Lu Yu Automatic Tea Brewer - Glass Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Great looking combo, and does a good job brewing the tea once you get it into the cup. The single large hole in the bottom of the infuser takes some time to let water in, and lets too much of the tea leaves through when removed.

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Using scientific methods, this automatic tea brewer works by creating a controlled rate of flow. The tea is steeped for precisely the right amount of time, insuring a smooth and healthful beverage without any bitterness or astringency. Made of hand blown, heat-resisting glass.

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BUNN GRXB Original 10-Cup Home Coffee Brewer, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had 3 of these in the last 10 years (I don't baby my coffeemakers, and eventually the hard water kills them). I am not the patient type, so I prefer the Bunn because it makes a full pot in 3 mins. I can start the coffee, get the cup and the creamer, and the coffee is ready.
I prefer this version over the newer one, as I am not too certain of the swivel lid on the newer ones remaining flat and not breaking.
I would recommend that you use the Bunn coffee filters, which are available at most stores. Anything else is probably too short to properly fit the filter container, and you'll get grounds in your coffee pot.
I also recommend using a pretty fine grind of coffee. That seems to get the best flavor.


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Nothing brews like a Bunn!Using coffee brewing technology perfected in over 40 years of service to the restaurant industry, Bunn has built the perfect home brewing system. Bunn's unique reservoir-style unit brews up to 10 cups (50-oz) of coffee in just 3 minutes --- and keeps hot water available for tea or other uses, as you need it. This U.S.A.-assembled unit features the Original Bunn home brewer design, is constructed of commercially-rated materials and comes complete with an internal stainless steel water tank and a durable glass decanter. The built-in warming plate helps keep brewed coffee at the optimal serving temperature for hours. A 3-year limited warranty helps ensure satisfaction.

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Cuisinart DGB-650BC Grind-and-Brew Thermal 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Brushed Metal Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love the new look! We had the older version for about 6 years. This new one is sleeker and much easier to clean and keep clean (the inside where the grinder sits gets cakey due to condensation). I got it for $149, used Amazon Prime, and had it in a few days! I love it. If you're thinking of getting this grind and brew with stainless carafe, it is nice. Some parts will have to be replaced over the years like the older version, but the taste of the freshly ground coffee every day is worth it. I never pre-heat the carafe like the directions say because that defeats the purpose of the timer. I've never had an issue with the coffee temperature, it's always hot! I also recommend hand-washing over dishwasher. The carbon filters are similar to Brita and can be found for cheap at Kohl's. One other note is it only makes 10 cups as opposed to the typical 12 cups. This is fine for me because it's just me and my husband, but if you need to make a ton of coffee regularly, this may not be a good choice. Overall, I love it and I'm glad I traded up!

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A perfect addition to any modern kitchen, this 10-cup automatic coffeemaker grinds whole beans right before brewing to produce a fresh and flavorful pot of coffee. The 24-hour fully programmable unit works great for "wake-up" coffee or having coffee ready when it's time to serve dessert--without getting up from the table. In addition, its brew-pause function makes it simple to sneak a cup before the end of the brewing cycle. Smaller amounts can be brewed without any loss of flavor thanks to the unit�s 1- to 4-cup setting, and its grind-off feature allows for using pre-ground coffee. For added convenience, the coffeemaker provides a large control panel, automatic shut-off for peace of mind, and a 10-cup (5 ounces each) thermal stainless-steel carafe with a generous stay-cool handle and drip-free pouring spout. Accessories include a gold-tone commercial-style permanent filter and a charcoal water filter for removing impurities. The sleek-looking coffeemaker measures 12 by 9-1/2 by 17-1/2 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.

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Gaggia Baby Espresso Machine Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I worked in Starbucks for 3 years back when they only had semi-automatic machines, and owned a personal machine for the past year (DeLonghi 15-bar pump). So, it's safe to say I know how to operate a semi-automatic espresso machine. This thing, however, was like an out-of-control beast when I first got it. Both espresso and frother were a disaster for the first week until I got it figured out. *NOW* it's an awesome machine, but only after a week of frustration!
The normal grind setting for my previous machine had this machine gushing two shots within two seconds. So I grind finer, tamp harder (a lot harder, w/ body weight), more beans, it's still gushing espresso! How much pressure does this thing have?? (actually, I think it is more to do with the espresso filter itself, it's very wide and deep). Finally, I get it pulling shots the other way. Pulling 10 drops of espresso in 20 seconds. So now it's too tight...? Damn baby, make up your mind! After a ton of trial and error, I found that if I grind for X seconds and tamp the two scoops just right, I get two *perfect* shots with fantastic crema. Yes, *better* than any other machine I've used. But, if I deviate at all, I end up with shots that pull way too fast or way too slow. I'm terrified to switch beans. I'm not exaggerating...
On top of that, I couldn't get the steamer to work without overflowing foam. I later learned that, unlike other machines, you have to froth the top of the milk for only 5-10 seconds, and then submerge the frothing wand and leave it submerged until the milk is hot enough. The foam comes out pretty good after that. But if I froth too long at the beginning, I get overflowing foam, if I froth too little, I don't get enough foam. Once again, it's great if you do it right, but not very forgiving.
Overall, I absolutely hated this machine the first week I owned it. Now that I have the whole process calibrated just right, I love it.
*Pros:
- Excellent espresso with decent crema
- Frother works pretty well too, once you figure it out
- Frothing wand moves up enough to get small pitchers under without tipping anything too much
- The espresso filter fits tightly into the filter holder, don't have to worry about it falling out when emptying it
- Heats up pretty fast, only a couple minutes, though the "warm enough" light frequently switches off during frothing/espresso
*Cons:
- Ridiculously tough to find the "sweet spot" for both grinding and frothing (I wasted like a pound of coffee figuring it out)
- For the reasons above, probably not the best machine for beginners.
- Frother attachment held on by friction to bare metal wand, kinda weird. Had it fall off a couple times while frothing, but usually I can get it on tight enough to stay
- Bigger than expected. It takes up a big chunk of my countertop I wish I had back.

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The Gaggia Baby is one of the best espresso machines in its price range. It benefits from having the same brewing components of the Gaggia Classic; which is Consumer Digest's "Best Buy" for a high-end home espresso machine. The housing is made of a tough thermo-set plastic (nearly a 1/4 inch thick) that saves you $50.00 as compared to the stainless steel housing of the Classic. This unit distinguishes itself with the highest wattage system (1425w), one of the strongest pumps available (17.5 bars) and is the only machine at this price point with a "three way solenoid valve". This valve provides the benefit of a drier puck (used coffee grounds) for a cleaner knock (removal of the used coffee grounds). Gaggia is in the process of rolling out a new Turbo-Frother wand replacing the metal frothing wand and sleeve. Your Gaggia may have shipped with the Turbo-Frother wand or the frothing wand. Both are designed to help you get great froth with minimum fuss. Includes two stainless steel filter baskets (one and two shot), coffee tamper and 7g measuring scoop.

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Hamilton Beach Personal Cup Stay or Go POD Brewer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Back when the Senseo coffee makers were first introduced, I recall them giving away coffee machines to get them in the hands of coffee drinkers and hopefully gain favorable word-of-mouth marketing. Unfortunately, some of those coffee machines developed problems. I remembered that when I declined to receive my free Senseo machine. Fast forward to today and it appears they not only addressed their mechanical problems, but now they've allowed other companies to make machines that use Senseo coffee pods. I was finally willing to give the Senseo system a shot, with the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go Coffeemaker.
PROS:
- Very inexpensive
- Quick to brew
- Easy clean up
- Pods are reasonably priced
CONS:
- May require 2 pods for a travel mug
- Not many 3rd party pod makers
- Not the highest build quality
I was a heavy coffee drinker in college and at my first office job but have otherwise been a casual java drinker since. I had owned coffee machines in the past but typically went the route of the Peet's, Starbucks, Caribou, etc. It was easier, more social, and usually tasted better. Going through the motions with a coffee maker at home was an arduous task, which often resulted in me having to throw away many bags of coffee due to expiration. I'd recently received a Keurig-based machine for review and really enjoyed it. When I got the chance to try a Senseo (pronounced, SEN-SAY-OH) coffeemaker, I was excited to compare them.
The first thing I noticed was that the build quality didn't really seem all that great, but for the price, I guess I shouldn't expect the quality of the pricier Keurig. The reservoir is large enough to hold water for an average-sized travel mug/tumbler. Unlike my Mr.Coffee Keurig, you can actually fit a travel mug underneath the drip. Unfortunately, a travel mug is NOT included with the coffee machine. To use it with just a normal coffee mug, you can remove the stand and flip it around to raise the mug closer to the drip. A drip tray is at the bottom of the stand and the entire stand is removable for cleaning.
To brew the coffee, you just remove the brew basket and place a pod (or 2 if you wish) in the basket. Then, put as much water as you intend to brew (up to 14 ounces) and hit the ON switch. It finishes brewing within just a couple of minutes. Clean up is as easy as a Keurig because you just dump the pods out of the brew basket and just rinse the brew basket. The difference in cleanup is that the Keurig requires some regular maintenance to remove scaling and hard water buildup. The Hamilton Beach Stay or Go's brew basket is all you really need to clean and it is dishwasher safe.
The coffee itself tasted good and 18 pods are included with the coffee machine. I can't say for certain if it tastes any different than a Keurig because I don't have the exact same coffee to brew in each machine to tell the difference.
The difference to me is the variety of coffee available for each. It appears that Senseo is the primary maker of pods for their machines. I saw very few 3rd party pod makers for Senseo machines, while Keurig has a much greater selection of coffee flavors as well as makers. I think in general, the K-Cups are a bit more expensive than the Senseo pods but I found the difference to be insignificant in my opinion.
Overall, the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go pod coffee maker is a good value. It brews quickly and clean up is a breeze. While it is probably cheaper in the long run to own a Senseo machine and to buy pods, I prefer the wider selection of K-Cup coffee. If you enjoy specific blends that Senseo already makes however, then the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go is a good simple choice.


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Hamilton Beach Personal Stay or Go POD Brewer. For fresh coffee made fast, look no further. The Personal Cup\' Brewer makes a single cup the easy way. Instead of messy coffee grounds, it uses affordable and delicious Senseo Coffee Pods.

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