espresso. A medium dark roast did better at #4, but a dark roast got too fine and nearly clogged my espresso filter. #13 works great with the Bodum columbia press and a medium roast and leaves barely a pinch of grounds in the poured coffee. As another reviewer said, resist the temptation of turning the timer down to zero and just twist the top to stop the grinding. After two grinds you're trained. Oh, and there is a bit of static in the drawer but it hasn't bothered me much. I like the sharp edge for pouring out the grounds directly into the filter basket.

- Cleaning - remove the burr wheel and dust it into the bottom, then sweep the grounds in the grinder bottom (the part under the hopper) together. I have the whole thing near the bin so I can tip it over. Leave the drawer in to catch what you sweep into the grinding mechanism. The brush they provide is small, but I haven't had a problem.

I thought I was happy with my blade grinder, because I'd add cream and sugar to my espresso and it tasted great. But now I'm even happier because I can actually drink the espresso and french-pressed coffee straight, black. I still add a bit of cream and sugar but I'm fascinated that a sugar-head like me can drink the coffee straight.

My theory is that while a good blade grinder can make fine grounds by cutting into the coffee well, coffee shards tend to form a structure inside the espresso filter and channel water through the same tubes of coffee, pulling the bitters along because of overexposure. And a quicker path through the filter results in incomplete brewing, and, bitterness. You can tell that the blade-ground coffee creates an initial resistance and then thinner coffee flows faster.

With burr ground coffee, there are no shards over the size allowed to fall into the drawer. The espresso cake left in the filter, when dry, is uniformly packed (and not pitted or spongy like the blade-ground coffee). The espresso flows consistently, slowly and almost like syrup.

The biggest difference is the taste. You drink the unadulterated espresso and wait for a bitter backtaste, which doesn't come. That is a perfect shot, and your blade grinder will not give you this. Unless you want to buy a strainer and sift out the coarser shards hiding in your blade-ground coffee (that _will_ work, if you don't want to pony up the cost of this grinder).

HIC Stackable Porcelain Demi Cup & Saucer Set, 9pc

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Product Features

• Fine Porcelain Stackable Demitasse Cups & Saucers
• Set includes: Four 4oz Demitasse cups, 4 Saucers, 1 Chrome rack
• Space-saving fashion. Chrome rack 8 5/8"h x 5 1/4"w at base
• Display on counter tops, dining room buffets and more
• White Porcelain, Cups & Saucers Dishwasher Safe. Made in China

DeLonghi EN680.M Nespresso Lattissima Single-Serve Espresso Maker, Metal

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I loved this machine from the first time I saw and tried it. However, I started having problems on day 2 - the milk wouldn't froth and it came out in spurts with a lot of water, not even filling 1/8 of the glass with milk. I took it back to Williams Sonoma and they cheerfully replaced it. It happened again to this new machine and, once again, I took it back for a replacement. (I had been in touch with Nespresso at all the junctures along the way and they replaced the milk jug and top twice.) When it happened on the third machine, I called the local Williams-Sonoma and asked if there was someone who could check out my machine. I am in the Danbury, CT area and Bill, at the local Williams-Sonoma, told me to leave it with him while I shopped and he would check it out. When I returned he told me it was frothing perfectly and then showed me how he set it up. It seems that I had not been pushing the jug connection tight enough. It has to click in. The lights had always been on and so I believed that the jug was connected correctly, but I was wrong. Not until I saw it being done and felt the connection, did I understand what I was doing wrong. Without being tightly connected it doesn't work correctly. Now I push until I hear a click and/or push it in a second time holding the back of the machine as I push, and have been making perfect lattes. I recommend this machine highly but think the documentation should be rewritten with this little bit of information in bold letters. I have seen many reviews of this machine from people who have had the same problem and hope that they found the solution as this machine is wonderful.

Nespresso C100-US-AERO Essenza Automatic Single-Serve Espresso Machine with Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother

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I live in Italy and I have to say that after being in Italy for 7 years, I finally discovered how to make the perfect cappuccino at home. This makes a cappuccino exactly how I would get it at my neighborhood coffee bar. The machine makes a dense rich espresso with a nice cream on top and the aeroccino makes a perfect thick foam. The aeroccino also heats the milk to the perfect temperature and clean up is super quick. The machine is little in size which is a plus in a tiny Italian kitchen. At first I wasn't so convinced on being committed to buying only Nespresso capsules, first for the price and second for the quality of coffee. Then I recalculated that I spend 1.10 euro at the bar every morning compared to .34 euro to make it at home....hence a definite savings. Plus the quality of coffees they offer (12 varieties in total) happens to be excellent! I've noticed that all of the Italians here also have this espresso machine in house. So if the Italians say it's good, and they're passionate about their food and drink, it's got to be good. I've owned several machines over the years and this one is truly THE BEST!!

Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker

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I have experienced a holiday 2009 embarrassment of riches. I purchased a DeLonghi EC155 espresso machine as a gift for my wife after much research and we have used it for for 2 days with much pleasure. As a total surprise, we received a Nespresso D110 as a family gift during a party, and we could not refuse it. It will be interesting to compare the $83 DeLonghi (with another $20 rebate in the mail) to, if I have the price right on Amazon, a $279.00 Nespresso D110.

First of all, the Nespresso D110 is really beautiful--as much a work of art as a functional machine. The "winter white" is more of a cream color and the machine itself reminds me of an art deco juke box from the 1950s, if that makes any sense. It is very slim and looks beautiful on the counter top. The DeLonghi is much more utilitarian, with obviously less expensive materials (again, the price difference makes sense). If I use a PC analogy, the D110 is a Mac (elegant, incredibly simple to use, and expensive). Just as there are vocal supporters of MacWorld--I think the Nespresso D110 will have equally vocal supporters if you can justify the price...or better yet, receive as a gift :)!

Initial impressions: it took about an hour and several tries on the DeLonghi EC155 to get the proportions right for a nice espresso with the ESE pods. With the Nespresso D110, it literally took about 5 minutes--and 3 minutes of that was reading the directions. 1-button operation. The crema on the espressos we produced from the Nespresso capsules were better the first time than we have been able to produce from the DeLonghi after several iterations.

My biggest complaint: the Nespresso machine does not have a milk frother whereas the DeLonghi EC155 does. Though I am not a designer, because the design is pump driven--it seems like having a frother would have been relatively easy and could have been incorporated with the elegant D110 design without altering its sleek appearance. Finally, a quick Amazon search tells me that the capsules that are to be used with the Nespresso line are proprietary, so there is not the competition like there is with the ESE pods used by other machines. A quick perusal tells me that the capsules are over $0.60 each, in bulk, while ESE pods can be found for closer to $0.40 online. The lack of frother and the proprietary capsules needed have me taking away 1-star.

Finally, this espresso machine is beautiful, elegant, very quick (you can crank out multiple espressos for a gathering quickly), produces excellent crema, has a small footprint, and is extremely easy to use. You pay a price for all of this and will continue to do so with the proprietary capsules. Again, the PC vs. Mac analogy is a good one.

Krups XP7260 Compact Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Auto Cappuccino Kit

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This was no small purchase for me. I've researched and waited for about 1 year before committing to this machine. The price dropped by about 40% from one of the Amazon online retailers and there was free shipping so I jumped at the chance. I've had the XP 7260 for about 1 week now and I mostly love this machine. When I first got the machine I spent an hour or so reviewing the instruction manual before I turned on the machine which helped me to realize a couple important tips (for most all auto-espresso machines). 1 - you have to use very cold l% or 2% milk for best froth/foam and 2 - you should use non-oily beans. Also, I expected to get coffee shop quality from the first cup of expresso but have quickly realized that I haven't learned the proportions of espresso to water (for Americano) or milk (for latte & cappucino). I wish more than two recipes were included for first time users.

Pros:
Stunning appearance
Auto frothing attachment works excellent(if you use cold 1% or 2% milk)
Great tasting coffee/espresso
Doesn't take up too much room on the counter

Cons:
The biggest CON is that there is NO pre-ground coffee funnel - I big disappointment - no decaf drinks at night.
The Amazon description mentions that this machine is compatible with ground coffee but it's NOT!
Noisy! Similar to turning on a blener full of ice. The noise is short-lived so it's bearable.
Not enough recipes for basic coffee drinks - I have yet to perfect the Americano. Web blogs are all over the place regarding recipes.
Frequently filling the water container - not a big deal but if you have cabinets above your counter you have the pull the machine out far enough to access the water container.
Espresso cups, manual frothing pitcher, and coffee not included (auto pitcher is included). Plan to spend another $50 on these items before making your first cup of espresso.
Maintenance costs could be about $100 per year for water filter replacements and cleaning tablets.
Water filter and cleaning tablets are not easily available so I will have to purchase online.

I know, this sounds like a long list. I have a feeling many other espresso machines have similar cons so I wouldn't consider any of these a deal-breaker.

Overall an excellent machine but I really wish there was a pre-ground coffee funnel so that we could enjoy decaf expresso drinks at night.

The machine is great. It's electronic controls are easy to understand and the operations are reasonably simple. It's really an all-in-one machine. It produces a varitey of espresso drinks and the clean up is very simple. It's a dream machine, except for one BIG drawback, the maintenance costs. The unit must be cleaned after every 6 drinks with a tablet costing $2. And that is IF YOU CAN FIND THEM IN STOCK, which I can't. Only two tablets are included with the machine....and I've long used those up. I am still trying to find someone that has the tablets in stock. Also, there is a descaling required after every 24 cups with a powder that costs $4 a packet. Overall, the amortized cost of the cleaning and descaling is about $0.55 a cup, which is a 3 to 4 oz drink. Since I drink the equivalent of four cups a day, my maintence costs will be around $800 a year. That is a little more than I paid for the machine!!! If you are rolling in dough, this is not problem....but it is for me. I am returning the machine and looking for something else that has a more reasonable maintenance cost.

Saeco Nina Cappuccino Espresso Machine

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Product Features

• Adjustable coffee dial lets you choose amount to be brewed
• Also produces hot water for tea
• Brew from ground coffee or ESE single-serve coffee pods
• Cup warming surface comfortably holds two espresso cups
• New aluminum filter holder ensures great coffee extraction by pressuring brewing chamber

Nespresso D290 Concept Espresso and Coffeemaker

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Admitedly I am addicted to this machine, the espresso. I have owned this machine for around 3 years now and made mabye 5,000 cups of espresso with this. Two to three per day is my standard, and my wife usually has one or two Lungos per day. Hopefully you can understand that I love this machine, and I love this espresso. This is far superior to any other "on demand" coffee makers, this machine makes real espresso.

The machine is sturdy beyond imagination. During these three years the sum total of the maintenance I have done on this machine, about once per 9 months I run the descaler kit. That's it, nothing else, no parts broken, no repairs required, nothing. Initially I got very scared when I switched between steam delivery and making espresso - the machine makes a lot of noise and steams all over the place for about 60 seconds (it's scary the first time). Quick call to customer service and I found out this is normal. The other oddity was occasionally the short cup espresso would only run for a few seconds. Well I found out that we were accidently reprogramming the time for the short cup (hold down the button for the amount of time you want water to flow).

Absolutely 100% completely problem free.

Noise - yes this machine makes noise. ALL mechanical espresso machines make noise, there is no way around that problem (you have to pump the water to reach the 90 some odd PSI to make real espresso). To me, this machine makes the most beautiful noise ever. It's a solid heavy pump sound, not some whimpy whiny noise. It's also so beautiful because my mind knows what is coming next, a great cup of espresso.

From cold machine to a cup of espresso is roughly 1.5 minutes. Warm up time is around a minute, and brew time for the cup is about 30 seconds. Couldn't be faster, couldn't be easier.

On to the quality. You will never ever drink a better cup of espresso at Starbucks or Caribou, you can't. They make those drinks in paper cups and by definition the espresso can't be as good. There is nothing like drinking from a ceramic cup, it enhances the flavor more than you can imagine. You cannot mess up making the espresso. The capsule is hermetically sealed in aluminum, there is absolutey no air exchange, unlike plastic or paper containers. There is no need to refrigerate or freeze these capsules - they do not deteriorate due to air exchange. Nespresso has solved some of the most critical variables in making espresso, fineness of coffee grind, roast time and temperature, preventing air from interacting with the coffee, pressure and temperature of the water, and brew residence time. Each cup tastes exactly the same one after the other.

The espresso itself. Oh my goodness, I have spent a lot of time in Italy drinking espresso at corner cafes. Nespresso is as good as, if not better than, anything I ever had in Italy. It is the rare US or Canadian restaurant that can brew a better espresso. Nespresso has become the gold standard by which I judge espresso when I travel. The crema on these drinks is amazing - thick, rich, and perfect.

The real competitor to this machine, the Illy line, and $1000 true ground espresso machines. Here's the huge downside to those machines - the Illy machines are well over $750, and the cartridges are paper wrapped (so once you open the can, you need to use all those cartridges quickly - air is ground coffee's worst enemy). The ground coffee versions, you have a long warm up time to build heat and pressure in the vessel, you have to grind your own coffee, there's a huge variable introduced in grind size and coffee packing, and you have messy coffee grounds to clean up.

When you compare this machine to the alternatives for real espresso, this is a cheap machine. Add the convenience, and this is a no brainer choice to me. The one downside to this machine and all the Nespresso machines, you have to buy your coffee from Nestle directly over the internet or phone. Nobody else makes these capsules. Myself, I simply buy 500 at a time and watch my supply. From ordering to delivery is usually 3 days.

One of my biggest concerns in buying this was the longevity of Nestle producing these capsules. I think they will produce these for a long time in the future. The machine dates back to 1986. It is very popular in Europe. The capsule they use is a commodity aluminum capsule that is used by a number of other industries - in other words, Nestle buys these formed aluminum capsules, fills them, and seals them. There is no proprietary container, unlike the other two popular beverage on demand machines. Nestle's investment in capsule manufacture and distribution (all 100% internet or phone based with no marketing in the US) is really small for a great return to them.

Visiting Italians have told me this is the best espresso they have ever had in the US. And my wife, who rarely ever drank brewed coffee, looks forward to her luongo every morning.

This does have a steamer attachment to make foamed milk and deliver hot water. There's also a gizmo to foam milk for cappucino or lattes. The gizmo was just too much of a pain to clean for me, so I've used it maybe 10 times. The steam attachment, I can make a great cappucino with that pretty quickly with no mess, so I lean that direction.

Compared to some of the newer less expensive machines, this one is really rock solid and well proven to me. I love the automatic short or long buttons. I would buy exactly this machine again in a second. But, remember, I'm an addict.

If you are looking for that special $100 arena, and only want an on-demand beverage maker, this is by far the best machine you can buy:
Bosch TAS4511UC Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer, Silk Silver - just remember, it makes great coffee, cappucino, hot chocolate, tea - but it does not make espresso (no matter what anyone says or claims, it is incapable of doing that). They have fixed the awful sound of the original machine by working with Bosch.
The other alternative for just coffee making (no cappucino or hot chocolate) Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System.

Nespresso CitiZ D120 Automatic Espresso Maker and Milk Frother, Limousine Black With Nespresso Capsule holder, And Bodum Copenhagen White Mug's

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Product Description

CitiZ&milk is equipped with an Aeroccino, dedicated to milk based lovers. Intuitive and user friendly, CitiZ&milk prepares an infinite number of coffee recipes at the touch of a button.

This Set Includes
* Nespresso D120 Citiz Limousine Black Espresso Machine & Milk Frother
* Swissmar Capstore Vista 20 for Nespresso Capsules
* Two Bodum Copenhagen Porcelain 12OZ. White Mug's

Breville BKC700XL Gourmet Single-Serve Coffeemaker with Iced-Beverage Function

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This is a replacement for a Keurig B-60 which we certainly enjoyed and was a very good machine. One of the reasons we chose the Breville is that our kitchen wall cabinets are 17" over the counter-tops. Could not leave the Keurig under the cabinets while making coffee, as the top would not open far enough to insert a K-Cup; not a problem with Breville, as the height of this unit is less. I know that's not an issue for most people but it was just a pain.

Anyone who owns a Keuring knows the noise they make, they sound like a B-52 coming in for a landing, surprisingly the Breville is quiet, really quiet! Now the dog can sleep through my morning coffee making ritual. This comes with a nice hidden storage space on top where the included reusable K-Cup and measuring scoop are stored, nice feature, if like me, you always misplace goodies like this.

The unit is obviously stainless steel, it is attractive in the kitchen---coffee makers are normally one of those things we leave on the counter all of the time. It dispenses four different cup sizes plus has an iced beverage setting, which I'll look forward to using this Summer. I would think that all K-Cup makers, make an equally good cup of coffee as they all work basically the same, could not make that an advantage for this maker. There is attention to detail, like the indicator on the cup platform to let you know if it needs to be emptied, the storage compartment, lighted water container etc.

Programming is intuitive. Setting the time for it to turn on and off, water temp., cup size and current time is a cake-walk. All controls are illuminated and easy to use. For some the price of this unit may be an issue, but when you consider it an appliance that gets used a lot and is left on the counter, the quality over other brands, the value is there! (Just made of cup of coffee while writing this, still blows me away just how quiet the Breville is).

I always get up in the morning several hours before my wife. I would make a pot of coffee, have several cups, it would then set there until she got up. Needless to say, what she got was not the greatest. Someone was talking about these K-Cup makers, I thought that would at least let her get a fresh cup when she got up.....so I bought one. Perfect! She became a happy camper first thing in the morning and we didn't have to dump coffee when I made too much----how sweet it is. Having a selection of different blends of coffee is nice too, everyone likes something different. The Keuring was used and used until we needed a replacement, certainly got my moneys worth. Went with this, and can say that there is value for the extra cost and we are more than pleased with the performance of the Breville. Once in a while I'll put a scoop of Folger's in the reusable K-Cup, and it is great tasting too, put a tea bag in and have a cup of tea.

I think you would be more than pleased with this coffee maker if you are looking for quality, ease of use, versatility and great looks. Every review should have something negative---well, here it is: The plug is three inches long, it has this do-nut hole to put your finger in to make it easy to remove from the wall plug, great idea, but it just makes it impossible to put the coffee maker close to the wall when the plug is behind it. A thoughtful idea and probably not a problem for anyone else----just happens, our maker sits in front of the plug. Pathetic I know, but, I just had to get it out!

If you do make this purchase I really hope that you are as pleased as we are and get equal enjoyment from using it.

Oster 6307 Inspire 2-Slice Toaster, Red

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The Amazon reviews are mixed, and for good reason. Mine arrived with a couple small scratches in the otherwise very cool candy-apple red surface. Oh well. But the really bad news was yet to come. After doing the suggested burn-in (one cycle with no bread - and yep, there really is a noxious odor from that), I set the darkness control to about 4.5 (ranges from 1 to 7). Burnt, completely burnt. So I set it down to 3.5. Burnt again. 2.5 - barely brown. 3 - burnt. And, as other reviews note, it doesn't toast evenly on both sides. One reviewer thought that was great; I think it sucks. I guess Oster is owned by Sunbeam, and who knows who owns them, but these products that are thrown together in China or elsewhere where they pay $.02/hr for labor can hardly be expected to be reliable, can they? Aint the global economy f'in' wonderful?!

Hamilton Beach 43253 Ensemble 12-Cup Coffeemaker, Red

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We had no need for a new coffee pot. The free one from Gevelia was working just fine. However, on a recent trip to K-mart we caught this one on sale for just under 40 bucks, and it's RED! We've slowly been building up a counter top of red kitchen appliances, so the coffee maker fits right in!

Easy to clean! The mouth of the pitcher is as wide as the base, so it's easy to get your hand inside to clean it out unlike some. Few buttons, so it's easy to program too. Very light weight, so it's also easy to move the maker around if needed. No complaints about speed either. I never feel like I'm waiting on it to finish. One small complaint, but it's nothing major...there is no room for going over the 12 cup limit. It will overflow! Some makers have a little room for you to overfill, but not this one! No biggie, just don't overfill!

I also like the wide karaff on this one. A lot of pitchers have a weird karaff that always causes you to spill a few drops when pouring that first cup. Not this one! Clean up of the coffee ground chamber is easy too. I suggest investing in one of those permanent copper reusable filters. They work really well with this one. I have yet to end up with grounds in the coffee.

WMF Kult Espresso Cup and Saucer

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The Germany company WMF works with top European designers to create products for the modern home that innovatively marry style with function. Caroline Shäfer designed this elegant cappuccino cup and saucer for the company's Kult collection. Both are made from high quality 18/10 stainless steel; the saucer and cup exterior feature a satin finish in keeping with a contemporary look, while the interior of the cup surprises with its mirror shine. The curved handle contains an inset of black polypropylene that not only looks cool but stays cool.

While fingerprints and smudges can show up now and then on stainless steel, a good wipe with a soft cloth should clean them off. The set is also dishwasher-safe. Measuring 1-1/2 by 2-1/2 inches, the cup holds two shots of espresso with room for a dash of flavoring. --Ann Bieri

Product Description

This WMF Kult espresso cup and saucer set features a sleek, contemporary design in high quality stainless steel, with double-wall insulation. The black plastic on the handle enriches the visual appeal, while making it heat resistant for the hand while gripping the handle.

DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker Other DeLonghi products

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First, a couple of disclaimers:
1. This is the first pump-driven espresso machine that we have owned.

2. We generally drink cafe Americano, which is an espresso with a little added hot water (or cold water with an iced Americano). We make an occasional cappuccino and have thus used the steam wand, but not extensively.

After doing a cost/benefit analysis in regards to our current cafe Americano habit (~10 per week), we realized that there would be some justification to buying a home unit. We first considered the Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker, but reviewers consistently lamented the unit's tendency to clog the filter, necessitating time-consuming cleaning. Also, not being completely sure that we would actually use the espresso maker, we balked at the $250 price tag.

We also considered moving up to one of the superautomatico machines that grind, tamp, brew and dispose of the grinds, but we worried about the reliability of technology that had only recently hit the consumer-grade appliances. After reading zillions of reviews, we realized that every mid-priced machine had some glaring flaw and, in the end, we decided to buy an inexpensive pump-driven unit and wait for the technology to catch up before investing a huge chunk of change in an espresso machine. Moving our investigation to low-end espresso makers, we were impressed by the reviews of the DeLonghi EC155 and purchased it from Amazon.

I put off writing a review in order to make sure that the DeLonghi was going to last until we had at least broken even on it. We received it in mid-July and since then it has produced about 200 double shots flawlessly. By my reckoning, that's about $400 worth of Americanos at the local cafe. Even considering the price of the coffee, we have more than broken even. So, here's our pros and cons:

PROs
- Price--we paid $91.28.
- Crema Production--this unit consistently produces a thick layer of delicious crema.
- Powerful Stream Wand--Easily froths milk.
- Mechanicals--After six months of nearly daily use this mighty-mite works as well as it did the day it arrived.
- Easy Cleanup--Filter cleans easily.

CONs
- Ergonomics--As other reviewers have noted, there could be a little more room between the area where the cup sits and the output nozzle. Also the steam wand could be longer.
- Features--No cup warmer. Not a big deal to us, especially considering the price of the EC155, but it will put off some buyers.

SOME THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED
- Using a coffee especially made for espresso, such as Lavazza, produces a much better espresso. Lavazza has the added benefit of allowing you to go for hours without blinking.
- Preheating the unit for 15 minutes and warming the cups in the microwave improves the results and experience.

Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press

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Normally I'm not one to go crazy over kitchen appliances but I am compelled to sing the praises of this little wonder. This is sad, but my wife and I eat grilled cheese sandwiches a couple of nights a week because we love them so much. It's sort of our dirty little secret. This little miracle has opened up a whole new universe of possibilities. Our old-style Salton grilled-cheese maker would invariable push the top slice of bread out from the rest of the sandwich because of the operation of the hinge, and forget about putting anything in there other than bread and a couple of slices of cheese because it couldn't handle the thickness. With the GR-1 though, you can put a Dagwood-sized sandwich (the floating hinge allows HUGE sandwiches) in and in just a few minutes, the weight of the top plate has compressed the whole thing into a critical mass of concentrated goodness. Anything I can put between two piecs of bread is becoming a panini these days. This will probably take five years off of my life because I have doubled my weekly consumption of molten cheese, but it's worth it.

Nespresso Aeroccino Plus 3192 US

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I received my Aeroccino Plus on Friday and have been testing it the last couple of days. I'm an experienced barista and take my espresso, latte and cappucino seriously. First, you can't beat a traditional manual espresso maker with a good steam wand. Using the steam wand on my machine, I get good consistent micro foam which brings out the natural sweetness of the milk. The trouble is that it takes a good 2 to 3 minutes each time which adds to prep time in the mornings before work. Also, when you're having a party and everyone wants a cappucino, I spend more time in front of my espresso machine than with guests. I wanted to try the Aeroccino plus as an alternative knowing it couldn't replace the steam wand on my Ms Silvia.

Aeroccino Plus comes with 2 milk "stirrers" spun by a magnet under the bottom of the insert. One stirrer is whisk-like which whips air into the milk for a thick foam used in cappucinos and the other stirrer is just a paddle which incorporates minimal air while the milk is being heated. The big plus is that time is reduced dramatically. In less than one minute, the milk is frothed and heated which cuts down on prep time. The frothing is not bad but as suspected not quite micro bubbles. Using the whisk like stirrer, the milk comes out rather thick...good for cappucinos. The one criticism I have is the capacity of the machine. The holder is marked with 2 levels (one for each stir application). The first time I used it and filled to the lower level and stirred with the whisk stirrer, I found you could not put the lid on because soon after the stirring started, the milk over flowed and spilled out. This means you can add barely enough milk for a single shot. The second time I tried it, I filled it to the higher level marked for the paddle stirrer. The milk heated fast but the micro bubbles didn't quite happen...the milk came out a little thinner than ideal. But overall, for the convenience and speed, I really can't complain. I've resigned to use the convenience and quickness of the Aeroccino plus on week days when I'm rushing for work but sacrifice a little on quality. Then on weekends when time is not as much as an issue, I'll go back to the manual steam wand on Ms Silvia for my perfect latte. I know the Plus has a higher capacity than previous version but I would have liked to have just a little more capacity.

Nespresso C100-US-AERO Essenza Automatic Single-Serve Espresso Machine with Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother

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I never thought I would go for this machine, I am a little purist and cranky about my morning cup of wonderful - however, I indulged the Nespresso rep at a local Sur La Table - and, wow.

This little combo worked better than The Cube in my opinion, and I love that frother!

Yes, you need the little capsules, but the darker roasts and the "Special Club" are pretty good, and I have many more to try. it helped that the rep tossed in like 5 extra packs of them for me. I found them online here at Amazon for about $6 a sleeve and with my Prime membership it was free shipping. And the rep told me next time I see her she will let me "try" a couple other flavors as well - bonus.

I have made chocolate milks, coffee blends with liqueurs for desserts, decaf cap's at night as well as my new fancy morning beverages.

I have had it for a month and adore it. Sure, a little pricey, but I think I have saved about $57 already in morning coffee shop trips. So that pays for itself pretty fast.

The coffee button has to be programmed for the small and large size you prefer on the "pull" time. Hold it down for the length of the "pull" you want then release. It will "remember" it for the next time you tap that button.

I am going to order a set of replacement frother spinners, not because they don't stick to the top of the frother well (they are pretty magnetic) but because I am afraid they will get washed away by a less careful user (ahem. no pointing fingers... HONEY.)

If you would like a treat for yourself, do it. It wont be comparable to your most fave coffee house or a replacement for a chatty, fun, pierced, "I really want to be an actress/singer/massage therapist." type barista, but it will save on trips to the coffee shop and maybe keep you from being ten minutes late to your morning meeting because you just HAD to stop on the way in to the office.

So anyway - Froth away! Invest in some pretty cups and some chocolate syrup too! =)

Keurig B70 Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System

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I recently purchased the new Keurig B-70 Gourmet Single Cup Home Brewing System that was released on October 1st, 2006 and have been very happy with it. The machine is extremely well designed, simple to operate, aesthetically pleasing, and most importantly, brews an excellent cup of coffee. I am very impressed with how quickly it is able to brew a cup of coffee, the selection of brew sizes, and how simple clean up is.

There are a variety of single cup brewers on the market now, many utilizing pre-packaged coffee "pods" for brewing. Personally I was not comfortable purchasing a product where I would be locked into the selection and pricing of a specific manufacturer, or one that would only brew coffee and not tea and cocoa. This is just one area where Keurig really shines above their competition.

Keurig has gathered support of a variety of gourmet coffee, tea, and cocoa manufacturers and there currently there are over 140 different types sold pre-packaged in K-Cups including Green Mountain, Diedrich, Gloria Jean's, Timothy's, Van Houtte, Tully's, Coffee People, Newman's Own, Celestial Seasonings, Bigelow, Twinings, and Ghirardelli. Not only is there a large selection to choose from, there are a variety of resellers online offering K-Cups, and pricing is extremely competitive.

In addition to the pre-packaged offerings, Keurig offers the My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter allows you to use your own gourmet ground coffee in your Keurig home brewer. This option provided the extra level of comfort I personally needed to make the jump into a single cup brewer. Frankly I don't find myself using it very often as I had originally thought, as there are so many options available in pre-packaged K-cups.

The pricing of the Keurig brewers are extremely reasonable, and brews gourmet coffee in just a fraction of the cost of purchasing it from a Starbucks, Coffee People, or similar. I expect that my machine will pay for itself in savings in just a couple months of use.

The only suggestion I have for Keurig is that the My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter be included with the sale of the brewer, and not an optional accessory. It is such an inexpensive accessory that I am surprised it was not included. Overall the Keurig brewers are excellent value and quality and would recommend them to anyone interested in a single cup brewer.

Cuisinart Grind-and-Brew 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemakers

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I chose this grind and brew after reading all of the reviews for this and similar machines. Frankly, I am surprised by the negative comments. This is an easy to use machine once it is set up properly (the bean hopper takes a little of effort to snap in). The coffee tastes great and the parts are very easy to clean quickly. While the instruction book is not clear, Cuisinart was very helpful on the phone. The machine does not know how much water you put in, so if you set it to grind coffee for 6 cups and you have 8 cups of water in it, it will process all 8 cups of water. Other than this small quirk, the machine is a small wonder and I do not feel compelled to go out for coffee in the morning. The thermos carafe will keep the coffee quite warm for a few hours, even when the carafe is not warmed up with hot water. Wondering why it took me so long to go ahead and buy this machine. This is the best model; my neighbor has the first generation/second generation machine which is hard to clean and has a large footprint. Save your money and buy this model!

Now that I have had the machine for a month and a half: It requires some cleaning to get the fine grounds that compress and stop the grinder and ground coffee to get into the filter for brewing. I use a bamboo chopstick and a skewer to break up the compressed fine grounds that impede the machine from working properly. (Unplug the machine and put it over the sink area). I also use compressed air to blow out the fine ground particles. Still, this is a small maintenance to allow for great coffee in the AM.

Electra-Craft Dualit Classic 4 slice toaster

The Dualit Vario Toaster combines simplicity and sophistication perfectly. With extra wide 28mm slots to accommodate a Sandwich Cage and the award winning ProHeat elements, a patented design which increases toasting efficiency & element longevity, every toaster has a removable crumb tray and an adjustable rear foot. Clever wire guards adjust to the width of the bread to keep it central during toasting. The Sandwich Cage, which has a built in drip tray, can be purchased as an optional accessory. [ click D'pics 2 see detail ]

Capresso 455 CoffeeTEAM Therm Stainless Coffeemaker/Burr Grinder Combination

I bought this coffee maker recently as I was looking for an all in one unit that allowed me to automatically brew coffee every morning. After reading the negative reviews I held off my decision to buy for a while and then decided to purchase and boy am I glad I bought this baby.

I am extremely happy with this unit. My ONLY negative comment is that the Strong coffee setting results in coffee that is a little wealer than I like. It would have been nice for Capresso to include a feature for over riding the nominal coffee strength settings. Still, you can get around this by selecting strong setting, and 10 coffee cup servings and only filling water resovoir to 8 or 6 cups.

Yes, this unit is a little more complicated than a standard drip coffee maker so you will have to have sufficient intelligence to read the manual and absorb the material. I have had no problem with the grinding, filter basket movement or brewing issues described in earlier reivews. It all works perfectly IF YOU READ THE MANUAL AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.

This machine meets all my needs. I can set timer and fill water container in the evening and wake up to freshly brewed great tasting coffeee in the morning. The thermal carafe actually keeps the coffee hot for 4 hours or longer without scalding the coffee like standard coffee machines. The best part is that it takes less than 30 seconds to clean the gold filter, filter holder and carrafe. The grinder is removed from the brewing and so is not contaminated by steam like some of the cheaper units.

All in all this unit meets all my expectations and I am extremely happy I purchased it.

After using this coffee maker for a couple of weeks I am still very happy with it BUT I have to admit that the placement of the filter basket, filter and filter cover are very finnicky. You must have them positioned just right otherwise the basket will not swing back and lock under hot water spout. I think a lot of the problem is from these parts being maunfactured from plastic. One other thing to do to make sure you don't end up with coffee all over the counter is to ensure the caraffe lid is on tight before brewing!

Dualit 2-Slice Toaster

Our old toaster died one Sunday morning so Monday I started searching for a new one. We had a Cuisanart - and I had planned on buying the same brand of toaster maybe just a 4 slot version until I read the reviews. The one that was on sale at the local department store (for $100)got miserable reviews on Amazon, so I searched and searched and searched and the only toaster that got consistantly good reviews is the Dualit.

I ended up purchasing a refurbished Dualit on another website for about half the price. I'm not one to skimp on kitchen appliances or gadgets, but spending over $200 on a toaster seemed a bit extreme. Now that I've received it I've decided it's worth every penny. If it breaks tomorrow, I'd definitely run right out and spend pay full price to replace it.

I love the fact that operates completely different than any other toaster out there. It's best to preheat it - but once you do you can put in pieces of bread one right after another with consistant results. None of the problems you have w/American toasters when they get heated where the first piece is perfect, the next is too light, and the next comes out more like a piece of bread and so on.

The other thing I love is the fact that you raise and lower the bread when the timer goes off, versus the American toasters where you push the toast down to activate the toaster. That stupid push button/latch mechanism has been the death of every toaster I've ever owned. I was playing with a couple of the Cuisanarts at the department store and on both units it was broken - just from store use, let alone actual use!

Now back to the price again. My sister who doesn't appreciate good kitchenware swears by cheap toasters because she "can replace them every couple of years when something breaks". I started to think back on my old Cuisanart that I loved. I received it as a shower gift when we were married 8 years ago and at the time it was about $60. It was a great toaster and if you averaged it out it cost about $8 a year to own. So - given that, if I replaced a cheap toaster every other year, I doubt I could find a $16 toaster even at a discount store that would last more than a year. Hopefully I haven't cursed my Dualit but if so, like I said earlier, I'd replace it with a full priced non-refurbished any day. Buy one, you'll be happy you did.

Organic Camano Island Coffee Roasters Sumatra, Dark Roast, Whole Bean, 5 Pound Bag

just recieved this coffee and I have brewed about 20 cups of coffee so far. I use a burr grinder and a very nice Starbucks drip coffee maker. In fact, I am enjoying a cup of the cofffe right now after dragging my lazy behind out of bed at 9am.

I am very pleased with this roast. The beans arrived fresh and well packed with a valve on the heavy poly bag. The beans are of a uniform roast with a nice oily sheen throughout. There is no chaff mixed in with the beans. I do some home roasting of my own beans so I have an idea of what the process is and I can state confidently that these are well roasted, cleaned of chaff and that the roast is in fact a dark roast.

The coffee tastes just as I like it, a full rich flavor without that acidic slightly burned flavor of a French roast. The taste is very smooth and rich, the main traits that attracted me to Starbucks coffee, craft roasters and eventually home roasting.

I get free shipping from Amazon and I bought this on their subscription program, so it cost me $31 plus tax. I think this is a very good price and I would gladly make this roast my daily brew.

I recommend this roast without reservation.

Simplex Heritage Gas Tea Kettle, Chrome

I am extremely pleased with this tea kettle. I have had many whistling tea kettles over my lifetime, but I definitely like this one the best of all. Aesthetically, it is a beautiful tea kettle and has an old fashioned charm. It feels very solid and not flimsy at all. In the past, I have had tea kettles that once they whistle and you go to pour the hot water into your cup or tea pot, they sputter all over the place -- sometimes even splashing your hands a bit! This tea kettle pours very nicely once it whistles. It has been very satisfying all around -- I'm pleased.

If You Care No. 4 Coffee Filters, 100-Count Boxes (Pack of 12)

The age of the 2-cent coffee filter is over. The Target near me no longer stocks a pack of 200 coffee filters for $3.99. Ditto for Walgreen's where I nearly dislocated a shoulder reaching way to the back of the shelf for the last $1.99 package of 100 filters. The best price I could find locally was 100 filters for about five bucks. Sorry, no deal, not gonna pay it.

As I was reaching for a can of the San Marzano plum tomatoes I had ordered by the case from Amazon.com, I wondered: Do they have a similar deal on coffee filters?

Boy, do they! So what if they're a cent and a half more? They're still a better buy than any supermarket or drug store package. All of the packaging is recyclable, including the shipping box. And having them come right to the door is as good as a flavor shot. When I get down to the last box, I just order up another case.

I couldn't really taste any difference in the coffee but I can feel the difference in my wallet.

Capresso 4440 10-Cup Stainless Carafe for Capresso MT-500

This is a very nice Carafe, but some words of caution: Don't ever soak it in anything other than soapy water. Our old one became very coffee stained inside so I added a little bleach to the water and it cleaned it beautifully. Unfortunately it ruined the seal and it never kept coffee warm again. That is why we bought a new one. 

Handsomely in appearance and ingeniously designed, this 10-cup stainless-steel thermal carafe keeps coffee and other drinks hot for up to four hours. When used with the Capresso MT-500 Digital Coffee Maker, the carafe lid stays closed during the brewing process, allowing the brew to enter through a small hole in the lid while preventing aroma and heat from escaping. With its drip-less spout and screw-in lid that turns to a pour position, the carafe can also be used on its own merit as a server of hot or cold drinks on a brunch or dinner buffet. Double-wall steel construction means no glass breakage to worry about, and the handle, top, and three bottom feet are all made of heat-resistant material. The carafe measures 6-3/4 by 8-1/2 inches. --Ann Bieri

Capresso 440.05 MT-500 10-Cup Electronic Coffeemaker with Thermal Carafe

I went with 3 stars because of price and design. It is better than 3, but I can't bring myself to call it 4. 3.5 is very fair. The coffee that this machine brews is far superior to any machine I have owned. It easily rivals coffee house machines. However, the carafe was poorly designed and the price tag is way too steep. I won't return it, but I retain the right gripe a bit.PROS:
- Coffee taste is INCREDIBLE! Unmatched by any home machine I know of.
- Coffee is brewed hot. That is a fact. Do not let bad reviews about temp scare you. This machine brews hot.
- Coffee remains hot. Again, don't be scared. I don't pre-heat the carafe. The hot water heats it fast and since steel is a conductor, the carafe warms quickly. FWIW, I dumped a couple cups this morning after they sat all night. I kid you not when I say if you take it black, the temperature was still passable.
- It extracts max flavor from the grinds, therefore less coffee is required.
- The keypad is easy to use and understand. The cord compartment is very handy.
CONS:
- One hundred and sixty bucks is too much money. First off, the whole machine is not stainless steel. There is a lot plastic and fake steel. The brew technology is good, but there is no way on earth this machine is worth more than 2x a Braun 180. The coffee is a bit better, but you really have to be a fanatic to taste it.
- The carafe is TERRIBLY designed in the way it receives the brew. YES, YOU WILL HAVE COFFEE POUR ALL OVER YOUR KITCHEN IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL! The entry hole is too small. You can set the carafe in place and it will still overflow. It needs to be set PERFECTLY. The lips should be bigger by about 1/4" to prevent spillage. In fact, I feel this lid should be recalled. It is that bad. Exercise caution and you will be fine, but always be aware. Sometimes the ball sticks so even if it is lined up perfectly, it will still overflow. Make sure the green ball is moving before putting the lid on the pot. Use the tip of a knife to jar it loose if it is stuck.
- The lack of a removable water resovoir is inexcusable at this level. The machine is a little on the heavy side and doesn't slide easily, plus you hide the cord. A removable water resovoir would have been great.
- The carafe does pour slow. Make sure the dot is over the spout for best performance. Turning it past the spout only slows it further, it doesn't make the opening bigger! If it gets annoying, remove the lid, pour normal, then replace the lid.
This review may sound negative, but it isn't. Again, the coffee quality is unmatched. However, you do need to put up with mind-bogglingly dumb engineering and tiny quirks. But, like that lawnmower that only you know how to start, this is a machine you'll grow to love as you figure out how to control it.

Zojirushi EC-BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker

I was looking for a coffee maker with a large capacity, unbreakable carafe, auto-shut-off, pause-and-serve, and a programmable timer. I found everything I wanted
with this Zoji. It has a stylish, brushed stainless carafe that stays cool to the touch and has no breakable glass liner like some carafes have. The base has an easy to read water-level display, with markings up to 10 cups, but it has a larger capacity than my old 10 cup Braun. It also has a cute little elephant on it!
The 1.5 liters works out to approx. 51 ounces, or just over 6 (8-ounce) cups. My old "10 cup" coffee maker held about 5 8-ounce cups. I never have quite figured out what counts as a "cup" in coffee terms, but it seems to vary between 4 and 6 ounces.
This is a pretty tall (15 inches) coffee maker, and you have to lift the lid to add the coffee and the water. Since steam comes out of the top, I pull it out from under the cabinet when it's running. If you have shallow counters, this could be a little tricky.
The only down side, in my opinion, is that it uses the hard-to-find #3 filters. I've gotten around it by cutting about 1 inch off the top of my #4s. I also had a little trouble getting the lid off the carafe when I screwed it on too tight - I had to put a towel over it to get a good grip. Those minor details aren't enough to cost it a star, though.
I'm not sure how long coffee stays hot in this carafe, because we drink so much coffee around here it doesn't stay in there very long. I did sleep in one morning, though, and the coffee that was automatically made at 6:15 was still hot at 7:30.
Overall, I am extremely happy with this coffee maker. I have hot coffee ready for me whenever I get up in the morning, and I never have to wonder whether I forgot to shut it off when I leave the house.

Keurig My K-Cup 2-Pack Reusable Coffee Filter Basket Replacement

Something that is important to be aware of is that you can't use just any ground coffee in this filter. I have a Kuerig Elite and bought a standard bag of Dunkin Donuts ground coffee and when I first tried to use it, the water going into the cup overflowed and came out of the overflow which essentially watered down the coffee considerably and had water pouring everywhere. I tried it again, this time with a little less coffee in the filter and had the same result. I contacted Kuerig customer support and they replied and told me to make sure I didn't pack the coffee, the filter was clean, and that the grind wasn't too fine because a fine grind would clog the filter. I cleaned the filter very carefully and even stirred the coffee grounds with the end of the spoon to ensure that it wasn't packed. The results were the same. I haven't tried using a different brand but I will. As for now though, the idea is great but I'm not convinced that there isn't a possible design flaw with this. Once I try a different ground coffee I will update further.

Keurig B40 Elite Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System

The Elite Brewing System is Keurig's gourmet home brewing made affordable. The Elite Brewing System, the most affordably priced Keurig kitchen brewing system, offers K-Cup® coffee, tea and hot cocoa brewing as the elite choice to any drip coffee maker. The Elite offers two cup sizes for brewing options with the programmable feature of Auto Off. The 48-ounce removable water reservoir holds up to 6 cups before refilling and for the removable drip tray allows for easy cleaning and the use of travel mugs.At initial set up, once the machine is filled with water, it will take approximately 4-minutes for the water will be heated. During the heating period the red light next to ‘HEATING’ on the LED Control Center will become illuminated. Once the water is heated, the red light will turn off and the Small Mug Button will flash. Press the Small Mug Button to start a cleansing brew. Pour the hot water into the sink. The Brewer may take 15 seconds to reheat water between brews during which time the red light next to ‘HEATING’ on the LED Control Center may be illuminated. When the water has heated, the red light will turn off. The one-time set-up process is now complete and you are ready to brew!