KDF/GAC Water Filter Cartridge For Undercounter Units Save 41% Off

This is a question, not a review. Since the 2nd stage of this filter uses copper to react with and remove other heavy metals...how much COPPER does it leave in the drinking water? The Romans originally used nice easy-to-work copper for their plumbing, but learned to substitute lead pipes for it, because the lead poisoning was much slower than the copper poisoning.

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No salt water softener electromagnetic havy duty

After using this product for more than one year we have found it to be great! Our water heater was failing, but since we started using this product, it has increased its longevity. Toilettes require less scrubbing, since the minerals do not accumulate and leave a ring.

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Capresso 10-Cup Coffee/Cappuccino Makers Save 20% Off

After spending a few weeks researching various coffee makers and reading numerous reviews and online user reports, I settled on the Capresso CoffeeTEC due to its features and the theory behind how it brews coffee reduced aeration to hold flavor (vacuum sealed carafe), no burner to bake the bean and increase acidity, and 190+ degree water dispensed into the brewing basket, which is very hot for a coffee maker!

I have to admit, I was nervous. I saw two general complaints that were common from online user reports. 1) The carafe did not maintain the water temperature, and 2) the frother ceased to work. A few comments on these:

Thermal carafe: I have no clue how anyone can be having a problem with this carafe, unless there''s a problem with the heat of the water entering the carafe or in how they''re storing the coffee after it brews (like, in the refrigerator, perhaps).

I did some tests on the carafe after getting my CoffeeTEC. The carafe was at room temperature (not pre-heated, as some suggest) when doing this test. Immediately after brewing straight water with the carafe in the closed position, I measured the water temperature at 189.3f using a digital thermometer. I closed the carafe and let it sit for exactly one hour then measured the water at 182.1f, a drop of only about 7f, which is fantastic! Now, I also brewed a full pot of straight water on my now-replaced Mr. Coffee, which sat on a hot burner during the brew process. After brewing, the water temperature was exactly 178f. So, after one hour in the thermal carafe with no burner contact, the Capresso water was hotter than the Mr. Coffee immediately after brewing. Very impressive results!

Frothing problem: I have noticed that the plastic pieces that connect the milk container to the frother do have to be sealed properly for frothing to work. Also, it is necessary to clean the items after frothing; a very simple and quick process. Occasionally my unit will not froth immediately even though the steam would blast in an attempt to froth. This has been very easy to solve. After turning the steam on, I simply press the milk container tightly against the plastic piece that connects it to the frothing nipple. Don''t worry if you don''t understand this description. You have to own the unit to know the pieces I''m discussing. Just understand that with some minor manual jostling, the milk will flow and froth wonderfully!

Now, as for my assessment of this coffee maker... it is the best coffee maker I have ever owned! I''m knocked-out by the quality of brew I''m getting. Just as good if not better than commercial coffee houses, because I can make it to my specifications!

A few comments on this though... it took a few weeks for me to figure out exactly how to use this coffee maker so it brews to my liking. When I brewed my first cup, I didn''t care for it. Keep in mind, this unit brews water quickly through the grind. It extracts flavor and aroma through heat, not prolonged water contact with the bean. As a result, you will have to use more coffee than most coffee makers.

As an example, I used to measure one rounded tablespoon of beans (pre-ground) for every two 5oz cups, then I''d add one extra tablespoon for added body. So, for 20oz of coffee, I''d use three tablespoons of beans. With this coffee maker, I''ve learned I need to use one tablespoon for each 5oz cup plus one extra for added body. So, for the same 20oz pot of coffee, I use five tablespoons of beans.

Also, the other detail I discovered is, it was necessary to grind the beans finer than I had before. I''ve started grinding the beans on the Espresso setting of my grinder rather than the automatic drip setting. This made a huge difference on the strength and flavor of the coffee.

So, keep in mind you''ll want to play with the quantity and fineness of grind. If you use canned grinds, you have much less leeway. You''ll just have to add much more grind, but be careful! Don''t add too much or it will overflow the basket. Always adhere to the maximum grind amount Capresso recommends in the documentation.

The coffee maker comes with a gold filter. You may or may not like using the filter; I elected not to use it. The gold filter allows more oil and particulates into the coffee. Some like this; others don''t. It makes for an oilier, cloudier brew. Using paper filters, more of the fine particles are filtered out and much of the oil is kept from leaching into the carafe. The coffee is cleaner, clearer and not murky. I prefer using paper, but the preference is highly individualistic. I''d suggest running some tests and decide for yourself.

In the end, I find the coffee to be superb! This coffee maker is a fine-tuned piece of equipment that responds to the subtlest of changes you impart on the brewing process. Change the fineness of the grind or the quantity of beans used and you''ll experience a noticeable difference in the outcome of the brew. After I determined the right balance that suits my pallet, all I can say is, "Wow!" The flavor and body is nutty, winy and full, the aftertaste smooth and non-acidic, and the aroma outstanding! I highly recommend this coffee maker.

But, plan to make a number of pots when you first get it with the understanding that many of those pots will probably go down the drain. It''ll take some test runs to determine the quantity of coffee you''ll want to use, the fineness of grind, and which filter to use. With due diligence, you''ll have a splendid coffee maker from which you''ll enjoy each day''s coffee for years to come, custom made specifically towards your taste.

So, read the other reviews for what they are and keep in mind some of my comments. In my experience, many of the complaints reflect a user who hasn''t experimented with the grind quantity and fineness, and hasn''t been adventurous enough to work the "piping" when frothing.

I''ve been impressed with the well-thought out products coming from this relatively small company in the small appliance industry. Their Swiss designers have the leading edge technology in coffee makers and the CoffeeTEC is the latest innovation. Coffee is brewed 10 cups in under 8 minutes, and that''s fast. The idea is to have the fresh coffee exposed to hot water for the minimum amount of time, so flavor is extracted without extracting the bitter parts of coffee flavor. CoffeeTEC does this really well. A special 3-5 cup brewing selector makes it possible to brew a perfect small pot of coffee. The coffee goes directly into a stainless steel vacuum carafe, and after removing and sealing the pot the coffee stays hot for hours but never gets heated over and over again as in a traditional hot plate coffee maker. The Auto Cappuccino feature is a genuine plus for those of us who want some frothy milk with our coffee, it turns cold milk into hot milk and froth in seconds. Since all the works are outside of the coffee maker, it''s easy to clean and to remove the milk container for refrigerator storage. This is a winner in the category of latest coffee technology.

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This is the second review I have written for this product (Please see the review directly below this one by "bookdeep"). I am pleased to report that we now LOVE this machine, ever since we discovered the "trick," and I am writing again to try and rectify the embarrasingly harsh review that I sent before. As I said in the first review, the coffee machine works fine: it makes a great cup of coffee quickly and efficiently, and it is easy to clean. Initially, we had some difficulty with the frothing mechanism; however, the solution turned out to be very simple. In order to start the steaming/frothing mechanism, there is a large dial that must be turned one-quarter turn from "Twelve O''Clock" (Steam Off) to "Three O''Clock" (Steam On). We discovered that when you turn the dial to the Steam On position you have to bear down on the dial a tiny, tiny bit: maybe the dial would actually go to 3:01 on the clock face, maybe even less. When we do that, the frothing starts immediately, every time. It seems that our trouble was that we were a little too delicate turning the dial. Note that this "overturning" is very slight: we wouldn''t want anyone to damage the machine. I wish that I could take back the previous review because that low rating will have an affect on the average for this product, but I cannot. I hope that writing to correct our error will help others who may consider this machine. Please note, that in spite of the brand name "Capresso" this is not an Espresso machine; it is a coffee maker with a frothing mechanism, which works amazingly well now that we know the trick. If this is the combination that you are looking for, then we cannot recommend this machine highly enough--it does do both of these jobs very well. And now that you know the trick, maybe there will be fewer frustrated, and more happy, coffee drinkers like us.

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This is a fine, easy to use, machine that I''m really enjoying having in my kitchen. I had never used a milk-steamer before, and found the idea a little intimidating. But the process is really quite painless, and now I''m wondering why I did without it so long (even my java-phobic bride is enjoying homemade hot chocolate thanks to the steamer).

Anyone who enjoys having a pot of coffee on-call throughout a morning should avoid glass pots like a cliché and instead use a thermal carafe like this one. Not only does it keep coffee steaming hot without constant re-heating, but the wide top and easy-off lid make for easy clean up when you''re done.

The coffeemaker is elegantly designed, seems relatively sturdy, and looks nice on a countertop. Plus, it''s fast, fairly quiet, and -as I said -easy to clean.

For someone like me who just wants to enjoy coffee without trying to become a home barista (''professional maker of complex espresso drinks''), this is as much machine as I think I''ll need ... at least until the one with the built-in burr grinder arrives.

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It makes the best coffee I''ve ever had. The carafe works perfectly and keeps the coffee hot, and at nearly peak flavor, for hours. Those few reviewers who say that it doesn''t keep the coffee hot simply have a carafe with a broken vaccuum seal.

I''m bothering to write a review because I had a problem with the machine, as some others have: the steamer stopped working properly, and the water tank was leaking. But at that point my experience was totally different from that of other posters who have complained about problems with the equipment and Capresso customer service. Get this: we had no warranty information on the machine, having received it 2nd-hand. Still, when my wife called their customer service, with no questions asked we were sent a pre-paid UPS label to return the unit. I put it in a UPS box on a Monday morning. On Wednesday afternoon---two days later---I received a new machine via UPS. (I know that they first received the machine I sent before sending the replacement because they replaced exactly what I sent, no more, no less; i.e., I sent the machine with just the water tank, none of the other parts, and I got back just a machine with a water tank.) I''m as pleasantly astonished by UPS getting it back and forth so quickly as am by Capresso simply and immediately fixing the problem at no charge.

Maybe Capresso "got the message" about customer service and made some changes. I could be bothered that the machine developed problems in the first place, but hey, things break. The bottom line for me is that it makes PERFECT coffee and, when there was a problem, Capresso took care of it astonishingly well.

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Jura-Capresso 13185 Impressa F7 Espresso Machine

After 7 years or so of using a bulletproof Starbucks Barista which produced great espresso and copious microfoam, I bought this machine for my wife for Christmas (although she swears it was yet another gift to myself). The build quality and ease of use is great. The espresso is very good (but not up to the standards of a well pulled shot off a semi-auto). Nevertheless, the lack of any mess and pushbutton convenience outweighs any complaints about the quality of the shot don''t get me wrong, it pulls a very nice shot. What it doesnt do well is create the beautiful microfoam an experienced user can get using a traditional steam wand. All of these super-autos have that annoying steam-assist wand which is supposed to require no skill to create foam. Unfortunately all it does it create these large crappy bubbles and very little foam. To make matters worse, the side steam holes get clogged very easily and then the result is NO FOAM. I called wholelattelove and Capresso looking for a solution and they each had no clue either (a) how to solve the problem, or (b) why in the world I didnt like the crappy large soap bubble excuse for microfoam. Well for $8 I found a Krups metal steam tip off the net (go to culinaryparts.com for a $1.99 steam tip plus $6 shipping) and screwed it on to the end of the metal wand after having discarded the useless steaming aid sleeve and old plastic tip, and VOILA! -awesome foam made in half the time I could do the same thing with my old Starbucks Barista. These machines all have a Thermoblock for steaming unlike the traditional boiler on a better semi-auto. Nevertheless it is enough and the foam is first rate as I said. The only other thing to be aware of is that these machines cant use my beloved Peats coffee beans too oily and they get stuck in the hopperso I am still searching for a good dark roast which is not too oily. But for now after a month of use, I am happy with the espresso and the foam and delighted to make my morning cap with a minimum of effort. The F7 in particular is a great machine as against the other Juras. It is more programmible than the E* and much simpler to use (and smaller footprint) than the pricier units. I almost bought the F9 but there is just too much to think about on that machine and the bright chrome is a bit too shiny and pretentious. The F7 is the perfect mix of functionality and understated good looks. It is also the newest technology from Jura so it has some small touches that the F9 doesnt have, such as a 120 second steam timer versus the 60 second timer on the F9.

Update to the above review:

After many more months of use I am loving the Jura F7, and I found the beans to use: Blue Bottle Coffee Hayes Valley Espresso. Not too oily but very flavorful. Perfect for this machine. Better than Peats, and definitely fresher. I am not going to list their website here cause I dont want to look like a shill for them. But you can find them, I am confident. They will mail out to you for no additional cost.

By the way, the review above that says the F7 is a shinier version of the E8 is incorrect. The basic mechanism may be the same, but the programming functions and other nice features are significantly different. If you''re already spending this much coin, the F7 is a better deal than the E8. Just my humble opinion.

I got the Impressa F7 for mother''s day and it has changed my life around! The coffee is predictably par excellence and both my husband and I have no desire to go out for coffee anymore. In fact when we are out, we would rather come home than go to Starbucks.

The machine seemed formidable at first (I find any thing with manuals to be intimidating), but after reading the manual and trying out the F7 a few times I got it right. I have since perfected the art of frothing and steaming. It comes with a video, though I did not watch it.

CONS: has a fairly large foot print....needs a lot of counter space.

Flavored coffee beans cannot be used in the grinder....something to do with the oils. Because of this I have switched from hazelnut coffee to unflavored coffee, and frankly, the coffee is so good that I don''t miss the flavored kind.

The accessories such as the water filter and the cleaning tablets are not easily available.....I have to order them directly from Capresso, or from Williams and Sonoma.

Finally, although this is a somewhat expensive machine ($1400), we have recovered half the cost of the machine over the past 3 months by not going to specialty coffee stores and spending $3 for each cup.

Hope you find this review helpful.

KS

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My wife LOVES coffee...I like coffee...she works ..I work...we have three kids...I would try to stay in bed longer than her to keep from having to make the coffee in the morning.. For Christmas I bought an Impressa F7 ..I was only prepared to spend about $1000 on a coffee machine at Williams-Sonoma...but the machine I could get for that really lacked some basic features...there were more expensive machines...but the F7 seemed to have most of what I wanted ...I got up Christmas morning to set up the machine, which was relatively easy...(although after 7 or 8 cups of "tweeking" the machine, my heart was pounding up in my throat and when the kids came down to see what Santa had left them I sent them back upstairs for making too much noise)...The coffee was REALLY good...it took a while to learn how to adjust the machine to get what we each liked, but now we love the machine...although there are occassional issues such as a luke warm cup now and then and the frother is marginal...it has made our life in the morning a very pleasant experience...it really doesn''t require much upkeep ....wouldn''t give it up now...

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Length:: 7:10 Mins

Great tasting coffee & espresso, but for nearly $1k I shouldn''t have to burn myself and spend nearly 15-20 minutes cleaning up a mess caused by an unacceptable & fundamental flaw in engineering.

Since the second day we owned this product the steam wand has flown off at random temperatures; as low as 100 deg. F and as high as 160 deg. F. I''ve tried adjusting how low and high I have the steam wand inserted in the milk. I''ve even de-calcified the machine and tried again. Nothing helps the situation.

I called the company technical support and they suggested a new steam valve. We waited over a week for it to show up only to find out they sent us the wrong one! We told them our model number; they even referenced the manual with us on the phone.

I called technical support a second time and the guy affirmed they''ve had a few people call with this same issue. The worst I''ve seen was a written review on Costco.com for this product where the guy owned it for 5 months before this started happening to him. Can you imagine being stuck with this problem after 5 months of owning it?

Pay specific attention to 4:20 into the video. Avoid this company at all costs! Virtually all of their machines employ the same type of steam wand.

Many people have reported having to send their units in MULTIPLE times for VERY EXPENSIVE repairs many times costing $180 or more. I spend that much on maintenance for my vehicle! But after spending nearly $1,000 on this machine there''s no way in heck I should have to spend another cent! This thing should JUST WORK and for MANY MANY MANY years without flaws... certainly NOT one that can potentially scald the heck out of me with HOT MILK.

Watch the video to see just how awful it is (specifically 4:20 into the video).

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I am not a coffee shop expert so my expectations may be different than yours. My needs were the following when considering buying this machine:

1. Consistant coffee shop taste and quality.

2. Easy to use

3. Easy clean up

4. An intelligent machine

5. Well built

This machine is really cool. It makes the whole coffee making process so simple. The results are fabulous. Everything comes out nice and hot. The machine is very intelligent with a lot of cool little features in place to make your life easier. The frother works great. Setup was a breeze. I got it on amazon.com for $853.00 brand new from a marketplace seller. A great deal it was!

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Essick Air 4-Speed Tower Humidifier

Overall, this is a great humidifier.

SIZE: The tower shape of the unit makes it perfect for environments where there is more wall space to consume than floor space. It''s fairly large: as a point of reference, it rises a little higher than the arms of my living room sofas and it''s rectangular shape is about the size of a magazine, plus about 1.5" on each side for the two tanks.

CONTROLS: The digital controls makes it pretty easy to operate. It''s a simple, two-button interface with an easy-to-read display. The automatic humidistat can be set from 25-65% (at 10% intervals). The current and desired humidity level are shown side-by-side on the display using indicator bars. When set a desired humidity level, the automatic humidistat will run the unit until the current humidity reading is 10% higher than your preference, then turn it off until the current reading drops to 10% lower than your preference. This is a pretty nice feature it saves power and conserves water so you don''t have to refill the reservoirs as frequently. You can also choose to run the unit continuously by not setting a preferred humidity level.

FAN NOISE: There are four fan speeds. The first three speeds are all very quiet and wouldn''t be disruptive (or even noticeable) in most settings. The fourth and highest setting is more noticeable, sounding something like a microwave oven but slightly softer and quieter. It might be enough to make you turn up the TV a little while watching the news, but really no worse than that.

DISPLAY: The display also has a green power indicator and a red indicator to let you know when both reservoirs are empty (the unit will stop when this is the case until at least one reservoir is refilled). I did find it kind of odd that the product uses LED bars to display the humidity levels and two-digit numeric readout for the fan speed (even though the highest speed setting is only 4). It almost seems to me that these should be reversed, but that doesn''t really reduce the effectiveness of the unit and the interface is still pretty easy to read and use as designed.

SETUP & USE: The unit is fairly easy to setup and maintain. The two wick units and the plastic grill covers that enclose them can be a little cumbersome when snapping them in and out of place. This is not a particularly big problem, since the wick units only need to be replaced at the beginning of each season to avoid mineral buildup.

The two reservoirs, on the other hand, are very easy to remove and replace while the unit is operating. Each is the full height of the unit and about 2 inches thick with a simple click-latch fixing them snugly to the unit''s sides. Despite their large and odd shape, they''re surprisingly easy to fill even at a small bathroom sink. They each can hold a little more than their rated 1.5 gallons when topped off and the fill-caps hold this amount without leaking. The instructions say that the water level in these tanks is "easily visible" from the sides. The water level can be seen from the sides, but I wouldn''t describe it as "easily"; the dark tint makes it pretty difficult to see from any distance. I often have to gently rock the unit a little to find the surface of the water move before I can judge.

When this unit is running continuously at full speed, it can run through both reservoirs twice in a single day (that two times each, or 6 gallons total). Unless your environment is *extremely* dry, I think that''s about the max. With more practical and conservative settings, they only need to be filled every 2-4 days, which is a much more relaxed refill schedule to keep.

The unit does work well even for larger, dryer spaces. You''ll be able to notice an immediate difference in the air near the humidifier as soon as you start it, and the effect radius grows pretty quickly especially on the highest speed setting.

SUMMARY: All in all, this is a nice multi-room humidifier that looks good, fits easily, works well and is easy to operate with a nice feature set for it''s price range.

The first Humidifier I received, did not work properly. I called the "800" listed on the insert if you encountered a problem. Actually a live person answered. I explained the problem, she knew exactly what was wrong, said it was defective, send it back and we''ll ship a new one.

I received a new humidifier within a week. Put it together and it works perfectly. You can set the percentage of humidity you would like and the humidifier shuts on and off to keep the humdity at the selected level. I like the fans 4 speeds. Setting number 1& 2 are very quiet, although 3 and 4 are not bad. The humidifier covers 1300 sq feet which is perfect for my entire downstairs. There are two water tanks, I fill them every other day, but the humidifier shuts off and a red light appears when it is out of water.

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I''ve tried several humidifiers and this one is the easy to use and is easy to fill.

The design makes it very easy to find a place that is out of the way. The high(4) fan speed is noisy, but the 3 speeds below that are quiet. I set the humidity to one below the max with fan speed at 3 and it goes through one tank every 4-5 hours. I also use a Protec cartridge placed in the base of the reservoir and have had no problems with mildew so far. This one is a keeper.

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Having used an ultrasonic humidifier for the past couple of years (before it gave up completely), we wanted to try a different style humidifier. This one seemed to fit the bill.

First off, the build quality is terrible. The quality of the plastic is sub-par. It''s brittle, terribly molded and roughly finished. One side of the unit didn''t even have the plastic punched out for the latches that hold the filter cover in place. The latches that hold the water tanks in place are imprecise and difficult to operate, leading to difficultly latching and unlatching the tanks. I could see this as an obvious point of failure with repeated use.

Forgiving this, the unit works well to quickly humidify a decent sized room. The fan is quiet and effective at lower settings (1, 2). It gets louder at 3-4 but isn''t too loud. The humidity settings are reasonably accurate, tested against a calibrated hygrometer. Two full tanks will keep our large bedroom at ~50% humidity during cold, dry furnace-heated days for around 36 hours.

The tanks might have kept us humidified longer if the unit didn''t randomly overflow and leak water all over the floor. I would guess that whatever mechanism is in place to prevent the gravity-fed reservoir from overflowing just isn''t built to high enough tolerances to prevent this problem. We tried placing the unit on a baking sheet to contain any small leaks, but even that overflowed.

We will be looking for a different unit once the return process is complete.

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I purchased (2) of these units from the local Menard''s store. I really liked the narrow footprint and quiet operation mode. Unfortunately, they are of poor design and build.

The water bottles side load vertically, and if you don''t seat the bottle correctly on the small feed socket, you''re going to get a 10" inch puddle. This is managed by learning how to ''quick'' set the bottle into the unit. With a little practice one can get the hang of it. Still, I''d recommend you put down a water pan under the unit. I use a boot tray for winter boots.

After about 30 hours, one of the units had a fan failure. The second unit has had a problem with the control panel the switches stopped working. I was able to get it to run on full speed. I returned the first unit to the store within the grace period for a refund, but got stuck with the second unit.

Really, you''re taking a big risk buying this model.

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Van Houtte Cafe Swiss Water Decaf, Fair Trade & Organic Light Roast Coffee

My family and I do not like the taste of most of the K-cups. We use the My K-Cup with our own fresh ground coffee. But for decaf in the afternoon, the Van Houtte Swiss Water Decaf tastes great -we think it''s just as good as our own fresh brewed caffeinated coffee.

There are a couple of problems I''m having with this brand. While the coffee itself tastes great, I think that maybe they are overfilled as it''s the only K-Cup I''ve ever used that leaves a fair amount of grounds in the cup and in the K-Cup holder after making a cup. The other problem I''ve had is the bottom needle has gotten plugged twice from using this brand of K-Cup. The plastic they use seems more prone to clogging the needle. I''ve run 100''s of k-cups through my B-60 and these are the only times I''ve had "problems" with it.

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This is an awesome decaf. It is not at all bitter and doesn''t have that burnt taste that alot of decaf coffee has. My husband and I love it!

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Long Story:

I have become interested in decaf coffee and recently learned about the swiss water decaffeination process. After working in at an employer that only serves coffee through K-cups, I wanted to stop drinking the regular style decafs and found the Van Houtte option. I just had my first cup and wow! I would say this taste better than most of the non decaffeinated coffee options we have.

Short Story:

If you are looking a great tasting swiss water decaf k-cup this is the option for you!

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One of the best decaf K-Cups I have ever had. Nice, smooth, consistent flavor. I will definitely order these again.

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Watts Premier 201007 Big Blue GAC Radial Flow Green Carbon Filter Save 9% Off

• Effectively reduces sand, silt, sediment, rust, chloramines, chlorine taste and odor
• Designed to allow maximum contact between the water and the carbon ensuring optimal reduction capabilities with reduced pressure drop
• 20 micron GAC filter
• Part of the Watts Premier green line of premium coconut shell carbon filters
• Compatible with Watts 213089 and 213057 housings, as well as other whole-house filter housings that accept 9.5 by 4.5-Inch filters

We''re on a well, out in the country. Lots of iron and sediment and sulfurous odor. I installed this in a GE Whole House filter housing.

Flow rate seems fine and I think it''s filtering but it only took a week and a half for the sulfur odor to return. So far the GE filters have been the best.

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iSpring 3-Stage 20" Whole House Water Filter 1" NPT Carbon Save 15% Off

• Three Stages of filtration in 20" housings
• Removes a wide range of contaminants, including Sediment, Chlorine and Organic chemicals
• 1" inlet/outlet for big flow with NEW all-metal fittings!!!
• Pressure Release Button for fast release of the whole house water filter pressure
• Standard replacement cartridges 2.5" x 20" (one set of three is already included: 1 Sediment + 1 GAC Carbon + 1 CTO Carbon).

This filter is a good idea and fairly priced, however the fittings that thread into each end are poorly manufactured and thought out. The 1" NPT pipe fitting has to be screwed in to rubber washers on each end, no the directions don''t say this there are no directions included, after several trial and error attempts I found one side needed two washers and the other side needed three, there were five washers included. The supplied fittings are for 1" NPT fittings to be threaded in, I used PEX fittings with teflon tape and they both leaked. No amount of tightening would stop the leaks, they were really tight too. I finally took them out, cleaned off the tape and put red Loctite on them and let them dry over night, problem solved, no leaks at the fittings. I already had to replace one of the O rings on the filter as is was cut from the factory, I found the bad O ring before I Installed the filters after taking their wrappers off. There isn''t anything to hold them in place and you have to very carefull they don''t slip out of place when you screw the cartridge back on. The filter seems to work fine, but it''s like a lot of stuff from China, second rate. You can make it work if you really want to. I think I''d pass next time though.

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Once I got this product installed I really like it regarding water quality. The assembly instructions were very bad and there were extra washers in the pack that we didn''t know what to do with. My buddy has been a plumber for many years and we continued to agree and disagree on what to do with the extra washers etc. We threaded it on several times with two washer and then with one until we settled on what we felt would work... we were lucky and the unit did not leak so I feel we guessed accurately. Putting this thing together should be a very easy thing to do without much previous knowledge. The lack of directions and extra parts actually made it worse. If we had used our common sense rather than try to follow directions it would have been done much sooner... that all being said the worse thing about this product is installing the filters. You have to line the filter up with the center bottom of the glass tube and the center of the base unit... when you thread the glass tube up inside the unit the filter falls to one side forcing it to be not aligned... It takes about 10-15 trys per filter to get it to sit in the center and thread the bowl on... about put me over the edge. I guess I will have to deal with that every six months. My friend has more patience than me and that helped. You might need a six pack to calm your nerves first.

Bottom line,

1) very poor directions

2) Extra parts you end up needing after throwing away directions and doing it the way you feel best.

3) Filter alignment issues that will make you crazy.

4) Very good price

5) Very good water

It only took us a couple of hours to install. Had to redirect plumbing and add shutoff valves on both sides plus I added a bypass valve to eliminate if I didnt like it. Wish my outside hose bibs were on separate lines. They were not in my house so I have filtered water to clean cars and water garden... not best case and will eventually rerun these lines. If building a new house make sure those lines outside hose bibs are dedicated lines so you can separate them and only filter inside water.

Once it is installed you only have to deal with it every six months. Invite a patient friend over for a beer.

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Austin HealthMate HEPA Air Filter

Note: this review is for the Austin HM 400 Black model.

This purifier generates three different levels of white noise, depending on which of three settings you use. It''s quiet on the first setting but the 2nd and 3rd highest are nice for masking background and outside noise when you need to sleep without interruption. Unfortunately, my HM 400 developed a minor rattle after about three years of moderate use.

I didn''t use it every day, nor did I run it at top speed very often. I mostly used it at night while I was sleeping and often I''d go for months without running it (e.g., during the warm months, I mostly relied on my fan and open windows for fresh air, and even when I used my air conditioner, I didn''t usually use my air machine, save for this past summer).

I was going to send the machine back for warranty repair back when it was still only a few years old, but the noise was only intermittent and ultimately went away after a brief while. Meanwhile, the power cord frayed because there was no rubber shield around where the cord came out of the cabinet. Very poor design! I had to repair that myself (and no the motor fluctuation issue is not due to a shorted or faulty power cord).

Anyway, after seven years of what was at mostmoderate use, the motor is now not working properly at all. It starts out normally but after a minute or so, it begins to vary speed until it slows down and stops working. I tried replacing the motor run capacitor after reading another Amazon review that documented a similar problem, but the machine is still varying its speed and stopping even after I replaced that part. Furthermore, there is no place on the motor to inject lubricant, unlike the motor on my old box fan (which I have have had and used almost daily for many years).

I am very disappointed in the poor quality of this machine. I took very good care of it, keeping it clean and replacing the expensive ($200) filter when it needed one. This thing should not have failed, considering how expensive it was and all the good press about it.

Be warned if you buy one and it breaks, you have to ship it back to Buffalo, NY. You can''t take it back to a dealer or authorized repair center for warranty service. And Austin is not clear about whether you have to pay the shipping and insurance even when you are within the warranty period, so get something in writing before you ship it back.

In any case, you are risking your money if you buy one you cannot assume you will get a quality product.

UPDATE: January 15, 2012 I did ultimately get some Zoomspout oil into the motor, even though it''s clearly not meant to be lubricated. That definitely helped. I was able to get this thing to run for at least a half hour without any problems (I probably could''ve run it longer without issues). But when I looked inside after each test run, I noticed some oil getting to places where it shouldn''t. Good thing I removed the filter, because I could have ruined that. I also notice a faint electrical burning smell in the motor housing after each run.

So, I decided to get a used HM 400 on eBay. I also got a couple of Austin Juniors (HM 200s). I now run one of the little ones quite a bit and it''s a nice machine.

The people at Austin Air have been helpful to me on the phone and online. But I wonder about the quality of their newer machines. Two machines I got from eBay are older, more than ten years old, and I think they''re better made than the one I already had, which I bought new in 2004. So, I think the issues with their products are probably more from the newer machines, which I think are made in China now.

One other note: the new filter I bought for the HM 200 (Austin Jr.) was defective and I had to return it after only about three weeks'' use. But my filter was exchanged, with free shipping and with no questions asked.

Why do I continue with Austin Air purifiers amidst such issues? Nothing beats them when they''re working properly. They make great white noise if you want it (you can use a quiet setting if you don''t want white noise), they really do seem to clean the air, they''re economical (other machines require about $15-$30 a month in new filters while Austin filters can last 3-5 years), and the older ones are pretty durable.

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Whirlpool 4396841 PUR Push Button Side-by-Side Refrigerator Water Filter Save 31% Off

• NSF certified refrigerator water filter retains beneficial fluoride in water while reducing chlorine taste and odor
• Also reduces particulates, lead, and mercury
• This model (4396841) can be used to replace filter models 4396842 and 8212650
• Does not reduce the amount of fluoride
• Replace every six months

We purchased a new Whirlpool refrigerator earlier this year. The new refrigerator has all the marvelous improvements developed in the last ten years for refrigerators, including a water filter.

The water filter really does deliver better water. However, the water filter seems quite expensive to me. Whirlpool, and other manufacturer''s that use this type of filter, recommend the filter be replaced twice a year, whether you need to replace the filter or not.

The filter is relatively easy to replace, but be aware of what happens when you pull the filter. To remove the old filter you push a button next to the filter, typically to the left of the filter. Then pull on the cap covering the filter and pull the filter out. Make a note of how the filter was oriented when you pull it out.

The filter will now begin dripping water, so have a paper towel or small bowl available to let the water drip into. You can either let the filter finish dripping into a sink, or throw it into a plastic bag that you can seal to keep the water from dripping out of the bag. Be sure you remove the cover from the filter before you toss it. On our Whirlpool the cover twists counterclockwise for removal.

Install the filter cover onto the new filter. It takes just a twist to lock it into place. Holding the filter so that the two straight pieces on the end of the filter are vertical, with the open portion of the filter cover oriented on the bottom, slide the new filter straight into the filter cavity until the button on the left clicks to let you know the new filter is locked into place. Note that these instructions are for a Whirlpool, but I believe most other refrigerators are similar. You should be ready to go!

Had I known refrigerator water filters were so expensive I might have gone with a refrigerator without one, though our local water has a lot of chlorine in it (which is filtered out by the filter).

As with many modern conveniences, this water filter represents a convenience that you did not know you needed until you had it. Now that I have it, I am wondering whether I want it since I have to spend a chunk of change each year in filter replacements. Oh well. I guess I can sleep more soundly knowing that the water filter is now removing a bunch of stuff from my water that my body either did not want or need.

Good luck!

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Overall we have found this to be a great water filter. But we have had our water tested by a professional, both at the tap, and at the filtered tap on the refrigerator. Both waters tested the same for chlorine content, however, the particle contaminants were greatly reduced by the filter on the refrigerator.

Something to note on your water filter.

The light is merely a timed indicator of when they want you to replace the filter. Think of it as a "countdown timer" that starts as soon as you reset it. It is in no way measuring the amount of water you are consuming... Personally, I used to change out the filter every 6 months when the indicator light came on, but we rarely use the water/ice now, so I haven''t changed it (or reset it) in over a year although I probably will soon. I actually cut the first one in half to see how "contaminated" the filter was and to my surprise, it looked like a brand new filter...

The life of a filter depends on a couple of things.

1. The amount of contaminants in your water (well water is typically the worst)

2. The amount of water that passes through the filter

If you have low contaminants and/or use very little filtered water, your filter will last much longer than 6 months. If you pay attention to the amount of water flow and the size of your ice cubes, you can more accurately determine the proper time to replace the filter.

I have county water and we also have installed a "whole house" water filtration system, so I can probably get closer to 2 years out of a filter. Obviously, not everyone has these installed though, just use common sense on when to replace your filter and you''ll be fine.

P.S. Why is it more expensive per unit to buy the 3-pack than it is to buy the 2-pack? Am I the only one that found this odd?

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Since I had had previous experience with Pur water filters, we purchased a side-by-side water and ice dispenser Whirlpool fridge over a year ago that uses these filters and they have made a huge difference in the quality of our water. We live in Riverview, FL, a suburb of Tampa, and the water here is so foul that I sometimes wonder if I have an odor from it after I shower. Since it smelled that bad coming from the tap I knew I was not going to drink it, cook with it, nor give it to my cats. So, to save us the expense of buying bottled water, we bought the fridge. Yes, the filters are expensive, but they are Pur water filters which, in my opinion, are better than Brita. I would rather have the expense than get sick drinking nasty water. Since I use the filtered water for just about everything, I have to replace my filter more frequently, but it is well worth the cost.

To save a few bucks, I order my filter online and three at a time; this usually saves me $3-5.00 per filter. Just search for the item number of the filter and you will find several places that sell it either as a single, a three-pack, a four-pack or a six-pack. Obviously, the more you buy, the more you save.

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This filter lasted about 7 months for our family of four. It provides crystal clear and very good tasting drinking water. It''s very quick and easy to replace and it can be done in about 30 seconds. The only down side is the cost is a little on the high side and this filter only removes 4 different contaminants. I pay a few more dollars now and get the PUR 4396710 that removes 12 different contaminants including harmful substances like lead, mercury, asbestos. If you want good tasting water then this filter will do the trick. If you want good tasting and healthy water then get the PUR 4396710.

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I paid almost as much for this as I would have had to pay in the store, and it has never worked since the day I installed it. I kept thinking that maybe it needed to be in awhile and the bad taste would go away, but it has not. Once in awhile it tastes better for a glass or two, but most of the water and ice are terrible. I had a filter in that came with the refrigerator for two years and never had any bad ice or water, and ever since I changed to this one it has all been bad, so there must be something wrong with the filter. It is supposed to be the exact filter that came with my fridge when it was new according to the website, but it does not work the same. I am not entirely sure if it is even new, perhaps they are recycled or maybe it was just defective, but it is too difficult to try to fix it through the internet and the mail, so now I will be forced to go to the local store and buy another after just paying for a new one. If I were you, I would just get your replacements at a local store, if it doesn''t work right, at least you can take it back easily and exchange it. I will not order one this way again, I will use a hardware store or department or appliance store.

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Culligan RC-EZ-3 EZ-Change Replacement Cartridges (500 Gallon) Save 59% Off

• Reduces: bad taste and odor, chlorine taste and odor, particulate class III
• Features twist-on and twist- off mechanism, quick-connect fittings double water shut-off
• NSF Certified and a 5 year warranty
• 6 month 500 gallon capacity
• Filter change reminder sticker

Anybody who knows about the Culligan filter systems knows just how great they really are. The RC-EZ-3 is a great filter, removing most of the more common contaminants and chemicals from the water; resulting in nice, pure, fresh, sweet tasting drinking water and crystal clear pure ice cubes. We even use it for ALL of the water we give to our cat (family member). We wouldn''t be without it (and we live beneath the poverty level, so that''s just how important -and cost efficient -this water filter really is). If you don''t have one, I would absolutely HIGHLY recommend getting one. It''s only pennies per gallon to assure you that you aren''t ingesting contaminants, chemicals and parasites!

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Easy to change filter and water that tastes good are my criteria. To that I would add compact size. I use this in my RV, and the RV filter pack came with the level 4 filter which is much more rotund in size. It might do a more thorough job in filtering some things, but not that I can tell. This filer is half the price & lasts a full season. We use either city water or water in our tanks that has been filtered and re-chlorinated for storage. [1 Tablespoon per 10 gallons.] Works well & makes great tasting coffee & tea.

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I was very happy at first with this Culligan product until at about after 9 months, the filter bottom split open, flooding the kitchen floor and cabinet area. I thought it was a fluke thing and installed a new filter. The same thing happened at around 8 months with water everywhere. I called Culligan to report this and they said they have never heard about this problem??? The filter has a engineering flaw at the base where it is seemed together. I DO NOT recommend a Culligan water filtration system. Besides the water damage I have, they weren''t even willing to send a new filter or acknowledge that they have a design flaw. The Culligan representative told me to try the EZ-4 filter, but after reading reviews, I found that it''s happening with the EZ-4 filter as well. I have never had this problem with the GE filters, so I''m going back to them.

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These are SO easy to change I''ve used the EZ-3 and EZ4 I didn''t really notice a difference in the taste or smell of the water between the two. What I did notice is that I''m not paying twice as much for it and it''s so much easier to change than my old Aquasana that the only effort involves the fact that it''s under the sink. If it were at shoulder level in the open, this would take 10 seconds to change. LOVE these filters, never stop selling them Amazon and Culligan!!

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This is one of the best purchases I have ever made. Three times per year I change the cartridge and we always have great tasting water.

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Rubbermaid 1M18 Reveal Mop Bottle Save 32% Off

I love the Rubbermaid Reveal Mop. The great thing is you can use what cleaning solutions you want and the reuseable pads you just throw in the washer. I bought 3 extra bottles, 1 for hardwood floor cleaner, 1 for hardwood floor polish, and 1 for the regular floor. It makes my life so much easier and I save money because I don''t need to purchase bottle after bottle or pads of the other product. Thank you Rubbermaid.

This goes with the Rubbermaid Reveal Mop which I love. It came with one bottle but I ordered the second so that I could fill each to use different cleaners for different floors without have to pour out and refill according to different floor (wood, linoleum).

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Read all the reviews and decided on the reveal mop! Glad I did, the thing is a dream. I only wish I''d bought the package deal b/c I wound up wanting more bottles and more mop heads. I bought three bottles, one for my ZEP wood floor cleaner, one for my ZEP marble cleaner, and one for my bathroom floor cleaner. Also I got three separate mop heads for same purpose. I labeled each one very nicely with permanent markers. I also got the dust head which is great. No batteries required and the spray works like a dream. Extremely light and easy to pull out for any spill!

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While the Rubbermaid Reveal mop is very efficient, adding this second bottle makes it more efficient. Now I can move from mopping my tile floor to polishing my hardwood floor in one session.

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Love this mopping system! Love to use natural cleaning products, even make your own with these. So durable and easy to use, and so much better for the environment.

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Klean Kanteen Wide Mouth Insulated Water Bottle

I''ve had several of the regular Klean Kanteen bottles which are great, but I always disliked the fact that the liquid didn''t stay cold for long unless the tote was used, and the bottle would sweat quite a bit. I didn''t like the tote because it smelled odd and made the bottle awkward to set down on tables. When I saw the insulated bottles I bought 2 of the 20 oz size, one with just the regular loop cap and one with the cafe cap. I have to disagree with what everyone has said about both caps. I love them both! I use the bottle with the loop cap the most, and it keeps my juice cold all day, 9+ hours at work, even without adding ice. The cafe cap doesn''t leak for me, either out the opening or around the seal. Of course, it does state that the opening you drink from isn''t supposed to be leak-proof, it says it right on the packaging. I don''t upend my bottle, but if I did, I might get a few drips at the most. These are great as travel mugs for coffee, they even fit in my car''s cup holders. I don''t think most travel mugs are completely leak-proof anyway, especially if you can drink out of the cap. Keeps coffee hot for the whole day, just as stated. Would also be great for smoothies or soup. I plan to buy a couple of the 12 oz size for my lunch bag. Another excellent product from Klean Kanteen!

OK...it was a little hard to spend this much on a water bottle, but I am glad that I did. Water stays cold a long time & I am sure that a heated drink would stay warm just as long. No metal taste at all! Easy to clean. I''m glad that I spent a little more $$$ and purchased the insulated Klean Kanteen. UPDATE: After four months of using this bottle I appreciate it even more. I live in Florida & this bottle keeps my water cold even AFTER it has sat in my HOT car for several hours!

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As a student, I feel that I am always on the go and always craving coffee. This bottle is almost magical in its ability to preserve the temperature of your drink (hot or cold), and maintain the taste (no plasticy aftertaste). This is obviously because of the vacuum insulation, and stainless steel construction, respectively, along with supurb build quality.

I will now speak specifically about cold and hot liquids in the bottle, as well as a lid (something that is very important to a bottle.

Cold: This is what it seems to handle the best. Ice stays frozen for hours (seems like up to 10 or 12 hours sometimes), and ice water will stay pleasantly cold for nearly 20 hours. I put water with ice in the bottle around 3:00 one afternoon, and it was still quite cold the following morning around 10:00. Another advantage of keeping very cold water in this bottle versus a non-insulated klean kanteen is the fact that it does not sweat.

Hot: Coffee from my keurig coffee machine stays at a delectible temperature for up to 5 hours after brewing with this bottle. With a traditional coffee pot, or a french press (where the temperature is usually higher than a keurig''s serving temperature) would last longer. I have not tested this personally.

Lid: This is the weakest part of the bottle by far. There are two things about the lid which bothers me quite a bit. Firstly, the lid is not supposed to be fully submerged in water when washing. Water "under pressure" can leak into the lid and have no hopes of getting out. Secondly, and partially due to the difficulty of cleaning caused by the first point, the lid seems to smell strongly of whatever you have been drinking. This is most evident with coffee. Otherwise, the lid keeps a tight seal when on the bottle, and leaves you feeling comfortable tossing the bottle in your bag with a computer and notebooks, etc.

Summary:

This bottle is great, and does as it advertises quite brilliantly. It handles hot and cold liquids well, and makes taking your drinks wherever you go easy and pain-free. Unfortunately, the lid made a nearly-perfect bottle not entirely perfect in the end.

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It keeps things cold all day long, but the lid system needs to be improved.

If you carry a full bottle of iced coffee to work as I do, you have to use the loop cap to transport it then switch to the cafe cap. There should be one leak proof cafe cap for this. Since it''s insulated, I imagine people aren''t necessarily drinking water from it and would rather not drink their hot/cold beverage from the side of the bottle. You shouldn''t have to buy an additional cap.

The loop cap sweats a lot when there''s something cold in it. Beware when putting it in your bag.

The cafe cap leaks and spills on your face when you get to the end of the bottle and tilt it too high.

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I own a regular Klean Kanteen and used it occasionally. I liked the idea of a long term stainless bottle but it did very poorly keeping things cold, compared to, say, a Nalgene bottle. The thinner steel is far less insulating than polycarbonate. It also made tons of condensation.

This Klean Kanteen is about as opposite as you get from that. It keeps things colder longer than any Thermos I''ve ever had, and seemed to do well with hot stuff too, although I''ve only tried hot chocolate one time and drank it quickly. I just filled it with ice water and shook it for several minutes, and the outside was still the same temperature, amazingly insulted. Also, the top is big enough to put ice in with ease, another issue with the original Klean Kanteens.

I have experienced no leaks, and I haven''t treated it very nicely. It''s been in gym bags and all over my car, and it''s falling onto concrete once. The only slight downside to this bottle is that it''s bigger than a normal 20 ounce bottle, because of the insulation jacket, but there''s nothing that can be done about that. It''s completely reasonably sized.

If you are willing to spend $25 on a bottle (I had to grit my teeth over this too), this is a SUPERB one to buy. It is worth every penny.

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Austin Air Healthmate Plus Air Purifier

I am becoming less and less thrilled with Austin Air. We have purchased over a dozen of these units for our home and for others in the past 10 years and at first, we were really happy with them. The DO clean the air and ARE good for allergies but the DO break within months of their warranty and the company is NOT helpful with getting them taken care of. Every person gives you a different story and blames the last person even when you speak to the same person 2x you get two different opinions and over the years they keep changing how they fix units and the costs. It now costs $100 parts/labor and about $60 shipping both ways to have them fix a unit. If you do this every several years PLUS need to change the filter every 2-3 years it is REALLY expensive to have these units. I''d feel differently if I felt the customer service was helpful but I was so frustrated the last time we needed to send in yet another unit and yet again the price went up and they didn''t know what to do...as someone who has sent 50+ customers their way in the past 10 years as well as I work with chemically sensitive people, I am now looking at other options.

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Old Friend Women''s Kentucky Slipper

These are comfortable slippers and very well made. The only thing I would add is that they run just a tad on the big size. I normally wear a 7-8, these are 8''s and just a little bit big in the width. A thick pair of socks solves the problem, but next time, will buy a size smaller.

I bought a pair of Old Friend slippers 5 years ago, and my husband just bought me this new pair to replace them for Christmas. I was excited to get them, since this style is what I wanted and I had good luck with Old Friend slippers before. I wear my slippers all day, every day. (I''m a SAHM and we have hard wood floors) I put these slippers on the day I got them and in two weeks I felt that the support and cushion in the sole was almost gone. To be fair, I don''t think it started out with nearly as much cushion and support as I thought it should, being an Old Friend slipper. My husband has a pair that, while huge on my feet, I LOVE for their abundance of cushion and support. I am disappointed in these slippers to say the least. I hate buying another pair of slippers, but really, these aren''t doing me much good anymore. :( Oh, but they are keeping my feet warm.

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KRUPS XP1020 Steam Espresso Machine

Do not understand why this item has so many bad reviews. It is not a bad machine!

My last expresso machine was also a Krups steam powered. Lasted for 13 years until it fell apart last week (the prssure valve inside broke). For my replacement machine, I was looking at fully automatic ones (Magnifica, $900), pump based (like cuisineart em-200, $200), and steam powered (like this item, $50). After reading all the review and knowing how pump based machine works, I decided not to go for them. The main reasons are they require a lot of maintenance and they can break down easily. I just do not want high pressure stuff in my house. If it breaks down, it may take a month or two to fix it. After warranty is over, it is more expensive to fix than buying a new one. I basically want a reliable espresso machine which can last 10 years with very little mainenance.

I typically makes a few shots in the morning as soon as I get up. I just do not see how pump based or full automatic machine can save me time. They require preheat which can take 1-5 minutes. For steam based ones, I just load up the coffee and water and wait. Both would give me pretty good espresso after 5-7 minutes.

As far as flavor goes, I do not really feel any difference between my cheap machine and starbucks/peet''s coffee, given using the same coffee. I think good espresso got more to do with type of coffee then the machine. Started drinking espresso drinks heavily in college in 80s, I think I am pretty picky on coffee.

I saw a local store carries this item at $49. I decided to give it a try since they have pretty liberal return policy. It turns out to be a pretty good machine, better than my old Krups and with high pressure.

The good:

(1) Pretty good looking among entry machines, although the price is $10 more than ugly ones.

(2) Makes good espresso drinks quickly

The not so good:

(1) The knob takes time to get used to. The knob has three seetings: off, steam and espresso. It is pretty easy for people to turn on steam when they want espresso, a potentially dangerous situation. Krups should have separate power button instead.

(2) The power cord is kind of short, 6 inch shorter than my old one.

(3) It is pretty hard to heat up the milk straight from the frig. You more likely to have a bunch of cold foams. The better way is to heat up the mil in microwave and then use the steam to make foam.

Overall, I recommend it as an entry machine.

I''ve had one of these machines for several years and I just ordered another one for our vacation home. The beverage it produces is just as good as any. I use decent beans (Starbucks or comparable) and normal espressso grind. I rarely drink latte or cap, since I prefer full coffee flavor, but on the occasions I have, this machine has done a fine job. I agree with another reviewer that the plastic tube on the steam outlet isn''t really necessary.

____________________

UPDATE:

I''ve had a chance to use the new machine a few times. Observations:

--At least one user reported odd chemical or plastic odor when using. I have not observed this.

--Someone expressed dissatisfaction with the need to steam the milk before making the coffee. This is NOT necessary. The instructions do recommend steaming the milk first, but this is only to avoid the frustration of using almost all the water/steam pressure when making the coffee, only to find that there isn''t enough left to steam the milk adequately. The milk steaming process uses only a fraction of the amount of water used to make an espresso, so under normal circumstances there should be enough left if you do the coffee first. Because of back pressure caused by compression of the coffee during the espresso process, after the coffee stops dripping out there is still quite a bit of steam left in the machine.

--Someone complained that there is no tamper. This isn''t a commercial machine, and it can''t handle enough pressure to make espresso with a fine grind if it''s packed very tightly. The instructions recommend NOT packing the coffee tightly. So the lack of a tamper is not a problem. You can use a small spoon to pack the coffee GENTLY.

--The container for the coffee is a very tight fit when you thread it into the machine, and it takes a lot of pressure/force to get the handle turned all the way to the front to the locked position. My previous machine was like this, too; it loosens up to normal very quickly with use. (If you were a fan of "Are You Being Served, this may remind you of the oft-repeated line, "Don''t worry, they''ll ride up with wear.")

--TIP: You can save some cleaning time by folding up a paper towel (in fourths)and putting it under the metal grate that goes beneath the coffee cup and catches drips. Every day or so, take out the paper towel and put in a new one. The paper will absorb drips and spills and changing it is easier than sopping up coffee that has dripped and pooled in the recessed area beneath the metal grate

________________________________________

To those who complain about the lack of a steaming container: use the carafe. They don''t advertise a special steaming container, so why expect one?

TIP: even if you use filtered water, the water will have dissolved minerals which create scale inside the machine. This may be the cause of slow brewing, excessive steam escaping, etc. Scale can cause this. To remove scale: pour a 50% solution (1/2 water, 1/2 vinegar) of distilled white vinegar into the machine. Screw the cap back on. Put the clean, empty metal coffee filter on, and put the carafe under the spout in the usual way. Turn on the machine. In effect, you''re making a carafe of espresso without the coffee. Let the machine run until no more hot solution comes out. You will smell a strong vinegar smell. Pour out the carafe, rinse, and refill the machine with clean water. Run the water through the machine, just as you did with the vingar solution. This will clean any residual vinegar out. The whole process takes 5 min or less, and you will be amazed at how much quicker you can make your espresso.

-------------

UPDATE #2

I have used the unit for over a month--about 4 times per day (OK, I''m hooked). Still working great, very quick, good results.

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Granted, I worked at a starbucks for a little while after high school so I kind of knew the work that it could take to steam a pitcher of milk and pull a shot of espresso.

For the price, I think this is a great starter if you''re strapped for cash or want to dabble with espresso & latte preparation. I''ve had mine for 2 years now. It''s the first one I ever bought. I''ve had to replace the coffee grind holder/handle once (for about $13), but other than that, i''ve had no problems. read the directions, they are great. they inform you that pressure builds within the machine and if you do not properly release the pressure upon completion, then yes, it will explode the grinds all over you. duh.

it''s pretty easy to clean and maintain. I bought a brush to clean the steaming wand.

It does not come with a frothing pitcher or a beverage thermometer (which i recommend) but they are both pretty inxpensive. I ordered one of each when i ordered my machine.

regarding timing, i put the water in my machine and it begins steaming within 1 minute-1 1/2 minute TOPS. Then when i''m done steaming my milk, i switch it right to the coffee setting and it dispenses my coffee instantly. thats good enough for me!

Hope this review is helpful. i''ve recommended this to many friends and I think its fantastic for the money.

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I''ve made great cappuccino for many years using a similar machine. Better than store-bought. I thought the bad-mouthing reviewers simply didn''t know what they were doing. Well, I filled my 1020 with the correct amount of water and used a reliably good espresso grind, turned on the machine and waited. And waited. And waited. Eventually, a pathetic dribble of coffee came down. At the appropriate time, I turned the knob to froth the milk. I burned my finger on the jet of steam issuing from the knob-hole on the side of the unit. A weak fizzle came out of the frothing nozzle which never increased in volume. I gave up here and went back to making the coffee there was no more water to make steam. It had disappeared somewhere inside the machine and onto my countertop. This was such a complete failure that it was almost funny. Fortunately, I bought it locally, and can return it. I left little notes here and there in the packaging saying that this machine is a dud, and could burn you.

I feel that Krups should recall these machines forthwith. They are a complete waste of money for the consumer, and a black eye for the maker.

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I just got one of these for Christmas to replace a similar unit I used for years. The first time I tried it, it spewed water and coffee grounds all over. It practically blew up! I reduced the amount of coffee (a good Italian espresso, pre-ground fine), and the same thing happened. According to the trouble-shooting guide, the grind was too fine. I tried a coarse grind with no blowups, but the coffee was wimpy. Apparently, this espresso machine wasn''t meant to make espresso coffee. This never happened with my previous unit. Pass this one up. It is simply a piece of junk.

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Temperature Sensitive LED Faucet Light

• This is an LED for your tap
• Turning your tap on and off activates and deactivates the LED
• Excellent Water Glow LED Faucet Light with Temperature Sensor
• A temperature sensor is inbuilt the LED Faucet Light, glowing blue when the water is cool, glowing red when the water is too hot to touch.
• The LED creates casts a brilliant glow to your kitchen or bathroom in the dark

Granted the package has an additional set of batteries but it doesn''t last more than 3 months (in the kitchen). If you are willing to buy batteries every 3 months than I guess it is worth it even if just for the fun of it. I got it to (a) save water (by being able to turn it off asap when it heats up) and (b) have a little fun. The instructions were nothing like the actual unit. Basically it is altogether already. I needed to use one of the adapters and it fits though not tight. When I changed the batteries I just kept untwisting different parts until I found where the batteries were. It''s not difficult.

If you get it, have some fun but don''t expect it to last.

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Watersafe WS425B Drinking Water Test Kit Save 10% Off

I bought this kit as well as First Alert WT1 Drinking Water Test Kit. Both from Amazon.com, thinking I would try two different kinds just to be sure. When I opened the packages. The exact same contents were inside, right down the the instruction booklet. They are made by the same company and put in different boxes. However, The First Alert WT1 Drinking Water Test Kit is only $12.99.

A very simple test kit to use in evaluating your water supply. We just put in a new well and wanted to check its quality. Followed the simple, well-written, instructions and everything came out just fine. Followed up with a double check of the results by taking a water sample to our local University. They validated the findings provided by the Watersafe kit.

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Kit is great. The instructions were easy to use, and the test were of high quality. Most of them had controls. I was surprised at the quality. Some of the test take longer the other to complete. The longest was the e-coli test, which took 48 hours.

While not marketed as such, i think this would be a great kit for a science fair project, or to each your kids about water quality.

-James

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Great way to check your Home Well Water System without spending major dollars for other "experts" to do something you can do yourself in a short period of time and for a whole lot less cost. The product is excellent and easy to use.

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This kit was great. It looked much more complicated than it actually was and, with the exception of the bacterial test, the results were quickly obtained and easy to decipher. The kit features tests for lead, chlorine, pesticides, bacteria and water hardness, among others. In addition to giving us accurate information about the safety and potability of our water, conducting the tests was easy enough to do with my children who loved this ''science'' experiment. Highly recommended.

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Euro Style Luxury Drinking Water Faucet For Filter

Very good quality and has a very nice look for our Reverse Osmosis system. .A nice upgrade to the original faucet we had received with the system. This has a nice design and is rather solid/sturdy..

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