I bought the Melitta for it''s ease of use and good looks. The first time I used it, the regular coffee was fair and the decaf was bitter. Disappointed, we also bought pods from other coffee makers and stuffed them in the holder. Despite the inelegant process, they didn''t leak and the coffee was a little better. I agree with other reviewers that the the water reservoir is too small and it''s difficut to fill. I spill a bit every time I refill, but that''s me. The unit takes several minutes to heat up to operating temperature for cup number one and the second cup takes almost as long go figure? Also, the coffee doesn''t come out as hot as I like, but pre-warming the cup with hot tap water helps a bit. The tea pods are a waste of time. Basically, the tea''s not very good so if that''s the reason you are buying this unit, may I suggest you look elsewhere or buy decent loose tea and brew it in a pot like the Brits? The best thing we found you could make with unit is a half-way decent cafe mocca. Try this: Get a big mug. Fill with the contents of a hot cocoa pack. Install your favorite coffee pod. Press the regular mug button. When it finishes, press the smaller mug button (that''s right, run water through 1 pod twice). The result is an acceptable cafe mocca definitely not Starbucks but not $11.00 either. As for that elusive perfect "cuppa" this isn''t going to give it to you. Convenient, good looking, but only a fair cup-a-Joe.
Quick Update: I tried Maxwell House pods over the weekend. Stuffed them in the holder and the result, a very nice cup of coffee. Again, pre-heating the mug with tap water really helped. These pods are made from 100% Arabica beans great smell and no bitterness. I like a smooth cup and so far, this is it (I had 2 with Sunday breakfast and my NY Times Crossword puzzle.)
I got a really good deal on the MES2R, buy a box of 144 pods for $40 bucks and get the machine for free. So I figured it was worth a shot regardless of all the mixed reviews.
I like, and almost love it! Its not love because my favorite brand (Community Coffee New Orleans Blend) doesn''t come in pods. However I have adapted quite well to the Melitta flavors.
This is NOT a machine for coffee addicts or snobs. If you know what crema is and care as to whether or not you get it, then don''t buy this machine.
However, if you just need a decent cup of joe to get you going and out the door in the morning, then look for a good deal and give it a try.
If you read the reviews you will find some good tips that I have found to be true. Below is a recap, plus some things I have learned in getting to know my Melitta:
1) Read the instruction book, all that stuff about priming the pump is true and required. In fact, I primed mine several times before using it.
2) If you''re not that interested in the tea, use one of the pods and run about 6 10 brew cycles through that one pod. (Just keep refilling the water tank about 3 times) to get rid of the plastic / greasy taste before you brew your coffee. You will only need to do this once, to break it in. Also wash the nozzle, mesh filter and pod holder really well.
3) If you like a large cup, but don''t like strong coffee, then you are in luck, hit the big mug picture and when it finishes hit the little cup picture and you will have the perfect cup.
4) Yes you can use millstone and folger pods; however you must stuff them in, and be warned you may not get a good seal. If that happens you will have some leakage, nothing like what I have read in the reviews, but some streaming down the front.
Also note, when you using these other pods you will get A) more coffee when you push the big mug picture so you don''t have to do it twice and B) and very STRONG cup of coffee
5) When using the Melitta pods, be sure to put the puffier side down first and the flat side up top. Make sure it fits snug, and you should be okay.
6) If you don''t like Melitta try podhead.com, also they sell adapters so you can use larger pods with less manipulation, but I haven''t tried it.
7) While you are waiting for the ready light to come on, allow hot water to run in you mug from the tap to preheat your cup, or stick it in the microwave for a second if you are a milk user.
8) JC Penney''s sells Melitta pods
9) Don''t expect Starbucks, just expect better than Mr. Coffee... actually much better because it always taste fresh brewed, like you just opened the can or package today.
10) If you give this as a Christmas present to someone, be nice enough to print this review and stick it in the box so they will have a pleasant end result.
Personally I like this appliance and can''t wait until the third generation comes out, which I expect will be soon since they are giving them away now. My only fear is they will be run out of business by Phillips. I noticed SAMS CLUB is carrying senseo pods in bulk, but not Melitta, and we all know what SAMS/Wal-Mart want they get.
This machine has me drinking two to three cups a day whereas I used to only drink one (I now drink decaf for the additional cups) so there must be something to it. Also the ability to have variety is great, I could never do this with my other machine since I was only drinking one cup a day, I was afraid if I brought a variety of flavors they would go stale after I opened them. So I was stuck finishing one bag before I could go to something else.
If you get it, enjoy! If you are very picky about coffee (the way I am about crème brulee) then look elsewhere.
Buy Melitta MES2R One:One Single Serve Coffee Maker Now
Don''t believe everything you read about these machines. They do make good coffee (if you use the right blend) and are reasonably well built. But, the coffee is not coffee house quality. It really is a matter of expectations. I believe the Melitta MES2 is the better choice of the many available in a comparative price range. All one shot coffee makers can leak, some are down right cheaply built and some are over priced, but this is a growing segment of the coffee market and can only improve. I was also amazed at the different filter styles which forces you to use only the maker''s particular filter brand. However, you can get away with stuffing a pod from another brand into your MES2 and it will work. I strongly suggest that you visit www.podhead.com for an excellent, although more expensive, alternative to one:one brands of coffee. And, these great coffee blends are available in filters that fit the MES2. Over all, I am pleased with the performance of this machine and the price (with rebate) is very competitive. Just remember the basics, filtered cold water, a good coffee pod and a clean machine = an excellent cup of coffee.
Read Best Reviews of Melitta MES2R One:One Single Serve Coffee Maker Here
It''s a real treat to have an easily home-brewed flavorful latte. Although this will never replace one created with the use of an espresso machine, either from a personal unit or from your favorite coffee emporium, it''s a tasty and reasonably-priced alternative. I''ve had a delicious latte made using a home espresso unit, but those units are expensive and require more handling than this one-cup maker did. OK, so you can''t heat the milk in this machine, but using regular milk was fine because the coffee was very hot to start. The point is that the coffee made using this one-cup maker and pre-measured pod tastes much better than that from a standard home drip coffee-maker, the unit isn''t costly, clean-up''s a breeze, and you don''t have to put your shoes on to get it!
Want Melitta MES2R One:One Single Serve Coffee Maker Discount?
The advent of the one cup brewing system has made me a coffee drinker again!
I live alone and retired a year ago, and was used to having my two cups of coffee each day while at work, but since retiring, making even a small pot of coffee was not something that I wanted to do, because of the mess and bother and waste! Of course, having a pot of coffee sitting around until it gets used, always results in it ending up becoming too strong to drink, and sometimes boiling down to a black sludge when you forget to turn off the machine. NO MORE!
Recently, I saw a Melitta One:One brewing system on sale at Wal Mart and decided to buy it. I think it was a good decision!
I knew that the cost would be more per cup, due to my not being able to purchase in bulk, but there is NO waste, the coffee is always the same in quality and taste, and clean up is almost completely eliminated.
Melitta makes six different grinds, all prepackaged and individually sealed for freshness. Other coffee makers put 18 pods in a bag and forget about freshness after you''ve opened the bag for the first cup. As with all other coffees, you must seek a flavor that pleases you, but that shouldn''t be too hard. They also make several teas, but because of the high product cost, I suggest that you use the unit to heat the water and then use a conventional tea bag.
If there is a negative to this system, it is that the product line is costly, at least in my point of view. I would like to be able to buy in bulk, and have a larger selection of product coffee brands to purchase. As for now, we Melitta people are basically forced to buy only the Melitta brand products in 18 pod boxes. Some competition would bring the prices down. Amazon.com has the best prices, and if you buy enough product, can get free shipping.
When I first got the Melitta system, I, as with others here reviewing, had a problem with machine leakage. When the machine leaked, the coffee was stronger because the leakage water didn''t make it to the cup. I experimented and determined that by pushing the pod down in the pod holder, so that the edge of the pod didn''t inpede contact of the machine lid to the pod holder, the leakage no longer occurred. A tighter seal was obtained. The coffee flavor was uniform and the leakage mess was no more.
Also, a tip for users: I don''t like either too strong or too weak a brew. I also want a full cup of coffee, and neither 5 or 8 ounces is enough. Instead of choosing either a 5 oz. or 8 oz. brew, I do both! First I do the 5 oz. and before removing the cup, allow the water to reheat and then push the 8 oz. button, thus giving me a 13 oz. cup of coffee, from the same pod! That suits my taste and gives me the quantity that I want!
Would I buy the Melitta system again? Probably not, but only because of the monopoly regarding the product line, not for any shortcoming of the system itself! I might try one of the other machines put out by other makers, but would definitely know more about which coffees were available and how much selection and cost of product would be. Single service coffee makers are definitely made for me!
Additional comments:
After making the above review, I found that you can use ANY of the store brand coffee pods (Senseo, Home Cafe, etc.), even though they are of a larger diameter and do not fit the Melitta machine pod holder as designed. You have to crimp the off brand pod, using your fingers, and jam it into the Melitta pod holder, but it will fit, and a good cup of coffee can be enjoyed. The secret is to make sure the Melitta lid makes contact with the Melitta pod holder, so that a good tight seal is assured. I know this works, because I bought a bag of Folger''s pods, and they didn''t fit the Melitta machine. Since the bag was open, I couldn''t return it, so I decided to try to make a pod fit, and it did! Thirteen cups of Folger''s later, and I haven''t had any problems making this accomodation!
If you don''t like the Melitta brand coffees, and it seems, from some of the reviews, that there are many folks who don''t, try other brands using my crude product adaption method, and you should be able to make any other coffee pod product on the market fit your machine. If you then still don''t like the taste, there is nothing more to try. Single service coffee machines might not be for you.
