Showing posts with label drinking water filter systems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drinking water filter systems. Show all posts

BUNN 28696 2.15-Liter Push Button Airpot Coffee/Tea Dispenser Save 17% Off

BUNN 28696 2.15-Liter Push Button Airpot Coffee/Tea DispenserWorks great. It''s a taller than I expected... a bit large for my kitchen counter. We bought it because we found we were throwing out so much coffee and wasting money. The pot has helped keep coffee fresh and hot for several hours, so we aren''t throwing coffee/money down the drain. If you are one to throw out old coffee because it tastes burnt or is cold, the pot will pay for itself in no time. If the coffee drinkers in your household wake up at different hours, this pot is the perfect solution to not having to make another pot.

The look on my mother-in-laws face when she saw "Bunn" and "Air Pot" was priceless. Then she figured out what it was and she was pleased. It was exactly what she asked for though she would have never known its actual name if she were to ever order it herself. She has used it several time hence for family and church activities. It is a safe, effective and tasteful (even classy/professional) way to get hot cocoa or coffee from A to B.

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Keeps beverages warm for several hours/most of the day. The pump is a little harder to operate than the lever type. Capacity is exactly what I needed. Item arrived in good condition.

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Works great, but seems a little difficult to clean. Top doesn''t come off so you need a long bottle brush.

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It is glass lined, like the old-school Aladin thermos''. It keeps my coffee piping hot as long as the next day. It is coffee pot hot 6 hours later so I''d rate it quite well. Also, when you get that last shot of coffee out of it and look inside it is EMPTY. I mean just a few drops remaining.

Also, this holds a full "12 cup" pot of coffee with about an inch left at the top.

Otherwise it is Chinese garbage what else would you expect? I only gave it 4 stars because of this, my government trained me to hate the communists and this has stuck with me.

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Kaz Inc FM-9400B PUR 3 Stage Faucet Filter

Kaz Inc FM-9400B PUR 3 Stage Faucet Filter
  • New
  • Kaz Inc FM-9400B
  • Kaz Inc FM-9400B PUR 3 Stage Faucet Filter

I was interested in a particular model that was shown in the picture and received the newer model(click-on). What I wanted was screw on type as shown on the picture. I heard the newer model is a click on style but, it comes off easily. After talking to PUR they said that an adapter has been added to prevent this from happpening. But, found this out after sending it back. They credited everything back including the shipping. They should update the picture with the correct model number. It just a waste of time returning it etc. Amazon, was quick to contact the seller.

Gaggia 16100 Evolution Home Espresso Cappuccino Machine Save 4% Off

Gaggia 16100 Evolution Home Espresso Cappuccino Machine, BlackAfter many happy (and dare I say, naive) years with our DeLonghi Caffe Espresso, it was time to replace our old workhorse. Having just spent the summer in Spain, where no bar is complete without the standard superautomatic Gaggia espresso maker, I decided that truly great espresso was a daily necessity. I was tired of incompetent teenagers / college students who work at local coffee shops mangling something as simple as a cappuccino (one part espresso, one part milk, one part foam) into a milk-drowned latte with no foam.

I wanted something in the range of $200, with a dependable track record and plenty of power to spare. I waded through a myriad of reviews for the Gaggia Carezza, hailed as a champion of its class, but read a number of negative reviews concerning design shortcomings.

Enter the Gaggia Evolution. Although the Gaggia Carezza and Evolution share the same innards, the Evolution boasts several improvements in design. With its 17.5 bar pump and high wattage, dual element boiler, the Gaggia Evolution is ready to brew in around 5-10 minutes (I always prime the boiler first).

Design improvements over the Carezza include: a larger drip tray, a cup warmer (although, as usual, it''s more effective to preheat your cups by filling them with hot water, which can be done during priming), anti-vibration mounts (once primed, the Gaggia Evolution is nearly whisper-quiet), and a brass commercial portafilter (the spouts on the Carezza were changed to plastic). My Evolution came with the Perfect Crema device (which is supposed to go under the single filter basket in order to create additional pressure/allow a coarser grind), but having read numerous negative reviews of the ineffective device, I simply left it in the box with the packing material.

Five stars for the instruction manuals and CD-ROM: the Gaggia Evolution comes with not one, but two instruction manuals: one from the manufacturer (Gaggia), and one from the North American importer (Importika). The Importika manual is intuitive, easy to read and injected with coffee humor, although the Evolution is not among the Gaggia models listed in the Appendix. The included CD-ROM walks you through setup in the form of short movies and narration, along with more advanced tips and techniques for coffee connoisseurs. We put our laptop on the kitchen table and followed along after unpacking our new Gaggia (thankfully, nothing was broken in the mail, as happened to several Gaggia Carezza owners). Although the manual hinted that your first coffee might not be potable, we''d followed various tips online (prime your new machine several times to remove any residue and plastic-y taste), and our first espresso was laden with crema. The Turbo Frother attachment made the creamiest, densest microfoam I have ever seen-it looked more like meringue (hint: use skim milk for best results). My only complaint would be the cheapness of the included coffee scoop, and you definitely want to invest in a better tamp for maximum extraction (the Gaggia takes a 58 mm tamp at a recommended 30 pounds of pressure).

If you''re not in the market to buy a $200-300 grinder (Rancilio Rocky or Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder) to go with your new Gaggia, Illy makes a delicious, dependable espresso grind, available in tins (decaf, too) or Pods. The Evolution is Pod-ready, simply use the single shot basket with the portafilter. Tip: "classic" double shots should take around 20-25 seconds to extract.

The Evolution is a steal for the current price, since it contains the same innards as other Gaggias in the $400-500 range. Although it runs around $50-100 more than the Carezza, I appreciated the design improvements, stylish lines (I have a Tuscan kitchen with hand-painted ceramics and terra cotta tiles and was afraid that the "modern" styling would stand out, but the Evolution is much more traditional-looking and unobtrusive than the Carezza), and performance. (Note: the Evolution is also available in an all-silver model, but it will set you back another $50. The black model features a black base and sides and a silver front and silver drip tray.)

Excellent for the espresso novice or connoisseur, easy to use and clean, and it makes better espresso than some $500-1,000 machines I''ve tried!

After calculating exactly how much money I''ve forked over to Starbuck$ in the last 4 years in exchange for burnt-coffee-flavored milk, I decided to look for a tastier, "wordlier", yet money-saving option. I did give the Nespresso machines a hard look (those use a metal capsule and they are quick, clean, and the coffee tastes quite good), but I eventually decided against them because the capsules are somewhat expensive ($0.50/piece plus shipping), and only available in a few different "beans". A regular espresso machine, such as this Gaggia model, opens up the world of exotic coffees and the pleasure of preparing them.

On to the machine. The black-and-silver design of this device would blend in nicely in a modern kitchen; I personally think it''s quite stylish. Sadly though, the black plastic of which it is made is of the shiny kind, which does not only show every smudge or drop of water, but scratches easily when you so much as wipe it with a dry paper towel (think ipod nano). The drip tray is quite flimsy; not a problem but just screams "cheap". The only badly designed piece is the cup warmer: it''s situated in the back half of the (slightly slanted) top, which barely gets lukewarm unlike the front half which does get hot, but can''t be used because it''s rounded and your cups would fall off. Again, this is not really a problem, as you can just use hot water to preheat your cups, but it makes you think that perhaps they shouldn''t advertise that feature.

Two things surprised me very positively. It''s very easy to fill the machine with water; you just slide out the container to the left, even while you''re making espresso. The other surprise was the milk frother. The steam "pipe" has a plastic attachment to it which contains air channels; some ingenious solution which ends up making perfectly frothed milk. A reviewer claimed that it doesn''t heat up the milk enough; I cannot verify that statement, but then I only prepare small amounts of milk, enough for one or two cappuccinos.

The guts of this machine are impeccable. It''s neither underpowered nor loud, all pieces that ought to be metal actually are, and it''s serviceable. The manual explains how every few weeks you are supposed to unscrew a few plates and clean them, and perhaps use a cleaning solution for the tubing.

Speaking of the manual, it gives you all you need to know to make a good espresso; the cdrom even has helpful little movies that show how a good flow looks like (neither splattering nor just dripping, just an even flow for 25 seconds).

All in all, I am extremely happy with my purchase. The manual humorously mentions that "your first espresso is probably not very good". Well, mine was delicious. Meanwhile, I''ve gotten my espresso routine down and find that it doesn''t take much time at all to make a good cup, certainly less than waiting in line twice at Starbucks.

By the way, you will end up owning a burr-type grinder, too. Beans last longer than pre-ground coffee before things turn bitter.

2012 update. I have now converted to the dark side and am a happy owner of an Nespresso Pixie. The Gaggia is still a good machine though.

Buy Gaggia 16100 Evolution Home Espresso Cappuccino Machine Now

I''ve had this unit for about 10 weeks now. I''ve made over 100 shots of espresso in that time.

Pros:

Plenty of pressure. Has no problem extracting a double shot of espresso in 25 seconds provided you have your grind setting correct.

Serious steam wand pressure. Easily takes 8 oz. of milk up to 150 degrees (and would easily go beyond if I let it) in under a minute, with a lot of foam (can easily double or triple the milk volume in that time).

Easy to use. One button to start warmup, one button to draw the shots of espresso, and one button to produce steam for the wand. Dial to adjust steam amount. 15 seconds from pressing the steam button to having lots of pressure available at the wand.

Produces nice espresso. With fresh beans and the right grind (burr grinder a must; you -willget poor results with a blade grinder), really nice shots with lots of crema. The temp is right, it''s not watery and it''s not bitter/burnt. With old beans or a poor grind, still makes average to good shots.

Perfect Froth wand. Purists hate this and insist that you should change out the steam wand with a standard one (which will work fine check out forums on wholelattelove for the recommended replacement part). However, I actually like the froth wand. While I do like taking the purist approach to frothing sometimes, on some mornings I just want a pitcher full of froth without having to think about it, and the Perfect Froth wand will deliver that every time.

Cleanup easy. Can clean up in a minute (bang out the coffee puck, rinse head under water, pop off Perfect Frother, rinse that, blast of steam out the wand, wipe the wand down, rinse out frothing pitcher, done.)

Warmup time. Ready to use in as little as 5-6 minutes. By the time I''ve ground the coffee, got the milk out, prepared the frothing pitcher, found my mug, put a flavor shot in it, and run a blank shot through the unit (to get fresh water in the pump and heat up the head and glasses), it''s pretty much ready to go. If you have time, give it 10 minutes to be sure, but works with 5-6 in a pinch.

Cons

Can be drippy. I empty the drip tray twice a week, that''s with making 2-4 shots per day. Doesn''t really bother me.

Water tank could be larger. Refill every 3-4 days. Slightly awkward to slide full tank back into place and manage the intake tubes. (Not really a big deal, may splash a few drops of water on you)

Perfect crema device could never get it to fit in the head, but haven''t needed it. Unit generates good crema as-is.

Casing not as sturdy as it could be. It does flex a bit as I''m tightening the head. Filter head handle has a little play in it.

Tamper is cheap plastic. I bought an aluminum one from Amazon.

Of the cons, the only ones that concern/annoy me are the slightly small water tank size, and to a lesser extent, the sturdiness of the casing. The other things are either to be expected, easily remedied, or easily ignored. People complain about the unit being drippy, but I''d rather have that than a unit with too little pressure it''s the residual pressure that causes the drips. That''s what a drip tray is for. Espresso is a slightly messy hobby, it comes with the territory.

Overall I am extremely happy with the unit. The internals are identical to units much more expensive. Results are consistent each time. The unit isn''t fussy; it''s fairly forgiving if I rush it in the morning or use older beans.

This is a great unit to graduate up to from an entry-level unit, when you start to get serious about making espresso and espresso drinks. For the price, the quality can''t be beat. I researched units for about six months before I bought, and I am very happy with the decision.

Final note you definitely also should consider getting a burr grinder if you don''t already have one. You can''t generate the consistency and fineness of the grind with a blade grinder, and if you buy pre-ground beans, that''ll work in a pinch but you''ll lose a lot of flavor and crema within minutes of grinding. Since buying this unit and a burr grinder, I now buy my espresso blends from local roasters directly because I finally have a unit where the quality of the beans does show through.

Read Best Reviews of Gaggia 16100 Evolution Home Espresso Cappuccino Machine Here

I''m not an expert; just a coffee lover. I get most of my information from the web sites: wholelattelove, coffeegeek, etc. They have buying guides for espresso machines & grinders, reviews etc. They also have videos for many products.

I had a Saeco classico for 8 years. It is still running and makes great espresso but I wanted to upgrade to a semi-automatic with a non-pressurized (commercial) portafilter. If you have decided to buy a pump-driven semi-automatic espresso machine, you have to choose between a pressurized and a commercial portafilter. They all use similar machinery (a single boiler and a water pump) but of course they differ in quality. Most semi-automatics, including Saeco and DeLonghi, use a pressurized portafilter, although you can buy an extra non-pressurized portafilter to use for some of these machines (about $50). Gaggia, as well as the commercial and most high-end home espresso machines, always use a commercial portafilter. Pressurized portafilters have valves inside the portafilter (under the coffee filter) to regulate pressure so that they open the valves only when the pressure is right. My Saeco had two plastic valves with metal springs. Non-pressurized portafilters on the other hand depend on the grind quality and the tamping to make the pressure just right. If the coffee grind is not fine enough or the coffee is stale or if it is not a consistent grind, it will not produce any crema: the water will flow through the grinds following the shortest path and will fill the cup within few seconds without producing any crema. If the grind is just right, you will have an excellent espresso, nearly as good as that of commercial machines. Pressurized portafilters on the other hand produce great espresso (but not excellent) and they are very forgiving about the coffee quality and grind. But from my experience with Saeco, the plastic valves inside the portafilter get dirty very easily and the coffee acids will make the valve surface rough, changing the valve behavior. Although I cleaned my Saeco frequently (with Urnex cleancaf), after the first 3-4 year, the valves started to open on higher pressure, which resulted to over-extraction and sometimes caused the portafilter to pop with a loud noise when you remove it, because of the built-up pressure. I ended up removing one of the valves. So that''s why I decided to buy a semi with a commercial portafilter.

My advice is: if you make mostly lattes/cappuccinos, buy a semi with pressurized portafilter. DeLonghi EC702 is currently on sale at an amazing price (and is stainless steel!). If you like excellent espresso, then Gaggia will make amazing shots and will last a life time. But with Gaggia (and all commercial portafilters), you cannot use most preground coffee (such as Illy or Lavazza), since they are ground for pressurized portafilters. You cannot also buy and grind your coffee in your local mega-mart (this is actually advice for any coffee machine) as their grinders are not cleaned frequently and the stale coffee oil in the grinder makes the coffee bitter. If you are close to a micro-roaster/coffee-shop then you are lucky. Otherwise, buy on the internet from a reputable local roaster. When you buy ground coffee for Gaggia, tell them that it''s for commercial portafilter (as their machines) and to grind it one/two notches coarser than their machines (you do not want to choke your Gaggia!). Ask them which grind setting they used so that you can ask for finner/coarser next time.

Eventually, you will need to buy your own grinder. Is this important? It''s important for pressurized but absolutely essential for commercial portafilter. The general advice is that you should spend more money for the grinder than the espresso machine. Originally, I had a Krups burr grinder, which was worthless even for pressurized portafilter. Then I bought the Capresso Infinity conical burr grinder ($80), which produces little crema with fresh beans even using the finest setting (supposed to be for Turkish coffee) and hard tamping. So my advice is to buy a good grinder, such as Baratza Virtuoso ($200) (not Maestro), or Gaggia MDF ($250), or Rancilio Rocky ($350), although I have never tried any of these. Don''t be cheap on the grinder. Watch the videos at seattlecoffeegear on buying a grinder. Also, if the Gaggia is a present to a friend, it would be a good idea to pair it with a good grinder, otherwise it may be disappointing at first.

About storing coffee beans: There is a misconception that you should never freeze beans. Experts say the opposite. You should pack them in freezer bags and store them in the freezer (best is if you vacuum-pack). You should unfreeze them overnight before use (otherwise they will choke your grinder). Another myth is that you should always use very dark roast beans (such as espresso or Italian roast). Any medium-to-dark roast is fine. It''s a matter of taste. Dark roast beans tend to be more bitter. Also, dark beans tend to be oily, which may choke your grinder and may require frequent cleaning.

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Uh-oh looks like they are getting some bad feedback over the holidays...

Anyway, I have had my Evolution for a few months now and I really like it. This machine is replacing my old, cheap Krups model which served me well for a long time. I think it''s a good machine for the price asked...there are not many in this price range to choose from it''s mostly either cheap machines or ridiculously expensive machines. I have never had a ridiculously expensive machine so those of you that have may not want to buy this. For me this is a step up.

It is ready to brew really really fast, and it gets your coffee so hot, it steams your milk like a madman. It really is so fast and so hot...I love that! Be careful,it is so hot I burned myself on one of the metal bits...OUCH!

So, I think you will be happy with this purchase as long as UPS doesn''t drop it off a building before delivering it to you.

Oh, yes, there is crema. And do me a favor, try something other than Starbucks please. I use Illy which is good...my favorite is Seggafreddo which I just can''t find in any store...maybe I''ll look online. But really, please, just try something different, you might like it, and you might help keep Starbucks from taking over the world!!

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Daniel Green Women''s Glamour Slipper

Daniel Green Glamour SlippersIt was definitely a good purchase because it is hard to find a leather slipper with a wedge heel. But I caution you that these slippers run small. I usually buy a 9 1/2 Med in slippers but I purchased a 9 1/2 Wide, after trying them on, I should have purchased a 10 Wide. The sippers run both narrow and short.

I bought these slippers for my mother in law who has been wearing this brand of shoes for over 35yrs, and she couldnt get her foot into it they are so narrow, and I purchased a ww.....these shoes just are not made right

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Daniel Green slippers, like everything else, are now made in China. They are no longer all leather inside and out. That is what made them so fabulous! I was so disappointed with the man made materials on the inside, and returned them.

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The slippers tend to run about 1/2 size shorter than other shoes or slippers.

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i purchased your slippers with a gift certificate i got unfortunately they are NOT TRUE TO SIZE and they had to be returned

and i therefore was charged for the postage on said purchase which i dont think was fair i have worn this product before and had no problem so it makes me wonder WHY these didnt fit

Clearyl Water Filter for Jura Coffee Centers

Clearyl Water Filter for Jura Coffee Centers - Clearyl Blue 60Exactly what I needed for my Z5. It is pricey for what it does, but if you need, then you will have no choice but to buy it or do the manual descaling which is more time consuming. I actually don''t change it out but once every 9 mos. or so but do not notice any changes in the way the expresso taste. We drink 8 cups of expresso and two cups of extra strong coffee every morning so a lot of water goes through this filter.

I guess it works fine enough, hard to tell with water filters. But this is a very pricey water filter for what boils down to about 3 months of usage. I guess they have their corner on this market so they can charge whatever they want.

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Very convenient way to keep your supply of filters to protect your investment in the coffee machine. I always keep at least one extra so that I know I will have a safe water supply.

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RM-TFC Save 57% Off

RM-TFCI wound up replacing every component of my RO system except the tubing and some of the connectors. The tank had a ruptured bladder and the automatic shutoff valve chattered...and it still does with the new one. It''s possible that some minute rubber bladder bits got deposited into the new valve. I haven''t been successful in clearing it yet. All this started when I replaced the RM-TFC. The water still doesn''t taste as good as it did before I replaced the RM-TFM, but I''m not sure of the cause. I''ve been replacing the RM-TFM every two years and this is the first time I''ve experienced any trouble. It is a strange coincidence that the system disintegrated immediately after I replaced the RM-TFC.

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

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

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Flavor Options 1-Pack Flavor Cartridge

PUR Flavor Options 1-Pack Strawberry Flavor CartridgeBought the filter and then couldn''t find the replacement flavor cartridges. Was glad to find them here, one little squirt while filling with the PUR water filter adds a little desirable flavor to otherwise "no tase" filtered water.

I really wanted this to be great but it tastes fake. I actually just ended up throwing it out and drinking the water with no flavor added which is an improvement!

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This concoction contains 14% propylene glycol. You don''t want to drink it. You don''t want your kids drinking it. It''s also used in your car''s radiator as anti-freeze. Corporate industry has deliberately and consistently prevented any adequate study how propylene glycol affects the health of humans. Wonder why?

Buy natural flavorings and add them to your PUR filtered water instead.

Read about propylene glycol at Wikipedia:

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Relion Humidifier Filter WF813 Save 25% Off

Relion Humidifier Filter WF813, 2 PackNeeded replacement for that cheap Reli-On humidifier we got at Wal-mart last year. These did the job, lasted for a year, good product!

Better quality than the one supplied with the humidifer.Where the original one has plastic,this has metal.Does a good filtering job.Will buy them again when they are needed.

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i chose this rating because this filter was not thick enough,so it does not meet the need.the filter is not the same as the one that came with the humidifier or as it appeared in the sample picture.

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These filters fall apart after just a couple of uses. I would not buy them again. They don''t have the metal supports line the Mfg filters.

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With three small children, I feel like my humidifier is constantly running in the winter months. These work great. My only complaint is that it seems to go through them so fast. For the price though, it works.

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Extech RE300 ExStik ORP Meter

Extech RE300 ExStik ORP Meter
  • Measures ORP/Redox from -999 to 999mV
  • Automatic electronic self calibration
  • Simulated analog bargraph displays change in ORP reading
  • Waterproof to IP57 protects meter from wet environment
  • Data hold, auto power off and low battery indication

I purchased the Extech re300 about 2 weeks ago and have used it about 15 times so far. I need to measure ORP value, and I wanted something decent for the price. I seen there was another model on amazon that had more reviews, but I have used an extech before and I was fairly happy.

So far it has functioned great. I have read that orp meters less than 300 bucks can lose calibration and the sensors go out... so we will see how long it holds up, however I am very satisfied so far.

Things to note:

When I did a search for a ph meter this one came up, however when I recieved it I noticed I had misread the description. It is JUSt an orp meter. So I am thinking of getting the PH Extech coming up soon, but there are so many mixed reviews on all makes and models. Right now I am using ph strips and they are fairly accurate, but will be looking to get a digital reading of ph.

The reason for the 4 stars is that the meter works great but did not blow my mind. Maybe after 6 months of working I will come back and adjust my review.

As for storage, I have just wetted the end like the directions said. There is an automatic calibration and so far it seems to be accurate.

I have not used storage solutions or anything... and I have checked a couple times to make sure it is still "in tune"... so maybe it does deserve a 5 star rating.

What else can I say.

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This device is awesome. It is compact, accurate and reliable. It is easy to use and maintain, and provides readings relatively fast.

Brondell S1000-EW Swash 1000 Advanced Bidet Elongated Toilet Seat Save 37% Off

Brondell S1000-EW Swash 1000 Advanced Bidet Elongated Toilet Seat, White
  • Posterior and feminine endless warm water washes
  • Dual stainless steel positionable nozzles with wide spray
  • Ergonomic gentle-closing heated seat with quick release
  • Wireless remote control with warm air dryer and deodorizer settings
  • Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
  • Gentle closing seat and lid

This is my personal and honest review of the Swash S-1000 Toilet Seat Bidet. After searching high and low, and researching and reading everything I cld find on EVERY toilet seat bidet out there, I chose the Swash 1000. It''s too bad you can''t "try before you buy" with these things. Maybe my choice would have been different in the end. I almost bought the Coway BA-13. Def worth you checking out. So, that''s why I wanted to write a comprehensive review on the Swash S-1000 for ppl. There just aren''t many solid and detailed reviews out there on these things. So I hope this helps you in your search for one of these.

First a little bit about me. I am a 41 y/o male, and my main reason for buying one of these was for myself. More on that in my review. The 2nd reason was for my 4 y/o dghtr. She''s been toilet trained for almost 2 years now, but still doesn''t always wipe herself well enough down there when she''s at school, and ends up with a very bad and sore/irritating rash down there. So I wanted her to always be able use the seat to get herself totaly clean whenever she "goes". We have her use it to clean off w/e she may have missed from going to the bathroom at school everyday as well. 3rd reason was for my wife. Not for after doing #1. That''s too much of a hassle. But mainly during her "friends" visit. AKA "that time of the month". So,...on to the review.

I''ll start out with the cons/negs first. For you ladies out there, I hate to break it to you, but...this seat WILL NOT reach you well enough in your frontal area unless you can uncomfortably skoot all the way to the back of the toilet seat, and lean forward. Luckily here, my wife is a workout queen so that''s not a problem, but for some women, that may not be so easy.

To the makers of the Swash...I understand that you only have so much room for the wands to extend out based on the depth of the back of the toilet seat housing, but honestly, is it that big-a-deal to make telescoping wands that cld more than easily extend ALL THE WAY OUT to where any person wld need them to be in order to wash comfortably? You know, wands that will collapse into themselves in a couple of sections for extended reach but will also fit all the way back into the housing. I mean come on! This aint rocket science. Especially if a dummy like me can come up with the idea. LOL I mean this is a $1000 toilet seat (based on MSRP) we''re talking about here. Yeesh! To me, that''s is a big negative. A major design flaw. Swash, PLEASE steal my idea and make/design both wands with a scoping feature. The whole purpose of the seat is to TOTALLY clean you, back to FRONT. In fact, as much as I like the dedicated wands for each clean up chore, I''m sure that with a scoping wand, you''d only need one wand as opposed to two, thus saving on the cost of production as well as the cost to the consumer.

Secondly, with my dghtr. The weight sensors in the front of the seat will not recognize her sitting on it. This now requires my wife to go in there and push down on the inside front part of the toilet seat, and me to work the remote for it to clean her. Now I realize that the sensor is a safety feature, and it''s a good one at that, but my dghtr weighs 42lbs. Certainly someone weighing more than say 30lbs should be recognized by the seat sensor as a person "in use". Not a big thing to complain about, but a problem none the less. And for anyone else who has the same idea of using it on your children as we did, (especially if you have multiple little ones) will find it to be none too fun. It will get old real fast having to deal with that.

So, I can honestly say that those are the two "MAIN" negatives with the seat. Minor things wld be to have a completely back lit remote feature for night time usage. It stinks to have to turn the lights on to see the thing. It''d also be nice if the seat itself had a nite lite feature on it. It does have nice little function lights that are lit up on it, esp the blue eco-mode light. But a dedicated nite lite wld have been a great little addition to match a lighted remote. But that''s nitpicking. So, now it''s time for the POSITIVES. = )

As I stated, the purchase of this seat was MAINLY for me. You see, I have severe Ulcerative Colitis. For those who don''t knw wht that is, it''s a serious colon disease. For me, I use the bathroom between 25 40 times a day. That is NOT a typo. You read it right. Depending on what I eat during the day I cld be on this thing up to 40 times. A little milk or ice cream and I''m doomed. Anyone out there with Collitis or Chrone''s or Diverticulitis or IBS knws all too well wht I am talking about. I say all this because IMHO, if you''re only going to use your toilet a cpl times a day, I really don''t think a $300-$600 plus dollar toilet seat bidet is worth the investment. If however, money isn''t tight, and you can afford it, then go for it. Because even those few times that you do put it to use, you will find yourself LOVING it. And if you''re going a lot more frequently, or have some type of gastro-intestinal disease...it''s a "MUST HAVE". An absolute "GOD SEND", LITERALLY!

Having the Swash for almost 2 months now I can say that this seat has been awesome for me. No more using a a roll and a half to 2 rolls of toilet paper per day. And at 69-79 cents a roll now-a-days, the savings are considerable. For me that''s a potential savings of $250 to $350 a year right there! It''s like an investment that will pay for itself in 2 to 3 years. Not to mention the fact of NO more awful rashes and that sandpaper feeling with every wipe. NO more dirty feeling, like you need to take a shower 5 times a day, just to name a few things. As I said, it''s been a God send for me. The seat gets me totally clean, EVERYTIME! As for drying yourself...I have found that if you use the dryer feature alone, it''ll take forever to get dry. So wht I do is take the toilet paper and just pat (NOT wipe) myself dry to get the heavy water off, using 2-3 wads of paper. Then I dry myself with the dryer (which has 3 temp as well as 3 speed settings) for 20-30 seconds, and I''m perfectly clean and dry. At least 80% less paper used! = )

There are alot more awesome features on the seat as well. First, no cheap plastic washing wands. Nice rust free stainless steel here. That''s definitely the best way to go if you buy one. SS, you can''t beat it for quality, longevity, and cleanliness. It also has oscilating wands, meaning they go back and forth while they clean. Truly a great feature that you will appreciate. It also has a width adjustment for the water stream that you can use and adjust WHILE it''s cleaning you. It can blast a stream at you, a medium width fan spray, or a nice wide spray. That''s my personal fav. ; ) The water pressure from the wands can also be adjusted from low to high water output. Also with the internal ceramic heater element, you NEVER run out of nice hot water. I''ve used the water stream for 5 minutes without it running out just to test it. It''s a great feature to have as opposed to the water resevoirs that will give you warm water for about 45 seconds. It takes longer than that to wash yourself clean. I mean why buy a cleaning seat if you''re not going to get 100% clean? There are also 3 different temp settings for the water so everyone can find a comfortable heat setting.

Also, being up here in New England with our freezing winter temperatures, it''s a great feeling to sit down on a nice pre-heated toilet seat. Esp in the middle of the night when you have your heat turned down to save some $$$ and it''s chilly in the house. The seat is so warm and comfortable, hec, it''s down right inviting! LOL It also has 4 temp settings. Completely off, then a cool temp setting for summertime (no sweating), medium heat, and extra warm. It''s also great that the seat has the gentle close feature. Especially for the kids, and guests. You don''t want your seat to be accidentally slammed down, jarring all the inner workings and electronics in your toilet seat. It won''t last long for sure. And don''t forget the fact that those accidental late night slams sometimes have you ducking and dodging slippers being thrown at your head from an angrily awoken significant other person. I''d be remiss if I didn''t mention that. LOL

Well,...I appologize for the length of this review, but I really wanted to be as comprehensive and informative as possible to help you with your purchase. $600. is a lot of money to spend on a toilet seat. You def want to be happy with such an expensive purchase. So, all in all, the Swash has some truly great as well as addicting features, and aside from a few negatives, I would DEFINITELY recomend the Swash S-1000 Toilet Seat Bidet to you, and would in fact myself buy it again. Now, as I stated at the begining of my review, there may be a better seat out there, I don''t know. Honestly, the Coway BA 13 was the other seat that I narrowed my exhaustive search down to, and almost bought. It''s one that you shld seriously consider too. As I said...I wish you cld try before you buy, becuase if the Coway can reach a womans'' frontal area better...I''da chosen that one because it has the same features as the Swash does. So def give that a look too. Hope this was helpful to you all. God Bless and good luck to you in your search for "bathroom bliss". = )

5/16/12 Product Update...

Well, it''s been over a year and a half since I bought my Swash 1000, and I thought it would be a beneficial addition to the review if I gave a little "Quality" update to let you know how the toilet seat is performing. Well, the seat is performing PERFECTLY. There is not a single thing wrong with the seat. Nothing is broke or has stopped working on it. It has performed flawlessly. And believe me, my toilet seat probably has the equivelant of 10 years of "normal" usage on it with my stomach ailment. This has been a tremendous value and investment for me. I really can''t say enough good things about the Swash.

I have also recommended it to a lot of people. Even a few people at work. One guy weighs 4oo lbs and really can''t clean himself well enough back there. And another guy at work who was collecting money for a charity raffle for his friend who was in an accident, and is almost a quadrapolegic. I say almost because he has very "limited" use of his right arm. I don''t know if that family ended up buying one, but what a great way to be able to properly clean someone in that type of physical condition. #1-The person doing the cleaning doesn''t have to hurt themselves trying to clean the person right. And #2-I think you''d give a real feeling of self respect to the person who needs to be cleaned. Thus saving them a lot of constant embarassment. To me, that''s the most important thing of all.

So, for all those wondering about the potential longevity of this seat, I can honestly say that this thing has more than just lived up to my expectations. It has by far and away surpassed them. And as I stated, with the demands I put on my seat, it will definitely last you for years to come as well.

Well, I hope this little update will provide some additional help for you all. Any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section.

Buy Brondell S1000-EW Swash 1000 Advanced Bidet Elongated Toilet Seat Now

I luv my swash....I must admit that I never heard of this thing until a friend told me about it.I even installed it myself with just a pair of pliers and screwdriver! I''m not a home maintenance kind of girl but this was easy! The remote is amazing as it controls all the functions and it mounts anywhere with the included sticky tape or you can use the screws also. You can adjust the temperature of the seat,the water temp,the width of the spray and how long you want the dryer to breeze your butt. I use the oscillating feature so that it washes both my areas. The dryer is nice but I have to run it through 3 cycles(6 minutes) to completely dry me,so I just use a small piece of tissue to dry myself.,so they need to improve on that feature.The deodorizing fan is a nice touch as well. The water nozzle will clean itself by pressing the sterilize button on the remote.And if you have any questions,just click on my name and my addy is on my profile.And lastly,when you receive your swash,you may notice water dripping from the unit. After reading the manual,it details that the unit is tested with water prior to shipping.

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I''d given up looking for a bidet seat years ago when we stumbled on the Swash in of all places, a bedding store. It is far far better than a traditional one-function European style bidet and space is not needed for another commode.

It is great for someone with reaching problems due to a bad back and a snap to use and get used to. You will probably need a plumber if you aren''t handy and have trouble bending. I''d suggest an electrician if you don''t have a GFI receptacle real close to the commode. It requires 1500 watts, so a dedicated circuit may be in order.

The upgrade to the biscuit color is a bit pricey at + $100.00, but who cares! Last but not least, Brondell has the best service department I''ve ever dealt with. We had a minor problem with ours and a replacement was immediately shipped to us along with pre-paid return shipping.

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I''ve purchased both the Brondell Swash 1000 and the AMDM Intelliseat offered here on Amazon but also from Costco:

AMDM IntelliSeat The Ultimate Bidet Electronic Toilet Seat w/ Remote ISB200 Washlet White

The Swash 1000 and the Intelliseat have similar features, except the Swash has a few more. However, the Swash 1000 costs three times as much as the Intelliseat. Here''s a brief comparison between the two bidet seats based on my experiences. Please bear with me as the review is very lengthy, but I hope it''ll help you make an informed decision if you''re stuck between the Swash and the Intelliseat.

Installation: The installation process was very similar between the Swash and the Intelliseat, and shouldn''t take more than 30 minutes. Both use a T-valve hooked onto your toilet''s water supply to feed water into the bidet, but there are differences. The Swash''s T-valve is a 7/8" connection that fits between the fill valve connection under your toilet tank and the water supply hose. This greatly eliminates the probability that you''ll need to get additional adapters because fill valves connections are almost always 7/8", and you simply hook up the water supply hose to the T-valve, and the T-valve over the fill valve connection. The Intelliseat''s T-valve fits between the water supply hose and the water supply valve from your wall. The Intelliseat''s T-valve is made to fit over 3/8" or 1/2" if you use the included conversion nut, but I ended up having to shop for another conversion nut because the one that came with the seat didn''t fit. Also, the Intelliseat''s T-valve bottlenecks the water going to my toilet, so now the toilet fills a little more slowly. Not that big of a deal, but Swash''s connection is well thought-out and much less of a hassle. Winner: Swash 1000

Nozzles: Both have two nozzles, one for back wash (for your butt) and one for front wash (for your lady parts). However, the Intelliseat has one plastic wand with both nozzles, while the Swash has separate stainless steel wands for each nozzle. Stainless steel is generally accepted as being more hygienic and resistant to bacteria than plastic, and the separate wand for front and back wash also seems more hygienic. Winner: Swash 1000

Nozzle cleaning: The nozzles on both seats have a self-cleaning rinse before and after each wash cycle, and you can also run the self-cleaning rinse manually. However, the Swash boasts a "silver oxide nanoparticle treatment" when you hit the "Sterilization" button on the remote. I''m not really sure how it works or what it does because it just looks like a self-cleaning rinse when I activate it, but I do know that silver oxide has antibacterial properties, so that''s comforting. Winner: Swash 1000

Adjustable spray strength and position: Both seats have adjustable spray strength and position. The Swash''s spray covers a wider area, is aerated, and the spray width can be also be adjusted. It feels like a showerhead spray. The Intelliseat has a more concentrated and powerful single stream, but the spray width cannot be adjusted. The Intelliseat is pretty capable of probably giving you an enema on its strongest setting, but I find that the Intelliseat generally sprays stronger than it needs to. Winner: Swash 1000

Sweeping spray function: Both seats have a mode that sweeps the spray back and forth to cover more area, except on the Swash, it''s called "Move", and on the Intelliseat, it''s called "Oscillate". Both work about the same. Tie: Swash 1000, Intelliseat

Adjustable water temperature: Both have adjustable water temperature. The Swash 1000 has a tankless ceramic on-demand heater, which means the Swash won''t run out of heated water, and you won''t have to wait for the water to be heated. The Intelliseat has a heated reservoir system, so it is possible to run out if the seat is being used a lot, and it''ll use up power to keep the reservoir warm. I''m fine with the room temperature setting here in Southern California, but some people like warmer sprays. Winner: Swash 1000

Heated seat: Again, being in SoCal, I don''t really need a warmed seat, but the option is nice and both seats can either keep the toilet seat warm, or warm it up as soon as someone''s butt sits on the seat. Tie: Swash 1000 & Intelliseat

Slow-closing seat and lid: Both models perform pretty well, with extremely silent closing. However, when the seat and lid are closed, you can sit on the Swash''s lid, but you can''t on the Intelliseat''s. Not a big deal for me, since I don''t sit on my toilet unless I need to poop, but the option is there. Winner: Swash 1000

Heated air dryer: Both seats have a heat-adjustable air dryer, and they''re more or less the same on both seats. You''ll still need a few squares of toilet paper to pat dry, so it won''t completely dry your butt for you. Tie: Swash 1000 & Intelliseat

Remote: Both have battery-operated remotes. The Swash uses two AAAs, the Intelliseat uses three AAAs. I''ve read that the Intelliseat chews through batteries really quickly, but the Intelliseat has a more informative remote. Both seats have LED indicators for seat temperature and water temperature, but only the Intelliseat has spray strength and position indicators. It''s a tough call, but the Intelliseat''s remote seems more useful, even though you''ll have to change out the batteries more often. Winner: Intelliseat

Deodorizer: The Swash sucks up air from the bowl and passes it through some carbon filters. It actually works pretty well at keeping poopy smells at bay, as long as you remember to hit the deodorize button on the remote when you''re sitting on the toilet making poopy smells. The Intelliseat has no such feature. Winner: Swash 1000

Appearance: The Swash is 15" wide, 20.8" long, and 5.66" high. The Intelliseat is 19.4"wide, 20.6" long, 7.28" and high. Both are pretty bulky add-ons to a toilet, but at least the Swash is a little more compact and sleeker. Winner: Swash 1000

Price: This will probably be the deciding factor for most people. The Swash 1000 currently retails for $600 here on Amazon and at most places on the web, and the Intelliseat retails for $200 at Costco (though I got mine for $150 because of a promotion at the time) and $240 here on Amazon. Costco also has an amazing lifetime return policy. The Brondell only has a three-year limited manufacturer''s warranty, and costs at least three times as much as the Intelliseat. Winner: Intelliseat

Overall, the Swash 1000 wins out over the Intelliseat in terms of features, but if you''re on the fence about getting a bidet, I would recommend you go to Costco and get an Intelliseat. The Intelliseat is only 1/3 of the Swash 1000''s price, and Costco backs you with a lifetime return policy in case you don''t like it or if it breaks. If you have a little more to spend and want more features, go with the Swash 1000. But in any case, getting either seat will bring you to a whole new level of post-poop freshness and hygiene.

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I am a huge fan of Brondell as my wife and I have had the swash 800 for about two years now. If you are reading this then you already have some thoughts about the benefits of a washlet. As others have said, you only really miss the washlet when you travel (so true) but getting our second washlet has shown us the amazing changes that Brondell has come up with in the past two years and holy cow is it amazing!! Every part of it is so much better than the 800. From the t-valve connecter to the mounting hardware, the seat''s design, the electronics, the nozzles, everything! The adjustability of the nozzles seems like a small thing but it really isn''t. It''s a huge improvement. The charcoal air filter is another big improvement (you can figure out why :-). Most importantly, the customer service from everyone at Brondell is top-notch. We had a few issues (nothing worth noting) and customer service did not stop until we were completely satisifed. Get a washlet and get the Brondell. The money? Worth it! Big savings in t-paper but more-so for the personal cleanliness. It is a civilized product.

Cuisinart GTF Gold Tone Filter Save 100% Off

Cuisinart GTF Gold Tone FilterI have used this filter with my Grind-n-Brew for 2 years. I put it in the dishwasher at least twice and have never had any problems with it. I have no idea what these other reviewers are doing wrong, but I love this filter. I never have grounds in my coffee. There is always a little darker/thicker coffee in the bottom of a good cup of coffee!

As for price, $20 is NOT the actual price for this filter. $10 is the "real" price, so you are not getting a deal on Amazon especially when you add shipping (unless you are getting free shipping). I have seen the same $10 filter at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Ace Hardware, and Publix.

Overall, if you enjoy a good cup of coffee and do not want to put the chemicals added to paper filters in your body, buy this coffee filter!

The first one I had I frequently put in the dishwasher and it lasted a little over a year, so I will hand wash this one. The price here is the same as the manufacturer''s site, but for now you save on the shipping.

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(TOP 10 REVIEWER)(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)There are pros and cons to this conical, gold-coated filter.

Pros: You can reduce the use of paper products.

Your filter never runs out

Makes an ok cup

Cons:

Finer grinds make more sludge in the bottom of the carafe, just not as good a filter as paper.

The gold eventually wears off. It is bonded to the mesh, but gold is relatively inert and doesn''t bond well to anything.

I''ve bought a few of these over the years, but overall, I prefer brown filter paper for coffee making.

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what can you say about a replacement filter? it works, fits just right and is cheap. kind of like my husband.

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I''ve had this filter for almost two years now. I usually hand wash it, but it holds up to the dishwasher as well. The only complaint I have is that it has a tendency to get grounds caught in the bottom of the filter, where the plastic joins the screen. Overall, I''ve been very happy with this filter, and if it wears out, I plan on replacing it with another Cuisinart.

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Aquasana AQ-4600 Under Counter Water Filter System Save 15% Off

Aquasana AQ-4600 Under Counter Water Filter System
  • Aquasana drinking water filters remove more contaminants at the best value
  • Filters water under pressure over more than two million square feet of material
  • Latest model featuring easy-change cartridges, a reinforced housing and a new diverter
  • Installs in minutes without the need for a plumber
  • Aquasana is less expensive than pitcher filters

Anyone else suspect Aquasana is posting fake 5 star reviews? There are three 5 star reviews all posted on Feb 21, 2012.

Buy Aquasana AQ-4600 Under Counter Water Filter System Now

My first problem was I couldn''t open the caps on the unit which were recessed into the base in order for me to change the filters. They were sealed and stuck in the unit. I called customer service and they said that would send me a new unit with twist caps since this was the latest system. I don''t know why they sent me the defective unit in the first place. After changing the unit, I installed the filters which was not easy to install. After a month, the water pressure dropped to where I could barely get any water out of the filters. I called customer service. They told me they now manufactured new filters in which more sediment would be allowed to pass through and not clog the filters. After two months with these filters, I had sediment floating in my water. I called customer service and they sent me new filters. The final climax for me is when I tried to change the filters and now couldn''t get filter A out of the housing unit. It was stuck in there. The instruction leaflet recommended using filter B to turn filter A but I couldn''t do it. It wouldn''t move. I have now given up with this company and their defective units. In summary this water filter cost me for the unit, a plumber to install it of $300 and the most aggrevation I have had in purchasing any device ever. I highly recommend that anyone reading this do not purchase this unit. I have never written a review before but I feel obligated to inform you. I have owned many water purifiers in the past. This is the only one I have had a problem with.

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I have been using this filtration system for approximately 5 years now, although the filter housing pictured is slightly different than the one I have, it has been working flawlessly since it''s installation. I signed up for the water for life plan so every 6 months I receive replacement filters automatically.

Installation was easy and completed in less than 15 minutes, flushed this air out of the system and was ready to have clean drinking water.

The water in my town has a foul smell and tastes terrible, the town claims there is nothing wrong with the water. Ever since installing this system my drinking water has no bad tastes or bad smells.

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Bottom line: this unit leaks. I bought one, installed it, and it appeared not to leak. I come back a month later and my cabinet is soaked and rotting due to a leak in one of the containers. I checked out the unit and it was faulty. I have done quite a lot of plumbing, and this was clearly defective. I called and dealt with a rude guy who kept saying it was my fault. I assured him that it was not and finally he agreed to send me a new unit. I get the new unit and it leaks as well! I couldn''t believe it. This is truly a crap product. I spend a few hours trying to figure out what was wrong, and all I could find is that no matter how much you tighten the top caps, the water kept coming from somewhere around the top of the cap. The o-ring looked fine and seemed to be sufficient to form a seal, but it may be the o-ring is too small. The other thing I noticed is that the cap is loosely tied to the filter and there is some internal plumbing that may be leaking due to the weakness of that connection. All I know is that I''ve done quite a lot of plumbing and never have had a problem with a product, until now. Bottom line, the unit leaks.

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There are several phoney 5 star reviews on Amazon for the Aquasana AQ-4600 Under Counter Water Filter System. They are dated feb 21, 2012, and are not s. This is in itself a red flag warning. I have not purchased this product, but have been doing some research, and found that appears to provide impartial comparisons. It rates Aquasana better than all the other brands. But after examining the fine print, which is not at all easy to find (look for About Us), it says this site is owned by Aquasana! I do not trust any such biased reviews. I will not buy anything produced by this company.

Handpresso Wild ESE in RED Save 36% Off

Handpresso HPWILD Wild 16-Bar Hand-Pump Portable Espresso MachineI have had this product for a couple of months now. I have a rich history of trying to find something to take with me on the road to the improve hotel coffee situation. I started with a single cup Melitta electric drip coffee maker (remember those!), a Krups, a Velox, an electric Bialetti moka pot, an Aeropress, etc. I hate to go to a hotel, find a maker with coffee filters and think things are fine until 6 AM in the morning when you realize BOTH filters are de-caf! The hotel coffee makers range from OK to horrible! The coffee too!

I purchased the HandPresso out of desperation! I have a semi-professional espresso machine (VBM) and roast my own beans. I was not impressed with the ESE pods, but am VERY happy with them in the HandPresso! I like the idea I do not have to touch grounds in the morning like with the Aeropress. I carry a cup, some pods, and the HandPresso. I boil water (I am still looking for a very small electric boiling pot, but have an immersion coil), pump up the HandPresso, pre-heat my espresso cup and the water cup on the HandPresso, dump both, re-fill the HandPresso, pop in a pod, and in 25-seconds or so have a great shot of espresso! Got carried away one morning and had 4 in a row! WOW!

This device is extremely well made and and will probably last a long time. It will get field testing from me. Hope the TSA does not think it is some sort of nasty device in my bag!! The coffee pods give it away.

Initial Impression

I was a bit skeptical that I could get a decent shot of espresso from a portable machine. And while it doesn''t develop as much crema as my home machine (and I wouldn''t expect it to considering that machine is over $1,500) this thing is a GREAT way for me to get my espresso fix at work.

Value

The build quality of the Handpresso is top notch, commensurate with its price (i.e. you get what you pay for). It should last quite a while. I was pleased to find that it comes with an extra O-ring gasket.

It''s already paid for itself in savings I don''t buy espresso at Starbuck''s anymore. It also IMHO brews a way more drinkable shot than Starbucks ever did they really need to clean their machines and train their alleged "baristas".

Tips

For hot water, I use my office kitchen''s hot water dispenser and you really need very hot water to get a good shot, so take some care not to scald yourself. The only downside is I''m getting a lot of requests from co-workers to brew them a shot.

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I''ve had my Handpresso for over six months now. Being Italian-born and raised, I live on a steady diet of espresso and need my fix at least twice a day. My workplace only has a small coffee stand which makes the worst espresso in the world, and there aren''t any other coffee shops in a 2 miles radius, so brewing my own was the only way to satisfy my coffee needs.

I previously bought a AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker, which is advertised as an espresso maker but actually produces something closer to a french press drip coffee. Granted, it was cheap but that''s pretty much the only good thing about it: it does not make a real espresso and is definitely more high-maintenance and labor-intensive, requiring filters and thorough cleaning after each use. I stopped using it after a couple of days because it was too much of a hassle and the espresso wasn''t very good anyway.

The Handpresso on the other hand is simplicity itself. All you need is hot water and ESE coffee pods (I use 150 Lavazza Gran Crema Espresso Pods). I''ve been using it 2 o 3 times a day for six months and couldn''t be happier. Yes, it''s a bit expensive but being able to get a decent cup of espresso makes it worthy of the premium price tag for me.

The device is very sturdy and requires only minimal maintenance (just rinse it out) since the coffee and filters are self-contained in the ESE pods. If you have access to hot water, it takes less than a minute to prepare the Handpresso, stick the coffee pod in it, brew a shot of espresso, discard the pod and clean the machine.

Customer support from the distributor is also outstanding -I misplaced one of the little rubber gaskets that come with the Handpresso (the only moving/replaceable part) and wrote to the distributor (Importika) and they mailed me a replacement free of charge. I was very impressed.

If you are an espresso-freak and want a truly portable and easy-to-use device, this is it.

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Pros: Small size. Fun to pump up in the morning; it wakes you up! Nice to use just one espresso pod and neatly toss it away when finished (like a tea bag). Easy to rinse out handpresso and lid after use.

Cons: Clunky shape gets clunkier when you need to leave the unit and lid separate to dry between uses. Leaks in two places: the button valve, the sides of cap. When the handpresso is in the last unit of pressure, it spews crema in a wide radius surrounding the cup, not straight down into your waiting cup. Be prepared for a major spew cleanup. This means that you can not dispense espresso directly into a small 3.5 6 once cup. The bigger the cup the better so you can put the handpresso as low as possible so that the spewing is contained in the cup. However, you will need to pour from large cup to an espresso/latte/cappucino cup. With each cup change, the espresso cools off. (Yes, I heat the milk. Doing everything I can to keep things hot. :)) Handpresso is not cheap. Required espresso pods are costly.

I tried, but it''s difficult to explain the ins/outs of the handpresso''s cons.

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Great gadget for the 3 weeks it worked (used for about 24 espressos)... then it would not hold any pressure. Sent back to the US import company at my cost and it was replaced, but they (Importika) would not cover the costs of shipping (~$25).

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Berkey Base - Without LED Lamps

Berkey Base - Without LED LampsThis product is exactly what it says it is a base for a Berkey. My only issues are color, minor in the scheme of things, and the price which I think is a little high.

It does not in any way stabilize the water filter. It''s wobbly and quite frankly I''m constantly checking it to make sure it''s not able to tip

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