Showing posts with label office water coolers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label office water coolers. Show all posts

Keurig B66 Single Serve Gourmet Coffee & Tea Brewing System Save 37% Off

Keurig B66 Single Serve Gourmet Coffee & Tea Brewing SystemI have just purchased a Keurig Model B66 "Ultimate" and tried it out within the hour. My first opinions on this model are:

On a negative note... I found that the sound is noticeable when the unit is pumping the water into its heater. The individual K-Cup coffee containers while convenient, are costly per cup.

On the positive side... I drink black coffee and I feel that this unit does heat the water to a sufficient temperature and brews a drinkable cup of coffee very quickly. Another plus... Keurig also offers a solution for the "costly per cup servings" in that it sells a reusable coffee filter as an accessory. (This filter will permit you to use your own coffee which relates to a much lower cost per cup.)

My biggest regret about purchasing this particular model is that I didn''t notice that the largest cup this unit brews is only ten (well 9.25) ounces... and not the twelve ounce mug size that I consider to be "my" standard size cup. In all fairness I can''t find fault with Keurig for that because it clearly states the cup brewing size right on the back of the box.

I recently asked for a cup of joe at a friend''s house and they showed me their Keurig B60. They let me pick my own flavor and showed me how easy it was to make a cup of coffee with it. I was amazed at how fast this gourmet coffee was ready and how little there was to do for clean up. When I got home I researched it.

The only differences between the B60 and B66 is the color of the machine and quantity of sample K-Cups. The B60 is almost all black with a chrome handle while this B66 has a black body, silver top and chrome handle. The B60 gives you the standard 18 pack K-Cup sample, while the B66 gives you an additional 4 18-packs of samples AND a reusable "My K-Cup". The My K-Cup is a reusable filter you can put your own coffee in if you really want to (kind of defeats the purpose).

After using both the B60 and B66 I can tell you they both work EXACTLY the same. Any review you see for B60 has the same features, benefits, and shortfalls as the B66.

I''m the only coffee drinker in my house so it became a big pain to measure out beans, grind them, empty them from the grinder into the coffee maker, add the water, then wait for the coffee. Plus when you''re done you have to discard the used filter / grounds and any left over coffee and clean the carafe and maybe the drip mechanism as well.

THE KEURIG IS ALMOST 100% MAINTENANCE / CLEANING FREE. It has a 48 oz water reservoir so you don''t need to refill daily. The cleanup is just taking the used K-Cup and throwing it out. There''s no grinding of beans or cleaning necessary and I don''t have to spend 1/2 an hour to make 2 cups of coffee.

Some other nice benefits are that it also makes tea, hot cocoa and plain ole hot water (for Ramen or other uses). It also has a cool blue LED and blue lit water tank. The auto-on and off features help you save time and money. The 90 K-Cups the B66 gives you should last a long time and help you decide which blend of coffee(s) you prefer most. The water reservoir is also dishwasher safe.

The cons are few and far between. It is noisy when it starts and finishes making a cup of coffee. The water intake makes a loud vibrating noise when it pumps water in or out of the internal reservoir. This doesn''t bother me, my wife, or my infant son. The strength of the 9.25 oz versus the 5.25 ounce cup is diminished. It''s just the amount of water being used on the same amount of grounds. So if you want a regular 9.25 oz coffee you should probably use a strong K-Cup. Refill K-Cups are somewhat expensive, but it''s WAY less then a gourmet coffee shop. If you look around and use coupons it''s a great way to save.

I''ve had the coffee maker for 3 days now and I couldn''t be prouder of my purchase. I look forward to my daily coffee finally!

One last note, if you''re going through a carafe or more of coffee a day, you may want to think about whether or not it''s a cost savings or worth the time savings for you. But for me, this is the best product I''ve come across in a while.

Buy Keurig B66 Single Serve Gourmet Coffee & Tea Brewing System Now

I''d never heard of K-cups when I ran into the

Keurig B66 in Costco. At with 90 K-cups,

I figured it was worth a try. As a bit of a coffee snob

(longtime "Peetnik" who finds Starbucks a little too weak)

I''d avoided systems like

Senseo because I figured that they wouldn''t brew

coffee as strong as I like it. And that WAS my experience

with the Keurig, too: The sample K-cups were okay,

but--unless brewed on the tiny 5.25 oz setting--

far too weak for my taste. Again, let me stress,

MY personal taste is for coffee stronger than probably

95% of Americans, so take that into account.

Cons: Even after trying the K-cups recommended by

others who say they prefer strong coffee

(Emeril''s "Big Easy Bold," Coffee People''s "Donut Shop Coffee,"

"Black Tiger" & "Wake Up", Timothy''s "Midnight Magic"

& "Rainforest Espresso," and so on, I''m still having

trouble finding a stiff cup of Joe brewed at 7.25 oz.

Also, they haven''t developed an environmentally friendly

K-cup yet. Damn! And it''s pricey, by home coffee maker standards.

Pros: Clean-up...there really is none! This format is the

fastest, easiest, most trouble-free way to get a quick cup

of decent coffee. I''m in Bachelor Heaven! I brew whenever

I feel like it--''cause it''s so easy--and never waste excess coffee.

I will never resort to instant, so this is a wonderful compromise:

It ain''t french press coffee, folks, but it''s pretty good and ridiculously easy.

Two or more folks can enjoy entirely different coffees at virtually

the same time.

Also, this package does include a device for using your own

coffee: after continuing to audition K-cups, I may eventually

resort to stuffing it with some quality Peet''s coffee, here and there.

Also, there''s a ton of different types of coffee, cocoa and tea for

this available at decent prices on Amazon

(some people consider ~44 cents a serving expensive, but I''m used to

paying for quality coffee--and not pushing for that many cups out of a pound

--so K-cups at ~$ for 48 cups (no tax or shipping) seems modest to ME.

From what I''m told, the B60 is the closest model for comparison...

both have 3 sizes (5.25 oz, 7.25 oz & 9.25 oz). I''ve heard another

Keurig model offers a 11.25 oz option, but given that I''m having

trouble finding something strong enough at 7.25, 11.25 seems laughable.

I''m using Brita water, for what it''s worth, and have only had the

machine for about a month, so I can''t yet speak to its durability.

It vibrates a bit and makes a little noise. Neither bothered me,

but I can see that if one person was up, making coffee, a light

sleeper in a nearby room might notice the sound.

Here''s a tip: A company called Kenoza

offers single cup purchases. I know the 90 cups that mine came with

sound like a lot, but I immediately realized I needed the strongest

options, so went to Kenoza and got 2 or 3 samples (at 46 cents each)

of many of the strongest ("Extra Bold" is the K-cup jargon)...coffees;

far better than blindly buying 48 cups of something you may hate!

So, in summary, at with 90 K-cups I think it''s a freakin''

bargain. Obviously, the more you have to pay, the less spectacular

the deal. Drinkable coffee--no one''s going to mistake it for Peet''s

in a french press--but it''s better than instant and some regular drip

coffee makers. If you like a variety of coffees, and don''t care if

it''s strong, run, don''t walk, to the Keurig...and the lack of clean-up

is AWESOME!

Read Best Reviews of Keurig B66 Single Serve Gourmet Coffee & Tea Brewing System Here

I purchased this Keurig B66 from Costco for $129.99 in December of 2009. It came with a case of free coffee and a reusable filter. A great deal at the time. After about 1 year of use I believe it is the greatest coffee machine ever. So far so good. And I mean really good (the coffee). I don''t bother using those K-cups, I buy whole bean coffee from Costco (Kirkland espresso brand roasted by Starbucks), I grind it myself as needed for a week, and I use the reusable My K-Cup filter. The My K-Cup filters can be purchased at Target for about $15. The ability to control the amount of coffee, water level, and temperature of the water to make one cup will give you the best home made cup of coffee you will ever have. I love the coffee I get at sit down restaurants, I don''t know why. I always felt that the high temperature of their coffee machines was the trick. The Keurig lets you set the temperature up to 192 degrees. And the flavor from that setting is great. Here''s how it works:

You fill the water tank, put your K-Cup in the holder, push down the handle, put a cup under the nozzle, select the size of cup you want, and press start. The machine will sound like it is grumbling, think of the sound that the stomach of a 500 pound man that is really hungry makes. This is the machine sucking in the water, then it heats it up and starts pouring water through your K-Cup and down into your coffee cup. The machine has 3 cup size selections. Small = 3/4 cup, medium = 1 cup, large = 1 1/4cup. So small = less water and stronger flavor, and large = more water and weaker flavor.

But wait the fun doesn''t stop there. You want just hot water? You can do that too. Now put that reusable filter in there empty (to keep hot water from splashing) and you can have a cup of hot water. Have you ever sipped hot water before? It''s great, it feels cleansing. Or put some tea bags in there if you want, weirdo. Hot water works for so many things. Instant hot cocoa, broth, cleaning countertops. Coffee is just one the the things this puppy is good for.

The Kicker:

You can tell all your friends about this great machine you have and the wonderful coffee it makes. When you go to their house and taste their lowly coffee you will miss your machine. You won''t want to be rude when they offer you coffee, but you will make excuses. You will feel like you don''t want to ruin your taste buds. It''s just like when you went from drinking tap water to bottled water. You just can''t go back can you? When you go to work, and you see that coffee machine there you wonder if you can get the other guys at work to all chip in and get a Keurig for the workplace. You will never want to taste vending machine coffee ever again.

I could go on. The price seems high, but the flavor is there to support it. I have had it for 14 months brewing about 5 cups of coffee every day. As long as it doesn''t break the quality of life increase will justify the price. Do yourself a favor and grind your own beans and use the My K-Cup reusable filter, the cost per cup goes to less than 10 cents per cup. The K-Cups you buy cost 35-65 cents per cup. I''m saving probably $50 per month grinding my own coffee and using the filter, which means my machine already paid for itself.

One more thing, at the high temperature setting this machine makes the Costco coffee I use taste just like the "Cafe Americano" from Starbucks.

That''s it. Bye.

Want Keurig B66 Single Serve Gourmet Coffee & Tea Brewing System Discount?

If your shopping around for a single-serve coffee brewer, Keurig is it. Yes, its a bit more expensive than some other models, and yes, the K-cups can be costly (about $0.45-$0.55 per cup). But there are accessories you can purchase inorder to brew your own coffee and also those that allow you to use cheaper pods (shop around, they work great). By far its my favorite single-serve unit, and I have tried a few. Each cup is brewed PERFECTLY every timeI love it. As for the noise, I''ve owned the B40 and this B66 model, and this model is alot quieter than the B40 model, though both equally brew a great cup! The noise doesn''t seem to bother me too much. This particular model also complements stainless steel applicances, and you may be able to find it cheaper at SAMS or COSTCO.

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Filtrete Water Station Replacement Bottles (2 Bottles) Save 19% Off

Filtrete Water Station Replacement Bottles, 2 Bottles, Colors Will VaryThese caps screw on which is great! The older style snap on caps broke easily and popped open when dropped. These have colored lids which make it simple to identify when you drink some and stick the rest in the fridge. They are BPA free which is a plus. So I have to say this is the one product I have ever used that has made such great improvements. I will order more of these.

I love this product. I use it every day. I love not spending as much $$ on bottled water. The ony draw back is that it tastes like drinking tap water. It does have a bit of taste to it, unlike bottled water that has a "non taste". The first few fill ups with a new filter it is more noticable, but that might just be because I didn''t flush the filter enough. But overall it works great. Now I just need to convince my family to start using them.

Also, I like the replacement bottles rather than the ones that come with the unit. I like that the have a screw on cap instead of the pop off cap. I may buy a few extras or see if I can by just the tops.

I would totally recommend this product.

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I really like the Filtrete water station and replacement bottles. The water has such a CLEAN taste...better than most bottled water. It is a pain to fill 8 or 10 bottles at a time, but the water is so good, you can''t stop drinking it!

Read Best Reviews of Filtrete Water Station Replacement Bottles (2 Bottles) Here

These bottles that fit on my Filtrate unit, are hard to find. It was great to find them on Amazon. Thank you.

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I''m a little disappointed in these bottles. The 4 that come with the kit have an unusual closure, the whole thing snaps down...pretty self explanatory from the photos. Problem is, the seals wear out QUICKLY if you put them even in the top rack of the dishwasher. But These are replacement, or additional bottles and I like that the caps are colored, nice when others are drinking from the bottles, and the plastic is strong and sturdy, been dropped a lot and take a beating. None have broken. My only complaint on these with with nice screw-tops is they are WAY expensive. Dang.

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Bissell Home Care Inc 2Pk Cleanview Repl Belt 32074 Vacuum Cleaner Belt Save 31% Off

Bissell Home Care Inc 2Pk Cleanview Repl Belt 32074 Vacuum Cleaner Belt
  • STYLE 7 CLEAN VIEW REPLACEMENT BELT
  • 2 Pack
  • Replacement belts to keep your BISSELL vacuum running smoothly

Both the belts snapped after just one use. It was scary to see smoke coming out of the vaccum.Not sure what caused the belts to snap.

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Some of the reviews concerned me, but we needed a new belt asap. Given some of the reviewers mentioned their first belt breaking, I ordered 3 packages (total of 6) ''just in case''. We own 2 Bissells so I know they will come in handy at some point.

First thing I noticed was all 3 packages were retail store packaging from Bissell. Nice.

Second thing I noticed was that each belt looked perfect and went on without a hitch and runs perfectly. Now I have 5 extras. Great product.

Read Best Reviews of Bissell Home Care Inc 2Pk Cleanview Repl Belt 32074 Vacuum Cleaner Belt Here

This product is a great price for vacuum belts. If I need to purchase them again, I''ll get them from here again.

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After much research (6 months) for what to look for in a vacuum, bag vs. bagless, quiet, hepa filter, strong suction, I decided on this Bissell. This machine is easy to propel across carpet and picks up things even in the very corner of its path, which my Hoover never did. I needed a machine that would vacuum both carpet and tile and pick up cat hair. This Bissell Powerglide has power, excellent suction, even for cat hair and is a breeze to operate. The added option of the hepa filter is great the Bissell quieter than the Hoover. I could suggest this vacuum to anyone without any reserve. I actually look forward to vacuuming now which I used to dread when I had the Hoover.

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Was gona send it back but someone saved me the trouble and bought them from me...So to say the least I had and extra belt in my house and fixed my vacuum with that belt thank god it fit m vaccuum also...

DuPont WFRO60X Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System

DuPont WFRO60X Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration SystemI got one of Dupont''s WFRO60X RO kits at a local home improvement store. The install was fairly strait forward since I added in a dual outlet water supply valve to feed the WFRO60X and my kitchen faucet. I also merged in a separate water supply to get cold RO water to the refrigerator.

Filter canisters replace very easily but still drip some water (still better than most). The RO drain line (with restricter) is attached behind the RO filter which makes replacing the RO filter a pain since it is difficult to get to the line disconnect. This is poor design planning just to offer a cleaner appearance for something mounted under a sink or remotely. It was 4 stars at that point.

Awhile ago I noticed slight water damage near the cabinet interior floor but no standing water. After a stake out I finally found a water drop that came from the assembly header and behind the filter canisters. There is a small drain hole in the header. I did not have time to remove all the lines to remove the header and find out what this is. I placed a paper towel to absorb the small drips before they affected the cabinet floor. It dropped to 3 stars at that point.

Recently I found a larger amount of water on the cabinet floor and a soaked paper towel. I removed the lines and took out the header assembly. That was tricky since there is a gallon of water stored under pressure, I suggest adding a valve to the top of the storage tank. This drain hole is a spill port from the auto shut-off valve. It appears that any water leaking past either of the round gaskets will drain from the valve out of this hole and end up in your cabinet. Why was this spill port not incorporated into the line to the sink drain? I dropped to 2 stars since it still works and I am still using it. But it should be 1 star at best.

I will try to get replacement auto-off gaskets and retry. To avoid future failures I plan to tap a line to that spill port and route it to the drain remote mount this in the basement like I should have in the first place. I may consider finding another brand RO filter to replace this one since I am less enthusiastic about Dupont''s design.

Seychelle 1-701-WB Advanced Pure Water Bag Save 9% Off

Seychelle 1-701-WB Advanced Pure Water Bag
  • Removes up to 99.99-Percent of Bacteria and Viruses
  • Produces up to 100-Gallon of great-tasting water
  • Hang it anywhere; tree, car or camper door, table or pole

I recieved my Seychell Pure Water Bag in the mail and gave it a test. it had several leaks (at the pumb-bulb, the filter and the connector on the bag), but being an optimist, I emailed the company, to thier great credit, they sent me a new one at no cost. I tested this one and it was much better. Then I took it on the trail. The first 2 bags full of water (about 2 gallons) filter pretty quickly it came out of the "valve" at a fast trickle. Then it started slowing down to a slow trickle. Since then, I''ve taken it home and cleaned the pre-filter in the bag and the flow has been mostly restored, the pre-filter did it''s job. The filtered water seemed to be pretty high quality (of course you don''t know without a lab). To fill this bag, I resorted to using a second container that I filled and poured into the bag, it is difficult to fill this bag in a shallow water source.

To avoid crimping hoses etc. you need to diassamble it before fitting it in your pack.

A note of caution, one you hang this bag up, do not put your clean water container directly under it because any water dripping off the bag will get into your container and contaminate your "clean water".

OverallGood for a base camp were you have lots of time to let the gravity filter do it''s job...not so good on hikes where water supplies may be shallow.

Buy Seychelle 1-701-WB Advanced Pure Water Bag Now

This purifier holds a lot of water. A little bigger than I originally expected, but a great buy none the less. I''ve used it on multiple occasions out in the mountains, and it has yet to fail me. It''s definitely worth the money!

Healthy Ponds 10145 Fountain Water Cleaner Refill 4 pack Save 44% Off

Healthy Ponds 10145 Fountain Water Cleaner Refill 4 packMy birdbath about 3 gallons was just as gunky as ever. I cleaned it before putting in the first packet, and refilled it with fresh water weekly, but it still was very stinky, with algae on the rocks. I''ll be trying another brand to keep my winter birdbath clean.

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PUR 3-Stage Vertical Faucet Mount in Chrome FM-3700B

PUR 3-Stage Vertical Faucet Mount in Chrome FM-3700B + 4 Replacement Filters BONUS PACK
  • Includes 3-Stage Vertical Faucet Mount in Chrome FM-3700B + 4 x Replacement Filters
  • ULTIMATE in FILTRATION and a CRISP, REFRESHING TASTE
  • Easy One-Click Installation, A Years Worth of Clean Water
  • Built-in Electronic Filter Life Indicator keeps track of your filter life
  • Conveniently provides up to 100 gallons (two to three months) of healthy clean water

I had a little trouble with a leak at first, but a little more tightening and it was fixed. Good thing is that I don''t need to do it again, because if I need a new one, it will just snap in.

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It was exactly what I wanted, exactly as advertised. It came with the necessary adapters to connect to any faucet. Very good deal.

PUR Advanced Plus Horizontal Faucet Water Filter (Silver Matte) Save 30% Off

PUR Advanced Plus Horizontal Faucet Water Filter
  • Reduces chemicals linked to cancer risk - TTHMs (chemical chlorine by-products) benzene, TCE, Toxaphene
  • Also reduces lead, chlorine: taste and odor only, MTBE, Mercury, Cyptosporidium, Giardia, and more
  • ASM filter life indicator
  • Soft touch handle with non-slip surface
  • Easy to install

I have been using various Pur faucet filters through at least 5 units now. Originally the plastic rotate units, then 2 stainless in a row as I moved each time I''d just buy a new one leave the old behind. They are great.....

EXCEPT that the case tends to crack nearest the faucet hookup. This is particularly quick to happen on the units that rotate. But it has also happened to me with the stainless steel unit just happened to me on a SECOND stainless now.

ALSO the screw-on cap in front is a PAIN to remove. It''s round and smooth and hard to find any grip on it when it''s screwed in tight. They really should put a couple of flat edges to give your fingers somewhere to grab. Installing is difficult as well getting that last bit of turn-down to get it flush.

I keep coming back to Pur though even with these defects they are a great value.

Buy PUR Advanced Plus Horizontal Faucet Water Filter (Silver Matte) Now

PUR Water Filter Review \ Hack

Once, long ago, PUR was a great company with great water filtering technology. I still love their filters! Unfortunately, a big bad company named Proctor and Gamble bought them and messed them over in favor of customer abuse. This was accomplished using two methods. The first method is called ''planned obsolescence'' whereby their faucet mount apparatus leak and die briefly after the end of the warranty period. (It didn''t used to be that way in the good old days). The second method is called ''timed death'' whereby their apparatus lock up their enclosed filters at a preset volume of filtered water, whether the filter is actually used up or not.

Planned obsolescence can be overcome by calling up Proctor and Gamble BEFORE your warranty runs out, and letting them know that your PUR apparatus is squirting water all over your kitchen. Ask them to send you a replacement or a replacement certificate. If need be, call repeatedly asking to speak to the President of P&G, never taking ''no'' for an answer. Then take your certificate and get another PUR apparatus. This will provide you with a lifetime for the apparatus more representative of the lifetime of original PUR apparatus. You''ve cheated no one. P&G''s cheat on you has been overcome.

The timed death lockout of your filter is extremely easy to overcome. Pull out the filter from the apparatus. This resets the nasty timing device to zero again. Put your filter back in. TADA! You''re done. Your filter will work as before. Note, however, that PUR filters do eventually get clogged with stuff. You''ll know when to change it.

I hope that helps everyone restore goodness to the universe. I still love PUR filters better than any other brand and wouldn''t be without them. It''s P&G''s customer abuse that''s not worth liking. Shame on you P&G.

Read Best Reviews of PUR Advanced Plus Horizontal Faucet Water Filter (Silver Matte) Here

Like other reviewers, I have been a Pur filter user for years, but lately the units haven''t been lasting more than a few months at a time. I stuck with Pur because of a lack of other options out there similar to Pur. Lately, the units crack or leak or both--definitely not worth the cost. I tried this new design, and so far I''m pleased. It has a cheaper look, though--the ''brushed chrome'' in no way matches my faucet like an old model did. I was alarmed at first with the cheap construction, but the easy installation and quick release has me sold. If the unit breaks within a few months, I''ll write back about Pur and then buy a different brand. So far, so good.

UPDATE: PUR filter fell off after a week or so. The plastic screw-on ring warps because of the weight of the filter. I contacted PUR, they send another ring attachment. It warped in a matter of days. I called them again, got another ring, and it warped in a matter of days. It keeps falling off the faucet. Horrible design flaw! I''ve gone to Culligan filters--very simple, less can go wrong.

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This is my third Pur Ultimate faucet filter. All three leak at the faucet connection after about 6 months of useunacceptible. I had them installed by different plumbers, so it''s not an installation error. Guess I''ll go back to the filter-pitcher, because at $60 for this filter, they can''t figure out how to make them last.

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Great filter system, had one just like it for 5 years still worked, chrome plastic and replaced it with the brush stainless finish.

Purtrex PX20-9-7/8 Water Filters

Purtrex PX20-9-7/8 Water FiltersIf you need fillers buy them by the case, If its cheaper,do the math. I shop a lot at amazon so I brought the year plane for 79.00 . Taxes are free with them only.

GE Air Purifier HEPA Filter Kit

GE Air Purifier HEPA Filter KitThis filter fits General Electric AFHC21AM air purifier.

The filter from Abt through Amazon is shipped with a sealed blue cardboard retail box labeled "GE" and "true HEPA". The filter is also labeled. Your nose can feel the difference in air quality within 15 minutes of using this filter.

A "true HEPA" filter must remove at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 micron (millionth of a meter) or bigger. This includes almost all bacteria. If you receive a generic version of the filter, make sure the box says "true HEPA", and not "HEPA-like", "HEPA type" or "like HEPA". It is much much cheaper to replace filters than your lungs. Many people die while waiting for lung transplant. The

inferior filters allow much of bacteria to pass through. They are not worth the saving.

Klean Kanteen Flat Cap/Polypro

Klean Kanteen Flat Cap/PolyproThis cap is worthless. It made my water taste bad (whereas the original ''sport cap'' never did), so I removed the silicone o-ring and put the cap in the dishwasher, thinking it had some coffee residue on it or something.

After I took it out of the dishwasher, I could hear water sloshing around _inside_ of it! It appears to be completely impermeable there are no apparent holes in it. Nevertheless it has water inside of it, with no evident way to get the water out.

The ''sport cap'' that came with my Kleen Kanteen is hollowed out, like an upside-down cup there is no bottom. This low-profile cap is hollow but has a bottom it has a continuous outer surface like a fishing bobber or something.

Clearly they need to work on their quality-control. Avoid this cap like the worthless POS that it is.

Had to buy this lid to replace the one I broke. My Kanteen fell out of the refrigerator and of course landed just right to bust off the loop cap I had. This one is great and saves a little space with it''s flat top. I hand wash all my Klean Kanteen items, as instructed, so that the water does not seep into the lids. Never let them soak or you will have water trapped in the cap. We''ve had our Kanteens for 5 years now and they have saved us from buying and wasting all those plastic water bottles. Love them!

Buy Klean Kanteen Flat Cap/Polypro Now

I like this a little better than the stainless/plastic one that originally came with my Klean Kanteen. Unfortunately, like the stainless/plastic cap, this cap gets some water trapped inside it when washed in a dishwasher--maybe not quite as much with this one, but I can hear it sloshing around in there when I shake the cap.

This cap is all plastic (polypropylene, which has a fairly safe reputation at this time.)

Unlike the plastic loop-top cap, this one has a a texture around the edge where you grip it to tighten or loosen it.

Read Best Reviews of Klean Kanteen Flat Cap/Polypro Here

This is a good all purpose cap to go along with the Klean Kanteen bottles. We have one of the smaller sippy top bottles that we use for our 9 month old son when we take him out hiking but I use the flat cap to keep his bottle sealed while we''re travelling to the trail. Once we get there, I take this top off and put the sippy top on for him to use while we''re out for the day. The bottle is just tossed in with the rest of our hiking gear while we''re travelling and I''ve never had any problems with leaks at all.

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Durable, easy to wash cap. I use this cap when I don''t need my sports cap.

Bryant / Carrier Humidifier Water Panel 318518-761 Save 23% Off

Bryant / Carrier Humidifier Water Panel 318518-761It appears to work fine and the price is right. May deserve a 5 star if I have long enough experience with it. Will certainly recommend it.

Replacement filter just what I needed. (I really have nothing more to say, but am required to write a minimum number of words.)

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Just as described and works wonderfully. This was a fair price so I ordered two of them. The filter fit just right. Thanks!

Read Best Reviews of Bryant / Carrier Humidifier Water Panel 318518-761 Here

I got 2 filters for almost the same price that my furnace repair company was charging for one filter. Now I am set for next year!

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We use two of these a year even though we have a water softener. Most places charge more than double the price for just one filter. Highly recommended.

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Jura-Capresso 13299 Impressa Z6 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center Save 25% Off

Jura-Capresso 13299 Impressa Z6 Automatic Coffee and Espresso CenterI recently purchased the new Z6 after seeing one at William''s Sonoma around Christmas. I resisted the temptation to purchase until a friend of mine called and told me he found one under the Christmas tree! We both purchased the Capresso 1500 about 3 years ago and thought those were the "Cat''s Meow". Now fast forward to 2007 and the Z6 is here as the super automatic on steroids.

After unpacking I sat down and watched the included DVD twice. Once with my wife and once alone as I set up the machine. After you get through the initial setup and programming the machine is very easy to operate and maintain. Making a coffee drink is as simple as pushing one of 8 drink buttons on the front panel. I like the idea of the thermal milk storage tank but it''s recommended that you don''t store milk in it after use. I find this a little inconvenient to have to pour the milk into another container. With my previous C1500 I just put the plastic milk jug in the refrigerator and used it the next day.

I bought this unit to replace my C1500 for two major reasons. The first was my C1500 struggled to make a really hot coffee drink. I found myself drinking the beverage too quickly to avoid it getting cold or putting it into the microwave to heat it back up. The Z6 makes a hotter beverage that is much improved but still could be a few degrees hotter in my opinion. The second reason I purchased the Z6 was to get a bigger cup under the spouts. The C1500 was limited in what size cup I could place under the spouts and the Z6 allows me to put virtually any reasonable sized cup under the spout.

The Z6 is a beautiful piece to look at sitting on your counter and will be the envy of many a guest. However it has a chrome finish which appears durable but I would caution you to take extra precautions not to scratch the finish as it would be permanent. I place a paper towel on the lower tray when using ceramic type mugs to avoid scratching.

Update on 05/26/2008

I would like to say that the Z6 has been performing flawlessly for the past year and a half. As long as you perform the routine maintenance the Z6 will provide many years of trouble-free performance. I''ve also been putting the thermal milk container in the refrigerator with milk in it with no issues.

I bought the Z6 after my refurbished Capresso C3000 broke down after 3 years. I had liked my Capresso C3000 so I thought I would go with Jura''s top of the line machine (Jura bought out Capresso and now all the machines are called Jura) I had this machine now for about a year and I have to say its is not worth the price $3,600. I listed the pros and cons that I found with the machine.

Pros

1) Looks Great. It is the Rolls Royce of coffee machines.

2) The Espresso/Coffee is good. (Not Excellent, and don''t tell me about using diffrent beans I have, its not like I''m using folgers.

2) The Steamed/frothed milk attachment produces excellent results.

3) One touch button to make cappuccino/Lattes. (Nice to impress friends)

4) Has a timer for when to turn on and off so you don''t need to wait around for the initial warmup time when you first start the machine.

Cons

1)The metal plate where the cup sits scratches very easily.

2)You can only fit a normal size coffee mug (8 oz)under the nozzle. You cannot deviate from this size at all. No travel mugs or slightly tall mugs. Same height restrictions for the cappuchino/Latte attachment.

3) The hotwater dispenser trickles out hot water. It takes almost 1 and half minutes to fill 8 oz of hot water. Its quicker to ''Nuke'' the same amount of water in the microwave for tea.

4) You need to clean the machine with special tablets and they cost about $20 for 6. You will more than likely go thru 1 tablet every 2 months or at least 6 in a year and more if heavily used. Also theres no way around this since the machines displays ''Clean'' and beeps every time you turn it on until you go thru the cleaning process.

5) Also the water filter. This costs about $20 and needs to be changed about every 3 months depending on the use. If you don''t use the filter then you will have to descale the machine every 6 months or so but that also depends on the the water hardness in your area.

6) The electric cord is a fairly decent length which is good thing but its not retractable which is a pain. The C3000 had a retractable cord, so you would only pull out the amount of cord needed and the rest would be unseen. With the Z6 I have my plug right behind the machine on my countertop and have about of 2 feet of cord I need to hide.

7) The silver front is also just plastic and it is not made of any type of metal.

8) The rinse feature (which was a button on the front panel of the C3000) is buried deep in the menu with the Z9. So you have to press the Dial, then turn the dial to go to maintenance then turn it again until you find rinse then you have to press the button once to rinse the coffee spout then again for the espresso attachment (even if you didn''t use it). This is a major pain to do and time consuming especially in the morning. So you tend not to rinse the machince as much as you should. This affects the taste of the coffee because little bits of the old grounds get mixed in with the new ones. On my old capresso I would press the rinse button before I made my coffee and then again after I made it so it would stay cleaner longer and not affect the taste of my coffee.

So, based on these facts i would have to say that for the price I would expect more. It is a nice machine but you could purchase the Jura E8 for the 1/3 the price and it would do everything the Z6 does (Except the one touch cappuccino/Latte) which is overrated anyways. Also there are more fully automatic machines entering the market with almost the same features but lower the price. When I did my research for this machine almost everybody said it was the greatest thing since sliced bread but after paying $3600 who would admit it wasn''t all that?

UPDATE:2012-01-12

So had this machine for a few years now and so far I''m not impressed. The front plastic has warped off near the bottom tray since it comes in contact with water when making coffee/rinsing. The tray that you pull out to clean the grinds an empty the water does not fit that well and the now and then I get the ''Tray missing'' error. When I was cleaning the machine I got a ''error 8'' message and was like ok so what do you want me to do? So I turned off the machine because nothing else worked and had to restart the cleaning process. Pardon my French but that really sucks because the cleaning tablets are not cheap and happened 2 out of 5 cleanings I did. Also the price on the water filter cartridges have gone up by at least 10 dollars. I cannot find anything at the price I bought these at before. I really wanted to like this machine but man for a premium price I don''t think anybody has to deal with these issues.

Buy Jura-Capresso 13299 Impressa Z6 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center Now

I am giving a review of the Z5....not the Z6. I believe the insides are very similar if not identical and that most of the changes were cosmetic. I have had the Z5 for about a year and have been very pleased.

Pros:

Excellent coffee & cappuccino. You can tweak the machine twenty different ways. I think it is not as good as the best coffee joints but it is pretty close. The convenience of waking up and hitting a button can not be overstated. You will hooked forever after a week. It has worked flawlessly since I bought it. If two people in a household go to Starbucks every day, just buy this and it will pay for itself in no time.

Cons:

The biggest con is the coffee temperature. You will see this pop up again and again in reviews. Buy yourself a very well insulated coffee cup and preheat the cup by adding hot water from the machine and letting in sit for two minutes. The cup will then be hot and won''t suck out the energy from the added coffee.

All in all..when my Z5 dies I will most likely replace it with a Z6.

Read Best Reviews of Jura-Capresso 13299 Impressa Z6 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center Here

This is the ultimate in automated coffee centers for home or office. If you are a regular at coffee shops, paying $4 and up for frothy coffee and milk drinks you can make your own and amortize this machine''s initial cost in less than a year. Jura of Switzerland is the leader in this type of automatic coffee centers and it is no wonder they sell so well all over Europe.

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i have had so many issues making the purchase of the Jura Z6 was big mistake.

Jura customer service is basically non-existant

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Bissell ProHeat 2X Select Upright Deep Steam Cleaner Save 6% Off

Bissell ProHeat 2X Select Upright Deep Steam CleanerI shopped online for weeks before deciding. I have been borrowing Bissell carpet cleaners for a while, this one seems to be the best so far. Assembly was easy. It was a little heaver then I expected. I like the water resivoir, they have improved the seals & latches. The stairs are labor intensive, as the water shoots out very concentrated & it takes a lot of work to get them dry. Maybe it just takes a while to get the hang of it. Overall, glad I bought it.

I would much rather have different flooring, but we have carpet on much of the main floor of the house (and elsewhere). Although we have wood in the foyer, we inevitably track dirt into the livingroom and den. We have three children who take food in the living room even though THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED to! And, we have this fantastic Bissell Carpet Cleaner that removes almost all the dirt and stains.

I truly appreciate this carpet cleaner. We bought it based on the reviews of several different companies'' machines. We also purchased it to avoid paying a professional carpet cleaner and decided it would make sense to have one of our own. It is a purchase we are glad we made! Every month or so, my husband (his job) moves most of the furniture, gets the carpet cleaner out and cleans our carpets. They always look great afterwards and they dry within a few hours. The machine really scrubs stains and is able to suction up much of the water. It leaves big wet dusty piles of cat hair (even though we vacuum before cleaning), but I pick those up easily (my job). Our machine gets lots of use and has not caused us any problems at all.

I''ve read that cleaning carpets frequently is not very good for the carpet-it''s supposed to add a lot of wear and tear. However, our carpet is still going strong and we try to use the machine every month or so. Our carpet can get so dirty looking after a while that I don''t really care if it will affect its longevity-having our carpet clean and fresh-smelling is much more important to me.

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I found putting the unit together was easy,it cleaned the white carpets of all foot traffic and dog markings,some months old , and although the carpet was wet for a day, due to the heavy clean it proformed as I expected. It was fantasic on the bamboo flooring and doesn''t need a wipe over with a dry towel as I''ve always had to do. Very good product for the price and cheaper than calling in carpet cleaners four times a year.

Read Best Reviews of Bissell ProHeat 2X Select Upright Deep Steam Cleaner Here

One day last week I walked in from my outdoor patio with a tray full of cooking ingredients, chili sauces, red wine vinegar, cooking oil, etc. and dropped the entire thing in the middle of my very light colored carpet I have so carefully maintained for many years. Every piece of cooked food with sauce all over it went on the carpet, including all the spices and liquids I use to cook asian food outdoors. I panicked and couldn''t believe I did that.

I quickly picked up as much of the food as I could and ran for the Bissell, but all the while thinking my $4,000 carpet was gone. I couldn''t imagine it would even come close to removing these types of stains to the degree the carpet was soaked with them. Dark red heavy stains and chili sauces? No way.

But I was going to give it a shot anyway. No choice. I used some cleaner in the machine I have had good luck with, which is called "Resolve" for carpet cleaners, not their other product for spot stains you do by hand. I ran to get the water in the machine as fast as I could and let it heat for about a minute. Then I went to work and made many passes over the mess. I had to empty the tank many times because of the stuff it was picking up. At first I thought it wasn''t going to work. Huge red stains, but I persisted. A half an hour later and about twenty passes with lots of cleaner, the carpet was PERFECT. This thing saved me the cost of a complete carpet replacement! To this day, I still don''t believe anything could get the stains I had out and I have tried most products, none with this success. THANKS Bissell.

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After much research I chose this carpet cleaner versus a Hoover. I wish I had paid more attention to the negative reviews as they were spot on. First, the single tank for clean and dirty water is a PAIN. It holds very little and there is no indicator to tell you when you are out of solution. So you are working away and then realize you have been out of solution for who knows how long!! You are constantly emptying and refilling the tank.The separate compartment for the actual cleaning solution never seemed to empty, so I guess the machine was just spraying water. Next, as others stated, it does not seem to do a very good job of extracting the dirty solution. When I would go to empty the tank it was usually less than half full. The carpets felt very wet and took quite a while to dry. Finally, after only a few uses and 6 monthes the thing doesn''t spray anymore. What a waste of money! I wish I had gone with the Hoover!!!

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PP Cartridge Filter 10" x 50 microns BB case of 4 units

PP Cartridge Filter 10'' x 50 microns BB case of 4 units
  • Length: 10"
  • O.D.: 4.5"
  • Working pressure: 10 - 40 PSIG
  • Working temperature: Up to 140° F
  • Removes:Dirt, Silt, Rust, Mud

These cartridges have a great performance, even working with very bad water. High flow rate, low pressure dropPlastic Filter Housing 10" I/O: 1 1/2" BB

Bonavita BV1800 8-Cup Coffee Maker

Bonavita BV1800TH 8-Cup Coffee Maker with Thermal CarafeI''m really happy with this coffee maker, having chosen it over the Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Brewer With Thermo Carafe Technivorm 9587. It brews extremely quickly (about 7 minutes), and I measured the temperature of the water coming from the spout at about the 195F-200F range, so it''s in the right range for extracting optimum flavor -the brew from this machine is just at the point of being tip-of-the-tongue scalding. The water is dispensed at a number of different points into the filter, and looking at the grounds afterwards you can tell that the dispersion pattern works well, as the coffee grounds remain clumped at the bottom of the filter, rather than being thinly spread across the entire filter.

Note that this is a minimalistic coffee maker. It is fairly compact, has an unassuming appearance, and there are no glowing dials, no HUDs, no clocks. There''s one control: the on/off switch. It has no timer. It doesn''t have a brew stopper, so you have to let the coffee maker finish before you can pour yourself a cup (since the coffee maker brews so quickly, this isn''t too big of a deal). You cannot navigate your kitchen at night by the light from this coffeemaker, nor can you signal passing UFOs.

Nonetheless, it makes great coffee.

Length:: 2:44 Mins

VIDEO REVIEW:

The video captures brewing the first pot of coffee with the Bonavita and (briefly) how to fold a filter. It demonstrates pouring.

WRITTEN REVIEW:

Today I received my Bonavita Thermal Coffee Maker and made my first brew with it.

First impressions: This is one fast and impressive little machine. No wonder it garnered the Specialty Coffee Association of America''s coveted Certified Brewer Equipment award: one of only four machines to do so as of this writing. This machine makes very hot coffee indeed: I measured the coffee in the preheated thermal carafe right after brewing at 188° F. With a non-preheated carafe the coffee was 183.2° F right after brewing completed.

Temperatures during brewing were at 195° F at 58 seconds into brewing and reached as high as 205.8° F briefly at the 4:04 minute mark and at 203.3° F at the end of the brewing cycle (see photos). Brewing time was 5 minutes 48 seconds, so just under six minutes.

A photo is attached of what you receive with this brewer, and the list, like the brewer, is very basic.

WHAT''S IN THE BOX:

* Bonavita BV1800 8-Cup Coffee Maker

* Bonavita Thermal Carafe

* Carafe Lid

* Filter Basket

* Bonavita "Brewing Perfect Coffee Everytime" Manual

* Small paper insert on how to clean the showerhead (the lid and showerhead are removable and can be cleaned in the dishwasher)

* "Bonavita Exceptional Brew" Manual

* Pink sheet of instructions for care of the thermal carafe, also known as the "Melitta insulation jug."

* Starter pack (4) of Melitta Super Premium Flavor Enhancing #4 Coffee Filters in Natural Brown

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

* Extra filters. A starter pack will get you going for the first few days.

* If you choose it, a gold tone filter, instead of paper filters. I purchased the Cuisinart GTF Gold Tone Filter, which fits inside the Filter Basket, in case you''d like to fit your Bonavita with a permanent filter. Be advised that gold tone filters do let in sediment (depending on how your coffee is ground), so if you use a gold tone filter, you may get sediment at the bottom of the pot. As a sidenote, so far, the Bonavita brew times have remained within the recommended SCAA guidelines when I tested it.

* ETA about the gold tone filter: Although I am a fan of gold tone filters, I have become a big fan of the Melitta filters since my Bonavita purchase as they have no paper taste. So I am sticking with paper Melitta filters for my Bonavita.

MY FIRST BREW:

The instructions are basic and easy to follow. Using the "Bonavita''s Exceptional Brew" manual, I measured 7 grams of coffee for every cup or a total of 56 grams of coffee to make 8 cups. (Bonavita recommends between 7 and 9 grams of coffee per 5 ounces of water. The Bonavita "cup" size is a 5-ounce cup.)

You can also measure your coffee to taste or use the scoop size you usually prefer if that is your preferred method. More detailed instructions are in the manual.

I put a paper filter in the filter basket, folding the crimped edges of the filter (per the instructions on the back of the filter package) -the filter fits perfectly this way. I put the coffee into the filter, then placed the filter basket on top of the thermal carafe. I placed the thermal carafe onto the coffee maker, put in 40 ounces of filtered water, then turned it on. Voila! It began to brew.

The brewing cycle is fast and efficient at just under 6 minutes. I was expecting the filter basket might be clumsy to remove: not the case. Having previously used Chemex, Krups, Braun and even Cuisinart (with all of their dreaded innards), the simplicity of removing just the filter basket and replacing it with the thermal carafe lid was marvelous. One complete turn and the carafe lid was in place.

MY FIRST POUR:

My first impressions of the coffee? Delicious and strong. Hot at 188° F. I went back to the carafe three hours after making the coffee and took off the lid. Still hot. You *will* get hot coffee from this machine: blissfully hot coffee.

HOW TO CLEAN THE CARAFE:

There are a few reviews about exploding carafes. I clean my carafe by only swishing warm water inside of it (see the pink sheet of instructions). I don''t put sponges, plastic dish scrubbers, or anything else inside the carafe. It''s been fine so far.

A NOTE ABOUT PLASTIC TASTE, OR RATHER, THE LACK THEREOF:

There is no plastic taste with this machine. If I put my sensitive nose into it, I smell no plastic smell. I don''t taste plastic in my coffee. Even with the first brew right out of the box. This is likely due to Bonavita''s use of BPA free plastic. Hallelujah!

PROS:

* Very hot coffee.

* Speedy brew cycle of 6 minutes: within SCAA guidelines

* 1400-watt heating element (aluminum)

* Auto off after 15 minutes

* Glass-lined carafe that keeps coffee hot for hours

* One-full-twist easy-on carafe lid

* Easy off filter basket makes clean-up easy

Note:

* I''m only mentioning this so people will be aware in case it happens to them. After brewing, when I lifted out the paper filter from the filter basket, there was a small amount of coffee that had not drained from the filter basket. Apparently this has to do with the position of the hole in the filter basket and is for better extraction. I removed the paper filter and simply tipped the filter basket with its coffee directly into the thermal carafe. The amount of coffee is so small it is insignificant. ETA: After doing this a few times, it depends on the amount of coffee or your grind. The water might drain into the carafe on its own.

WHO SHOULD GET IT:

* If you love coffee; and you just want a deliciously brewed, piping hot, delicious cup of coffee

* If you want a machine that produces fantastic coffee but without all the "bells and whistles" such as programmable features, brew and pause, etc.

* If you are looking for a truly great thermal carafe: one that keeps the coffee hot, pours easily, and has an easily removable and replaceable lid

* If you want a machine that is easy to clean

* If you want a machine that easily fits under cabinets: my kitchen cabinets are low at 17 3/4" and the Bonavita fits under them easily at 11 5/8" high.

Overall, I''m extremely satisfied with this machine.

Please see my photos and video for more details.

Buy Bonavita BV1800 8-Cup Coffee Maker Now

At the time I''m writing this review there were no reviews of this coffee maker and I almost overlooked it and ordered a different one. I would normally wait longer to post a review but this review may bring others attention to this machine. I have only used mine twice but I know from those two times this machine extracts more from the grinds than my Starbucks Barrista did because I can feel the effects of the caffeine after 3 cups (about 3/4 of the carafe) whereas I didn''t feel it at all from the Starbucks unit (also 8 cup capacity) after a whole pot. I don''t notice that the coffee is any hotter than it was from the Starbucks unit but it is piping hot. My Starbucks unit was 8 years old and had started to leak water on the counter during the brewing process and shut itself off before the reservoir was empty requiring multiple restarts. I am not trying to compare the Bonavita to the Starbucks because I did not descale the Starbucks unit anywhere near as frequently as I should have which may well have lead to the leaking problems. The Starbucks unit did brew a very good pot of coffee.

This machine is one of only four coffee makers certified by the Specialty Coffee Assoc. of America for home use. The certification is based on the machine''s ability to heat the water to 195-205 degrees which is the ideal temperature to extract maximum flavor from the grinds. Bonavita claims on their packaging this is the only coffee maker sold with a 1400 watt heating element. The other three certified machines are a Bunn HG Home Brewer (sold on Amazon) which is slightly less money but when I read the reviews is very unreliable, the Technivorm Moccamaster which is $300 (sold on Amazon) the reviews indicated quality control problems, and the Lance Larkin BE 112 Brew Express $300+ (not sold on Amazon) which requires a water line permanently installed and is designed to be built into cabinetry. Since I was not going to spend $300 the choice was between the Bonavita and the Bunn but I immediately excluded the Bunn because of the numerous recent reviews indicating it stopped working and had to be replaced sometimes more than once. Bunn is known for high quality machines but it is very apparent this is not one of them.

The Bonavita''s thermal carafe is manufactured by Melitta and has a glass liner. It can be purchased separately from Bonavita (perhaps Melitta too) and is so satisfactory to use I would recommend it even if you don''t purchase the Bonavita coffee maker. One of the things I noted repeatedly in many reviews of thermal carafe coffee makers (all the brands Amazon sells) was users having difficulty using the tops of their carafes and/or dripping when pouring a cup. This carafe has a very easy to use top that screws on and has a trigger for one handed usage. My Starbucks carafe always dripped and the center spring loaded button broke on two tops. I am thrilled that I don''t have to wipe the carafe and counter every time I pour a cup anymore.

Because of the caffeine effect from this machine''s brew the next pot I''m going to use 3 rather than the 4 coffee measure spoons I have always used to brew 8 cups and see how that tastes. The machine is very easy to use, I simply fill the carafe and pour into the non-detachable reservoir than the filter basket sits on top of the carafe (with the carafe''s top removed). After brewing which takes about 8 minutes you simply remove the filter basket and screw the top on. Again, because of the caffeine effect I have yet to finish a whole pot so I can''t say how long the carafe keeps the coffee very hot but it is still piping hot 2 hours after brewing. My guess is probably 4 hours, maybe 5 like my Starbucks thermal carafe. It uses #4 cone filters and Bonavita claims using the paper filters is preferable to the metal style filter because the paper filters absorb more coffee oils.

The machine appears to be well built and all but the bottom and recessed drip tray area are stainless steel. Two potential downsides of this machine are 1) you cannot pour a cup until the brewing cycle has completed (doesn''t bother me but may bother others) and 2) there is no timer function which for the cost of the machine I think there should be. It is not a feature I used very often on my Starbucks unit so I''m OK without a timer but others may want one.

The reason I rated the Bonavita 4 stars rather than 5 is because the machine is in such limited distribution the $149 price is in my view not a deal like almost every other coffee maker Amazon sells. There are however two ways to look at the price, I read an online review which favorably compared the Bonavita to the Technivorm unit which costs twice as much. Still, I think at some point this machine will have wider distribution and the price will come down. If you go to Bonavita''s website they list the resellers and everybody sells it for $149-$159. I think closer to $100-120 would be a good deal.

It does have a 2 year warranty and at this point given my limited usage of the machine I would say that I am very satisfied with it. It does brew an excellent pot of coffee, is easy to use and clean and I like its appearance. So if you want an excellent pot of coffee poured from a drip free carafe and can overlook the lack of a timer and the ability to pour a cup before the brewing cycle has completed and don''t mind the price this is a choice well worthy of consideration.

I was mostly satisfied with my Starbucks Barrista except for the carafe always dripping so thus far I like this machine better because the carafe doesn''t drip. Here''s a tip for Starbucks machine owners, call their customer service when yours stops working and complain that they have no support because they no longer sell coffee makers. When I did I was initially offered a $10 gift card but ended up with a $25 gift card.

On a side note, I was truly amazed by all the problems other owners reported with virtually every thermal carafe coffee maker Amazon sells. From machines that stopped working to those that spilled water/coffee all over the floor/counter to tops that leaked and/or were difficult to use. I probably spent a good 6-7 hours researching all the thermal carafe models filtered by highest reviews and had selected the Kitchen Aid 12 cup model but before I ordered it I quickly reviewed the models one more time and caught this one on the last of 7 pages of machines with no reviews. I''m glad I did. I hope my review will cause others to consider this machine.

If I encounter any issues with this machine I will update this review.

Read Best Reviews of Bonavita BV1800 8-Cup Coffee Maker Here

Making good coffee is actually quite simple:

1. Buy freshly roasted beans.

2. Grind the beans immediately before brewing.

3. Brew with 195 to 205 degree water.

The brewer can only help you with #3, and although there are various manual methods you can use, there are only two drip machines that are rated to consistently deliver the water at the right temperature: the Technivorm Moccamaster Coffee Brewer with Thermo Carafe and the Bonavita. I''ve been using the Bonavita for a month now, and I''m a very happy camper.

PROS

* The Bonavita heats the water quickly and brews at the temperature they claim. I measured the temp myself and it was right at 200 degrees.

* It makes a full pot (40 ounces) in 5-1/2 to 6 minutes. That''s how long it takes to extract all the flavor from the grinds, so you don''t want a brewer that works any faster. Of course, the coarseness of your grind affects the time. Too coarse and the water flows through too fast; too fine, and it bogs down and over extracts.

* It brews smaller amounts well, too. Just for myself, I make 3 cups (15 ounces) at a time. It takes two or three minutes and tastes just as good as a full pot.

* The showerhead design distributes the water evenly so all the grinds get to participate.

* The design is simple and attractive with a small footprint.

* I''m delighted with the lack of useless bells and whistles. The Bonavita''s only "feature" is that it shuts off automatically. I''m a believer in unplugging small appliances when they aren''t in use (let me tell you about my toaster oven experience sometime... ) but the auto shut-off is a nice safety feature in case I forget.

* The thermal carafe has a well-designed lid that screws on and keeps it sealed, so it should keep the coffee hot as long as coffee could be expected to stay hot in any thermos. I don''t really keep coffee sitting around, so I have no comparison for that.

CONS

* The only real "con" is the price. I don''t see why such a simple appliance has to cost $150, but since the only competition costs twice that much, the Bonavita is the best buy.

* This is really more of an FYI than a con. A lot of steam comes out of the top so you probably don''t want to leave it directly under the upper cabinet while brewing. Just pull it forward.

UPDATE

Please don''t let my comment about the steam discourage you from trying this great brewer. Obviously, any brewer that heats the water adequately is going to put out some steam. Just to be clear, the steam vents are the dot pattern you can see in the picture, on top above the basket, so the Bonavita design nicely directs the steam in one small area.

Keep in mind that you have to pull this or probably any brewer out from under the cabinet in order to fill the water tank anyway, so it''s easy enough to just leave it pulled out while you brew.

Want Bonavita BV1800 8-Cup Coffee Maker Discount?

I''ve been living with my BonaVita (BV) for a few weeks, now, and I can say without reservation that it brews coffee that is the equal of my TechniVorm (TV).

My initial interest in the BV was to check how well the TV was performing after 16 months of continual use, so one of the first things I did was to brew a pot of coffee in each of the machines simultaneously. Then I had my wife serve me samples of each so that I would not know which cup was from which brewer. The brews would have been completely imperceptible had it not been for a very subtle difference in temperatures, with the BV being perhaps as much as 5ยบ F hotter although I did not measure this. I also noted that the TV was just about 30 seconds faster at brewing 1 liter of water, and that the slightly larger hole in the filter holder allowed the coffee to drip into the pot a little quicker. As a whole, the BV is a more conventional looking coffee maker that, at less than half the price of the TV, appears to be just as well made. Only time will tell if it is as durable. I do prefer the TV for the platform on which the filter holder sits. The BV is designed so that the filter holder rests atop the pot, and must be removed in order to pour your coffee. That is a lot simpler, albeit a bit clumsy. Neither the BV nor the TV can make huge amounts of coffee at a time, but if 1.25 liters -about 43 ounces -will suit your needs, you''re good to go.

Given all of the positives, I''d recommend the BonaVita to anyone thinking about the purchase of a high-quality coffee maker; it''s SCAA-certified too.

Rubbermaid #1683-01-11 3gal Orange Water Cooler Save 18% Off

Rubbermaid #1683-01-11 3gal Orange Water CoolerGreat product. My husband had his previous one for 15 years on a work truck. Needed the same one to be able to fit in the box.

I would reccommend this product.

Rubbermaid #1683-01-11 3gal Orange Water Cooler

I was looking for something to give more back to my employees throughout the day, this helped and was very reasonably priced

Buy Rubbermaid #1683-01-11 3gal Orange Water Cooler Now

When I bought this cooler it came in a box and the part for the cupholder was glue on not properly and i believe it use. don''t buy from them.

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