Excellent Value In A Coffeemaker

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By N. Jacobs

In our family some of us like coffee and others like tea. This is a big reason we bought this Sanyo coffee maker as it brews great tasting coffee and tea with no problems. We also wanted a grinder so we can enjoy freshly ground coffee. It was hard to believe we could get all of these qualities in such an inexpensive machine.

It has been almost a year since we bought it and we are very happy with it. The grinder is still going strong, the brewing process is still fast, and the tea and coffee are still great tasting. It has a special tea basket to help and it shows. The green tea we have tasted coming out of this machine is very good. I still can’t believe the value you get with such a low price.

While it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other more expensive coffee makers it trumps them for value. It really does everything that we need it to do and comes in much cheaper than comparable machines from better known companies. We highly recommend it to anyone who asks about it and would buy it again. The Sanyo is just that good.

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Where do I start with this Cuisinart coffee maker?

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By Rick A. Smith

WHERE DO I START?! My first Cuisinart coffee maker was the “coffee on demand” model. It quit working about 16 months after purchasing. Cuisinart replaced. The replacement quit working after 24 months. Cuisinart would not replace as the warrant only covers 3 years from the original purchase. They basically don’t make a product that can last longer than three years so the 3 year warranty guarantees you will have a working coffee maker for 3 years (less the time you have to be without while shipping back and awaiting for the replacement). If Cuisinart stood behind their product, the warranty should start over with each new coffee maker especially for warranty replacement. This would encourage Cuisinart to make a product that would last at least three years.

Now, my experience with the model above. Had always wanted a grind-and-brew coffee maker but usually they are quite expensive. Found the model above on sale for $100. Decided I would give Cuisinart another try, despite my bad experiences with the “coffee on demand” model. Bought the model above and after only 3 months it has now quit working. Use the coffee maker 5 days a week and clean it thoroughly after each use. The coffee tastes great, but I bought a $20 Mr. Coffee machine back in 1989 and it still works but I gave it to my neice when I bought the pricey Cuisinart. Another thing I don’t like about this model is that it has a heating element but it doesn’t stay on after the coffee has brewed. While it has a thermal carafe that is supposed to keep the coffee hot for a long time, if you are making a full pot of coffee and don’t drink it immediately, the coffee becomes luke warm at best. For people that use cream, the coffee will be completely cold after adding the cream. Am sure Cuisinart designed the hot plate to shut off this way so the coffee would not get scalded, but still. If I am having guests over, the coffee needs to be served hot, not cold or luke warm. Another problem is the design of the carafe. It is practically impossible to pour the coffee into a cup and not spill it, especially when the carafe has that last cup of coffee in it. Once you turn the angle of the carafe sharply downward, some coffee splashes, maybe from the decanter lid and misses the cup. This is my own fault after having such a bad experience with the first Cuisinart and then I read bad reviews before buying this product. Most of the complaints on the grind-and-brew model were about difficulty to clean. Knew with the added grind function there would be more pieces to clean. After getting this model, cleaning it didn’t bother me. My biggest complaint is that it just doesn’t last. Let me be unequivocal: I SWEAR ON MY MOTHER’S GRAVE, THIS IS THE LAST CUISINART PRODUCT I WILL EVER BUY!

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Easy to brew with and a cost effective machine

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By Orin Benes

I purchased the Hamilton Beach 3 in 1 Hot Beverage coffee maker a couple weeks ago because I wanted to not only brew coffee but also make tea and other hot beverages. While I haven’t been using it for very long I am starting to like it. It is so easy to use that my kids can heat up their water for hot cocoa, and I don’t have to worry about them doing it. While it could brew a bigger cup of coffee for me I am getting used to the size.

Sometimes I wish it would brew a little hotter too but I just like my coffee very hot. Most people will probably like the brewing temperature though. The flavor is great and is one of the things that I like the most. This is really the most important quality of any brewer and the Hamilton Beach does a nice job at this.

One thing I’ve noticed is it does have a tendency to splash a little as it brews so be prepared to wipe up. I have figured out where to place the cup to minimize this but am still only giving it 4 stars because of this. Overall I like this coffee maker and recommend it though.

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Good grinder and brewer with a couple flaws

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By Barry Koontz

We have been using our Krups KM7000 grind and brew coffee maker for a while now. We finally found a combination grinder/brewer that actually produces good tasting coffee. That is the ultimate goal of any machine but sadly some others don’t measure up.

The Pros: excellent flavor to the coffee, many adjustments and other features to fine tune things, looks like it is well built, and we haven’t had any problems with it yet.

The Cons: the instruction booklet leaves alot to be desired, no end of brewing indicator, bean canister is not easy to empty out, and the pot will sometimes drip when you aren’t careful.

Overall we like the machine but can’t give it a perfect rating. We would buy it again because of the convenience of grinding the beans fresh before brewing. Plus the quality of the coffee makes up for the shortcomings. I recommend the KM7000 if you want a grind and brew coffeemaker that actually brews good coffee.

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Fast brewing coffee machine with only minor flaws

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By Phil Shriner

For starters, the Capresso MT-500 is probably the best looking drip coffee maker you can find today. The stainless steel really shines and the thermal carafe has a solid look to it. You get the impression that this machine will last for many years of brewing in your home. I also like the layout as it is fairly simple with no crazy dials or switches that you won’t ever use. The programmable display is very simple to figure out and the LED is easy to read.

The water reservoir is not removable but it is easy to fill with water. The lid stays up so you can pour in without making a mess. The brewing time is not bad as it will brew a full pot in around 7 minutes. One thing that is nice is you get a drip stop option if you need a fast cup on your way out the door.

There are a couple of things I don’t like about this coffee maker though. I have found that you need to be careful with the little ball on the lid when cleaning it or risk having it get stuck the next time you use it. And since the lid and the brew stop are designed the way they are you must make sure everything is aligned correctly or risk having coffee flow all over the place.

Overall I like the Capresso MT-500 coffee maker. It looks great, brews fast and exceptional coffee, and looks like it will last a long time. Except for a couple minor flaws it is a great machine.

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Great coffee machine to both use and clean

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By Anonymous

I really like the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica super automatic espresso and coffee maker. I bought it a short while ago and like it much better than my prior Saeco. While I haven’t had it for that long I feel I have used it enough to review it.

I like to drink regular coffee most of the time but I do also like a mocha cappuccino every once in a while. Sometimes I like to drink a large cup but the machine is only set to dispense 7 ounces. I usually will brew more than one cup if necessary but it would be helpful if it could brew multiple sizes. I also like the fact that it has a descaling light to let you know when it is time to descale. We usually use filtered water so we don’t have to do this very often.

This coffee and espresso machine is lacking one thing though. I wish it had a setting to automatically start brewing in the morning. I guess if it took longer then it would be a bigger problem but since it only takes a couple of minutes it’s not that big of a deal.

I have found a few reviews that mentioned how loud it was. I haven’t found it to be any noisier than my other coffee makers or the other espresso machine I had. Overall I recommend the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica and would buy it again. I don’t think I’ll have to replace it any time soon though, even though I use it every morning.

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Red coffee machine looks and brews great!

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By Jill Newton

We really didn’t have a need for a new coffee maker but on a recent trip to the mall we saw the Hamilton Beach Ensemble on sale and decided to give it a try. The Red color really made it stand out and it brews 12 cups so we thought it would be a great choice.

This machine is very easy to clean and the mouth of the carafe is very wide. This makes it easy to get inside and get those pesky stains out. There aren’t many overly complicated buttons so you won’t need a college degree to program it. The Ensemble is also very light so you can move it around your counter as needed. The brewing speed is good too as I don’t have to wait long for the full 12 cup pot to be filled. One thing that is a small complaint though is when you have 12 cups in there it is really full. Don’t go over the limit or it will overflow. Not a big deal but just remember to not put too much in.

The wide carafe is very nice on the Hamilton Beach Ensemble, and much nicer than ones I have seen in the past. Some cause you to spill on the first cup but not this one. We use a copper reusable filter instead of the paper ones and it works great too. No coffee grounds escape into the carafe. Overall, this is a great coffeemaker for the price. I highly recommend it if you need a full pot every day.

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Versatile single cup coffeemaker that brews a strong flavor

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By Harrison Family

I began looking for a new single cup coffee maker and chose the Breville BKC600XL machine. After reading other reviews about the popular Keurig coffee makers I thought that maybe the coffee would be too weak for my tastes. I needed an alternative so I researched many choices and decided on this Breville. It brews very good and dark coffee that is just right for me.

If darker coffee is what you are looking for then use the 7.25 oz setting which I think is the default one. This is just about the normal sized cup so you will find that you have the right amount every time. Also realize that the taste largely depends on the k-cup that you buy. I prefer the Green Mountain Dark Magic the most but there are tons of choices out there. I have experimented with many of the blends and have a short list of my favorites. The good thing about these machines is it is easy to try a variety of flavors.

If you enjoy drinking tea you will also like this coffeemaker. It makes a nice green and black tea but again, this depends on the k-cup you buy. While brewing tea is usually as easy as putting the bag in some hot water it’s nice to have the option from your coffee maker.

What really makes the BKC600XL a great choice for our family is the speed of the brewing and the ease of use. We don’t have to grind, measure, wait, and clean up anymore. It also works great for our visitors since they can pick and choose which flavor they want and they can have a cup of coffee in around one minute. No more brewing multiple pots that will just go to waste.

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A nice coffee machine that brews great

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By Jillian Burnett

I had always wanted a programmable thermal coffee maker that actually made hot coffee. This Cuisinart programmable automatic brew coffee maker fit all of my requirements, although after reading the reviews I became concerned about the lid and decided to not purchase it. After searching through various stores I came upon it on display and I played with the lid for approximately 20 minutes and I could not get the lid on straight no matter how hard I tried.

I would of moved on and searched for a different machine but I found it on display in another store so needless to say out of pure curiousity I tried the lid again. It surprisingly went on perfectly straight with no problems at all. I decided to take a chance and purchase it. Once I got it home I found the lid so easy to open and close and it is placed on perfectly everytime. I use the timer option on it everyday and set it for bright and early. Virtually everytime I use it the coffee is wonderful. Surprisingly when I arrive home from work between 4pm and 5pm the coffee is still warm, thanks to the thermal pot.

I really enjoyed this coffee maker until it overflowed, all over my kitchen counter, 12 cups of hot coffee and the grounds everywhere twice in a row! I eventually figured out what happened. There is a tiny button underneath the filter that comes down when you remove the carafe to get a cup of coffee while it is still brewing. That button normally stops the coffee flow through the filter while you grab the first cup. You must make sure that when you place the pot underneath the filter that the top of the carafe pushes that little button. Everytime I have done that it has never overflowed again. I really enjoy this coffee maker.

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This Capresso grinder is everything the reviews say and more

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By John Black

I am quite happy with my Capresso 560 cone burr coffee bean grinder. Five years ago I gave up on blade grinders, I used to use the Capresso 551 flat burr grinder. This grinder was an improvement over anything I had used before. However, after my 551 stopped working (most likely from overuse) I purchased the less expensive Melita burr grinder. It would not grind fine enough on the finest setting so I could not use it with my espresso machine.

I conducted an extensive search on the internet and in stores for a grinder that would grind well but not cost hundreds of dollars. In the end I ended up with three different choices; the Capresso 556 vertical flat burr grinder, the Capresso 560 and the Solis Maestro plus cone burr grinders. I ultimately chose this one because the Solis sells for about 2/3 more. Plus the 560 has a slower grinding speed as well as a history of high rated reviews from other happy customers.

You may wonder why I am so satisfied? This machine is absolutely everything the reviews say and more. The grind and coffee aroma combination is better than anything I have experienced. There is a distinctive and easily noticed difference with the strength and flavor of the brewed coffee. Currently it is primarily being used for espresso. There is also a tendency for the grinds to settle rather than swim around in the brewhead. Overall I recommend it and really couldn’t be happier with it as it is one of the best grinders out there for the price.

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