Archive for February, 2010

The Zojirushi EC DAC50 Zutto 5 Cup Drip Coffeemaker was designed with simplicity and functionality in mind. In other words – only organic shapes and only the basic functions necessary to brew a cup of coffee.

This drip coffeemaker can brew up to 5 cups of coffee at a time and features a control panel that uses universal symbols instead of labels so that they can be understood all over the world.

Furthermore, the concealed water reservoir is easily removed for filling and the water filter itself can last up to 2 years provided it is used under normal circumstances.

An automatic coffee warming ability ensures the last cup of your brew is as hot as the first, and the appliance’s carafe provides a generous handle and a drip-free pouring spout for hassle free pouring.

An advantage of the EC DAC50 is that the coffee filter is contained within the pot and not attached to the main unit as per most other drip coffeemakers though you will have to run some water through the machine a few times to get rid of the burnt plastic taste (which is true of most coffee machines for sale on the market today).

Some other notable points to mention include:

  1. extremely easy to use and clean
  2. doesn’t take up much counter space and is quiet during the brewing process
  3. some units may exhibit a slight weakness in the design of the filter and lid inside the glass pot (it can sometimes sit in the glass pot loose. As stated, the filter actually goes in the glass pot and then the lid goes on top. The pot lid does not snap or feel secure, it simply sits on top. Note that it still it fits well, it just does not snap. As a result you have to hold it down with your thumb when pouring. This is clearly noted on a piece of paper put into the glass pot but it is amazing how many fail to or misread instructions.
  4. the unit is made in China and not Japan which would be a let down to some potential buyers considering that the price of this unit is around $70

All in all the Zojirushi EC DAC50 Zutto 5 Cup Drip Coffeemaker won’t turn many heads in a crowded room but  it wouldn’t feel bad about it. This unassuming yet highly specialised coffeemaker gets the job done with a minimum of fuss and fanfare. If you are prepared to forgive the fact that its high quality yet simplistic Japanese design is manufactured in China then you might be onto something here.

keurig b70 coffee maker

The Keurig B70 coffee maker – is it the best single cup coffee maker on the market today?

The Keurig B70 1500-watt unit is ideal for kitchen entertaining and will brew you a fresh cup of cocoa, tea or coffee in under a minute. As with all Keurig Coffee Machines, it features the patented K-Cups which now offer over 150 different types of gourmet coffee from a large range of premium brands.

Buy today and get over 25% off and free shipping!

Keurig B70 review

Variety is a strong point of the B70 which offers 5 cup sizes: 4 ounce, 6 ounce, 8 ounce, 10 ounce and 12 ounce. Aesthetics and ergonomics are additional strong points of this coffee maker with a blue-backlit water reservoir (capacity of 60 ounces) that is easily removed for filling. The programmable LCD message center is also blue-backlit and features a 24 hour digital clock and removable drip tray for excess mess.

Another pleasing feature of this machine is Quiet Brew technology which dampens noise in the brewing process. Before you brew however, you must choose a K-Cup and there are almost too many K-Cup varieties to choose from.

What sort of K-Cup brands can you put through the B70?

Many different tea, coffee and cocoa companies have come on board with Keurig to produce their 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 but to name a few.

It should be noted that there are a variety of resellers online offering K-Cups. Pricing is very competitive and perhaps more so than if you were to buy the K-Cups in a physical department store where you can sometimes run into high costs per cup (as much as 50 cents).

With that in mind, Click here to see a wide range of cheap K-Cup selections.

However there will always be people that enjoy brewing their own coffee and there is a solution at hand for just those sort of people.  The Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter 5048 is perfect for brewing your own cup of ground coffee although it remains to be known as to why such an inexpensive accessory was not just included with the coffee machine itself.

Keurig 5071 K-Cup Carousel Tower

Keurig 5071 K-Cup Carousel Tower

Perhaps you only drink coffee in the morning anyway. You can set a timer to have the coffee machine start up when you get up in the morning so you have hot water ready and waiting to go for your morning start-me-up. The hot water only takes about 4 minutes to warm up in most cases!

Keurig advises leaving the coffee maker on all of the time but it is probably not necessary especially if you are not a habitual coffee drinker and don’t enjoy large power bills.

What are other people saying about this Keurig coffee machine?

The overwhelming consensus is that the Keurig B70 is an accomplished coffee machine but having said that, the odd person has had one die on them after only a few months of use. In that case you could send it back to Keurig for a replacement or get your money back and try another brand.

L. Ellis from Tennessee summed up the B70 strong points well:

I’m not going to spend all my time just comparing the Keurig machine; I’m simply going to say “I wish I’d bought one of these[any Keurig machine] earlier”. It meets almost all the desires I had in a single-serve coffee machine.

- Tons of variety in K-cups (which actually can be difficult, I didn’t know where to start or what to try!)
- Simple to use
- Beautiful, functional design
- 4 brew size choices
- Keeps water hot for the next cup instead of waiting until you fiddle with the machine
- Can be used with a custom filter K-Cup so you can brew any coffee you like (I’m looking forward to using this with tea too!)
- Much quieter than some machines I’ve used (the Tassimo is freakishly loud in my opinion)

Read the rest of this review here!

A few people also commented that the coffee was “short cupping” – meaning that it did not produce the full amount or strength of coffee. In most cases this would be due to the fact that the B70 was not being descaled on a regular basis.

Like the above example, many small to medium sized problems can simply be attributed to improper coffee machine maintenance or simply not reading the care manual provided. For any other unforeseen problems that arise in the interim, there is always the 1 year warranty to fall back on.

Conclusion

The Keurig B70 is an attractive coffee machine that makes a superb cup of coffee. There are still lots of coffee connoisseurs out there who are skeptical of buying single serve coffee machines, but I would strongly urge them to give this one a try.

Some may also argue that it is expensive, but that is a relative term in the coffee industry with the most expensive machines costing thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, price does not always correlate with performance or reliability the higher you go.

Know that from the initial outlay of perhaps $150-$200, you can save many dollars in the long run by not buying store coffee. Never again will you have to wait in line or drink coffee that tastes as good as the store clerk can be bothered making it.

It is not only the quality of the brew but also the large variety of brews and cup sizes, together with the very quick start up time and consistently awesome coffee which makes the B70 a real winner.

Keurig B40 eliteThe Keurig B40 Elite is a 1500-watt machine that can brew a cup of coffee in less than a minute and represents tremendous value for money.

It is really the Elite Brewing System that allows the Keurig B40 elite coffee machine to offer gourmet home brewing at an affordable price.

However, just because it is the most affordable Keurig brewing system does not mean that your options are limited or indeed restricted. You can still choose from the the large selection of K-Cup coffee, tea and hot chocolate that all Keurig machines enjoy.

Keurig B40 elite review

The coffee machine uses the patented Keurig K-Cup system which allows the user to select over 70 varieties of premium coffee from a large variety of gourmet brands. Thanks to another patented technology there is easy and accurate control over the brewing process and mess free grinding.

It is as simple as opening the lid, inserting your favorite K-Cup and then selecting your preferred size. You are free to brew!

Unlike the B60 or B70, the B40 only offers two brew-size options include a 7-1/4-ounce cup and a 9-1/4-ounce mug. Whether or not that that is a strength or weakness really depends on your personal coffee drinking habits.

The B40 will fit both regular and travel mugs with ease and features a 2 hour automatic shut off for safety purposes. Additional features are a descale indicator which lets you know when the unit has to be cleaned, a removable 48-ounce water holder and drip tray for excess spillage.

Some additional notes about the Keurig B40 Elite:

  1. Don’t be put off by some reviews that tell you the B40 has only one cup size – this is an older version of the model and is different to the updated version which includes the 7.25 ounce and 9.25 ounce cup size
  2. The strength of the coffee that you get with the regular K-cups is too weak for some drinkers. The regular K-cups may be better suited to one of the other Keurig brewers such as the Keurig B60 coffee maker where you have the choice to select a brewing volume of 5.25 oz. Having said that, a bit of common sense will go along way regarding the coffee you select and the cup size you brew it into. If you really want to drink that strong cup of coffee, refer to point 4 or just buy strong coffee to start with.
  3. K-cups are fantastic for what they were designed for however they can be too expensive for some coffee addicts (around 50 cents a cup on average). The best advice would be to shop around to find the best deals and buy in bulk.
  4. If you want to use your own ground coffee and bypass the K-cup system, the Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter 5048 is perfect for the job and if filled all the way makes the perfect, strong cup of coffee.

What are others saying about the Keurig B40?

The general consensus is that the Keurig B40 is a fantastic coffee machine that makes a delicious, quick cup of coffee.  Some people were concerned that the machine couldn’t make such a nice tasting coffee in such a short amount of time, but they were pleasantly suprirsed:

As a former coffee house Assistant Manager and an avid fan of “gourmet” coffee, I highly recommend this coffee machine. Probably the best $100 I have spent in at least five years. One of my biggest concerns was that the beans had NO TIME to brew properly in such a short amount of time. But I was completely wrong. This machine brews a nice, bold, rich cup of coffee.

Slightly less bold and rich if you brew the regular pods on the larger cup setting; but still very drinkable. I was also concerned that the pods would leak after removing them from the machine, but they are almost dry. I haven’t had a single one drip on the way to the trash can, and I remove them seconds after brewing. I’m extremely pleased with the ease and cleanliness of using this machine.

No filters to deal with, no messy coffee grounds, no dirty coffee pots to wash (and filter baskets). The convenience of the machine alone is well worth the minor noise and vibration.

Read the rest of this review here!

Peace Frog, Bakersfield, CA

All in all this coffee machine is hard to fault too critically and is a great unit for the price. Some customer reviews noted that the machine was too noisy but they must have become accustomed to getting their coffee from a vending machine.

Coffee making is a process just like washing your clothes or using a vacuum cleaner – they all tend to make a bit of noise but we can put up with that knowing that the end result is usually beneficial to us. In this case it is great coffee, so how is it any different to other household tasks?Keurig B40 elite

People also love to complain about the cost of K-Cups, but presumably they knew what the prices would be before they bought the coffee machine that required them. Again, common sense applies here – shop around online to find the best deal (usually Amazon in bulk).

Whatever price you end up paying, you have to remember that it is much, much cheaper than buying a $7 coffee from a shop, and there isn’t nearly as much variety.

Conclusion

Obviously what we all want in life is a great cup of coffee in the quickest time possible and with the least hassle.

The Keurig B40 Elite gourmet single cup home brewing system has no problem delivering that – if you can relinquish some control over the cup sizes.

If you already own a larger Keurig machine and want another for the office or as a present to a family member, then know that this machine is just as good, but smaller and slightly less flexible.

cuisinart dgb-650bc grind and brew

Cuisinart DGB 650BC Grind And Brew Thermal 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker

The Cuisinart DGB 650BC Grind and Brew Thermal 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker is an ideal addition to any coffee loving household and addresses a lot of the faults of the previous 600BC model. This machine grinds the coffee beans right before brewing to ensure that the coffee is fresh and tastes great and also features a fully programmable 24 hour timer to enable you to set the unit to make a cup of coffee at any time of day or night.

Don’t want to make a whole heap of coffee? Not to worry, you can make any amount that you wish thanks to the DGB 650BC’s 1- to 4-cup setting. This coffee machine is also able to handle pre-ground coffee if that’s what you prefer to use.

Additional featurs include a large and easy to understand control panel and automatic shut-off so you’ll never leave the house wondering whether you have switched the unit off or not. The carafe itself is a 10-cup (of 5 ounces each) stainless steel reservoir with a handle that never gets hot and mess free pouring spout.

Some things to note about this coffee machine:

  1. hand washing is preferred to machine washing
  2. when you are installing the gold tone coffee filter, the handle which can rest in either direction must face outwards (this is often overlooked in the setup process but is vitally important)
  3. the unit comes with a short 2 ft power cord which may be enough for the kitchen, but an extension cord may be required if the coffee machine is going to be located in other areas of the house
  4. there are 5 separate pieces to clean in this unit but they are all easy to remove and put back into place
  5. some versions of this coffee machine may suffer from condensation in the grinder after the coffee has been brewed – this leaves stuck together coffee grounds which must be removed

If you like particularly strong coffee then this might be a good starting out machine. The best way to get strong coffee is to not overfill the grinder with beans because this results in improper grinding and you will be left with weaker coffee as a result. Furthermore, remember that your coffee is only as good as the beans and water that you use – in some cases your tap water quality may be negatively affecting the quality of your brew. If this is the case use an alternative source together with something like Dark French Roast or Dark Sumatra.

The Cuisinart DGB 650BC Grind and Brew Thermal 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker features accessories including a gold-tone commercial-style permanent filter and a charcoal water filter for removing impurities. The stylish looking coffeemaker measures 12 by 9-1/2 by 17-1/2 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.

Keurig B60The Keurig B60 Coffee Makerenjoy a large variety of coffee, tea or hot chocolate quickly and effortlessly.


The Keurig B60 is a powerful 1500-watt coffee machine that brews a cup of coffee in under a minute. Perfect for entertaining, this machine uses the patented K-cups exclusive to Keurig that offer over a hundred varieties of pre-measured gourmet coffee, tea and cocoa from a wide selection of exclusive brands.

The Keurig B60 also comes with a complimentary 18 K-cup variety pack.

Keurig B60 review

As with all Keurig coffee machines, there is no messy clean up or grinding thanks to a one touch brewing process that involves selecting a K-cup, closing the lid, selecting a cup size and then waiting for a matter of minutes before your delicious coffee is ready for consumption.

Speaking of which, there are three cup sizes to choose from:

  • 5-1/4 ounce robust cup
  • 7-1/4 ounce regular cup
  • 9-1/4 ounce travel mug

What you will enjoy about the Keurig B60 coffee maker

  • For even greater flexibility the brewing temperature is also able to be set at the standard 192°F or a slightly cooler 187°F.
  • The unit features a bright blue back lit LCD display that shows a 24 hour digital clock and programmable on/off sequence
  • Descaling indicator that lets the user know when the machine has to be cleaned.

It should be noted that if you like a rich and bold cup of coffee, it is recommend you use the 9-1/4 ounce option only with the Extra Bold K-Cup coffee offerings, such as Double Black Diamond, Dark Magic, Sumatran Reserve and Espresso Blend. Some user reviews have noted that the coffee brew is weak the larger the size you brew so keep that in mind.

Some people are saying that the Keurig B60 makes a weak cup of coffee, but in general it is a very easy thing to say given that the strength of any coffee will depend on the type of coffee used and also the cup size.

As always a bit of common sense will apply.

(If you want the flexibility and reliabilty of a Keurig machine with a more portable setup, please have a look at the Keurig B30 Mini Brewer which is just as good as the B60 but on a smaller scale.)

A word about K-Cups

The K-Cups can be hard to find in shops and when you do eventually find them they can be pricey and the range can be limited. It would be more wise to just purchase your K-cups from Amazon itself, buying in bulk to save you the most money.

Have a look at the B60 and K-cup selection bundles now.

They sell 50 K-Cups for $19.00 and it is by far a better deal than buying in store. Remember to buy a variety pack if you are just beginning to taste test flavors to avoid getting stuck with a whole packet of K-cups that you don’t even like.keurig b60

If you prefer not to use K-cups, you can buy a filter that allows you to place your own ground coffee beans in the machine instead. It is ridiculously easy to use and no paper filters are required. In addition to this there are no grinds in the bottom of the cup and you’ll never brew more coffee than you can drink.

What are others saying about the Keurig B60?

The Mad Hatter from Pennsylvania, USA, provided a useful comparison of the Keurig B60 with several other single cup coffee makers available on the market place:

If you’re reading this review, you’re most likely doing research and trying to decide between the Keurig line (B40,B50,B60), the Tassimo, or the Senseo.

Out of those three, the Keurig is the best looking, the most durable, has the best heating and pumping mechanism, and has the largest variety of coffees and teas available. The Tassimo’s versatility is tempting, but variety of coffees is lacking, the machine is a first-run model that does not feel as quality as the Keurig (I could barely find a piece of metal in the entire thing), and it cannot be set to warm itself up like the Keurig…

…. Between the Keurig models (B40,B50,B60), I spent a lot of time trying to decide and eventually went with the B60, mainly because the B60 is the only model that brews 3 different sizes of coffee–5.25, 7.25, and 9.25oz. The B50, a favorite amongst shoppers, does not offer the 9.25oz size.

Read the rest of this review here!

Conclusion

Lets face it, you are going to spend $4 buying a cup of coffee most days anyway. With the Keurig B60 coffee maker you can average about 40 cents per cup, maybe less if you shop around and buy in large quantities.

When you consider that this machine is priced at around $150 at most, it would only take you around 38 days to recoup the costs by not having to buy just 1 cup of coffee per day (maybe a bit longer if you take into account the cost of K-cups). If you are a more serious drinker, then obviously it might be half that time.

Even if money wasn’t your primary concern, you will surely enjoy the extreme ease of use, almost instantly available fresh coffee and little to no clean up. That is what we all want in every coffee machine right?

The only difficulties you may face with this machine are finding available sources of K-Cups. Physical stores tend to have a limited range and internet sources tend to sell mostly in bulk, so if you end up disliking the flavor then you have wasted your money. However I suspect this will be a minor drawback.

Bunn NHBX B Contemporary 10 Cup Home Coffee Brewer

Bunn NHBX B Contemporary 10 Cup Home Coffee Brewer

The Bunn NHBX B Contemporary 10 Cup Home Coffee Brewer Black features a unique reservoir-style home-brewing system that can make up to 10 cups of coffee in around 3 minutes while at the same time storing hot water for your tea and other needs. The machine is able to brew the coffee in such a short period of time thanks to the internal thermostat keeping water temperatures high inside the water tank.

This coffee machine features a patented spray head design to improve coffee flavor extraction and a porcelain coated heating plate with a simple on-off light keeps your previously brewed coffee at the perfect temperature for hours.

The spray head is an interesting feature on this coffee maker. Instead of just pouring down in one spot on the coffee grounds it has a fountain like effect covering all the grounds and this allows everything to become moistened allowing more flavor to be absorbed.

The carafe is also easy to clean and, unlike many other coffee machine setups, the coffee does not spill everywhere when brewed. This may be a minor point to some of you out there but it is still nice to have the coffee pour into the pot and not all over the kitchen top despite claims to the contrary by some manufacturers.

Another feature of the Bunn NHBX B Contemporary 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer is that its grinder is built-in which gives you the opportunity to choose your own gourmet brew.

Cleaning this machine should not be a hard task.  Every three weeks or so pour a pot of vinegar water through the system and then flush with several pots of regular water afterwards. The carafe is dishwasher safe and the machine itself is easy to take apart and put back together if you feel like giving it a thorough clean.

A word or warning, this Bunn coffee maker does require some initial setup. In other words don’t expect to plug this machine in and be drinking coffee 5 minutes later.  It does require some initial tinkering for approximately 20-30 minutes (or less if you are good with that sort of thing). Bunn includes a quick setup guide in addition to a nice manual and a deliming tool.

The Bunn NHBX B Contemporary 10 Cup Home Coffee Brewer Black is Canadian assembled and features the Contemporary Bunn home brewer design that is made of commercially rated materials with stainless steel accents and comes complete with an internal stainless steel water tank and durable glass decanter. The Bunn NHBX B also comes with a 3 year limited warranty and is an ideal addition to any household where time is of the essence.

Zojirushi EC BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker

Zojirushi EC BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker

The Zojirushi EC BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker is a very stylish and specialised coffee maker that preserves the richness of a gourmet coffee in the brushed stainless steel vacuum carafe.

A feature of this coffee machine is that it can be programmed to have your coffee ready when you wake up and can also keep it hot for hours, (144°F for 10 hours and 117°F for 24 hours). In other words you could leave it for a whole day and it will still be as fresh as it was when it was brewed.

Another benefit of this lightweight machine is that the heating element automatically shuts off after the coffee has been poured, preventing any safety hazard.

The carafe’s lid slows the oxidation process, meaning the coffee stays creamy and smooth and not bitter as most coffees tend to taste after sitting in open air.

The easy to read water-level display has the capacity of 10 cups, more than most other brands. The 1025 watt machine features a pause and serve function, measures 15 inches high, 9 inches long and 12 inches deep weighing 7 pounds (3.17kg).

This particular fresh brew thermal carafe coffee maker is quite a tall machine and the lid must be lifted in order to add the coffee and water, which may be challenging for shallow counters in some kitchens.

The Zojirushi EC BD15  requires #4 cone-shaped disposable paper filters and the machine comes with a 1 year warranty from Zojirushi.

If you want your coffee before the brewing process has finished there is an automatic shut down process which ceases coffee pouring so you can sneak your cup eliminating the chance of making a mess.

The unit is very easy to use for those new to the coffee machine world. It is very easy to progam without having the manual by your side too.

Those who dread the clean up after their brew will have no more worries as it is very easy to clean, and there are hardly any spills or drips from the machine itself.

Overall the Zojirushi EC BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker is a great coffee machine which keeps your coffee piping hot even hours after brewed. If what your looking for is a fantastic machine with impeccable temperature control and high quality construction, then this exactly what you need.

Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200The Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200 makes delicious, hot coffee and has almost everything you would want in a good coffee machine for a reasonable price.

The Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200 is an amazing 12-cup coffee maker that utilizes Cuisinart premium technology and even has the ability to brew “wake-up” coffee at a predetermined time simply by setting it on the digital clock/timer.

Cuisinart DCC-1200 review

The DCC 1200 is programmable from start to finish and is coated in brushed stainless steel and elegant industrial style switches and has an automatic shut-off facility for those of us who forget to turn appliances off or are energy savvy.

Find the best price here!

What will you like about the DCC-1200?

  • Solid look and feel, this is definitely no economy priced coffee machine!
  • Charcoal water filter that removes impurities from the water so it doesn’t spoil your coffee, which is 98-99% water after all.
  • Convenient warming plate that can easily be adjusted by a control knob.
  • Stylish looking glass carafe that is easy to pour meaning almost zero chance of spillage.
  • Easy to understand an intuitive instruction manual.
  • A convenient gold tone filter eliminates the need for messy paper filters and a yellow indicator light tells you when decalcification of the coffee machine is due. In case you didn’t know, this is as simple as adding the vinegar and water solution and allowing the machine to cycle through to remove calcium build up.

As I mentioned earlier, the charcoal water filter is included to help remove impurities from your coffee. The charcoal itself will last about 6 months, and cost you about $6 to replace.

You don’t have to use it if you don’t want to, but you owe it to yourself to try it with the included charcoal filter before you decide not to bother at all. You may be pleasantly surprised and discover that your coffee tastes a lot better with the filter than without.

cuisinart brew central dcc-1200Ready to buy? Click here to find the best price (over 40% off at the time of writing).

Oh, and though it’s a 12-cup coffee maker, Cuisinart do realize that not everyone under the sun wants to brew 12 cups worth on every occasion, especially in the morning when you might just want one cup to wake you up.

The Brew Central DCC 1200 offers a 1-4 cup brew feature that lets you make a smaller pot of coffee that tastes just as good as a full pot but without the wastage of surplus coffee that is left to go stale or put down the sink.

cuisinart brew central dcc-1200

Also available in black matte.

What are others saying about the Cuisinart DCC-1200?

It is clearly evident that the DCC-1200 is a highly popular model, with over 1,100 5-star reviews on Amazon alone.

The main selling points of this machine were the fast, hot coffee, adjustable warming plate, and the fact that the glass carafe was very ergonomic and as a result there was little spillage of water when transferring it in or out of the holder.

Furthermore, you will be pleased to know that the carafe has a protective plastic rim to prevent you smashing it against the corner of the bench top or during cleaning in the sink.

Ben from Charlotte, NC also had some remedies for some of the very minor problems with the Cuisinart coffee maker:

Folks, this is one excellent coffee maker. I read the comments here and decided to get it even though some had complained of spillage when lifting the lid and also the coffee not being hot enough. Well I can tell you that when I lift the lid on mine, the water rolls to the back and then drips back into the machine on a nifty little lip attached to the back of the machine. It appears that Cuisinart has engineered a solution for the complaints of spilled water that some reviewers mention.

Also, the coffee coming out of the carafe of my machine has steam drifting off of it, so it is plenty hot, another complaint that seems to have been remedied. There were also a couple of complaints about finger prints on the stainless and the small LED clock being hard to read, but let’s be for real, all brushed stainless appliances will fingerprint and this is a very stylish coffee maker, not a kitchen clock(that’s what your microwave is for! (wink)).

Review shortened for size, read the full run-down here!

Scott D. Gibson of New York, NY left quite a comical but effective review of the Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200. He said that the machine was top notch and would make you great coffee, but the funniest part was addressing the silly little insignificant problems that people seem to find with appliances:

First I’d like to say that these review sites really kill me. Invariably, you have to wade through countless trivial comments like, “I had to turn the spool wheel too many times before I could change the string on my string trimmer” or, here’s a classic, “the stereo I bought is just too loud and I have to keep the volume at the number 5 setting all the time.” (trust me, this is from an actual review).

Well, you’ll be happy to know that the reviews for the DCC-1200 are no different. Anywhere from “why do you have to turn the knob to brew and then flick a switch for on” to, “I can hear the plastic creaking as it heats up(that one really makes me laugh) to, “it’s just too tall and doesn’t fit under my cabinets” (didn’t you size it up before you bought it)?

This is only the first paragraph though, I STRONGLY urge you to read the rest, a truly great read!

Conclusion

The Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200 coffee maker is a unit that has really stood the test of time and continues to deliver on its promises.

This is evidenced by the fact that many previous buyers of this coffee machine have returned to update their reviews with yet more positive comments. The only thing that might put some buyers off is the price tag, and to be honest, you get what you pay for. Relatively speaking though, this won’t be a terribly expensive investment.

It is not your generic home-brand coffee machine that you can pick up for $20, but it is not a $1000 giant either. In short, the DCC-1200 is nothing too outrageous as far as making coffee is concerned, it is just extremely good at getting the job done which is of course delivering delicious, hot coffee each and every time.

Keurig B30The Keurig B30 is one of the delights of the single cup coffee machine world – delivering a fresh cup of gourmet tea or coffee in under 3 minutes. What’s more, you can take it anywhere.


Utilizing Keurig’s patented K-Cups, the B30 mini brewer is able to make over one hundred (and growing) different varieties of premium brand coffee or tea from a predetermined measurement.

Keurig B30 review

The Keurig B30 doesn’t stop shining there. It also features one touch technology that allows precise control over every aspect of the coffee making process without the inconvenience of grinding beans, handling filters or even measuring coffee. All you have to do is open the lid, insert a K-Cup and push the button and you are done.

This mini brewer is ideal for the office, kitchen counter or even dorm room at college. You can even take it with you when you travel, and you’ll always have a perfect cup of coffee anywhere at anytime. Now you have a portable, push button coffee making solution!

I would like to add at this point that the Keurig B30 is not intended to carry the load of a typical at home coffee machine – its main purpose is for “low traffic” areas like the ones mentioned above and other places where it would be impossible to bring along a fully decked out coffee system.

The fact that this coffee machine fits into a suitcase should be a dead giveaway as to its main purpose!

Seriously though, some people may be dissatisfied with this product but I will reiterate; it is important not to expect a Fiat to drive like a Ferrari. It really is a horses for courses scenario. Regardless of that, some less than pleased buyers have found that..

  1. It has a long brew time (usually around 2 minutes) and has to be filled with water for each cup of coffee made
  2. It has only one cup size (8 oz).
  3. It has no adjustable temperature setting (however the default of 192 degrees will suit most people).

What are other people saying about the Keurig B30?

Phil from Virginia, USA offered his thoughts on this versatile coffee machine, and suggested who the tarket might be for the B30.

This is my first venture into the world of single-serve coffee makers. I researched for several weeks, visited stores, researched some more, then decided upon the Keurig system. To me, this system seems like the best balance of affordability, availability, and convenience….

… In the end, the lack of features was the reason I decided to purchase it. You have the K-Cup benefit with fewer moving parts which in my mind that means fewer things to fail. Yes, no pretty blue LED lights, no timer, no water reservoir, no choice in temperature, and no choice in brew sizes. However, there is also no noise, no vibration, smaller footprint, and extra money left in my pocket to buy more K-Cups

Read the rest of this great review here.

If the above review sounds like you and you would like a simple and unassuming coffee machine then the B30 might be the one for you. You have to admit, Phil does make a good point regarding the fact that the less technology there is, the less that can go wrong.

In this case, it is safe to assume the the simple design of the machine does not affect the quality of the coffee in any shape or form.

Conclusion

At the time of writing, the reviews speak for themselves on Amazon with 196 of the 254 reviewers giving a four or five star rating. For the price, ease of use and sheer dependability you really cannot look past the Keurig B30.

You will find that the acquisition of this machine will make your life a whole easier and less stressful – you will be able to try out all of the different K-Cups with your family and friends while simultaneously avoiding those costly and potentially weight-gaining trips to the coffee shop where you can be tempted to buy fatty pastries as well as high priced coffees.

They also come in black, white and fire truck red for those that love aesthetics or who are concerned of whether it will match their kitchen decor.

Saeco 00347 Aroma Espresso Machines are designed for coffee baristas and also includes easy to use features for those who previously settled for instant coffee. The stainless-steel boiler and powerful 15 bar pump can create a quick and easy coffee, even better tasting than you would expect at an Italian cafe.

With the Saeco 00347 Aroma Espresso Machine you don’t have to worry about measuring the amount of coffee for each cup. It uses a specialised E.S.E pod, which is prepackaged coffee that fits perfectly in a portafilter meaning no more cleaning up coffee grounds. The pods also come in a range of different strengths of coffee and various coffee beans, so each cup will be as delicious as the last.

The specialised steam and hot water wand dispenses steam in different directions, allowing the milk to be frothed even faster and creamier. The hot water can also be used for tea, hot chocolates and instant soups, extending the features for this cafe-quality coffee machine. Additional features include the easy to use control panel with back-lit buttons, 85-ounce removable water tank and cup warmer so your coffee will never lose its temperature when poured in the mug.

It should be noted that his coffee machine is more suited to your more beginner or novice coffee maker, if such a thing exists. This Saeco machine uses a pressurized portafilter which is better able to cope with mistakes – coffee grind is a good example.

That’s not to say that this system doesn’t make a good cup of coffee, it’s just that if you have been making your own coffee for any length of time then you owe it to yourself to look for a higher-end model. One such option is the Saeco Vienna Superautomatica which has received excellent reviews and is one the better Saeco coffee machines.

The Saeco 00347 comes in either black or stainless steel but it should be noted that the stainless steel version is slightly more expensive than the black version which is actually black anodized steel and scratch resistant. The drip tray is also stainless while the drip pan is plastic.

The only negative to the Saeco 00347 Aroma Espresso Machinesis that the positioning of the steam and hot-water wand. It doesn’t swing out far enough for the milk, though this problem is common to most espresso machines. Overall this coffee machine produces high quality coffees without having to leave your own home. As coffee machines are becoming even more popular to households, why not spoil yourself with this grand machine regarded as one of the best.

This Italian made 950-watt espresso machine carries a one year limited warranty and is eligible for free shipping on Amazon.

 Page 1 of 2  1  2 »