Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker With 2 Extra Filters

I''ve been cold brewing with the Toddy for about a year now. It makes great coffee, low acid, smooth. It involves a little brewing knowledge to achieve those results, though.

I bought this as a birthday present for my wife who had to stop drinking coffee (tragic) because the acidity bothered her. I discovered cold brewing and she is back to drinking her daily cup. Any nay-sayers on the acidity question are mis-informed.

The cold brewer takes some finessing to get good results. I would be willing to bet that all the people that wrote off cold brewing for "bad flavor" or weakness messed up the grind or didn''t start with good coffee. The grind is the most important step because if it''s too fine, you end up 1) clogging the filter and 2) coffee gets a little bitter. You want a consistent grind. Most home grinders are horrible unless you have a very high-end or conical burr grinder. I have one of the lame little whirly-choppers that tend to vary between super fine espresso and half bean, although the little LED display says "coarse." I''ve tried grinding in very small batches, large batches, and in between but they all are inconsistent. Your best bet is to have the place you buy coffee grind it for you in their industrial grinder. I either go to a specialty coffee shop or Whole Foods to buy coffee (or more recently, roast my own). Tell them what you''re using it for, too, so they know that you do in fact want it coarse.

Here''s a tip: Starbucks isn''t good coffee. Neither is anything in a freeze-dried bag or can. You want GOOD coffee roasted well. Most cities or towns have a local roaster or at least a regional roaster that will ensure a much fresher cup if for no other reason than proximity. You don''t have to be a coffee snob to taste the difference between truly fresh coffee and stale. The Toddy will maintain the flavors but reduce the acidity, so if you''re used to drinking really acidic, over-roasted coffee (most national brands), it will probably not taste like you''re used to because all you taste is the poor quality without the burn.

Make sure you have the proper amount of coffee. A lot of places sell 12 oz bags instead of 1 lb bags the toddy directions use. Adjust the water amounts accordingly. I will say that it gets pretty tight in the brewer with a full pound of coffee.

Don''t overbrew your coffee. It says you brew for up to 24 hours, but I would keep it closer to 9-12. If you follow the directions (easy to memorize after a couple batches), you will get great results in that time frame. Any longer it may get bitter. It''s important to take it slowly as you do the water-coffee-water-coffee-water routine. I just shake the coffee in very slowly and make sure to give it a few minutes to settle before proceeding to the next step. Using a large spoon to tamp it down gently helps, too. DON''T STIR IT. it says not to in the manual, but it seriously will clog the filter and affect the brewing.

Use filtered water (if possible). We have one of those sink-mounted filter systems, but a pitcher filter system would work well too. If your tap water tastes a little funky, than it will obviously transfer those properties to your coffee.

I am obviously a big fan of cold brewing. So now, the reasons I took a couple points from the Toddy product:

1) There are other methods of cold brewing that don''t require this product. People cold brew in french presses, mason jars, etc. This is not the earth shattering new technology that allows us to do something never before possible. The Toddy does have a filter which is where most of the acid reduction takes place, though. If you''re looking at cold brewing solely to reduce acid, then this is a great choice for you.

2) Filters clog and need to be replaced and they''re not super easy to find (except online).

3). The handle is a joke. I don''t trust it to hold the entire weight of the brewer when full. It''s easier and more comforting to just hold it by the sides.

4) No lid. Not a big deal, but kind of surprising. I cannibalized a lid from a tupperware container that fits well.

5) It requires a lot of coffee. That isn''t necessarily a bad thing. You get a thick concentrate and dilute per your own tastes. Rough mornings may be stronger than others. If you like drinking really strong coffee, you may burn through it quicker just because it''s easy to adjust the strength. If you want a quick cup of coffee but don''t need full octane, that''s easy too. I like having the option, unlike a drip that is what it is.

I haven''t tried other cold brew systems (kits), but this one seems efficient with some room for improvement. Either way, I highly recommend cold brewing.

All in all, it''s a pretty good system, but it''s the method that is five stars.

A friend had recommended this product to me, and I did a little research before I bought it. I looked up directions on the internet, and reviews on Amazon. I have to say, I was a little intimidatedpeople were talking about how finicky and messy the whole process was, and how you really had to tweak your method to brew coffee that suited your taste preference. One website even said this coffee had no flavor. Not to mention the complaints about the clean-up! I was nervous because it requires SO much coffee, and time to brew, and if it didn''t work out, well, it would seem like such a shame.

I found that the brewing method is NOT difficult, NOT messy, and not very labor intensive at all. If you are common sense-careful, you won''t make any mess at all. And the directions ARE detailed, but if you read them as you go, you will have no problem. I know I worked at Starbucks for nine years, but reallythis is NOT difficult. The iced coffee at Starbucks is brewed as a double strength hot-brewed method, which is why there is a lot of bitterness and acidity in it. THIS coffee, when the directions are followed, goes down MUCH more smoothly than Starbucks.

When I first sipped this coffee, I couldn''t believe how much I loved it! It was the first time ever that just brewed coffee (I add water to dilute the concentrate, and then a little cream on top), hit my pallet in just as much of a pleasing way as any specialty drink you can buy.

Brewing method: easy. Follow the (included) directions and you''ll be fine! Not messy at all, like some reviewers claimed. Time intensiveonce you spend the 10 minutes making it, it DOES have to sit for 12-14 hours. So plan ahead :). Also, when pulling out the rubber stopper, be sure to do it over the carafethe concentrate will come out pretty quickly! You might get a tad bit of concentrate on your hands at this point.

Clean upsuper easy. I used a wooden spoon to help scoop it into the garbage, and pretty much tapped the plastic container against my garbage. Then I rinsed out what was left in my sink. The hardest part was digging the filter outit''s in there pretty goodbut a little finesse and out it came.

Quality: AMAZING. I did work at starbucks for nine years, and was a "coffee master" there, so I think this may have a bit of weight :). I like my coffee smooth, though.

Tipsstart with a more robust coffee (I used Gold Coast from Starbucks). Lighter blends might end up a little washed out. If you like strong, dark, thick coffee, you might not like this. Use a french press instead, or brew hot coffee double strength and dilute it with cold water (2 parts coffee concentrate, one part cold water). The downside to that method is that it will only stay good in your fridge for a day or two before it gets bitter (at sbux we had to dump it out after 8 hours). Using this method will keep delicious coffee in your fridge, ready to drink, for up to two weeks (and I''ve heard even up to three).

I highly recommend this product. I don''t write a lot of reviews on here, but I was so impressed with everything about this and I didn''t feel the reviews out there ecompassed the wonderful-ness that is the coffee toddy!

Buy Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker With 2 Extra Filters Now

Been using this thing like crazy since I got it. I bought it 3 weeks ago and I''ve probably used it 5 times already. It yields about 1/4 gallon of condensed coffee. Then you mix it with milk, water, sugar, whatever else you can think of.

I use it to make knockoffs of those Starbucks Frappuccino drinks ( http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018AHMCA?tag=itsalgo-20 ). Combine the 1/4 of Toddy coffee with 3/4 gallon of 2% milk and 1 cup sugar. Then throw in the fridge for a few hours to get it real cold. This ends up yielding the equivalent of 13+ of those bottles at less than half the sugar content for about $4 total.

If you have a membership, you can get 3 lbs of coffee from Costco for $10 and grind it there. You''ll want to grind it on slightly coarser than regular drip (too fine of a grind and it''ll clog the filter).

Also, reading up on this says that it makes coffee with 2/3rds less acidity, as well as 1/2 the caffeine. I like the less acidic part, but I''d rather retain the caffeine ;.(

You''ll want to grab some extra rubber stoppers too: ( http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JQLNYG?tag=itsalgo-20 ). This package will get you through a couple years.

Read Best Reviews of Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker With 2 Extra Filters Here

Smoothest cup of coffee I''ve ever had. There''s no acid and the flavor of the coffee is out standing. Usually I can only drink two cups of coffee and then my stomach starts to bother me, with the cold brew I can drink coffee all day long.

Want Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker With 2 Extra Filters Discount?

Talk about convenience; you brew the coffee extract once, keep it in the refrigerator, add some to your cup, and fill with hot water. Easy.

It''s also less acidic and smoother than normally brewed coffee.

It also reminds me of my Mom who had one of these devices over 50 years ago.

Read More >>

KitchenAid 12-Cup Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker Save 19% Off

This replaced a Krups coffee maker (KM4065).

This coffee maker has been wonderful. As another reviewer mentioned, it has one of the best pouring spouts around. The carafe keeps the coffee hot for at least 2.5 hours, and reasonably warm enough after 3 hours. A side note: make sure you see the small arrow indicator on the lid of the carafe, and that this arrow points toward the spout of the carafe when installed. We had placed the lid on the carafe with the arrow facing the toward the handle because it appeared to be a "selector arrow" matching the selctable positions with words on the carafe for "lock" "pour" and "open", but the arrow is actually supposed to point toward the spout "outlet" while pouring coffee. It''d be helpful if Kitchenaid could modify the lid with a white (or molded) dot to indicate in which of the position it is set. That''s a negligible issue.

Coffee is brewed at a pleasingly hot temperature. Other coffee makers I''ve used have not heated the water enough.

The removable water tank is a superb feature that the Krups had which we were not wanting to give up. This coffee maker has a much better implementation of the tank that allows it to fit snugly into the coffee maker with practically no fussing or adjusting; it just settles into its slot perfectly. The Krups unit required lots of adjusting to have the tank drop into place.

The blue lighted display is very nice and matches a lot of the current appliance displays. It''s not a glaringly bright display, which is nice because the Krups unit was unfortunately like a night light. The numbers not huge, and are somewhat fine, not bold or blocky.

This unit has a feature which should be user-selectable to be switched off: the unit beeps once when the BREW button is pushed, and emits 3 short, semi-loud beeps when brewing is finished. It''s nice to have a audible confirmation that the Brew button has been pressed, or when brewing has finished, but if someone is sleeping nearby and you''re trying to make coffee quietly, the beeping can be a bit annoying.

The only other very minor issue is that the coffee grinds basket is shallow (but hasn''t overflowed any coffee grounds) and uses the "Bunn" type flat bottom filters which have been difficult to identify as to the type. Fortunately, this coffee maker comes with its own gold tone reusable filter basket, so filters aren''t really necessary. It also comes with 3 or 4 "trial" paper filters. The gold tone basket is great, but because we use a coffee grinder we sometimes have very fine coffee "powder" that can flow through the gold filter basket. Nowhere in the documentation does it mention what type of paper filters should be used; the "trial filters" provided came in a clear plastic bag with no identifying labels. Since this is a 12-cup coffee maker we''re going to try the Bunn flat-bottom 12-cup filters, but they appear to be too large, so perhaps the Bunn 10-cup flat-bottom filters would work better.

Overall, I would highly recommend this unit as one of the best 12-cup coffee makers currently available. The carafe and removeable water tank (reservoir) also help make this unit one of the best.

As a coffee addict/connoisseur, I have spent hundreds of dollars on a wide variety of different coffee makers. Out of all the fancy and expensive makers, the best one was still my 10 year old single cup Black and Decker brewer. It was completely basic, but brewed into a thermal travel mug and brewed a great cup of coffee. However, one cup isn''t enough for me. Most larger machines use glass carafes with warmers, which ruins the coffee after about an hour. I drink coffee all morning and I don''t enjoy burnt coffee. I have been searching for a good thermal carafe coffee maker for awhile now. Up until recently, there just weren''t enough on the market, and the ones that were on the market received mostly terrible reviews.

First off, this one is very aesthetically pleasing. It looks great in the kitchen. The removable water tank with fill level marks makes adding water easy. The door on the front that secures the filter basket swings open and snaps shut snugly. The included gold tone filter is a nice touch, some feel you get a better cup of coffee than with paper filters. I agree, however paper filters provide easier cleanup since you have to clean out and rinse the permanent filter every time. You don''t have to use the permanent filter, but it''s nice that it is included if you want to. The included water tank filter is one of those things where I''ll use it until it needs replaced and then throw it away and fill the tank with filtered water and not bother buying overpriced replacements. Most people have a Brita or water filtration system built into their fridge so in-tank filters are kind of overkill and unnecessary in my opinion. Using the filter is optional, the coffee maker will work the same without it.

The blue digital readout on the front is nice and easy to use. You can set the clock, brew strength (regular or bold), 1-4 cup brewing, cleaning cycle and automatic timer. I haven''t tested the bold brew strength, so I don''t know whether or not it really make any difference in the taste. The stainless carafe is very nice. The indicators on the lid are hard to read, but once you figure out the three positions (open, pour, lock) you don''t need the indicators anyway. The carafe keeps the coffee plenty hot for 2-3 hours, depending on use and fullness of the carafe. When there is less coffee in the carafe, it will cool down more quickly. My only complaint is the pour volume and angle. The way the carafe is designed with the lid and rubber seal to keep the coffee as hot as possible inside, it limits the pouring ability. The carafe pours slowly and by the time you get to where the carafe is almost empty, you literally have to hold the carafe almost upside down to get the coffee to come out the pour spout. The good thing is that it is very well sealed and will not spill. It''s just a little strange getting used to. This is a minor inconvenience, however you can take the lid off to help the situation if you are at the end of the pot.

As far as the coffee itself goes, once you get the right grind setting (I strongly recommend burr grinding your own coffee) and proper amount of ground coffee you need per cup, it tastes great. I tried using the recommended amount of 1 level scoop per cup stated in the manual, but this turned out to be too weak for me. The included scoop seems really small compared to my other scoops, so I just used a different one that was larger and followed the same 1 scoop per cup and got it tasting great. One thing I did note is that if you don''t preheat the carafe before brewing, using the pause and pour feature too early on in the brewing process will produce luke warm coffee. This is because the cool carafe is absorbing a lot of the initial heat quickly. Either preheat the carafe with hot water or allow it to brew a full pot before pouring a mug.

Overall, this is definitely the best coffee maker I have ever used. I commented on one of the negative reviews, disputing about every claim. I wonder if KitchenAid has a quality control problem because I have not experienced any of the problems I see on other negative reviews. One thing to note is that I did not purchase the item here, it was purchased at BB&B. Different supply chain? There seems to be a trend of quality control problems nowadays in this economy of cost-cutting at every turn. It''s too bad, because the coffee maker I received is a great one.

As with any coffee maker, there are always users who negatively review the product based on overflow problems. There are a lot of factors that contribute to this: size of filter basket, coarseness of grind, amount of ground coffee in filter basket and coffee roast. One of the easiest ways to help control issues with overflow is to play with the grind setting on your grinder. This is also why you need to purchase a good burr grinder and buy whole beans. Different roasts will typically need different grind coarseness and amount of ground coffee per cup brewed. It is not hard to overflow the filter basket with too fine of a grind. I''ve done it myself many times on different machines. Typically, it is not as much the machine''s fault as it is the user. Another thing to take into account is the "pause and pour" feature of most brewers. Honestly, I never use this. Not only is the coffee not as good half way through, it backs up the filter basket and makes it more likely to overflow. My recommendation is to minimize the use of this feature.

Buy KitchenAid 12-Cup Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker Now

There is a limited selection of coffee makers available with a thermal carafe and a removable water tank. I purchased this unit after trying a similarly equipped Mr. Coffee which leaked. This KitchenAid is simple to use, makes good, hot coffee, and has the best pouring carafe of any I have owned. Spendy for a coffee pot, but worth it for the features and performance.

Read Best Reviews of KitchenAid 12-Cup Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker Here

After my 10 year old coffee maker started leaking, I began a search for a replacement. Requirements were: removable water tank, thermal carafe, adjustable brew strength (bold was very important), automatic brew timer.

I almost gave up after searching through the popular brands, talking with friends about their failures with coffee makers, and trying out several duds. But then I found this Kitchenaid and all our problems were solved!

It works exactly as promised. I can fill the water tank at the kitchen sink and slip it into the back without spilling the water everywhere, I can load the ground coffee into the flat brew basket, and I can pour out of my thermal carafe without the burned taste that comes from a glass heated carafe.

As other reviews noted, there are initial confusions about the carafe lid not quite working intuitively. After analyzing the problem of seating the lid properly, I put 2 little dots on both the lid and carafe to match up for pouring, and now anyone can figure it out! It just takes a little patience to check out the 3 different positions; one to take off the lid, one for locking, one for pouring. As with all things, it just takes getting used to, and now that I have marked the positions, it''s second nature. And all the positive points overcome this initial confusion created by Kitchenaid in not clearly marking the lid.

Also, be aware that after unpacking and plugging in your new coffee maker, upon the very first activation and programming, you will receive a display notice to go to the Cleaning Cycle. I called Kitchenaid, and they said this was normal, and would clean out any manufacturing dust. Just have a big bottle of vinegar on hand! And don''t think you can just unpack it and immediately start making coffee.

It looks like a little happy robot sitting on my counter, and we couldn''t be more pleased. In fact, our friends liked it so much they bought one too!

Want KitchenAid 12-Cup Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker Discount?

Just got this one today, after the premature death of 2 Cusinarts. I agree that there are not that many choices for a 10-12 cup programmable coffee maker with thermal carafe and pause and serve. Very happy this one is 12 cups. Got it in silver, very nice looking. Set up was easy. The first full pot (made with water only to clean it) brewed 12 cups in 14 minutes, which I consider a reasonable time. Then made 5 cups of Starbucks Cafe Verona decaf, auto drip grind, in the gold filter basket, on regular brew setting. I used the supplied scoop, 1 scoop per cup, and the coffee came out surprisingly good (I''m not a big decaf fan). I expected that I would need to use the Bold setting, since I like my coffee strong and black but now I think that the regular setting will be fine.

I hated having to pull the Cusinarts out from the wall to fill them. I agree that you must do this with the Kitchenaid too. However, filling the tank at the sink is much neater and more convenient (we were always spilling the water when we filled the Cusinart). Didn''t bother with the water filter, since we live in an area with good tasting water. The door to the brew basket closes with a snap. I think perhaps some of the other reviewers did not close it completely, leading to leaks. It is hard to get the last few ounces out of the pot.

My only real complaint is the lid. Not intuitive, no instructions, hard to read. If you leave it on "locked" and try to pour, the coffee will come out of the fill hole in the top, not a good thing. The arrow on the lid needs to point to the spout, not the "pour" in order to pour the coffee (a perfectly understandable error by a prior reviewer). After grappling with it for 10 minutes, I just decided to leave it so it pours, and forget the "locked" position. This works fine. The manual says that the coffee will stay hotter if on "locked", but it is still hot 3 hours after brewing and that is good enough for me. But, really, Kitchenaid should redesign the lid or improve the instructions.

One last thing: I love that it has a "clean" light to remind you to decalcify it. Haven''t had to use it yet, obviously.

Overall, I''m pleased with it so far.

UPDATE: I still think this is a really good choice. Now that I have figured out the lid, it is no problem to lock and unlock it. Just takes a little practise. For those who have trouble with it leaking on the counter: I have found this to be true if you use a fine grind of coffee and make more than 8 cups. The coffee does not flow into the pot quickly enough, the coffee basket gets filled with too much water, it overflows and makes a mess. Since we seldom need to make more than 8 cups on a daily basis, this is not much of a problem personally. Overall, I think that the benefits outweigh the flaws. The coffee is very good, stays hot for a long time and the machine itself has held up well. I still recommend this machine.

Save 19% Off

Read More >>

SPT SF-613 LED Evaporative Air Cooler Save 22% Off

I knew when I purchased this item that it was NOT an air conditioner and that I should not expect the cooling power of an air conditioner. I did expect that it would lower the room temperature by 12 degrees as advertised. After reading the instructions, setting it up, and filling the tank, I let it run in a small bedroom from 5pm until 11pm. After 6 hours the room was not only still hot, but now it was hot and slightly humid as well. People said this works better in dry climates. I live in Southern California surrounded by desert, about as dry as you can get. I felt I had givin it a fair chance and returned the machine.

This unit is the same as the Tayama Air Cooler TC-998 and works as poorly.

Only after filling the entire tray with ice and water chilled overnight does this thing have any cooling effect and even than, it''s only for an hour or so.

Anything less then ice and ice water will do nothing more than generate humidity and waste power.

Save your money and buy a real AC unit for supplemental cooling.

Buy SPT SF-613 LED Evaporative Air Cooler Now

bought this product from a vietnamese supermarket for the same price as offered here. used the evaporative function for about a week, then it started leaking. Took it apart found no cracks in the water tray, also tightened up the drain plug with teflon tape, still leaked. put a ring of plumbers putty where drain hole in water tray meets the frame and reseated the water tray. Did not leak for about an hour, so I left for work, came back home after a few hours, the towels I placed around the bottom on the unit was soaked, leaked again. Cannot return it as I''ve thrown the box and reciept away. The fan function is powerful and works good not sure about how good the ionizer works, but it is always on. Once the unit dries off, I will just use the fan function. Unit is also very light and is attractive, too bad it leaks, will not get another one.

Read Best Reviews of SPT SF-613 LED Evaporative Air Cooler Here

Well if I could give a rating of less than 1 star I definatly would, the output is warm to hot air unless of course you dump a 5 pound bag of ice in the tray and some water, the highest setting is less powerful than the lowest setting on a $20 fan. A total waste of money, you need to be seated within 1 to 3 feet away from it to feel any kind of air from it. DONT waste your money on this junk.

Want SPT SF-613 LED Evaporative Air Cooler Discount?

I purchased this expecting to make the room slightly cooler at the very least I expected it to work as described.

However it doesn''t make the room any cooler than a low powered fan using the lowest settings. I did everything as instructed and even bought a bag of ice to put in the water tray and still... not much cooler if cooler at all really than a low powered fan you can buy for $10 I can''t recommend that ANYONE for ANY reason EVER buy this product.

Save 22% Off

Read More >>

Capresso 4440.90 3-pack Charcoal Water Filters Save 6% Off

As much as I love Capresso products this one is questionable.

You might wonder what I mean by this well, first of all look at the costs for just three filters. Second: If you use these filters as recommended on the package (60 uses or 6 weeks) then just do the math.

Yes, you will pay in one year more than the cost of your coffee maker. I have a Capresso coffee maker that cost over $200 and I love it but cannot afford these filters.

To beat this unnecessary filter and its expense, this is what you do. Simply use filtered water. Quality filtered water will be without all the particles and contaminants that will hurt your coffee maker. Then, follow the coffee maker''s instructions regarding its cleaning like using white vinegar to keep the system free of harmful calcification.

Manufacturers are in business to make money and they will sell you whatever you believe you must buy these filters are not necessary!

Beginning with the Coffee Team Plus, Capresso introduced the concept of a water filter in the water tank of their automatic coffee makers. If you use tap water, the filter is a wonderful idea. It removes impurities and chlorine before the water is heated. Clean water and a clean coffee maker = great coffee.

The manufacturer''s recommendation is to change filters every 6 weeks or 60 pots of coffee. I usually change them every two months, or so. I imagine the effectiveness of the filter may depend on the quality of the water you use. I haven''t had a problem yet.

Usage tip: Each filter is individually wrapped in plastic to keep it fresh until opened. When you open a filter, first soak it in cold water for about 15 minutes. Then rinse it under running water for another minute or two until the water dripping from the filter is clear. If you still see black particles dripping from the filter, run a pot of water through the coffee maker, with the new filter inserted, without coffee beans and discard the water afterward, or use the water for plants (when it is cooled, of course.)

Buy Capresso 4440.90 3-pack Charcoal Water Filters Now

I thought I would raise the average rating on this product: I use it for my cappresso coffee maker & grinder and works very well. As far as not working on other coffee makers it doesn''t take a genius to read a manual or even to look at the damn things. Sorry to offend anyone mistakes happen or even ignorance but rating it a zero because YOU baught the wrong product is stupidity. Thanks and enjoy the clean water = good tasting coffee!

Read Best Reviews of Capresso 4440.90 3-pack Charcoal Water Filters Here

I have always used the water filters and had no complaints. Just make sure you soak them for a few minutes and run a few cups of water (no coffee) through your coffee maker when you put a new one in. This will eliminate any stray charcoal in the first pot of coffee you brew with a new filter.

Want Capresso 4440.90 3-pack Charcoal Water Filters Discount?

I have been buying these filters for about 5 years and was so happy to find them on the amazon site. Capresso has not been an easy company to buy products from. They didn''t have a web site for the longest time and once they did, it was very cumbersome to find the right item and then make a purchase. The pricing was good on amazon as well.

Save 6% Off

Read More >>

Wolfgang Puck WPTPCM010 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

I purchased this coffee maker for my nephew as a gift. It was on backorder, but I waited, because this was the specific coffeemaker that he wanted. I received the coffeemaker from Amazon on March 30, 2010 and gave it to him within a week of receiving it....Then the problems began.

From day one, the coffeemaker was spewing coffee all over the counter, instead of into the carafe. He didn''t want to involve me in the problems with the coffeemaker, so he called the Wolfgang Puck (WP) Customer Service...Big Mistake! Had he let me know, I could have shipped it back to Amazon, received my money and he could have purchased any other brand he wanted. However, it didn''t work that way.

After numerous attempts to "fix" the problem over the phone, the WP Company sent a pick-up order for the coffee maker and received it on May 3, 2010. Since that time, he has been repeatedly told he would have a new machine in "2 weeks".

I became involved in July, when he was getting nowhere with the company. I requested a refund on July 19, and I was told it had to be approved by corporate headquarters. A week later, I was told the request was denied, because they still have the coffee pots... (Well, where are they?)!! I then asked for the name of a contact person at the corporate office and they refused to supply me with a name.

Through lots of trials, errors, and frustration, I found a number. I called it and believe it or not, I finally made contact with a customer relations manager. I talked with her and I finally agreed to wait another "2 weeks". The time came and went and no coffee maker, so I called and she said the company had just received them and would be shipping his coffeemaker as the first shipment. And....as a thank-you, he would also receive a complimentary gift set of WP Kitchen knives. I waited until September 16 and ended up calling her again. The manager then checked and found out that the coffeemaker had NOT been shipped, because the coffeemakers were bent and damaged in the shipment.

I received an email later that afternoon, stating that she has requested a refund for me. It''s not here yet, but I have much hope that my money will be refunded.

Update: This note is being added about 6 months after my inital review. We too have experienced the problem with coffee overflowing on to the countertop. I very quickly learned that is after inserting the pot into the maker I pivot the pot so that the handle is as far left as possible, the spillage does not happen. This method has been successful for the past 200 pots made. It''s a weird quirk that shouldn''t be necessary, but I otherwise stand by my review.

The best coffeemaker we have ever owned is a long since discontinued Starbucks Barista with a thermal carafe. It was close to perfection for almost 10 years. Even after some trim pieces fell off, it continued to be a reliable performer. After several years of regular use, the plate on the bottom of the carafe top began to break, one piece at a time. The Barista continued to make great coffee, it just didn''t hold the temperature as well as it originally did.

Earlier this year we despaired that we would have to go back to buying makers that work for a few months and then die. My wife, after hours of searching spotted this familiar face in the crowd. We ordered in December and it arrived today. To say it was worth the wait is an understatement. We now know that we have years of fresh, hot, reliable coffee making ahead of us. The only difference between this model and the original Starbucks is the it now uses a cone filter instead of a flat bottom. No big deal at all.

Footnote: "Old Reliable" the Starbucks Barista worked right through this morning, its retirement day. It''s not headed for the trash however, there spare parts to be salved for our beautiful new baby.

When, (and if), this machine becomes available again, click ''n'' buy. You won''t regret it!

Buy Wolfgang Puck WPTPCM010 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Now

Unfortunately we didn''t read the reviews before ordering this coffee maker. We had it boxed and ready to ship back when I popped on to see if anyone else was having the flooding issue. That is when I discovered that EVERYONE was having the overflow issue. My brilliant husband Robert unpacked the coffee maker and promptly went out to his shop area and cut a disc the diameter of the bottom of the coffee carafe from a piece of 1/4" masonite. Problem solved!! The spring on the top of the carafe doesn''t get depressed far enough to allow the coffee to flow into the pot properly. Putting that 1/4" spacer under the carafe is all it needed. We are happy, we love the way the coffee maker makes and keeps coffee. Robert also painted the disc black once he knew it was going to work. It looks like it belongs to the unit.

Read Best Reviews of Wolfgang Puck WPTPCM010 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Here

We''ve had more coffee on the floor than in the pot since getting this coffee maker. Coffee''s good, but you have to hold your mug under the lip of the counter top and let the coffee drip into it from there. It takes a long time to get a cup of coffee that way. The worst part of all of this? The company won''t respond. No response to emails. Can''t get through on the phone (although while on hold you can refill your cup using the above described method).

Bottom line: Don''t buy it unless you have a lot of towels close by.

Want Wolfgang Puck WPTPCM010 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Discount?

Sadly, this review may be too late to save this great product. I really don''t understand the negative reviews on this unit, though it is not a traditional "Mr Coffee" type unit, it''s also not so complicated that my Rocket Science degree is required to use it. My husband and I may be lucky, but I can''t imagine a better performing coffee maker! We''ve now had the Wolfgang Puck coffee maker for most of 2011 and find it makes excellent coffee, is very reliable, brew excellent coffee (better than Starbucks!), and continues to feel like it''s very well made. We purchased this coffee maker after our Starbucks Barista Grande stopped working after over 6 years of honored service. It was the ONLY coffee maker that has a removable water reservoir, stainless steel carafe that stays hot for hours, a convenient filter basket, and makes a 12 great cups of coffee in approximately 12 minutes. For the most part all parts of this unit that "touch" coffee are dishwasher safe--at least they''ve survived so far and still work as well as when they were new!

We have learned some "Tricks" that may have "increased our luck"--these are the same tricks we had learned with our Starbucks version. We''ll continue to use these tricks on all future coffee makers, because they''re just good practices.

1. Don''t fill the reservoir beyond the "max fill" line that is CLEARLY marked on the vessel. The holes in the container used to secure the reservoir handle are located just above the max fill water-line and not water tight and will leak water if you overfill;

2. The carafe lid does collect coffee grounds (especially if you use the reusable filter that comes with the unit). Once the lid contains enough coffee grounds, it can leak and spill coffee during the brewing process--no matter how carefully it is placed on the carafe. To prevent this leakage, rinse the lid before each use in very warm water (hotter water seems to clear it faster); ensure you press the central valve and the serving valve to release the trapped grounds.

3. Rinse the filter and filter basket and carafe and run it through the dishwasher regularly--I''ve noticed improved flavor when these pieces are kept really clean. It''s also possible leakage is caused with the filter basket valve becomes covered in coffee oils, so keeping it clean could make it perform better.

--I also rinse and fill the carafe with hot water and let it sit for a few minutes while you clean the filter basket and its lid and fill the water reservoir--before I dump out the water, I''ll twist on the lid and pour additional hot water out of it, just for good measure. Then, when everything is ready (e.g. the freshly ground coffee beans are in-place and the filter/basket is closed and ready for the carafe and the water reservoir is adequately filled.)

4. The carafe is always the last component to be positioned--that''s the intended use for this unit, the filter basked isn''t supposed to be opened once the carafe is in-place. The valve spring on the filter basket is ONLY engaged once the carafe is properly place beneath it, so the basket should be in-place BEFORE the carafe is put in to place.

Read More >>

Hamilton Beach 40886 Stainless Steel Electric Cordless Kettle

I am surprised to see this model is still being sold. I bought this in Canada ealier this year, and it worked only a few months before the base switch stopped working. Because I was now in the states, its was a minor hassle to get a warranty replacement through Hamilton Beach, but one was obtained and cost me $8 in misc shipping costs. That one worked only a few months longer, then died the same way as its predecessor. Fool me twice, shame on me, huh? There seems to be a fundamental engineering flaw with the base switch on the model. Hamilton Beach should take it off the market and re-think the switch. I really wanted this kettle to work for me, loved everything else about it.

This kettle is no longer working after only 3 months of use. The auto-off takes far too long to switch off and the kettle leaks terribly. The kettle gets too hot. Stick to a good plastic electric kettle.

Buy Hamilton Beach 40886 Stainless Steel Electric Cordless Kettle Now

Be Careful Issue #1: the carafe is stainless steel. It has no insulation. It gets very, very hot.

Be Careful issue #2: the switch at the base of the carafe is vulnerable and flimsy-looking.

That''s it. Everything else about this is terrific. The carafe is stainless steel inside and out, and the water level gauge uses a siphon so it''s not in direct contact with the boiling water. And, even the lid is stainless steel. If you''re concerned about plastic outgassing during heating, or just the plasticky taste, this is a great choice. Capacity is great too.

Now, as to Be Careful Issue #1, we had a smaller electric kettle with a plastic carafe. It got hot too! Maybe not as hot as this one, but it was certainly nothing we''d leave within reach of our kids. Furthermore, even if the outside of a hypothetical kettle carafe was cool to the touch, it would still be filled with boiling-hot water. So the heat issue is mostly a moot point. As to Be Careful Issue #2, the switch ... well, it may be a weak spot more from an industrial design standpoint than a practical one. We haven''t snapped it off yet. But, we are pretty careful about being gentle when we press it down. Don''t flick it around like a light switch and you''ll probably be okay.

Read Best Reviews of Hamilton Beach 40886 Stainless Steel Electric Cordless Kettle Here

I''ve had this kettle for 1 year. Only used once a week during summer, but several times a day fall through spring.

Not too many features to consider when buying a kettle, but this one has them covered at an attractive price ($28.00). This kettle is Stainless Steel, has a visible water level window (back lit while kettle is on), boil dry protection (auto shut off), concealed element, cordless, and it pours very well.

The kettle has 5 level indicators; Min, 1.0L, 8 cup, 10 cup, and Max 1.7L. The level indicators correspond roughly to the following ounces: Min=32, 1.0 L=34, 8 cup=42, 10 cup=50, and Max 1.7L=56. I timed how long for each of these levels to reach boiling (auto shut off). I used the auto shut off as the time end because deciding when it is boiling by looking or listening to the water is way too subjective. Depending on your idea of what boiling water looks like, your times could be more than a minute less than these.

All tests started with 70 degree water:

Max 1.7L 7 minutes 30 seconds

10 cup 6 minutes 27 seconds

8 cup 5 minutes 21 seconds

1.0 L 4 minutes 25 seconds

Min 3 minutes 50 seconds

Want Hamilton Beach 40886 Stainless Steel Electric Cordless Kettle Discount?

Unit heats water very quickly. Like the stainless interior as it eliminates the "plastic" taste that is often found in plastic lined interiors. Cover has to be in place before it heats up which is a good safety issue. Cord neatly stores under unit out of the way. Would recommend this kettle and it''s a good value for the money.

Read More >>

Insinkerator F-201 Hot and Cold Water Filtration System Save 48% Off

• Reduces chlorine taste and odor for a clean and refreshing taste
• Easily replaced sanitary quick-change filter cartridge
• Quick connect push in fittings
• Recommended filter cartridge replacement 6-12 months

The unit is easy to install, the water quality is so much better for me and my family. We love it...

Buy Insinkerator F-201 Hot and Cold Water Filtration System Now

Using this with the instant hot water unit. Last hot water dispensers start leaking when the sediments start building up so much they clog the nozzle. This should save me from having to make another dispenser purchase.

Read Best Reviews of Insinkerator F-201 Hot and Cold Water Filtration System Here

This item was shipped fast and is just as we hoped it would be. It is working perfectly with our Hot Water on Demand unit.

Want Insinkerator F-201 Hot and Cold Water Filtration System Discount?

It sure beats going to a big box store for this part and it was cheaper too. I''ll definitely order it again when the time comes.

Save 48% Off

Easy installation and filter is easy to change (just route tubing to mount unit near front of cabinet!). Unit especially good if dispensing cold water, too. There are cheaper filters available if you''re willing to round-up needed fittings, but this kit very convenient. Amazon price much better than big-box DIY stores that to do not even stock the unit.

Read More >>

Austin Air Pet Machine HM410 Save $0.01 Off

I have had trouble sleeping at night with sleep apnea, snoring, not able to stay in bed but an hour and having to resort sleeping in a recliner. I have degraded over the past 3 years. I saw a lung specialst the prescribed me Xoepenex, and Advair. I recently had nasel surgery, cost me about 1500 out of pocket.

After purchasing the Pet machine from airpurifiersdirect2U, I just unwrapped the Pet machine, plugged it in. After a few hours the air in the whole house smelled fresh. We have an 85lb Golden retriever, much more hair than the mentioned labrador from the bad review of this product. The unit came to me with sight bent frame, but operated perfectly. I contacted Austin, and they offered to immediately replace the Pet machine. I told them I was dissapointed, but it was not worth the effort. Austin sent me a free tabletop for the unit. This is one industrial built air cleaner that gets down to business! This is my experience, fantastic! After seeing an allergist he reccomended I get a non-ozone HEPA filter. I looked at many. This one really worked in my situation. No more snoring, I am able to stay in bed all night, occasionally going to the recliner, but the longer the Austin runs, the better I am. I have more energy, I am sleeping better! I have ordered two healthmate Jr units one for each bedroom. The air quality difference is amazing, and we know we have to get the carpet cleaned. The bedroom air compared to where the machine has not been running ( closed door) is astonishingly different, and I cannot stand to be in the unfiltered room. Next job, is to get out the embedded smell from the carpet or remove it. I was able to bend back all the metal after checking the pre-filter after a few weeks of continuous operation. Noting was needed, and it looks like new, plus I have a neat top to the unit thanks to Austin.

More important, it has almost cured all symptoms of my allergies to the Golden retriver, dust mites, Almost everything outside that gets dragged in to the home. i have been able to cut way back on the frequecy I need to use the medications. Looking at the guts of the pet machine, it is truely a heavy-duty air cleaning machine that can clean what Austin claims. Very high quality parts (industrial motor) The unit has quiet operation on low, meduim, and on high too loud for if near a TV and want to her it. On High this machine gets down to business and work awesome. I could not be more satified.

This air filter makes my life possible. I am allergic to dust, cats and dogs. I live with two cats and four dogs. Without this filter I would not be able to keep my furr family members with me.

You do need to vacuum this filter to get the larger dust particles off so that it works at its peak. If your home is already really dusty when you get it you will need to vacuum it sooner. I take mine outside with the shop vac and set it on blow. Watching the great clouds of dust that come off it is a great reminder to keep on a schedule of maintenance. All air filters need to be cleaned periodically.

Buy Austin Air Pet Machine HM410 Now

We have seven geriatric dogs. We never to meant to have this many dogs ... but here we are. Anyway, keeping a house clean and smelling fresh is practically impossible with this many dogs. However, the Austin Air Pet Machine completely and effectively removes the dog odor from the house. We keep one machine in our "puppy room". This is the room w/ all the dog crates, where the dogs lounge during the day and some sleep during the night. Needless to say this room can get quite doggy smelling! As long as the machine is running the room smells clean [we clean the room and wash all the dog beds twice a week but w/out the machine it would still stink like dogs due to the sheer number of dogs we have]. We have the other machine in our toddler''s room. Not only does his room not smell like dogs but it also doesn''t stink like dirty diapers [he has a diaper genie in his room that is emptied twice a week] ...

So, all in all, I''d say that this machine is well worth the cost! My only complaints are 1) the size [it is industrial looking and isn''t easy to hide!] and, 2) when the machine is on high, it is loud. Not loud in a rattling/shaking way ... just loud air blowing. However, it also doubles as a great white noise machine in my toddler''s room so we''ve turned that ''negative'' into a positive :-)

Read Best Reviews of Austin Air Pet Machine HM410 Here

I own this machine in black and sandstone. The sandstone colored one is ultra quiet and is barely noticeable; the black one is much louder. The product works very well despite the noise on the black one, and eventually it becomes just another background noise. If I go away for a weekend and leave it on while I''m gone, I notice a big difference in the air quality, for the better. I would recommend this product.

Want Austin Air Pet Machine HM410 Discount?

We have had 2 labs for less than a year...the pet machine was bought shortly after the arrival of the second one (a 6 year lab -already house broken!). I felt like the machine worked for less than a week to rid house of "dog smell". There has never been a smell of "accidents" just that dog odor that I never wanted. We have hard wood floors so there is no carpet to trap odor. Dogs are not on furniture. Machine is by their beds. Beds are vacuumed almost daily and washed often. We vacuum all floors daily. Made mistake of emailing Austin Air directly to complain and was completely dismissed. (even though I was in my 30 day window to return). I did hear from a nicer lady from the place I actually bought it from (through austin air''s website?) and she convinced austin air to send me a new filter. It has not changed anything. For all its promises, I cannot say it produces any results on any of them. I am very disappointed with it.

Save $0.01 Off

Read More >>

1 Step Kitchen Cleaner 6ct Lemon Save 84% Off

Someone must have given me these tiny but powerful cleaning pads as a housewarming gift. I just love them. Small and compact, yet powerful. One of the things I use them for is cleaning the stove, and without much effort! I will always make sure I have a supply on hand.

Save 84% Off

Read More >>

Frigidaire ULTRAWF PureSource Ultra Water Filter (2-Pack)

• If unsure, please ask your seller if it fits your model

These filters are the same as the ones that came with my frig three years ago. I was very pleased.

Buy Frigidaire ULTRAWF PureSource Ultra Water Filter (2-Pack) Now

Good price and easy to change out. We will re-order when needed. Much better value than we could find elsewhere.

Read Best Reviews of Frigidaire ULTRAWF PureSource Ultra Water Filter (2-Pack) Here

I have not had any issues with this filter and I tend to replace it every 12 month or when the light goes off on the fridge control panel

Want Frigidaire ULTRAWF PureSource Ultra Water Filter (2-Pack) Discount?

Installed with ease and works as intended. The product is a bit on the expensive side but we go through a lot of water and its much cheaper / more convenient than bottled water or other filtered water solutions.

Been using these for a few years now I can''t complain. Our water tastes clean and each filter lasts about 4 months. :)

Read More >>

Whole House Scale Prevention System Save 45% Off

I have to say that I was skeptical about a whole water filtration & softening system for the price found here. After a lot of research online, most products were either poorly made, didn''t function at all or were a scam. (including the one on Dr. Mercola''s site which was disappointing). After calling and talking with Puriteam staff, I thought I would give it a try and I''m glad I did.

I installed the system myself and have been using it ever since. The instructions are a little confusing, but after rereading them, I realized that they are just written in an overly detailed fashion. Personally, I''d rather have overly detailed than no instructions or instructions that have been poorly converted from another language.

The water in our city is horribly over chlorinated and after getting out of the shower, I use to smell the chlorine on my skin. But now it''s chlorine free. After the installation, the water quality is excellent and chlorine free. I was raised in Lake Tahoe, so I know what good clean water should taste like and this system is like a taste of home.

I called and spoke with them several times and each time, I was greeted quickly, dealt with professionally and they all knew the answers to all my questions. Even the technical ones.

Overall, I give them two thumbs up and have already recommended these folks and this product to my friends and family.

Save 45% Off

Read More >>

FMC300 DUPONT 200 Gallon Faucet Mount Filter Cartridge Save 25% Off

• DUPONT 200 Gallon Faucet Mount Filter Cartridge.
• 200 Gallon Filter Life.
• 4 Phase Protection and Filtration.

I have had this filter for 2 years now and love it. Never any problems from it or the filters. It overflows inside the casing where the filter is placed when the cartridge is no longer filtering water, when it is past it''s life expectancy. But, they are cheaper to pick up at WalMart, the system as well. ;)

Buy FMC300 DUPONT 200 Gallon Faucet Mount Filter Cartridge Now

I''ve tried other faucet filtration systems (Teledyne, Pur) that I''ve picked up at the local hardware store, and all have cracked within one month. We''ve been using the FMC300 for over 6 months and it''s still going strong. The stream of water that comes through the filtration system is slow, still the FMC300 is head and shoulders above all the other systems I''ve used.

Read Best Reviews of FMC300 DUPONT 200 Gallon Faucet Mount Filter Cartridge Here

I purchased the Dupont FM350 Deluxe water filter because of the price and the filtering capacity. I''ve been very happy with the service it''s given! My only concern after 208 gallons filtered was locating a replacement filter locally. The water still tastes great!

Want FMC300 DUPONT 200 Gallon Faucet Mount Filter Cartridge Discount?

I''ve had my system for well over a year and had no problem whatsoever with this system or this filter. For me it has been far superior than other brands and it didn''t take a jack hammer to change the filter. Our water in West Des Moines is terrible, with this filter I don''t ruin appliances like my coffee maker. I am very happy with it.

Save 25% Off

It cleans the water and greatly improves the taste of water from my tap. My water has a high sulfur content and really does not taste good and some things do not cook good. With the filter there is a great improvement.

Read More >>