Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker and Milk Frother

With all the new style espresso machines on the market (Tassimo, Keurig, Flavia, etc.) I was convinced that Nespresso was more of the same: a set of stylish gimmicks designed to convince you that this "espresso" (though not real at all) was "the real thing." It never is.

Which is why the Nespresso is so great. It IS the REAL THING. The capsules contain nothing more than espresso coffee grounds. The machine is simply an automated and miniaturized "real" espresso rig. And the results speak for themselves:

-full bodied crema like you get from the best barista

-speedy and HOT cups of espresso

-the espresso produced is crisp and clear, full bodied, and smooth

-my Sicilian wife and all her relatives (numerous, and mostly named "Maria" "Antonina" and "Dominic") all fully approve of the espresso that comes out. Comparing is to "Nonna''s" would be sacrilege, but although those words have not been spoken yet, I am conviced the thought has crossed a couple minds. :-)

-all this in under 30 seconds and within a square foot of counter space.

The frothing unit that comes with the machine is nothing short of black magic. I have NO IDEA what it does or how it does it, but the results will amaze you. And the best part is it''s easy to clean: no sticky milk mess left behind to make you wonder who''s gonna get sick first.

Coffee for this machine is 55 cents per cup, and Nespresso delivers online orders with astonishing speed (which is good, because you can''t get the coffee from anyone else!). A bit pricey, but in this case you DO get what you pay for... and then some.

I purchased the Nespresso Citiz several months ago and saved it for Christmas. It was a gift for both my husband and myself. Our morning routine has been to brew a pot of coffee, heat milk in the microwave, and froth by hand in a stainless steel frother. Needless to say, there are lots of steps and lots of items for the dishwasher, but we love our morning coffee. The Nespresso was a hit right out of the box. It is so simple to use, the milk froths better than anything we''ve ever done by hand, the expresso is divine. My husband said it best, "It is so good that it makes you think about what you are drinking and appreciate the experience of really good coffee." Like someone wrote in a previous review, "we''re not going to Starbucks anymore." Yes it is expensive, but over time can actually save money. Yes, you have to order the pods from Nespresso, but this is high quality expresso and delivery is fast. I purchased the sample box to give us an opportunity to try everything. This is an exceptional product.

UPDATE: 3/11/10 The frother on our unit has quit working on two occasions . . .the first quit working after a month, the second after six weeks. While there was no problem getting replacement units, I am concerned that after the unit is out of warranty we will have a Citiz unit with a broken frother. I see someone else has had the same problem in these reviews. It is important not to leave the frother on the connector after use, and let it cool completely between uses. ( Even following these instructions, ours still malfunctioned.) The Citiz is wonderful. We love the coffee, getting pods is a breeze. Customer service is wonderful, but I am seriously considering taking our unit back to the store where we bought it and getting a separate unit and frother.

UPDATE: 5/2/10. The frothier quit again. We use it several times a day....4 to 5 times...it quit yesterday and we are frustrated. We treat it with kid gloves since we''ve been through four frothers since Christmas. Nespresso service has been great but we are going to return the unit to the store and exchange for the unit without the frothier and buy a separate frothier. Upside..we can take it with us. I would be interested in knowing if others have had similar problems.

Before buying the combined unit consider your usage. It may be fine if you only use it once a day. However, if you will be making multiple cups of latte each day, you may wish to consider buying separately.

UPDATE 11/9/2010 We did return the original unit in September and picked up a separate frother and the Citiz without the frother. We''ve been very happy since. In fact we took in on vacation with us. Stayed in several different hotels and it didn''t bother us to haul it around as we really love the Nespresso coffee.

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This machine is brilliant. The best espresso or cappuccino I''ve ever tasted, and all in less than 2 minutes, start to finish. The milk frother is a miracle--quick, perfect, instant cleanup. My wife and I have been wired out of our heads since it arrived. We can''t stop drinking the stuff. We''re giving Stieg Larsson''s characters a run for their caffeinated money! The reason is that all the usual inhibitors are gone: the coffee''s gone cold and acrid in the pot, can''t face the 20-minute production and cleanup for a cup of espresso, etc. It''s like the world''s smartest drug dealers got together and designed this thing. Got the slightest urge? Satisfy it! Why not? Just hit the button and it''s there. Wait a minute, my wife''s calling me. What''s that? We''re out? Excuse me, I have to go knock over a 7/11 so I can order another box of capsules.

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I give the Citiz itself 5-stars. I love this machine. It produces great espresso, at a low cost compared to a cafe or Fivebucks. I tried a traditional pump espresso maker and it is just too much hassle for my needs. I love espresso but I am no barista, nor do I care to be, and I don''t want to spend a half an hour making it and cleaning up in the mornings. Nor do I want to spend a thousand bucks on a decent machine and more importantly, grinder. The Nespresso coffee is outstanding, with a dozen different flavors, and the sheer ease and speed at which I can produce them is insane. Unbelievably convenient with no mess.

My only issues with this particular unit is the footprint. The Citiz was designed with the urban consumer in mind, limited counter space while still embracing functionality and style. When you purchase the Citiz with Milk, the espresso machine is attached to that base unit along with the Aerochino. And while the machine is still great, it''s space conserving design is rendered completely useless. Furthermore, where my Espresso machine lives, the frother is more convenient on the left side of the machine, which isn''t an option with this combo. So I returned this unit to Amazon, who is always a pleasure shopping with and handling returns from my experience. I then opted for the Citiz stand alone unit, and separate Aerochino. I found a bundle at W&S that Amazon didn''t seem to offer. Also, if you go the separate Citiz and frother route, the stand alone frother seems a little bigger and better. It also has a handle, and you can store it wherever you want.

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I bought the Citiz + Milk from the manufacturer. What I wish I''d known is that they make the milk frother as a separate component. The Citiz + Milk has a larger footprint because it includes a platform that powers the espresso maker and frother. But it''s also possible to get a stand-alone Citiz and buy a ($50 more expensive) frother that you can use and store independently of the machine. That may be better for people with small spaces.

Now, on to the machine itself. It is well-designed, easy to use and easy to understand. It makes a FANTASTIC cup of espresso, and for milk coffee drink lovers, it makes FANTASTIC cappucinos, etc. The very first drink I put together using the machine was hands-down, no question, superior to the [ubiquitous coffee chain] that I buy two of every day at work. So for me this Citiz machine gets the full 5 stars.

It''s just plain fun to use. Nespresso goes all out with the packaging to a hilarious degree, even sending a binder full of information. It makes you feel like you just bought a really, really special device. The thing is, overblown packaging aside, you DID just buy an espresso machine worth every dang penny.

I have to say the milk frother deserves praise on its own. It makes froth so thick and firm you can almost stand up a spoon in it. It has the consistency of meringue.

I''m very happy with my Citiz + Milk.

UPDATE 12/27/2010: I''ve had mine for a year now, still operating flawlessly, and I wanted to pass along some user notes. I don''t keep the frother on the Citiz charger/base when not in use. I read that it''s possible for electric current to continue to be passed to the frother, even when the unit is off. This ''may'' be what is causing other people''s frothers to stop working. I don''t have any scientific proof/disproof, but I haven''t had any problems with mine.

Nespresso identifies some capsules as espressos and other as lungos (American-style coffee). I have found that all of the espressos work as "lungos," since making one just means using twice as much water. In other words, I have discarded all the prescribed do''s and don''ts, and have just played with the machine and capsules to figure out combinations I like. Same with the milk quantities. Also, some milks froth better than others. The fat content in the milk seems to make a difference. My advice would be to just play around with it, and not get too hung up on Nespresso''s "rules."

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Deionization Resin Mixed Bed Color Changing 5 Lb Bag Save 44% Off

I am very pleased to have used this as part of overhauling my point-of-use RO DI drinking water.

About a month ago, as I took a sip of water I told my wife how awful it tasted. I have been regularly changing my pre-filters on my RO DI unit. I had never recharged the resin or even the RO membrane IN 5 YEARS!!!!! Oooops. My TDS was 336 ppm. Compared to my tap water it was identical. I am ashamed of myself. I vowed to never go longer than a year between resin changes. We only use about two gallons a day on this unit.

So, new bank of pre-filters, new RO membrane, and new DI resin. My TDS is back down into the single digits. Oh, and the water tastes like nothing. It is just pure, clean, refreshing water. With 5 lbs, I should be able to fill my (very large) resin container at least three times.

I would suggest to my seller (CFS): I understand you are buying this in bulk from ResinTech and repackaging it in smaller quantity for people like me who only need a nominal amount. But I would suggest a bag a little more substantial than a standard zip lock bag. Even if you used a freezer grade Ziploc, that would be better. I had to store the surplus resin in a beefier bag. The Ziploc it was sent in was almost to the point of giving out. Wow, that would be a HUGE mess!

Didnt realize there was so much included. I may get refills for the rest of the year. Great product so far, thanks

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Works good. Lowered TDS to 0, Cl/Br to 0, hardness and alkalinity to 0. Leaves a bit of a funny taste. Switch the fittings on your RO unit so this comes before the taste filter then add an alkalizer filter at the very end for some great tasting water. Fixed my nasty tasting water that an RO alone would not.

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This resin reduces the cost per cartridge down to about $7.00 each vs a new one each change. It adds up when making 90 GPD

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Product was received quickly, was a very competitive price. works great in my RODI filter for my saltwater aquarium. Great vendor.

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Keurig B70 Platinum Brewing System Save 31% Off

My wife''s Christmas present this year is a Keurig B70 coffee maker. We have a B100 at work that I was very impressed by and we decided that a home machine would nicely fill the need when we might want a cup or two, but might not want to make a full pot.

Long story short: we love the machine. So far, our favorite coffee is Timothy''s Kona Blend -but we haven''t tried more than a handful of the scores of varieties of coffees and teas available for the beast. We got the extra filter for when we want to grind and use our own coffee in the machine, but have not yet had the opportunity to try it yet. It is a nice option to have.

We''ll still use our Zojirushi thermal carafe brewer when we need a full pot, but the Keurig is wonderful for lesser amounts. Highly recommended.

I learned today that one of the coffee roasters that supplies the K-cups, Green Mountain, just bought Keurig (an American company with a Dutch name). I hope this won''t limit the variety of coffees available for the machines -that would be a major bummer if other roasters bowed out and would cause me to pull my glowing recommendation.

UPDATE 7/30/07: The B70 died today after 8 months of yeoman service. A call to Keurig revealed that the symptoms matched a "bad element" (one would assume heating element). A replacement machine in on its way (arrival in 3-4 days). Keurig doesn''t want the old machine back, just a part. Keurig customer service was extremely pleasant and professional. Assuming the replacement machine arrives in good form, the five star rating is intact. I do wonder if there is a generic problem with heating elements in this model -I''ll have to look through the newer reviews to see if I should worry.

UPDATE 1/12/11: The replacement B70 is still going strong 3.5 years later. Still very happy with the unit.

UPDATE 11/16/12: The same B70 is now at my wife''s workplace and is still going strong. No additional repairs have been needed.

I received a B77 as a gift at the end of Nov 2009. 3 days later it would not push water out through the K-cup.

Exchanged it at Costco, worked great until 2 days ago. 1 month of light usage and it''s having problems filling from the reservoir.

Going to exchange it for a third but I''m not confident that the next unit will be trouble free.

My brother''s same unit that''s a year old (and works fine) had a very loud fill pump.

Keurig changed the pump design in the B77 to a small dc motor driven impeller pump. Much much quieter when filling, but apparently cannot always overcome the check valve after the pump.

I always use RO water, and the unit is only 1 month old so scale is not the issue. I refill the tank when it''s still on the machine, so no air to get in there to screw up the pump''s priming.

Google B70 pump problems.

Edit: I did not bother to exchange the 2nd unit as from what I''ve read here and on SingleServeCoffee''s website, all the B70/B77 are plaqued with this problem. Even ones directly purchased or replaced by Keurig. Maker will for for a few days or weeks, then suffer the "not ready" and then shutdown problem as it is unable to pull water from the reservoir into the heater.

I put a review in on Keurig''s website itself but it looks like they censor what gets posted or not, hence the glowing reviews there.

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Being one who loves convenient, but great tasting coffee, I''ve bought several single-serve coffee machines. The Home Cafe, My Bunn Cafe, and the most recent, Tassimo.

They all worked quite well, considering how "new" they were to the field, and how fresh the field really was at the time, for consumers. I was happy with each purchase(save the Home Cafe, which had a serious mechanical flaw).

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)

Those are just some reasons I love this machine. The fact that it makes very good coffee is a big plus too, right? It seems as if the coffee from the Keurig machine tastes less "burnt" than most single serve coffee I''ve had in the past.

My biggest complaint is the cost. Whether it''s worth $200 to you or not, is entirely up to YOU. If you''re as obsessed with quick, easy, tasty coffee like I am, maybe you''ll agree that it is worth it.

I''m a happy customer, either way. ;)

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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.

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My husband and I decided to buy this coffee maker for two reasons. One, we wanted to break our Starbucks habit/addiction and two, because we both have really different tastes in coffee. A traditional coffee maker just wasn''t cutting it for us because we couldn''t both drink out of the same pot of coffee and ended up wasting a lot of coffee. So this allows us to each brew our favorite coffee without a lot of waste. The coffee maker is very quick to warm up and it''s not any louder than our old coffee pot. You can set the brew strength to suit your taste which is really helpful and it even has an iced coffee setting. The large water reservoir is a really nice feature because we don''t have to constantly refill the pot, unless of course we are drinking a lot of coffee or tea!

Now, I know the coffee maker is relatively expensive initially so the return on investment will take a little bit of time. With all the myriad of types and flavors of coffee and tea available, we have truly cut down on our Starbucks addiction and have both tailored our K-Cup purchases to suit our individual tastes. My husband makes two to three of his own Vanilla Latte style iced coffees everyday. I''ve branched out into trying all kinds of different teas in addition to making my own coffee. It does help that several cream companies have come out with some truly delicious flavored creamers to compliment the wide variety of coffee flavors available.

While we can get a few flavors of the K-cups at our local grocery store, Amazon by far has the best selection and best prices. This particular model of coffee maker came with an assortment of coffees so we could try a variety. When you are first starting out with this coffee maker, I would definitely recommend finding an assortment pack so you can decide what your favorites are without having a whole bunch of extra K-Cups left over of things you don''t like. Another nice feature that is available for purchase separately is a filter assembly for use with your own coffee. This comes in handy if you have a special coffee flavor that isn''t prepackaged by any of the K-Cup makers. Just be sure to use care when you grind your own beans and ensure you read the instructions so you don''t use too fine or too course of a grind.

We are extremely please with the quality of this coffee maker and the wide variety of quality coffees and teas available for it. If you have the cash and you are a dedictated coffee drinker, you can''t go wrong with this purchase!

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Oasis D-165-HG GST Commercial Grade Dehumidifier

• Dehumidifier maximizes moisture extraction; provides continuous moisture removal of up to 40 pints per 24 hours
• Includes an adjustable, dial-controlled humidistat that turns unit on and off at pre-selected moisture levels
• Impact and stain resistant, polystyrene grille for free flow of air
• Frost-free system prevents frost build-up in low temperatures
• Attractive mark-resistant cabinet

The product has been running smoothly for 2 months now. Arrival was on time, the packaging was very protective, set up is very easy and noise levels are moderate. Hooking a hose to the back for coninuous draining is very easy as the hole is high enough to allow gravity to work well. I''m using the unit for a 900 square foot basement and the air remains dry.

But with such units, real quality cannot be discerned for four to five years. That is when low quality unit issues emerge, such as coolant leakage or other compressor failures. So while I rate this unit very high, I can''t say that with certainty over the long run

The unit is made in Poland. The country is encouraging high quality manufacturing at lower than German costs, but better than Chinese made products. I''m tired of Chinese stuff failing so I am hoping this was a good gamble. Check back in another two years

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I ordered the Oasis D-165HG after two Chinese manufactured dehumidifiers died, each after only two years of operation. Both were made by LG (one Kenmore and one GE) and suffered refrigerant/oil loss.

The D-165HG is a bit pricey and not terribly efficient but if it lasts a long time it''ll be worth the expense. It''s old technology using a Tecumseh piston compressor made in Brazil and a sealed Morill fan motor made in Tennessee. I know both of these major parts to be of high quality. The remaining materials and workmanship appear to be good.

Packaging for shipping wasn''t so great. It was covered by a cardboard box and strapped to a tiny skid. When it arrived the bucket full light was pushed out of the front panel. I pushed it back in. When powered up it worked perfectly with one exception, a rattle when the hot gas defrost cycle kicked on. I found there are two rows of expansion coils and the rear most row was pushed in, so it tapped against the front row when the solenoid opened. I gently pulled them apart and no more knocking.

It''s a very quiet unit and it pulled the cool basement humidity down as quickly as the two 65 pints/24 hours rated LG models, although it''s rated at 30 pints/24 hours. Under what conditions do they rate these things? Frankly, I find the LG units ratings hard to believe.

The warranty is one year, customer pays labor and transportation. There is a five year warranty on the sealed refrigeration system, customer pays labor and transportation. So the warranty isn''t very good but I expect this unit to last a very long time given past experience with similar designs if being made in Poland means quality workmanshipwe shall see.

Added 8/20/2012

After some reflection I believe the reason the bucket full indicator was pushed out and the evaporator coils had shifted is due to the tiny skid raising the center of gravity of the package, making it prone to toppling and increasing any resulting damage. I also noticed a series of dings in the condenser coil fins that line up with the bottom ends of the innermost section of the evaporator coil. I believe that during shipment the package tipped over onto the face side of the dehumidifier.

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I ordered one of these dehumidifiers and it did not work. Because of my long search for a good dehumidifier I ended up learning about them. So I decided to troubleshoot it a little. I found out that the coils were not cold behind the filter on the top back of the unit. I opened the front cover (three Phillips screws underneath) and found that when I turned the unit on the compressor did not turn on. Fan and Compressor make very different noises, so If you can only hear air blowing, the compressor is not on. I saw in the bottom back left corner that one of the wires was off of its receptacle. I unplugged the the power and plugged in the loose wire. Then plugged the power cord into the wall and fired it up and the compressor coils instantly chilled.

So far after that issue it has been working nicely. This was almost a 1 star review. While I was poking around the insides I could see the nice workmanship and good quality materials. No Plastic parts internally. Hopefully it will last a long time, my last dehumidifier broke in a year. This is why I figured I should spend more to get a well made unit, because $200 every year gets more expensive if I live longer than 3 years. Which I plan to do. Will revise in the future if anything changes.

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The dehumidifier works well so far. We have a cold basement (around 62 degrees) that off-the-shelf residential models just couldn''t handle without freezing up. This model hasn''t had any issues with the cold. Front wheels lock so the unit doesn''t walk away. The only issue I see is the front plastic panel rattles. It could use some rubber between the housing and the panel. The water tank is a bit small but a hose can be used to drain directly to a drain.

Have this in my cellar going on four months now. Nice simple design. I use the hose attachment for continuous drain. It has kept the cellar nice and dry (100yr old limestone foundation). I am banking on it lasting for years.

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Water Sentinel WSA-1 Refrigerator Replacement Filter Save 31% Off

• Economical alternative to expensive substitutes
• Delivers clean, clear water that looks and tastes great
• Will remove or reduce Chlorine, Tastes and Odors that may be present in your drinking water
• Does not remove minerals which may be beneficial to health
• Designed to provide up to six months of life or 300 gallon

Have hoped that the taste would get better with use...but no such luck. This generic water filter was a less expensive option, but will go ahead and pay the higher price for the name brand in the future...until then, I am using bottled water.

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These filters will not fit the WF40 spec system. The inner ring as stated in an earlier review is too large for the filter receptacle in the refrigerator. Buy at your own risk.

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Have purchased these filters a few times. They have always worked. Just make sure line them up correctly and you will not have a problem.

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I bought 2 of these for my amana refrig. that takes Sears Kenmore #46-9014. Does not fit. The top inner circle is too large and will not fit.

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Vicks Humidifier, Warm Mist

I bought this warm mist humidifier after owning a vaporizer and a cool mist humidifier. The vaporizer was fine except that it was too hot and burned my son''s arm, so i needed something else. The cool mist humidifier (different company) broke very fast besides for the expense of changing filters.

This humidifier is great.

1) The warmth is very soothing but not too hot-it won''t burn you if you put your hand over the mist.

2) It never leaks onto the floor or gets the surrounding furniture wet (the other one did all the time).

3) It is whisper quiet. You can hardly hear the very soft humming sound even when right near it even on high.

4) It gives out a nice amount of humidity even on the low setting.

5) It is very simple to clean.

6) It is very light and easy to fill up.

On the low setting the water lasts well over 12 hours-I haven''t timed exactly how long. On high it goes for about a little over 11 hours. The auto shut-off works very nicely.

I really think this product is great so far. I''ve paid more for it at a local store and still think it''s worth it. The Amazon price is really great which makes it a great buy.

I purchased this product 3 weeks ago. I chose it because I prefer a warm mist humidifier and did not want to be bothered with filters. It has been great. If you follow a few basic steps, keeping it clean and running at top performance is not a big issue.

1. Empty the tank whenever unit is going to be off for more than a couple hours. I forgot to do this once and it formed lots more scale and took a lot more time and effort to remove it.

2. If you do not use distilled water (which I don''t), descale the heating chamber with white vinegar every day or two. White vinegar is cheap. I don''t have to mess with gallons of distilled water bottles or filters for my faucet. I live in a very hard-water area and this method has worked for me: When I get up, I unplug the unit, empty the tank, and put vinegar in the heating chamber. By the time I''ve showered and dressed, the mineral deposits have begun to fall away from the heating unit. It only takes a bit of prodding to remove the stragglers. I then wipe with a cloth. If I''m going to be home, I refill and start the unit. If I''m going to be gone, I put everything in the dish drainer & it''s ready to reassemble and use when I get home. This amounts to about 5 minutes of effort daily. Once a week I disinfect with the bleach solution as recommended in the manual.

I hope this helps. Using the above methods have made this the simplest humidifier to run and keep clean that I''ve ever had. It also looks like the washer in the tank cap can be purchased at any hardware store, an issue I''ve had with previous humidifiers. It would be nice if the product came with with a replacement washer and gasket but it''s not a perfect world.

UPDATE, Dec. 12, 2010: Starting the second winter of using this humidifier. I''ve discovered it''s even quicker & easier to keep scale at bay if I make sure the tank does not go empty. In the morning I then unplug the unit, remove the water tank,cooling chamber & tray but leave the water in the heating chamber. I then add vinegar to the water in the heating chamber & let it set for several minutes. This loosens what little scale has formed overnight and it''s easily prodded loose. I then empty & rinse the heating chamber, dry it, and the unit''s ready to go. I''ve been using the unit this season since Thanksgiving this year & it''s performing like new. I always run it on low but will probably use the high setting sometimes later in the season. If you let the tank go empty using tap water the scale build-up is much worse. I''m still very satisfied with this product.

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I received an Evenflow vaporizer during my shower and thought it would help once baby & I got sick. Way to small for my room. I looked at many vaporizers and warm mist humidifiers that would actually work in our room. This one was perfect. I doesn''t run out in the middle of the night, and helps keep the room warm when the heat goes down to low at night [apartment headaches]. The amount of night time coughing has lowered and asthma triggered dryness and dry sinis at night have ended. Perfect buy without the high cost.

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This was a good purchase for me. I can tell it''s working, in the morning, there''s condensation on our bedroom window. You can leave it on all night. Pretty quiet. Good effect on colds.

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I absolutely love this humidifier......but you can get it at Target for only $29.99 and that isn''t a sale price....PLUS no shipping. I don''t know why everything is just more expensive at Babies R Us, but I found this to be true with ALOT of the items that we were looking to purchase and ALOT of the people who bought us things just printed my registry off and went to either Target or Walmart to make the purchase.

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Crystal Palace Filtering Glass Pitcher

I love this pitcher and use it every day. I make loose leaf hot and iced teas with it. It hasn''t chipped in the 4 months I''ve been using it, withstands boiling water being poured into it, and filters out the tea leaves very well. I highly recommend it.

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Berkey Light With 2 Black Filters and 2 Sport Bottles Save 11% Off

This is AWESOME!!!! If you have concerns about the garbage that finds it''s way into your water, then you should have this. The water is the best. No strange taste, only clear clean water. As I read more and more about the harmful effects of some of the chemicals they now use to "clean" our water, I am glad I have this. Easy to assemble and use.

In 2008, Berkey Light systems were moved to a BPA free material. Yet, they still have the 7 recycle symbol on the bottom.

Search "Berkey Light(tm) systems are now BPA Free":I''ve talked to New Millennium Concepts on the phone. Sometimes they don''t get back to you the same day, but when they do, they will spend as much time answering every question you have about their systems.

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Well, we have been using the berkey light water filter for about six months now. The water tastes great. However, my wife put it together when it first came in. Recently, we pulled the filters off to clean the plastic bin. Well, what do you know, there is a #7 on the bottom. I do not suggest buying the Berkey light unless you like adding BPA to your nicely filtered water. After paying 200 dollars I realize I should have gotten the aluminum one.

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Tap Master tmjrf2 Tap Master Jr F2 Counter Top Water Filtration System (White)

• Countertop convenience with undercounter-like filtration results
• Clean design
• Portable
• Heavy duty, long-reach chrome faucet
• change the filter every 3 months or 500-Gallon depending on the hardness of your water

First, the review::

**My water tastes completely different, and I noticed on the first sip. It tastes like water, instead of water that''s been laced with some kind of weird aftertaste or partially steeped in a foreign substance. When I have a cup of tea, I find that even the tea tastes more crisp and simple. It''s not hampered with odd flavors from whatever was in my water. And, since I enjoy my tea a great deal, this is good news to me. :)

**Installation was really simple. I did it in less than five minutes while chatting with a friend on the phone with the phone pinned with my shoulder. Really low-effort. Just twisting a few pieces and using a little wrench dealie. No crouching under the sink or drilling holes. Not an intimidating process in the least.

**Water pressure is surprisingly strong. I can fill a pot without it taking all day.

**I have to move and travel frequently, and I know I can remove and re-install this in a snap, no matter where I have to go, without damage or interruption to the plumbing or water system of the next place. It''s also compact enough to be packed into a suitcase without sacrificing a lot of room or adding inconvenient weight.

**Overall, I''m impressed at how uncomplicated and unconfusing this setup is. I get filtered water quickly and can get on with my day. I think the price is also very fair, especially for the peace of mind I feel having filtered water and the better enjoyment of the taste in my drinks and cooking.

Second, the basics::

I really know very little about water filtration so I had a few questions before I bought this item. I think that, for those like me, who don''t know much about the process, it can be confusing trying to pick out a filter because what may be common knowledge to some people gets glossed over. Basic questions are sometimes not covered because it seems assumed that the potential customer should know them. In case there''s anyone who is feeling that way, I''m going to offer a few basic tidbits about my experience with this filter in case it might be of use. If you''re already comfortable with the basics of water filtration, this will be too simplistic for use, I''m sure, so never mind it.

The product is much like the photo, except that the photo doesn''t show how it connects to your water system, which I found confusing. Is it a tank? Would that mean it has a tiny capacity? Does it connect to the plumbing? Would I have to drill holes in the counter or sink?

Thankfully, it was a no to all of that.

What this unit is, is actually a fitting that goes onto the end of your faucet (not pictured) and a slender white tubing that connects from the fitting and into the tall, white unit, which houses a filter. When you turn on your water, water flows out of the tap as normal. (The fitting allows for this.) When you want filtered water, you pull a diverter pin on the fitting and the flow goes, instead, through the tubing, and into the filter, where it trickles down, is cleaned, and comes out the unit''s own spout. When you are done, turn off the water as normal on your faucet, or push the pin back in and water will return to flowing from your faucet head.

The filter unit does hold some water inside it after you''re done, but it''s not stored water meant for drinking. When you first turn on the water and divert it to the filter, wait a few seconds for the stagnant water to clear, then collect what you need. The filter doesn''t need time to build up and process or slowly drip through. You just turn on the water and it starts flowing. There''s no concern of capacity not meeting demand and the filtered water won''t ''run out''. It comes out of the filter as quickly as it would come out of your faucet''s tap.

As for the tubing, it''s not something you can really hide or cover, but apart from the potential aesthetic issue some people might have, there''s no physical inconvenience of tangling or twisting or anything. (but really, you''re already making the choice to put a mini white water tower on your counter, so do you care about aesthetics?) There''s just enough lead for you to let it run back behind your sink and put the unit off to the side. While that may be a negative for some, the benefit of having an on-top-of-counter unit is that you don''t have to do any tricky installations, I suppose. You just place the unit on your counter, twist off your faucet''s current cap, twist on the unit''s fitting, and you''re done.

If you''re looking for a full house system or some really hardcore equipment, I don''t think this is really what you''re looking for, but if you''re looking for inexpensive, quick to put in, easy use, for some good drinking and cooking water for you or your family, this has been a great purchase for me and I would recommend it for others.

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I''ve only had this for 1 month, but I feel safe enough to give a 5 star review. The setup was easy as pie; no tools were needed at all, only two fingers. Screw off your faucet cap, screw on the filter director/regulator, and you''re done. It was actually easier than attaching my old Brita faucet filter. That thing was a pain in the neck that leaked constantly, and got dirty because it was made of plastic, etc. The Tap Master F2''s attachment doesn''t leak at all (which is saying something with my old, crusty faucet), and is made of metal/chrome, so it blends in and can easily be washed off.

The picture above is misleading; there is a white hose that goes from your faucet to the filter. It''s kind of stiff, so you may want to wind it around the filter and swing it back behind your sink knobs to keep it out of the way.

The water tastes SO great. I made iced tea in the fridge with this right after I bought it, and WOW, I know why tea always tasted kind of bitter to me now; because the water was bad. Tea tastes soo good now. I can''t stop drinking it. I love getting a cold glass of water. I make ice cubes with this too, and even those are nice. Fluoride free is the way to be!

I haven''t yet changed the filter on it, but when I do, I''ll update this review to tell how hard/easy that was too. Overall, money well spent!

Update 3-22-12: I just received my replacement filter and had a bit of difficulty getting the bottom to unscrew (probably because I waited so long to replace it, my own fault). You might have to whack the unit against the countertop a few times to break things up to get it to come loose. After that, you just twist off the bottom, lift out the old, drop in the new. The instructions say to clean it with bleach and let it air dry, but it was very clean inside mine so I took the lazy way out. If there was slime or a musty odor, I would have washed it, but there was zero slime and when I sniffed the inside it actually smelled good! Like, I-wanted-to-keep-breathing-it good. Definitely clean, which I was not expecting. Easy process!

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This is a great product...Having been an Oceanus distributor many years ago Im knowledgeable....This is well made, easy to install and use...Good flow and quality...Not only does it make your drinking better, but plants love the fact that is removes flouride...My hawaian Thai plant gets flouride burn on the tips, this treats that problem...Cartridge lasts a long time and is reasonable...the company reps are a pleasure to talk with and are very helpful...Would highly recommend this product...dogs like it, and etc.

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I love my new Tap Master F-2 Filtration System! I''ve been meaning to get a filtration system that would remove fluoride (and chlorine too) ever since I discovered to my dismay that my Brita filter actually prided itself of leaving a "healthy amount of fluoride" behind. Eeek!

But I didn''t really want to deal with the hassle of having to install an under-counter filter, or spend hundreds of dollars.

And then I found this one. For less than a hundred dollars, it was perfect for my needs, took just minutes to set up, and I was able to arrange the tubing so it wouldn''t get in the way. The filter just sits next to my sink and produces all the clean and great-tasting water I want.

So now I have finally gotten into the habit of drinking lots and lots of water.

Okay so I have had this filter for about a month. Here in Ok city we have really bad water with a whole lot of toxins and contaminates. I bought this filter for my family especially for my baby to have cleaner drinking water. It made the water have a funny taste so I bought TDS water quality tester and tested my tap water which read 190 which is bad, then I tested the water from the filter and I got the same reading 190! So I thought maybe something was wrong so I tested bottled water that my husband brought home from work and it test 0 which is what you want in regards to water purity. So I called the company and told them the situation and they told me not to worry about it because all a TDS meter test is the mineral content. That made no sense to sense you would think it would at least get some stuff out of the water if it''s minerals or not! So I called the makers of the TDS meter and they said the TDS meter reads the TOTAL total dissolved solids including contaminants and toxins so if the filter is working the reading should be significantly lower. I even tested the water from our shower head filter that is only supposed to get the chlorine out and and had a lower reading then I got from this filter and I bought the shower head filter from walmart for ten bucks! I am really hurt and almost in tears here. We are not rich and we bought this filter for 100 dollars plus a 30 dollar extra filter that does not seem to work at all and I have been giving this water to my family for over a month. No wonder our plants are even dying. You really cant trust anybody these days at all. We just moved here from Germany and in Germany we do not have this problem with contaminated water. Well so I have made about 5 phone calls today and I finally found a place that will test my water to see for sure if the filter is working at all. When I get the results I will write back. And no I don''t work for another company or I would of told you to buy something else. Just a plane ol'' military wife. I am really hurt over this. We just don''t have money to give away to crooks.

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Jura 13421 ENA4 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center Save 46% Off

I lived in Switzerland for four years and while there my standards for coffee changed quite dramatically. Hence on my return to the US my first purchase was this machine. While I was living in Switzerland I went through two Nespresso machines which were a pain in the patootie to keep descaled and operational. Both were hosed by the time I left. I was impressed with the Jura machines owned by Swiss friends and neighbors. I have had this machine for 8 months now and have never regretted my decision to purchase it. It is smart enough to tell you when it needs cleaning and the instructions (unlike the Nespresso machinges I have owned) were very clear. Cleaning is automated and a snap to accomplish. Just initiate the program and it will be through by the time you finish doing the breakfast dishes. The one downside is that it is quite large so you will have to devote quite a bit of counter space to it and if you are big coffee drinkers you will also have to fill the rather small water reservoir quite often but other than that the machine is a dream and if you buy the right beans (hint: buy Lavazza beans here on Amazon on auto order VERY economical) you will have lovely coffee moments. No need for ''bucks unless you want WiFi.

I''ve had the jura for 4 months now and previously owned a gaggia automatic expresso machine and have made over 200 lattes so far with the jura. I love the small size of the jura, the coffee is great once you adjust it to suit your tastes. i like the fact that everything is automated and being warned stops me running out of water half way through an expresso like i did with the gaggia. it is easy to clean and is a great machine.

There are two flaws which is why I''m giving this 3 stars. Firstly the milk frothing wand comes lose and when it does sprays milk and stream over nearby surfaces and you. At first this happened rarely and i put it down to me not having the wand seated securely, however after 4 months of making lattes i check before every coffee and the wand will no longer stay on long enough to do enough milk for one latte. this is very annoying and potentially dangerous as steam and hot milk tend to go over your hand. The second problem is the water tank, it is fairly small but is around the back of the machine so if you have the machine on a kitchen surface with a cupboard above it is awkward to get the water tank out and more awkward getting it back in when filled with water.

would i buy one again? not sure have complained to jura and will see if they can fix the problem with the wand. I suspect it is a design flaw since I''ve seen other people also complain about this. if you are using mainly for lattes like me I wouldn''t buy this model.

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After weeks of research we ended up selecting the Jura-Capresso ENA 4.

I was a bit skeptical that this small little super automatic could really replace our larger manual and brew quality espresso. I went to a local retailer and was fortunate enough to be able to use a demo unit. I was amazed by how simple and intuitive the ENA 4 is to use; while at the same time provides a level of flexibility and control well beyond my expectations.

The Jura-Capresso site has some great video demos as well as other info that is worth checking out.If you''re looking for a super automatic, I highly recommend you take a look at the ENA. Our unit has exceeded our expectations. Great espresso and lattes!

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This is our second Jura Capresso machine, and, although we''ve only had it for a few weeks now, we couldn''t be happier with it. We bought it to replace a Jura Capresso Impresso machine that we had bought here on Amazon about a few years ago that just gave out on us. Before that, we had had a Saeco automatic machine, but we''ve found that we like the Jura one better: it puts out stronger coffee, looks sleeker and nicer sitting on the countertop, and is easier to keep clean. This ENA4 also has a smaller footprint than our past two machines.

This is also easy to use, and the instruction manual it comes with is very thorough.

My husband uses just cream in his coffee and espresso, but I usually drink mine as caffe lattes. For such, I use either skim milk, soy milk creamer, or coconut milk creamer, and it has steamed all three beautifully, leaving me with wonderful foam, if I desire it.

One big piece of advice is that when you have an automatic machine like this, you shouldn''t use oily or greasy beans. We buy beans from a local coffee brewer or stock up on the Lavazza Super Crema Espresso beans and get them on Subscribe and Save. Using the proper beans will ensure that you have a nice crema on the top of your coffee.

The upkeep of the Jura is also more expensive than that of a Saeco. The cleaning tablets and Clearyl filters you have to buy can add up, so just know that upkeep of this machine is another cost to factor in. I think we have to replace the filter about once every three to four months, that is with us making about five to ten shots of coffee/espresso each day.

Several other reviewers commented that the water tank is pretty small on this machine, and that is definitely true. I usually have to fill it each morning, but it''s not too much of a pain. Since the tank sits at the back of the machine on this model, though, you''ll need to be have room to slide it up and out of the back area.

A few other reviewers mentioned that this makes weak coffee, but I don''t agree at all. The type of beans you use makes a huge difference, and we''ve found that the Jura makes cafeor restaurant-quality espresso.

Additionally, be very careful when cleaning the dredge drawer (with the grounds in it) that you move the steamer wand out of the way. I accidentally bumped the one a few days after we''d gotten this, and didn''t realize that it had come dislodged; when I went to steam my milk, the bottom blew off, shooting out hot steam. I noticed that in a comment to another review for this machine, someone left a link for how to fix this.

Overall, we love our Jura! It''s one of our more expensive household "toys," but, if you''re serious about your coffee, you''ll love having one of these coffee centers. After all, it''s the little things in life that make a difference, right?

I will also try to update my review after we''ve had this awhile longer.

Salut!

UPDATE ON 8/5/10: We''re still loving this machine. As I mentioned in my original review, the upkeep on it is a bit expensive, but it makes incredible coffee, is easy to use, and is simple to clean.

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The little machine works fine except for the frother wand and beans stalling in the hopper as so many have mentioned. An easy fix for the frother wand blowing off is to visit an auto supply store and pick up one or several sizes of silicone "O" rings about 1 1/2" in diameter (we brought a pack set for about $4.50 to find the right size). Loop the O ring over the top of the metal frother connection to the machine and pull the frother open and push the bottom of the ring into the gap between the two rubber parts of the open frother. The "sling" works like a charm. It would seem that the Jura people could have come up with an equally easy fix.

Save 46% Off

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Crystal Quest CQE-RC-04047 Pitcher Filter Cartridge

• With the Crystal Quest CQE-RC-04047 Water Pitcher Filter, you can enjoy chilled, healthy, and pure water at your convenience in your refrigerator
• The CRYSTAL QUEST CQE-RC-04047 Water Pitcher Filter Cartridge has a filter capacity 2,000-Gallon
• The CRYSTAL QUEST CQE-RC-04047 Replacement Filter will last 6-12 months depending on your water usage and water quality

my apartment had the worsted tap water I ever tasted, part mold, part chlorine, part I don''t even want to know. I have used a number of pitchers and faucet mounted filters and this one isn''t as good as some. That said I never started with tap water this bad. It should be noted that ever time I fill up the water pitcher the better the water taste.

In the end the water in the fridge right now tastes fine.. I am very happy with the product, it isn''t the biggest and may not be the best, but the long filter life is a great value to me. I might get a second one because I am drinking a lot of water now.

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I really wasted my money buying these filters. One of them fell apart as soon as I opened the plastic wrap and the other doesn''t do a good job of filtering tap water at all. It leaves little white bits of something floating in the water and lining the bottom of the pitcher. And yes, I carefully followed the instructions to soak the filter and then dump the first few pitchers full. I''m switching to another brand and a different pitcher.

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I''ve had NONE of the issues that Robert C mentioned. The water goes through fine, even after 4/5 months, and the taste is still great. Another review mentioned the design of the spout, etc., and, YES, they are right it''s not the best design I''ve ever seen. If you just upend it quickly it will spill water as the spout sticks and then it suddenly rushes out. I''ve learned to pour more slowly, and be happy with the benzene that I''m NOT getting. I did a comparison, and Crystal Quest filters out way more bad stuff than Brita (which we had before).

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I used the Crystal Quest pitcher for about 6 weeks and it was 6 weeks too many. This pitcher is poorly designed. It is small, narrow and the capacity is not even close to the 10 cups they claim when the filter reservoir is present. The spout is too narrow so it pours slowly. Water glugs out and splashes all over if you tilt it too far. The lid must be held with your free hand when pouring or it will eject if any water is present in the reservoir. The handle is too narrow and is not comfortable to hold, especially when full.

Even worse than the design of the pitcher, the filters only lasted for a few weeks! I went through three filters in the six weeks I used this piece of junk! Yes, you read that right. The first day, your water will flow through quickly. The second day, it slows noticeably. By the fourth day, it starts to take a LONG time to pass the water through the filter. By the end of two weeks, it could no longer pass a full reservoir of water through the filter within 12 hours! Seriously!!! It would literally only pass about 3 drips of water per minute through the filter after only a few weeks. I can''t use that!!! Who can? It was insane! I am one person. I was not even close to using the filter''s claimed capacity of 2,000 gallons! I went through THREE filters!! I thought maybe the first one was defective, but after the same performance from all three, that was it. Completely unacceptable.

As if that wasn''t enough, another troubling issue is the fact that the filters are put together with some kind of glue or adhesive. Seems to me like a bad idea to expose the water I''m supposed to be drinking to a chemical adhesive instead of using plastic tabs to hold the filter cartridges together. What rocket scientist designed that?

I recommend that you stay away from this product. I was using Britta for many years before this, and I have now switched to Pur. The Pur filter pitcher is superior in every way to this (and the Britta I had), and I have not experienced any issues.

Works well. Needs replacing more than every six months, however, unless you don''t require much water. And everyone should drink more water.

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Seagull IV X-1F Drinking Water Purifier

We had friends that were missionaries and they took this purifier through lab testing of just about every kind of water they could find. They tested filter after filter, purifier after purifier and this is the only one that would actually clean up swamp water so it could be great drinking water. We have had ours for years and am now looking at getting a whole house unit. Its the best, no kidding and we are not "sales" people, just mom and dad!

My wife and I are retired and do a lot of traveling via 5th wheel which brings us to several locations with substandard water which requires buying bottled. A frind of mine that we met in South Texas recommended this system to me. Kinda expensive but so is buying gallons of water not the mention the inconvience. Actually this friend of mine sold the units and gave me two months to try it out and did not like, would refund my complete cost plus he would remove it from my RV. Well, after one week, was sold. Now I have a unit both in my RV and home kitchen sink. Again, kinda expensive, around $400 but well worth it.

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After investigating all available water purifying systems, we purchased a Seagull IV in the late 1980s. The quality of this unit is first rate; it has held up wonderfully through all these years; we even took it with us when we moved. We have replaced the filter, faucet, hoses and gaskets over time, but the stainless steel unit is bullet-proof. We use this for our drinking, cooking, and pet water. News articles about contaminated water tables, supplies, etc., are a concern, of course, but we know that none of those chemicals are making their way into our bodies through our kitchen tap. While this unit is expensive, isn''t the health of your family and pets worth it? We HIGHLY RECOMMEND this unit; you will never regret its purchase.

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I first discovered the Seagull line a decade ago when equipping a boat, have since had units in two houses as well, just ordering my fourth. I once bought a Sears unit just a carbon block type but the snap-on plastic hose connections scared me and I gave it away. The Seagull unit is physically solid, well engineered and the connection hoses and fittings won a complement from my plumber. The water is delicious even in the summer when we sometimes have musty smells from algae. It makes great coffee and is still good when I change the filter unit a year later. More than a filter read the specs and probably overkill for a house with municipal water, but still vastly cheaper than bottled water.

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service from general ecology was poor---had item for repair, top only for leaking fittings.three weeks later had not shipped back--after calls to rude service people my item was shipped, to the wrong address in another state---

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(2) British Berkefeld 9" Replacement Ceramic Water Filters for Big Berkey

• 2 9" Ceramic SuperSterasyl Filters
• Self-sterilizing and re-cleanable
• Fits the Big Berkey and British Berkefeld
• Will fit most other gravity filter systems

Get a couple of free 5 gal food safe buckets from Walmart Bakery, drill a 1/2" hole and add one of these ceramic filters (search "Berkey" on Youtube for video "how to")and have your own inexpensive safe water filter. One 7" filter is cleanable (occasionally)with a scotchbrite pad and will make a lot of safe drinking water per day for years. I''m using one that is 13 years old. Add more filters for more water per day. For convenience, install a plastic spigot in the bottom bucket. These have been used all over the world for decades. You can get as fancy as you want, but this is Basic Survival 101. You should do this for your family before the next disaster. This can keep you alive! Anyone can cobble one of these together in a few minutes....do it now....before the crunch, when safe drinking water will be your FIRST priority.

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These ceramic filters are much more tougher than the Black Berkey filters. The plastic base of the Black Berkey would always break away from the the filter media after just a few months. This problem would then cause unfiltered water to leak into the lower chamber making my system useless.

After about 4 broken filters I had enough and tried the ceramics. They are much better and clean the water just as well. You will have to change your fluoride filter to the PF4 to work with the ceramic type but they cost less than the PF2 types. Black Berkey needs to resolve the base issue with their filters. I will stay with the ceramics for now. I hope Black Berkey reads my review since I spent 200 bucks on worthless and poorly made filters that just fell apart.

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These filter are fantastic. The base, threads and nut for fastening them to the Berkey are much tougher than what was on my Black Berkey filters. I could get them on there real tight where the Black Berkey filters nut would pop if you tried to tighten it. These are also easier to prime and clean. We are very happy with this purchase.

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I purchased a Berkey Light several years ago to filter our water, I''m using well water that is good water to begin with, but store it in a big tank, I don''t want to drink what might be growing in the tank, I also don''t want to have to put chemicals in my tank either, so the Berkey Light takes care of that nicely. Eventually the black elements began to slow down, it was time to replace them. I knew that the company had been having troubles with the black elements leaking (where the element attached to the plastic base with the threads), I had contacted the company and asked about it, Dan told me they had remedied that problem, but I didn''t know how many of those potentially defective black elements were sitting in warehouses, so I decided to buy the ceramic filter instead, I figure that once it''s time to replace this unit, all of the potentially defective black elements will be sold through and I can go back to the black element.

The ceramic filter fits in the Berkey Light just fine, this is the 9" model, it goes all the way to the top of the Berkey Light but doesn''t stick out. The threads for the ceramic filter are slightly larger and almost don''t fit in the holes, I thought I was going to have to ream out the holes, but they did go through just fine with just a tiny bit of fiddling.

According to the instructions, you don''t prime these like you do the black elements, you just place it in your unit and add water, the water came through in pretty short order, you have to run 2 containers of water through and discard the water, after that you can consume the water.

What I understand the difference is between the black element and the ceramic element, is the black element filters remove everything the ceramic ones do plus Lead, MTBE''s, and other heavy metals. (Amazon is notorious for removing links, so I''ll add a link to the site that discusses the differences in the comments section)

It works great, it is less expensive than the black elements, the water comes through just fine, it fits the Berkey Light and I''m happy with it.

The British Berkefeld filters that I ordered came within the time period specified.They were packaged perfectly,I have been using them since this time and they work perfect,thank you.

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Crane Demineralization Filter Cartridge Save 18% Off

My advice is to keep the original cap in case you decide this filter is not for you.

It managed to stop mineral deposits from building up further on the side of the resevoir, but the water gained a musty smell after a 15 gallons/three weeks of use. I sanitize with chlorinated water bi-weekly.

It was especially apparent in warm heated rooms. The risk of bacterial growth outweighs the benefits of the filter for me and I do not recommend this product.

I got a lot of these Crane humidifiers. We have a lot of minerals in our water, so I got these filters. Some of the humidifiers made too much noise to use in a bedroom. They are extremely cute, though, and inexpensive.

I got white dust everywhere even with the filters, even after also using water run through another charcoal filter. If you are serious about these humidifiers, you need to use distilled water. Then you won''t need these filters.

About the white dust, I mean literally everywhere, inside the DVD player for instance. I have quit using all of the Crane humidifiers and put them away. I was really sad about this, because they are so cute. They did raise the humidity about 10%. We live in the desert, it is very dry in the winter.

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I bought the Crane Penguin humidifier about 2 months ago. The filter arrived about a week later. My experience applies to people using HARD TAP WATER. So far I''ve found that, although the filter helped with keeping the humidifier a bit cleaner (I clean it once a week with diluted bleach for the tank and vinegar for the base), it only seemed to work to reduce white dust (from hard water minerals) for just over a month, using the humidifier at a low or medium setting. I''m considering using distilled water instead it might work out cheaper than having to replace the filter every couple of months. I would definitely advise to keep the original cap for the tank and try the humidifier with and without filter.

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This filter ruined my humidifier which had worked perfectly without it. Here is what happened to me. The humidifier, with filter in place, had been running for a couple of days when I noticed an odd smell upon entering the room. I determined it was coming from the humidifier, so I unplugged it and removed the water tank to take a look. To my shock, the bottom on the humidifier was filled with the amber colored pellets that once were inside the filter. The pellets filled up the area that should have been filled with water. The reservoir had water in it and the unit continued to run, but was overheating because the water wasn''t able to flow. The heat damaged (melted) the nebulizer black ring so that the water just leaks right through the bottom now. I am glad that I found out before it caused a fire. Crane customer service has not responded to my email either.

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I don''t know what this thing was really designed to do but it seems that mostly what it does is fill your dehumidifier with icky brown water.

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Sprite Slim Line Filter Cartridge

• Removes chlorine, dirt, odors and more
• For use with Sprite Slim-Line shower filters
• NSF certified
• Filter rated for 6 months or 10,000 gallons whichever comes first
• Made in USA

I decided to review this product in detail after seeing four positive reviews and the one bad one. If a product has dozens of reviews and my experiences agree with them I don''t bother. I''ve already installed one of these in the three bathrooms in my home (along with a low-ER flow showerhead to save some money at the same time). Installation took five minutes or less with the right tools, necessary to remove your showerhead from the pipe. For the actual filter installation no tools are needed as you just hand tighten it. They include teflon plumber''s tape so you don''t need any supplies.

I believe one reviewer wondered whether this would reduce the flow of a showerhead. I went with the 25% less than standard, 25% more than true low-flow Delta model (1.85GPM) that''s got 200-plus reviews and a rating above four stars. Users of the previous installed unit really like the combined setup. Looking carefully at the filter though I suppose it may reduce water pressure ''downstream'' at the showerhead somewhat, and Gallons Per Minute as result. The literature claims the standard 2.5GPM though.

I''d say the amplifying turbine design of the Delta Faucet model is a better choice than a 1.5GPM ordinary showerhead as 1.5GPM showerheads already draw mixed reviews. Any reduction below 1.5GPM from this filter would probably be noticeable, and while Al Gore would commend you for being so green it could very well negatively impact the quality of your shower. I wonder a little about the 2.5GPM claim as the filter takes up the whole space inside the housing and is densely packed with what looks like copper-ish metal shavings/flecks. And as it gets close to needing the filter replaced will it still put out the same GPM as when newly installed? Note that whatever the stuff is in the filter I seriously doubt it would end up in your water stream as the filter''s screen is tightly woven.

For those not in the know, apply the the teflon tape so it will stretch WITH the direction you''re tightening the fitting/fixture. I hadn''t noticed the product literature in the bottom of the hassle-free-to-open box on the first one I bought as it''s brown like the cardboard. Turns out in addition to plumber''s tape you get a cling sticker (like an oil change reminder sticker)with a number to call for replacement filters. The enclosed product information is INCREDIBLY DETAILED, and here goes supplying all of it:

It claims this filter removes more chlorine than any other model, reminds you to thread the teflon tape clockwise, and includes an exploded diagram, which shows the optional showerhead this company sells (not that you''d think getting their model gives you an advantage over a well-reviewed alternative). It claims to remove 75% of free chlorine for six months or 5000 gallons, whichever comes first.

It says it removes "Combined Chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite) and Hydrogen Sulfide the latter of which they say causes an odor in the water, but they don''t give percentages for the last two. They list it as tested and certified by "NSF International" to remove the 75% of free chlorine, whoever NSF is. It says their system removes more chlorine "at a wider temperature range." Maximum operating temperature is 120 degrees and maximum pressure it''ll tolerate is 125 lbs per square inch. And a tiny disclaimer that "actual performance may vary." It says NSF International has NOT tested the product''s ability to reduce free chlorine "in the presence of chloramines" if this stuff is used to treat your water. There are some "Notes on NFS Test Protocol" but it''s quite technical, though a useful data point about NSF standards is a passing test result removes 50% of free chlorine (compared to their 75% result). Lots of useful information for a smallish pamphlet.

The design of the plastic outer housing seems to indicate that when replacing the filter either the whole unit will readily unscrew from the pipe, making it easier to unscrew the two halves of the housing if they''ve become tight with use, or the showerhead portion will unscrew alone. Either way the filter would then be easily replaced assuming you installed it correctly (and I wonder if the one-star reviewer used installed it right). The filter only fits one way inside the housing so it''s a foolproof design, and the housing appears to be high-impact/sturdy plastic. It says ''Slim Line'' in raised white letters on the side of the filter facing the showerhead, a minor nuisance for me as I don''t like looking at a product label in my house so I installed the filter to face down and not be visible to the user.

The filter needs to be ''activated'' upon entering the shower by turning on the water to "Full Hot." The unit only adds the 1.5 inches to your shower pipe length by recessing inward the side facing the shower pipe, and the resultant shape of the unit is what makes the filter impossible to install backwards. By the way their optional showerhead includes a "flow restricter" in the diagram (looks like a washer you''d put on a bolt) that''s not included with this unit, though they don''t list the GPM of their showerhead in the description.

A lot of detail I know but the description on Amazon doesn''t explain all of the features and specs and hopefully this is helpful. The disclaimer about "actual performance may vary" looks like boilerplate their lawyer insisted on, and they have no way of knowing how closely your water matches the NSF test protocl. The one question mark about this unit is "Chloramine" treated water not having been tested for free chlorine reduction. I''ll probably ask my water company if they use chloramine, and if so look for one that has been tested and rated for it as free chlorine is apparently the important thing to remove. I''d send my second unit back if I can find a different model that resolves the chloramine issue.

Supposedly you''ll notice whether a chlorine filter works by whether your skin doesn''t get dried out as much as an unfiltered shower, plus you avoid the health issue of inhaling aerosolized chlorine. Chloramine is a question mark hanging over an otherwise thoroughly impressive product in design, fit and finish, plus detailed explanation and instructions. Haven''t priced replacement filters but looks like quite a bargain. If they''d tested it in the presence of chloramine to assure the buyer that it''ll still work I''d rate it five stars.

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This is definitely not a double pack, it is a filter and the plastic housing. Very misleading! The description needs to be corrected. I was expecting 2 replacement filters, not what I received.Sprite Slim Line Filter Cartridge 2-pack

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It actually helps! I use less conditioner and my skin looks and feels softner. Very worth it.

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I found I had facial muscle twitches over 15 years ago and searched for the cause. Turns out it was chlorine in the water everytime I took a shower I was doing damage. Also, my skin would be very dry afterwards. Getting one of these ended the symptoms. Worth every penny to me.

I did indeed order filter cartridges to fit my existing filter. I was online today confirming that fact because today the order arrived. It was a whole new filter. Our crappy water supply will go through this filter in a matter of weeks, which is why I wanted two filter cartridges....so I didn''t have to do this goose chase again. Amazon will not be where I find my next filter cartridge.

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Hamilton Beach 40999 10-Cup Electric Stainless-Steel Teakettle

I looked at many electric tea kettles before purchasing this one. My intention was to find a fast way to brew tea without using my gas stove. I also wanted to avoid plastic, and this was attractive because the pot is stainless and the heat element is under the stainless and doesn''t come in direct contact with the water. Alas the water level is plastic, too bad, could easily do without that level if there were level lines inside the pot.

Another reason I selected this was the possibility of making tea IN the pot, alas this is not the case. But the description of the mesh filter is a little misleading. The kettle cannot be used with loose tea. The point of the filter is to prevent any calcium deposits from pouring out with the water, but this isn''t really necessary if you clean the pot as recommended. The filter is a little plastic one that slides into a slot inside where the spout hole is. The filter is removable though, and isn''t needed to heat water.

On the plus side, the water heats fast. The directions say to boil water and throw out the first 2-3 kettles full plus rinse 2-3 more times. I did this and had to throw out the next kettle full because there was a strong unpleasant taste. After 4 boils though, the taste is gone.

When full, the kettle is heavy. If your hands are not strong, a shorter and wider pot rather than this tall one might be easier to lift and pour.

Heat element shuts off quickly, and the pot heats fast. Takes some getting used to, if you are accustomed to waiting awhile for your water to boil, you''ll have to move more quickly because the water is boiled and done and the pot is off in no time.

Looks nice on the counter and the heat element is a round glass stand.

Great, will use and enjoy, but still am looking for the perfect tea kettle, preferably not made in China.

Looks good BUT the lid is very difficult to get on and off, there is no light to indicate the kettle is on, and it is difficult to tell when the automatic switch has switched the kettle off. If it had a light then the light could switch off, or it could make a loud ''click'' sound as the switch turned off.

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I purchased this to put on my desk at work so I didn''t have to keep heating up water in a communal microwave in order to make tea. It''s a tad slow to boil and the cord is a little short, but aside from that it''s very nice. The flavor of the water is great (even cold), and, unless you have a hard time carrying a gallon of milk, it''s not too heavy even when full. It does get very hot, being metal and not insulated, but if you keep it out of the way, it''s not a problem. Remember that the spout allow copious amounts of steam into the air, so you don''t want to point it at anything that can be easily damaged by that.

Overall, great for adults, but should be kept out of children''s reach. A good buy.

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This is the first review I have given on this site mainly because I have been pleased with my purchases thus far. I have been buying from Amazon for years.

I bought this kettle because I liked the design and the reviews, for the most part were positive overall.

This kettle is noisy but that''s the least of it''s problems the handle came away from the body the first day! It is attached at the top so when I pick it up I have to hold bottom under the spout and be careful not to burn myself.

My fault because I didn''t send it back or complain at the time. (i had already recycled the box) I very rarely return items unless they are expensive.

My other complaint is that it is slower than other electric kettles I have owned. Be warned! Shoddy workmanship...

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A very poorly designed kettle it started to leak in just one year. The windows on the side began to separate from the body. The problem became so acute that water leaked down the side toward the base. On one occasion, I went to pick it up and was given an electric shock. I strongly advise against purchasing this very poor product.

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KRUPS KM611D50 Precision Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker Save 26% Off

The pros are the price and that this pot makes very good coffee. The negative is that it malfunctions and depending on your luck can stop working after a month. I am now up to my 3rd pot of this type. My first pot lasted 1 year, the second only one month. i did attempt to change brands but could not find one that met my requirements for good coffee and ease. I bought the Technivorm for $300 which offered no features. It had no water filter which affects taste, no safety auto shut off, and the coffee taste was not better than the Krups. Moved on to the Calphalon pot which was a bustthe reviews of the Calphalon are almost all negative and i agree. This journey led me back to the Krups. I decided to deal with the reliability issue by ordering a back up pot and saving my receipt for any return. Amazon is a reliable dealer for returning defective merchandise. Good luck!

I needed a coffee maker for a 2nd kitchen where the cabinets are too low to the counter for the Cuisinart Brew Central which I have in the original kitchen and which I love. This coffee maker is short and squat which fits under the cabinets but is awkward because it is fat which makes it difficult to pour and impossible to use the carafe to add water to the machine.. In adddition, there are 2 other features I really dont like: the water is supposed to be poured in through a small, built-in filter which splashes up. This part which also contains the holder for the coffee may be removed and the water can be added directly into the machine, except the opening is still small. Also, and more important, the water indicator is INSIDE the machine where you add the water and is only measured in 2-cup intervals which are also unprecise so it''s hard to tell how much over you are until the next 2-cup line is reached... and you cannot brew an odd # of cups without guesswork. It makes a decent cup of coffee but you will have to use a measuring cup of some sort and tweak the amount of water until you arrive at the right measurement... a lot of work and guessing, so for the price I''d go elsewhere

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I have owned a few coffee makers (too many!)& aside from a Bodum vacuum coffee maker I have always found Krups to make a great cup of coffee. We got this one about 2 years ago & haven''t had a mechanical problem yet. My only complaint is that the water compartment & brew basket are under the same lid & if you are not careful the coffee grounds can get into the water area & are awful to get out!

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I purchased this through Amazon on July 12, despite a few off-putting reviews. It made very good coffee (the cone shaped filter is, I think, superior to the flat ones in this regard) and it was kept at an optimal temperature for us. It was nice-looking, though the fit and finish weren''t too good the top didn''t close squarely, etc. You cannot use the carafe to fill the reservoir with water because of the way the top is designed and the small opening to the water reservoir. Not ideal, but I was willing to work around all that. However, on August 20 (a few days after the last return date for Amazon), it failed in the middle of brewing a pot of coffee. Just stopped. No heat to the plate. Nothing. The clock and lights still worked, but no coffee. I went through the little check list (duh). I called Krups. I am supposed to send it to the nearest approved repair shop; they are sending me a shipping label (so generous). I will have it back or be ok''d to get a replacement in 4-5 weeks. Wow. That, I think, is pitiful customer service. I had this happen once with a Kitchenaid and they sent me a new one within a week, with apologies. If you buy one of these (which I can''t encourage you to do), have a back up. Keep your box etc for at least 2 months, then you could maybe send it back to Amazon for replacement since they generally have great customer service, in my experience. No more Krups for me.

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Tried top rated Hamilton Beach Brew Station Deluxe(#47454)from Consumers Reports. Good coffee (NOT great) but coffee is heated within the coffee filter which is part of the carafe. After brewing stops, the steam from the coffee warmer goes into the filter & the coffee grinds are dripping into the carafe all the time. Tried removing hot grinds & filter right after brew, but still had only "good" coffee. Had to return it.

This newer version of original Krups does not drip coffee(little drips, if at all) when you take out carafe while brewing. They fixed the carafe, so that when you pour coffee it does NOT spill on counter, too. You can hear the steam hitting the grinds, while brewing. Great coffee!! Another plus, is that it is programmble...I wake up for work & my "Great" coffee is ready.

Cons: Slight blemmish on stainless steel top of coffee maker, but who cares when it makes "Great" coffee!

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