Brita Water Filtration System Kit: 1 Pitcher

Though I love the red color over the blah white color of other brita pitchers I''ve owned, this is by far the worst design of the 4 I''ve owned in the past. The pitcher reservoir only allows a small amount of water to be added at any one time due to the curved shaped of the lid; ie you can never fill to the full top of the lid like you can with other flat-topped designs, because the water hits the top edge near the handle well before you can fill the entire reservoir and all of the overflow pours into the hollow handle (yes, seriously it''s the stupidest thing ever). Not only is this a problem on its own, but then the water doesn''t just stay put in the handle, but rather leaks out the handle seams all over the countertop, fridge, etc. and makes a big puddle. Even if you are careful not to go too high to the edge of the handle when filling the reservoir, just the simple act of putting the pitcher onto the counter from under the running water of the faucet, causes the water in the reservoir to swish around, causing a few ounces of it to overflow into the handle. It makes the whole process of refilling the reservoir very time consuming (since you can really only put in about half the amount that you can with the other pitcher designs (large reservoir) if you don''t want the handle overflow issue. If you''re doing anything where you need a large quantity of filtered water at one time, it takes an eternity to get this to filter when the pitcher can only be filled 3/4 of the way. (the more downward pressure you have from a full reservoir, allows the water to be pushed through the filter more quickly. When the reservoir is closer to empty, the water trickles through more slowly (this has been true with all of the pitcher designs, but the particular design of this one seems to make the water go through the filter even more slowly than any other design I''ve ever owned (even when filled to the top edge)).

Overall, I like the red, but the pitcher design itself sucks. I''ve been using it for a few weeks now and I would have returned it immediately but they only have the same design in stock where I bought it at costco and I gave away my other white pitcher (with a much better design) as soon as I got this one ... so now I have to wait until a new design shows up before I can return it for a better replacement. Hopefully whichever new design they come out with next, the red will again be an option, since it is a great color and far more attractive than the white in my opinion. And hopefully in the meantime, Brita will hire some better industrial design engineers ... who knows what they were thinking when they came up with this one??

I''ve had Brita pitchers for about 30 years and have seen a lot of designs come and go. I love this one as my kitchen has red accents and this is perfect. It holds more water than my old white one which is nice but be aware that makes it heavier too. Bought it at Costco.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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iSpring 75GPD 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis RO Water Filter System Save 34% Off

• Perfect for low water pressure place, minimum required pressure is 30PSI
• Booster pump is able to increase the production of purified water and improve the quality of water
• Removes chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, such as barium, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury.
• Free upgrade with Luxury Faucet ($30 retail value).
• All filters and membrane are standard 10" size, very affordable for replacements

Overall, I am happy with this filter.

Like any plumbing project, it was a bit of a chore to install. The instructions were rudimentary, especially concerning the hose fitting. I broke one, until I understood, how they worked after the fact.

But I had to go to the store anyway, since the hoses were very short! And they even suggested installing it in the crawl space not with the hoses provided!

After going through the hassles of more hoses and a fitting replacement, the unit has worked very well for a two months now, providing ample capacity and great quality water.

Buy this unit, look up online instructions for the plastic fittings, and get extra hose and you will be happy!

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I have been a user of purified water for most of 40 years. Much of that was where I have worked but the last 10 years have been for home use. I live in Northern Indiana where water is pumped out of the ground and requires at least softening to avoid turning clothes orange. I bought a water still for producing home made rain water (not acid rain). I have used the water still to produce hundreds of gallons of drinking water each year.

I found that softened water is not the best way to keep house plants happy and growing well. Initially, I used distilled water for my plants and added a balanced fertilizer for regular feeding. Since it takes about 1 kilowatt-hour to product a quart of distilled water the cost of taking care of the plants was getting higher than I wanted (the plants used 5 to 10 gallons a week). I thought about using an RO water system for producing my plant water but held off since I don''t have very high water pressure. Well, I finally bit the bullet and bought the iSpring 75 GPD RO System with Booster Pump. I was able to install it under one of the sinks in the house by following the installation book and clarifying details online through YouTube videos. It helped that I had already tapped into the water line for automatic refilling of my water still. I turned on the water pressure and heard the water flowing into the cartridges. However, there was nothing coming out of the faucet. My water pressure was too low, just as I had feared. I plugged in the power to the booster pump and water immediately started flowing from the faucet. I flushed out the storage solution, as instructed in the manual, then started filling the storage tank. After about 40 minutes the pump shut down with my tank full with 2 gallons of RO water.

Now, one of the problems with RO water is that the RO cartridge can plug with calcium if water is used straight out of the water main or well head. You can greatly extend the life of the RO cartridge if you soften the water first. A good water softener will remove most or all of the hardness and replace it with an element that doesn''t plug an RO cartridge. The main problem with softened water is that it''s like taking an antacid every time you drink a glass of water. That''s why I started using distilled water for drinking and cooking. Depending on your water source you will drink softened water with a large dose of salt and/or baking soda. It''s not very tasty. If your RO unit is working well then you will remove almost all this salt and give water that is very pure.

Why did I go into all the stuff in the last paragraph? I had a sample of water from before and after my RO unit tested for hardness and salt as sodium. The analysis result showed that there was no detectable hardness (calcium and magnesium less than 50 ppb) and the sodium dropped to 6 ppm which worked out to a removal rate of greater than 97 percent. It''s as good as a commercial unit.

Am I happy with my unit? You bet I am. I spent a little extra for the booster pump and used an existing water softener to get great water for use around the house. The booster pump uses 30 watts for 5 minutes to get a quart of RO water. That''s a power cost savings of greater than 99%. Some people have complained that there is a huge hidden cost from the discarded mineral rich water that goes down the drain. The system runs down the drain 2 and one-half cups of water per minute to produce just over three-fourths of a cup of RO water. I''m sorry but a open tap runs a lot more water than that. How long do you run the water to get hot water out the tap? I save at least $2-4 a week on my electricity bill to get 5-10 gallons of RO water similar to distilled water. That means my RO system is paid for in 1-2 years or even faster when I use more water. The cost of replacement cartridges is less than $20 per year. It''s a great deal! Thanks iSpring and thanks Amazon!

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I purchased the iSpring 75GPD 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis RO Water Filter System with Booster Pump in October 2010. We have had the system in use for almost a year. The system was easy to install and everything required was included. I installed the system on a wall in my basement under the kitchen. I chose this location because it is much easier to install/check/change filters. Most installations for these types of systems are usually under the kitchen sink, but I feel it is better if one has the option to locate it somewhere like the basement or a closet/pantry near the kitchen sink (filter replacement can be difficult if located in cramped quarters). The system works perfectly and provides excellent tasting/purified filtered water for any purpose. I live on a farm in North Dakota and the well water we use is OK for bathroom/laundry/kitchen use, but the taste is a bit on the alkaline side. This system has completely changed the taste and quality of our drinking water and I highly recommend this system and feel it is the best on the market!

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Had to have a unit when I learned our water contained high levels of Radiation!

Could not believe how cheap the unit was when it was priced! Was sceptable! Wow was I wrong!

The EPA recommends you have a RO Unit and Carbon charcoal filter to remove all radiation from drinking water

and this unit had both! When I opened the box there was a lot there (scared me a little) but i read the directions

and with a drill and a pair of pliars i hooked it up myself in an hour! pluged it in works great! I have had the

Unit for over a year now and still works great, the unit was so cheap that i bought 2 years worth of filters!

Thanks to the people at 123filters.com it really is a great product. everybody in america should have one!

My tap water measured over 50 CPM of radiation with this unit it measures 1-2... you literally saved my family.

I left this same review under another unit when I realized that the other one did not have the pump. this is the

unit I had purched. it is great!

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This is literally my first review but I had to start somewhere. Of all the products I''ve purchased on Amazon I probably use this one the most. I was a little hesitant at first when I purchased this because I wasn''t sure about the brand name but luckily it had only good reviews even though there were only 2 reviews at the time of purchasing it. I went ahead and purchased it anyway and I am very pleased I did so. The set up was pretty easy, it would have went a lot smoother if I was a little more experienced in household plumbing, it came with all of the parts that I needed to hook it up under my sink but the instructions should have been a lot clearer.

I work with large industrial Reverse Osmosis (RO) trains at work, in my opinion buying any reverse osmosis with a booster pump is a must. In theory it should boost efficiency and increase output pressure. I cannot say if that is true for sure though because I''ve never used a residential RO without a booster pump. Where I live we get very hard water, the incoming Hardness is 349ppm the conductivity is 1052uS/cm and the total dissolved solids is 687ppm. I took a sample of the water from my RO to work and tested it and the hardness was just shy of 50ppm, the conductivity was 110uS/cm and the total dissolved solids was 63ppm. That in my opinion is roughly 10x cleaner than the water I''d be drinking normally. The only thing I''d like to see or find out which I could probably measure myself but don''t out of laziness is how much water this model wastes (concentrate to the sink drain) versus other models (larger models, and models without a booster pump for example) there should be a ratio or percentage that an RO has to waste water in order to produce clean water. If I remember correctly websites advocating that RO filters waste water claim that they require waste 50% 90% of the water that it uses. I feel like this model is on the lower scale but it definitely isn''t as efficient as the stuff we use at work.

On a side note, this model supplies enough pressure to share the output with my refrigerator/ice maker, I''ve routed it through 25ft of 1/4" tubing and it still makes normal sized ice cubes but the water pressure at the fridge is a little lower than if I was using incoming city water and the supplied inline filter that is in the fridge (it is currently removed to help with the pressure).

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countertop point of use filter system

• fits all standard 10" filter cartridges
• easy filter changing
• comes complete with carbon taste ,odor , and chlorine cartridge
• white color matches any decor
• diverter sends water to filter or allows water to flow through sreator

It is bigger than a water facet filter, but if you can find room for it, it filters everything and if you install it correctly, it will filter without leaking. But the install is a standard installation so if you have trouble doing that, have it installed and you will get many years of excellent water from the device.

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Hayward SPX1500D2A Strainer Cover Save 47% Off

This product was twice the amount at a pool service store. Fit perfect for my SP1500 Hayward above ground pool pump. Great price and fast delivery.

I thought I had mine drained, but the strainer froze and broke the locking tab off.

Thank you for having this part available at a good price.

Jim

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It fit perfectly. I would recommend this product. It arrived on time, and it sealed the strainer as described. Good vendor.

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The new cover fit great, bought and applied the grease recommended for the o-ring as recommended (never did with the old cover) noticed after less the a month the new o-ring broke. And also noticed that with the grease the cover goes on easy but still comes off as hard as it did with the old cover with no grease. Thank goodness I kept the old cover with the o-ring or else I would have been buying a new o-ring. The o-ring was really my biggest complaint, especially after buying their expensive grease.

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I got exactly what the picture looked like. This part is exactly the same thing I was looking for. I like ordering from Amazon.com.

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DeLonghi ECAM23210B Compact Magnifica S Beverage Center Save 39% Off

Machine worked fantastic for about 8 months until the frother would no longer work. A call to Delonghi support (Oct ''11) resulted in a seven day wait for box to ship the unit to a repair facility (Nov ''11). That facility determined within a week it needed a new frother, but Delonghi took two months and never supplied the part the repairer. After 2.5 months (Jan ''12) of waiting I again called Delonghi and asked that they just send me a replacement unit so that I didn''t have to keep waiting. Ten days later, a replacement (refirb) unit showed up only to arrive broken (this time leaking water into the grounds tray). Initial calls to Delonghi were met with scripted "you''ll need to send us the unit and wait for our evaluation..." rather than them just shipping me out a replacement immediately and my returning the defective one. Sigh. Such an excellent product when it is working. Customer service just doesn''t think a $800+ product deserves better care. Delonghi should study Apple to learn how good customer service builds a strong brand.

I spent a LOT of time looking at the different sites for expresso machines. Most suggested staying away from the super automatics. I dont doubt that you can make an even finer cup of coffee if you have full control and spend the time to do it, but for those of us that want to grab a cup in the AM before heading out the door, this machine does a really nice job. I had a manual machine once in the past but never spent the time with it, plus it took 5 mins of prep work and cleanup was drag, I ended up giving it away. Yes it made great coffee, but it ended up sitting on a shelf next to the ice cream maker (never buy one of those :-)). This is a much better device for me.

The Compact Magnifica (23210) works great out of the box. The machine comes with a coupon for a tap water filter, but they really should have included it for those that want to use tap water and live in hard water cities. If you have filtered water at your place (or use a brita etc) this will not affect you. Within a half hour you will be churning out really nice drinks. The frother works well with 1% milk. Consider grabbing this:Krups XS5020 20-Ounce Stainless-Steel Milk Frothing Pitcher. It works nicely in concert. After running perhaps 3-4 cups through the 23210, the quality of the coffee levels off and is excellent (dont panic the first cup might be weak or bitter as the beans cycle through). Assuming you buy decent coffee (I used HEBs brand), you will have relatively quick cuppuccino, easy coffee and strong and tasty expresso in a few minutes. I find the cup warmer to be useless and I did need to ramp up to the hottest setting for the coffee to be the right temp, but otherwise the 23210 was tuned perfectly with preset factory settings. Cleanup is a breeze the frother is insulated in plastic so the wand is MUCH easier to clean than the non insulated wands on many machines. The tank is plenty big enough for AT LEAST 10 drinks (even if you use some steamed milk a few times). The footprint of the unit is nice and it wont hog space.

Overall, Im quite happy with the quality and build while plasticy, it doesnt seem cheap, it has a more euro look to it than the picture indicates I feel. If you are looking for a nice automatic and you are willing to make the trade off to spend quite a bit more, and perhaps lose a bit of artisinal control, youll definitely be rewarded by purchasing this. I was worried the coffee would taste like Keurig or the other quick makers this is MATERIALLY better coffee. If you can afford it, treat yourself, this maker wont disappoint. I especially recommend for parents who have little free time and busy professionals who dont want to spend time cleaning. This is a good machine. I have no idea what MORE Id want from a machine, assuming it continues to work, I dont see why a person would need a larger machine.

Update: I''ve had it a few months now and I''ve got a routine I now use so I thought I''d share. I set the bean strength to the highest setting and the water to the middle size and I make a double shot each time. That seems to be the flavor/size balance that works best for me. The reviews that suggest using a dry, European roast like illy over an oily dark roast like Starbucks are probably correct. I''ve been using lavazza which is well priced via amazon. Illy is fantastic but very $$$ and frankly I don''t notice the difference. Anyways after 5 months I''m still really digging this machine.Lavazza Super Crema Espresso Whole Bean Coffee, 2.2-Pound Bag

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One thing about this machine is that it makes great coffee. Great design that will fit most kitchen areas. Just decalcified the machine for the first time, also my first and it took about 40 min.. The directions in the manual were slightly different than how the machine prompted me but I followed the machines direction and all went well. I highly recommend this type of coffee maker, because of verity of coffee making choices, ease of use, and of course taste. I drink at least 4 cups a day.

I would buy this type of machine again.

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I studied different machines until I was dizzy. The only requirement: It was important to me to have a machine that loaded water from front. When you look at the dimensions, it is not much smaller than others. The product weighs a ton already, and I am happy it is not stainless.. It is reasonably as quiet as a coffee grinder could be and makes beautiful espresso consistently.. The DVD instructions are... well.. instructive.

To decide, ask yourself this question: If you were a smoker would you roll your own cigarettes, or buy a pack to smoke. That is the difference between a manual/semi automatic vs a superautomatic like this one.

You add one feature and the other and then you say do I really need all this?

Set expectations. It comes down to budget, ease of use, and space requirements.

The fact is that it was cyber Monday, I was going to buy a perfecta at a bargain price, the seller ran out, and gave me the compact which was more expensive for half the price. There is concern out there that super automatics in general break easily if you use hard water and don''t change the filter. If it works for two years for me, I will be happy. If it breaks, we will be coffee addicts and buy a semi automatic to experiment with our addictive urges.

My smart busy wife pushes one button. She is happy, the whole family is happy.

The product came with a year of free coffee from Illy that was not posted on the merchant''s web site ($140 value) :)

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I''ve had the compact Magnifica S for about a week now and have a good sense of what the machine delivers.

Pros:

Literal push-button automation/automagical coffee. Spend 15 minutes watching the video and reading the manual and you will have complete control of the machine.

Lovely frothing. As a cappuccino lover, good foam was at the top of my wish list. I won''t be making latte art any time soon, so I can''t speak to "pourability" of the foam. But for my milk-first, then espresso builds, it is ideal.

Really compact footprint. The unit takes up half the space of my old Krups duo.

Access to moving parts. It''s very easy to get to the bean hopper, water tank, bypass chute, etc.

Cons:

General superauto price point. I love the indulgence of the machine and got it as a Gold Box deal. It will take 100s of cups before I hit my value/price happy place.

Non-oily beans. I have to step away from my beloved dark-roast Peet''s in search of non-oily beans that won''t clog up the hopper. It takes away a bit from the flavor profile I love. But I''m experimenting with medium roast beans on the strongest setting and adjusting the grind.

Bypass chute. It only accepts one serving''s worth of ground beans at a time. Just a little extra effort to make a couple of cups of evening decaf.

Overall, "Maggi" and I have a good working relationship and I''m really enjoying the quality and ease of the coffee she produces. Sometimes I miss the more manual experience, but overall, this machine gives you the ease of a Keurig-style push-button set-up, but delivers a really good cuppa.

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Mineral Stone Case Replacement for Zen Water Filter Systems Save 37% Off

• Helps increase PH level producing healthy alkalinic water
• Preserves purity and freshness for your stored water
• Helps to sterilize and prevent secondary breeding of bacteria and other germs from stored water
• Helps to remove heavy metals from your body. Enhances overall health and boosts immunity

This filter is not made by Zen water, it is made by Purenex and is inferior in quality. The only way (on amazon) to buy the real Zen Water Mineral Rock Filter is to click on "more sellers) and that is where you find the Filter made by Zen Water. In addition to being a superior filter, it is also $5 less.

Thank you,

David

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For all you Zen Water System owners, there is apparently another vendor called Purenex selling similar item on this page. If you own a Zen Water Filter System and you need to purchase replacement filters, be sure you watch which vendor you purchase from. My friend bought the Purenex product and they are truly inferior

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This item did not arrive in the same box with the other 2 components, so I am assuming that this is not a true Zen product.

I followed the instructions to boil the rocks (granite, which I thought was odd) before use. About 2 weeks into the use of this product the taste became rancid. When I inspected the system this item was slimy and smelled horrible. Unfortunately, I discarded the packaging, so I don''t really know who supplied this item, but I did order it through Amazon.

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ADVANAGE 20X Multi-Purpose Cleaner Lavender

I HATE to clean. But this little cleaner is soooooooooo amazing I actually enjoy trying to find what it won''t work on (haven''t yet found that :) this stuff mixes with water and comes with a great spray bottle. A little goes such a long way the price tag really isn''t bad at all. This will easily last me a year!

I purchased the old citrus over a year ago in Ohio and then had a guy come to my door last week in Colorado. I was excited to try the lavendar and he said they all work as well as the others. The citrus was much better at cleaning everything. I tried this on soap scum in the tub and even with scrubbing it didn''t do much at all (ended up cleaning with greased lightning which is what I use for difficult cleaning). I will use this for glass and everyday cleaning, I just wish I had purchased something other than the lavender as I know their products are typically really great.

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was suspicious of the sales person''s claim that this solution would work but purchased it anyways bec I didn''t replace carpet in our rental house and it worked like majic. I will be buying more. Haven''t tried this new one but orange colored citrus one worked pretty well.

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My husband purchased a bottle of this cleaner from a door-to-door salesman visiting our neighborhood a while back. While not as funny as the sales guy in this video , my husband said he did some pretty amazing cleaning around the outside of the house. He happily purchased a bottle. I was not convinced the money had been well-spent until I began using it myself. I have used it to remove everything I have been unable to find another cleaner to handle: blood and grease on clothing, hard water buildup on the glass shower doors, and tree sap from the paint on my car. And this is not the kind of cleaner that you have to scrub-in practically no work involved to see amazing cleaning results!

One bottle of this cleaner has replaced all of the specialty cleaners I used to buy. Since I am able to use this cleaner for every day cleaning as well as for tough jobs, I have saved much more money than we spent purchasing this one. And a bottle of this cleaner lasts for a very long time!

I also love that this product is truly natural, green and non-toxic. I can use it anywhere around the house and know that it won''t harm my family or our environment. This product does not have a strong smell I would feel comfortable using it around people sensitive to perfumes and strong odors.

Watch the video of the comic salesman for this product, Kenny Brooks (very hilarious!!!), at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yB8_Tqq-mU and see for yourself why this product deserves 10 stars! I will forever have this cleaner on hand in our house.

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I really could not believe it. This stuff really cleans.I think I have tried it everywhere and on everything in my house.this is my third order and I am sold on it for life. AWESOME!!!!!

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Crystal Quest Sealed Countertop ULTIMATE

• 6 stages of filtration, sits on the counter and easily connects to any kitchen faucet.
• It can be easily back washed.
• A diverter valve near the aerator switches between filtered and unfiltered water.
• More contact time means better filtration.
• Designed in a attractive Beige housing, Filters 30,000 gallons

I have been using Crystal Quest water filters for about 8 years now.

This specific model can filter 30,000 gallons so will probably last 5 years at a rate of 10 gall per person per day.

You can''t beat the price with ANY other water filter or replacement cartridge on the market. There''s no need to replace this filter every month or so as it will last well over a year. Thanks to these filters, we drink a LOT of healthy, pure, great-tasting water for only pennies a day. I use this filtered water for cooking, making beverages,watering houseplants, etc. Try these filters; you won''t be disappointed.

One warning is needed :ONLY hand tight every connector, NEVER NEVER use any kind of tools, screws are very fragile !!!

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Mr. Coffee ECM250 4-Cup Espresso/Cappuccino Maker Save 9% Off

I got this little machine as I''m always in Starbucks. I wanted a nice little alternative for nights and weekends when I felt like having an espresso based drink without having to drive to a coffee shop and shell out cash.

First, the good points of this machine:

-It''s small, so you can easily store it inside a cabinet. It''s not bad looking, however, so if you can sacrifice a little counter space, that works just as well.

-The machine is very simple to use. I have my own bean grinder, but you can get yours ground at Starbucks if you buy it there. You simply scoop the beans into the holder, screw into the machine, put water in the reservoir, turn on, and there you go.

-It''s relatively quick to brew the espresso and it doesn''t take too long to clean most of the parts.

Now, the bad:

-The biggest issue I''ve had with this machine is that it basically brews strong coffee, not espresso. I''ve tried a variety of ways of packing the beans, etc, but getting a crema with this machine eludes me. If you''re a beginner at this stuff, it''s not a big deal as the drinks will still taste alright. However, it''s not really espresso in the full sense. You may as well just buy a coffee maker.

-The frothing wand is of okay size, but it seems like it takes forever to heat milk up to a desirable temperature for a drink.

Overall, not bad for a starter machine, but it''s just that. If you want anything that will give you a crema and legitimate shot of espresso, shell out some more money and get a Delonghi. They''re by no means perfect, but it will give you a more legitimate shot of espresso than this machine. However, if you''re just starting with all of this and want to make a decent cappuccino occasionally, this isn''t a bad machine.

I received the Mr. Coffee Espresso/Cappuccino Maker as a gift. Obviously it''s not going to produce the same results as some of the more expensive models but I think it works well enough for personal use. It''s very simple to use-it only has two functions: brew or steam.

I noticed that several people commented about leaking and the instructions warn that this can occur if there are grounds around the top of the filter or if you over-fill the filter. The frothing arm is very short but I found a small frothing pitcher at World Market that works well. As far as worrying about aluminum in your espresso, the instructions also warn that you shouldn''t leave water in the reservoir when you''re not using the machine. The only other thing to remember is that you MUST de-pressurize the system before removing the filter holder or water reservoir cap!! To do this, unplug the machine, wait for it to cool off, then turn the knob to "steam" until you hear the hissing stop.

I think that for the price, this machine produces a nice cup of espresso in a relatively short amount of time.

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I used this espresso machine a couple times a week for about 3 years and liked it a lot; however, yesterday morning I was frothing the milk and it exploded. I looked at the cap (over the water reservoir) and it was split. Scalding water shot out of that split, luckily it went all over the wall and not toward me. If you have this machine, consider releasing the pressure from the water reservoir after every use and the cap may last longer, but I for one am switching brands. This scared the heck out of me and after looking online, I see that it has happened to others. Be aware.

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This is my third espresso maker. The other two machines were a different brand and worked well for many years. This Mr. Coffee unit worked well for about 5 months and then started failing. It now makes only about one third of a caraff, and then just spits out weak steam. I will never buy a Mr. Coffee product again. It takes me a while to get used to a new machine, and I find it galling to have the thing fail soon after I get used to it. Better to spend a little more and have a product that lasts. My last K---espresso maker lasted for over 5 years before it developed a pin hole leak in the pressure chamber. UPDATE; I just realized after looking inside the boiler and seeing that it was slightly eaten away that we have been ingesting aluminum over the past few months. When I opened and took apart my my last K---s espresso maker, I noticed that the bottom of the boiler was eaten away to the point that it had developed a pin hole leak. I think most of the less expensive machines use aluminum boilers which slowly dissolve into the water over time and use. Even distilled water is slightly acidic and will cause this to happen. There is NO way that I will ever again buy an espresso maker that has a boiler composed of aluminum!! Stainless steel might cost a little more, but at least you don''t wind up eating aluminum while drinking your espresso. It''s just one more thing to check when you make your purchase.

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I''ve been a barista at Starbucks for 1.2 years now, and when my room mates found this little espresso machine in the basement, I have to say, I was not only REALLY excited but also a bit surprised by how well it steams milk. It is difficult to clean the steam wand, though. You have to wipe the milk off of the wand immediately after steaming the milk otherwise it cakes on. I''ve also noticed the steam wand nozzle is a bit prone to clogging. To solve this, fill the pitcher 3/4 full of water, and steam the water for about 2 minutes until it clears.This is great for people who want to save money but don''t want to give up their morning latte. Check your local Starbucks to see if they''ll sell you a bottle of your favorite syrup or maybe even give you hints on steaming the perfect milk! Not to mention Starbucks sells espresso pounds and will happily grind them to your machine.

Pros:

-CHEAP. Holy crap this is so cheap in comparison to the nice espresso machines I''ve seen elsewhere.

-Good foam! Huge plus for people who like cappuccinos. For those of you who hate foam, you''re better off warming a saucepan of milk on your stove.

Makes a lot of espresso. I forgot that my work machines time shots and stop pouring. I left it for a minute and came back to a mug full of espresso.

You can use any milk you want! Starbucks only has soy, so if you prefer almond or coconut milk, here''s your chance!

Compact. The size is pretty darn small. It''s about the size of a gallon of milk.

Cons:

Tricky to clean. Pretty huge con with the steam wand. Not impossible, though. Just takes a little muscle. Everything else wipes off pretty well. I use a butter knife to get the espresso out of the espresso... thing.

A bit on the messy side, but as I just found the bottom tray for the machine, I think this will be a bit less of a problem. Watch out for hot water spitting out of the steam wand.

Definitely not child friendly. The steam wand heats up, and the steam can burn if you''re not careful. Not to mention the metal pitcher heats up for milk (this should go without saying, though).

Bonus recipes:

Americano: espresso and water

Latte: espresso, steamed milk, flavor if wanted, light foam

Mocha: espresso, steamed milk, chocolate sauce

Cappuccino: espresso, light steamed milk, lots of foam

Chai latte: chai concentrate, steamed milk

My favorite is a soy latte sweetened with honey and some cinnamon :9 Made on this morning, in fact.

Protip: It''s ES-presso, not EX-presso.

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Flavor Options 1-Pack Flavor Cartridge

Bought 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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ZeroWater ZJ-003 Filtration Water Cooler Bottle with Electronic Tester Save 37% Off

We loved our zero water system. After a few months the water started tasting funny and had a foul fishy smell. The meter tested the water under 6 so we knew the filters should still be good. We changed the filters any way, way before time. Still fishy smell. I cleaned the filtration bottle. Still the same. It wasn''t till I took apart the stand the water filtration was on that I discovered a film of slime in our cooler. At the time we had one of those cold/hot dispensers a few feet tall. I mean I really had to take it apart and check every palce the water went. After I did that, the smell went away. A few months later it came back. Took it apart and slime again. We changed the water filtration to a countertop no cold/hot type holder and havn''t had any problems since. The filters last many months now. Also if you put water in the filtration system above the middle white ring....it will leak. Water is meant to only be stored in the lower 1/2 of the system.

I''ve been buying bottled water for years and was kinda getting tired of always hauling the cases of water around. Then my girlfriend talked myself and one of my children into a diet that included drinking a large quantity of water a day, so I decided it was time to switch to the 5-gallon bottles and a dispenser. Found a wonderful stainless dispenser at that makes hot water hot enough for tea and cold water just right for drinking. So now I have to mess with the 5-gallon water bottles. This basically gave me, I thought, 3 options. Having a water delivery service (very expensive), picking up 5-gallon water bottles pre-filled at a place like Home Depot, or taking the empty water bottles in to Wal-Mart and for $2.00 a bottle, refilling them myself. All of these options required that I have storage for a couple empties, and all of them have varying degrees of annoyance. Then while walking through the Home Depot I came across the Z-bottles by ZeroWater. Seemed like the answer to all of my problems.

So, I bought the bottle and hooked it up. Went easily into the new water dispenser and immediately started making water. I personally really like the taste of the water. I have one daughter who belives it tastes metallic, and a couple other household members who really like it. If you think about it, Dasani starts with purified water (000) then adds stuff to it for flavor, so not real surprising that the flavor is not something enjoyed by all, though I myself am real happy. Would be nice if the ZeroWater people could come up with a second type of filter that would add back some stuff to improve that flavor back to a Dasani flavor or something (believe I heard that Dasani measures like 039 parts per million of total disolved solids.

Anyway, for me, this Z-bottle is the way to go. I''m not storing anything but new filters. No huge 5-gallon water bottles sitting around. I''m not lifting and changing water bottles. I''m not running water bottles to the store, or paying a crazy amount of money to have them delivered. All I''m doing is filling a pitcher with water every night and dumping it into the top chamber of the Z-bottle. Nothing could be easier.

One other word to the wise. I''ve read some reviews where people complain about the water not immediately registering a 000 with new filters, or starting to smell right away. When I bought mine, I decided to buy filters as well. Home Depot was clearing them out so everything was marked half price and I decided to buy them out and be set for a long time to come. Upon putting the filter boxes into the cart, I noticed that some of them had been re-sealed. At $60 per box of 4 (I was getting for $30), I decided to take them up to customer service and check them out. The re-sealed ones looked good. Then I had them open an un-opened one. Not only was the un-opened one in a plastic bag, which the re-sealed ones were not, the filter itself, where the holes are for the water to go through, was somewhat shiny, whereas the re-sealed ones were a very black matte color. This was true for all 3 boxes of re-sealed filters, whereas all 3 boxes of filters that were not re-sealed were shiny. My assumption? At $60 box, people were using them, cleaning them up, and returning them to Home Depot for their money back. Would not surprise me at all that the people with negative reviews, and with water filters not registering 000 from the start and going out real quick may have been purchasing and using USED filters. Moral of the story, make sure the boxes of filters you are buying have never been open, or open them up and look for the "new" signs like in plastic bags and "shiny" black instead of "matte" black.

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At first the water tasted fine and we were happy, but after about a month and half we noticed a fishy odor in the water itself (while the water tester was still reading zero). There are only two of us so I have trouble believing we could use up the filters that quickly and besides the water tester indicates the water is still clean each time the smell occurs. I looked on the Zerowater website and found no information about foul odors. I contacted customer service and all they could say was "sorry you''re dissatisfied". We''ve had to replace the expensive filters every month and a half and my husband cleans and airs out the entire system each time he replaces the filters (which we have had to do 4 times now). Now we are very dissatisfied with the product and frustrated because we don''t want to keep lugging home water and buying more plastic bottles. Personally, the smell is so gross that even after the filters are changed I''m hesitant to drink the water.

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I completely respect the views of those outlining their poor experience, but I''m stunned.

We''ve had ours for over two years, and have found it to be fantastic. We live in an area where there is so much chlorine in the water I joke that it is the "Hartford District Pool Water". I literally cannot bear drinking from the faucet. When we put it through the ZeroWater system, it tastes like nothing but pure water. It is one of the few low-cost solutions that can remove chlorine so effectively.

We have not changed the filters since we bought it two years ago. We tested its output about 6 months ago, and I think it was registering 1 ppm.

Some reviewers note the "leaking". Come on folks...it is a split structure--of course if you put more water in than the bottom half can handle it will overflow.

Another reviewer pointed out how slow it is. That is true. So plan ahead. No biggie. We keep a one gallon jug handy at all times, pour the "pool water" in when the ZeroWater gets low, and we''re fine.

I also exchanged a number of phone calls and emails with the company to verify that the plastics used in the product do not contain BPA. They were very helpful in providing detailed and publicly available information that indicated that the product is made of AS and ABS plastics, which are variations on styrenes, and that styrenes do not pose a BPA risk.

Spectacular product. I highly recommend it.

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I wanted to add my opinion on Zero Water filtration system. I bought this system at Target for + tax. Before I installed it, I read up on it, and I''m aware of possible high filter costs, but whenever I get billed for every 5 gallon bottle of water from Sparkllets, I feel like I get ripped off.

Before I installed the Zero water system, water from Sparkellet read at 10-11, which is far better than Fullerton City water, which read at over 350!. I installed the system on 7/28/10, and the installation was fairly easy, washing the whole system was not very difficult either. I just tested the water, and the meter does read 0, and the water tastes great!

I did over fill the reservoir this morning, and my wife was unhappy because of the mess, but it was because I put too much water in there. I thought the water I put in was enough to top off the reservoir, but it''s better to leave some room so you don''t make a mess like I did.

We go though about 10 gallons of drinking water in 2 weeks, so I''m hoping the filters will last me at least 2 months. If it does, the filter system would pay for itself. And hopefully, if the filters can last 2-3 months in the future, I would be saving money on water and won''t worry about breaking my back replacing the 5 gallon bottles.

I''ll keep you all informed if anything happens with the system.

Update: 8/11/10

It''s been 2 weeks, and the meter still reads 0. No smell. No more spills. We''re going through about 1-2 gallons a day, with 4 adults and 2 kids. We make at least 10 cups of coffee/day, use the water to cook and drink. So according to my calculation, we''ve at least gone through 15-20 gallons of water in 2 weeks. That''s a saving of so far compared to sparklletts. =)

Update: 8/15/10

Alas! The Fish smell has struck! Yesterday, I check the water level, and all of a sudden it read 66. I thought that''s strange. It shot up from 0 to 66 within a couple of days. Needless to say, I was very disappointed. So I decided to clean out the system. While I was cleaning, I noticed that the smell came from the filter and the container. I used the disinfectant wipe from costco to wipe the inside of the container and the outside of the filters. I pour water on the filters, and it struck me. One of the filters was letting the water out faster than the other one. Sure enough, the fish smelling water came from the filter that lets the water out quicker. I tested the water from both filters and the slow letting filter read 3, but the water from the fast letting filter read 165. It was obvious to me that due to the irregular rate of filtration, one of the filter became more dirty than the other one. This gotta be the reason why the filter didn''t last as long as I expected.

I''m going to contact Zero water tomorrow and see if they say anything about this issue. I ordered another set of filters through Amazon, but for mean while, I closed off one of the filter holes so that only one filter is doing all the work.

I''m going to have to down grade this water system to 3 stars. :(

Update: 8/19/10

New filters have arrived, so I replace the old ones. The fish smell is so bad, it seems to eminate from everything that came in contact with the water. I left the filters in my garage, and even the whole garage is filled with the smell. I thought about recycling the filters and receive $5 credit, but if it''ll cost me $10 to send them, I would be losing even more money, while Zero Water co. just needs to replace the stuff inside.

I haven''t contacted the customer service, since I can''t imagine they would do anything for me. I should try anyways.

Update: 10/9/10

The filters changed again on 9/10/10 and now I have to change the filter again. This morning, I noticed a slight funky taste, and tested the water and it was at 85. The filter is lasting constantly about 4 to 5 weeks for us. The Zero water website does say that "customers with tap water near 200 TDS tell us that one filter will treat about 30 gallons of water before seeing a reading of 006 on their TDS meter." Our city water, Fullerton, Ca., reads at about 380. So I don''t think I''m doing anything wrong. The FILTERS JUST DO NOT LAST LONG, if your tap water has high TDS number, do not get this system.

I''m sort of stuck with this now, after investing over $120, since July. BUT IF YOU HAVEN''T BOUGHT THIS SYSTEM, PLEASE CHECK YOUR TAP WATER TDS LEVEL FIRST! If it''s higher than 200, I suggest you look for a different filtration system.

Update: 12/13/10

Since the October, I noticed couple of differences. The filters look different. The packaging was a bit different, and the filter has "Zero water" written on the side. Pretty cool. Another, more important difference is that fishy smell is almost non existence. Instead, there''s strong acidic taste, that lets me know to check the TDS level. I''m not sure if the cooler weather has lessen the development of smell, or they changed something in the filter.

SO IF YOU WANT TO TRY A FILTRATION SYSTEM, BUY THIS AND CHECK YOUR TAP WATER. IF YOUR WATER LEVEL COMES OUT OVER 200, RETURN IT!!!

Update: 5/16/12

I''ve had it folks. After 2 years of cleaning and changing filters every month, and after dozens of filters, I can''t stand to use this system anymore. And I''m lowering the rating to 1 star

Here are my reasons:

1. THE RECYCLING SYSTEM IS A JOKE! It costs so much to send the used filters, and the coupons they send you are basically useless. Yes, we''re helping the environment by recycling, but we''re also helping the company make bigger profits by returning the used filters to them OUT OF OUR POCKETS!

2. More I thought about it, more it got me to think that the funny smell/taste the water produce at the end of filters'' life is something the company "designed" so that the consumer will HAVE TO change the filter. During the last 2 years, I have become very cynical about this company''s practice.

3. I''m tired of worry about my filter supply. Yes, I used to order in bulk, but once it runs out, you have to spend another couple of hundred dollars to order, and if you don''t have new filters in your supply, you have to drink tab water until you get new filters! I have bigger things to worry about than how many water filters I have in my garage!!!

So, in closing, I decided to go with the under-sink system. It cost me $130 to purchase and took me 30 minutes to install (Aquasana). Filters cost about $50/6 months (I used to spend 2 filters/month with Zero water. At cheapest, 12 bucks a pop, so that''d be $24/month!). Granted the water doesn''t taste as good as Zero water, I don''t have to worry about the water quality, filter life, or the hassle of changing filters/cleaning the system. Finally, I do not trust this company and refuse to give them any more business.

Thanks for reading!

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Cream Soda SodaMix

I am quite fond of cream soda and was happy not only to find it for my SodaStream. I got it home and made it right away. It is good. Not amazing, but pretty good. It has a taste that reminds me more of caramel than it did cream soda. The best feature of this flavor is how well it mixes if you go half and half with the orange, or any of the fruity flavors to give it a bit of a Creamsicle flavor.

Cream soda is a mainstay for a 100 years or so... But now, the cream soda mix from SodaStream is a medicinal snake oil that should be reformulated by someone who has taste buds. This strange tasting product is confusing with its sugar components and aspartame mix. The chemical taste is off-putting and worthy of just pouring down the drain instead of giving it away to anyone else whom uses SodaStream.

This is one of the worst flavors I have ever tasted.

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Not a very good tasting syrup. Too strong, really. Too much sweetness. I was comparing this to A&W Cream Soda in my taste-bud memory. Not as good, would not recommend.

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This flavor has a good taste to it, but when I bought the sodastream maker I did not realize the flavors used artificial sweetener unless you specifically get the natural flavors.

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I love cream soda however this is not quite there, its more caramel then cream, I think its either lacking in the vanilla or maybe too much not quite sure. Just know I was disapointed.

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Pentek GAC-BB Drinking Water Filter Save 23% Off

• Thoroughly reduces the harsh effects of chlorine taste and odor
• Designed for extended contact between water and carbon for maximum adsorption
• Easy to install, with a simple replacement schedule about every three months
• Best suited for specific point-of-use applications and NOT for whole house use

We just had our Culligan water softener inspected after its first year, and they had installed a whole house filter at the same time. I had ordered this replacement filter and had it sitting there. They replaced the filter for me, and said if they would have used theirs they would have charged me $40 for it! Theirs lasted more than a year. We''ll see how long this one lasts.

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I had no issues with using this product in place of the original equipment manufactures product. The cost saving was significant. Free shipping for buying 3, which we will need.

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This is the data I''m guessing goes with this filter.

Capacity >12,500 gal @ 2.0 gpm (>47,000 L @ 7.6 L/min)

Chlorine reduction is estimated capacity using 2 ppm free chlorine with greater than 90% reduction

Max temperature 125°F (51.7°C)

Length (in.) 10

Pore size (µm) 20

Material End caps: polystyrene

post-filter: spun polypropylene

outer casing: polystyrene

Flow rate 2.0 GPM @ 3.0 psi (7.6 L/min @ 0.2 bar)

Brand Big Blue

Manufacturer number 155153-43(GAC-BB)

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Krups 088 Claris Artese Water Filter (2 pack)

These work great in my Krups espresso machine. I just have to put them into the water reservoir when the machine instructs me to do so. They are very nice.

It is original filter requested by manufacturer and works very fine.

If you have a unit who required this product cannot go wrong with it.

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Works well on my Krups coffeemaker. I wish they lasted longer. Our coffeemaker requires us to change them about once a month.

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Veranda Air Conditioner Cover Save 13% Off

This is an excellent cover. It didn''t have a perfect fit, but I knew ahead of time since our AC size is 29Wx29Dx37H. It is good enough to cover the unit from the rain, etc. And the it has a good weight to it so the cover should stay put with heavy wind. The material of this product is very heavy duty in my opinion. One of the corner has an opening where your pipe goes (even though it''s not picture) so that''s an extra feature that I was afraid I had to cut when it arrives. But, it''s all good. Buy this if you need a cover and the AC unit is smaller than the cover.

Can''t be beat! I love these covers. Have one for my BBQ and my A/C unit and they are super durable and very nice looking. Made very well! Highly recommended.

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This is a very durable cover. The others that I have had were all plastic and did not weather well. This is a very clean looking and I am expecting a long use life.

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This well constructed AC compressor cover is designed for a 29X29 compressor, but fits my 25X25 compressor OK with the help of the included bottom drawstring. Materials are of good quality. Keeps leaves from collecting inside unit during winter. Also keeps pets from spraying condenser coils. Cover has handles on the sides to make it even easier to slip on and off. The only thing missing: a bag to put it in when summer comes around. The beige color is inoffensive and blends in with my house color, though some might wish for a choice of colors. BTW, one corner has a slit/flap. I discovered that was needed to allow it to slip over the power and freon lines leading to the AC unit (which are not shown in any sales photos).

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Fits our A/C unit perfectly. Has an opening with a piece tha snaps together so that you can fit the bottom around the hoses. Heavy and durable.

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Keurig Single Serve Coffee and Tea Brewing System

I give this 3 stars just because it is a Keurig and the single serve system is great.

I do however have a beef with this model. Not only is it more expensive than your BJ''s or Costco it also lacks certain features you get when you purchase the B70 model. I just bought mine at BJ''s and I am returning it to purchase a B70 model.

The differences are:

B70 ( Platinum )

Cup sizes up to 12oz

Adjustable Temp

Lacks the 72 K-Cups instead you get 12.

B77 ( Select )

Stops at 10oz

No Adjustable Temp.

Bonus 72 K-Cups instead of the 12.

If you don''t care much for the differences then the extra K-cups might make it worth the buy. I would still suggest you get it from BJ''s or Costco since this price is $30 more here than they have it for.

I wanted the 12oz so I decided to forgo the extra k-cups and I am going for the B70 (Platinum).

We''ve had ours for about two weeks and it is exactly what we wanted it to be. The coffee it makes is excellent, and with this particular package you''re not locked into the (rather expensive) K-Cups since it comes with a My K-Cup filter for your own coffee, and if you don''t mind paying for the K-Cups there''s still a huge selection available, starting with Keurig''s parent company Green Mountain Coffee and extending to several other smaller specialty coffee roasters. It''s dead simple to use and even knocks out a couple of useless features from the B70 model (the unnecessary temperature control and the pathetically weak 11-oz serving size). On the whole, this package is an excellent bargain for a single-serve coffee maker -if you know where to look.

I''m not too sure what''s going on with the pricing on Amazon''s partners here, but we wound up buying ours at a warehouse store and saving thirty dollars off the street price for a B70; considering what the K-Cups go for and how much the filter adapter costs, we essentially got the coffee maker for not much more than the price of the Mini. The price difference between there and here led me to knock a star off the rating. The upshot, though, is that if you''re going to buy a Keurig brewer and you don''t think the Keurig Mini will suit your needs (the B77 has a water tank suitable for 4-6 people), this is the brewer and package to get.

Buy Keurig Single Serve Coffee and Tea Brewing System Now

I''d been searching for a coffee maker for some time. So many look good and the price range is ridiculous, what does a girl buy? I knew I didn''t want a coffee maker with a large pot, my husband doesn''t drink coffee and I typically drink one or two cups. I owned a Senseo at one time but primarily used it for tea, the coffee always had a funky cardboard taste to me. To get a decent selection of coffees or teas I had to go online, it just wasn''t convenient to have to order my pods and wait for them.

The Keurig is a whole different story. I was at at store and saw this, I was still on the fence until I saw this new model could make a glass of iced tea as well. Needless to say I was sold, yay for impulse buying!! I love how quick this makes coffe, tea and hot chocolate. The manual says it could take over a minute for a cup but I''ve found it''s always less than a minute. I also love the fact I can locally buy the K-cups if I run out or I can use the mycup if I want to use my own coffee or tea.

My in-laws came out for a couple of weeks and they fell in love with this too. They are the typical older parents, they know what they like and don''t want to change. They like their Folgers Classic and that''s what they wanted to drink. I knew they could use the Mycup but I had no idea on the amount or if the taste would be different. I had only used Mycup for tea, which it worked fine for. They came out, I should them how to use it and I think they liked this machine a little more everyday. About a week into their visit they said they wanted one for home and the Keurig actually made the coffee taste better.

Oh, and I like the light for the water reservoir. It''s bright enough to act as a night light in the kitchen but not so bright it''s annoying. The light also blinks when the water gets low, again a nice, non-annoying way to let me know to fill it.

Pros:

Easy to use

Easier to clean than a coffee maker

Saves money, no wasted coffee

Brews a better cup of coffee

Brew good hot chocolate, we use the Cafe Escapes K-cups

Easy to find K-cups locally and are cheaper than online

Everyone can get the coffee, tea, hot chocolate they want

Brews quickly

Cons:

Now we have to buy one for the in-laws

Reservoir could be bigger but then I suppose it would make the foot print bigger, which I wouldn''t want.

Read Best Reviews of Keurig Single Serve Coffee and Tea Brewing System Here

I bought this because my family has different schedules for work and we are all coffee drinkers. I was constantly pouring out an entire pot of coffee or the last one out the door would stop at Starbuck''s because the coffee had gone stale. The Keurig has been perfect, now everyone can have a fresh cup of coffee on their schedule. My daughter loves Iced Lattes and would stop at Starbuck''s or MacDonald''s everyday to purchase one (at approx. $4). She found the iced beverage feature on the Keurig. Just fill your glass with ice, use the Iced beverage setting with your favorite coffee and add some Vanilla flavored Coffeemate (or your flavor of choice). This is just as good as any Iced Latte I have ever purchased and WAY cheaper!! The only problem is now I am hooked on them!!! The coffee assortment is great because it lets you find which coffees you like or would not buy again without purchasing an entire box.

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(TOP 10 REVIEWER) Length:: 7:50 Mins

Be aware that the "big-box" retailers will sell this B77 brand-new, factory sealed, with 72 k-cups for 139 which is a much more compelling buy than the currently listed price on this listing on Amazon.

The Keurig B77 surpassed my expectations. I read all the horror stories but also read the glowing reviews. I have had no issues. I''ve had it about a month and we make 8-10 cups of coffee a day. It is quiet, it is fast and it is super convenient. I use a third-party basket which enables me to use my own coffee thus saving a significant amount of money on K-cups. But I also use K-cups and they are so convenient to use. You can even re-use the K-cups if you learn the technique. In my video review I grabbed the wrong stuff out of my cabinet when explaining how to re-use a K-cup... what you want to use to seal the top of the k-cup is something similar to "Press-n-Seal." For me, the Keurig B77 is a winner.

Sorry that the audio is a little wonky on the video. I decided to overdub my voice for most of the video since my camera audio quality was not very good. Unfortunately it resulted in a less than perfect audio track.

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Cafe Escapes Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa K-Cups

One of the big advantages of owning a K-cup brewer is the ability to make a hot beverage for just one person and make whatever they want (as long as you have it). During the holidays hot cocoa is a favorite drink for the young people in my family as well as anyone wanting a hot and sweet drink. Since I got my Keurig I have experimented with several different hot cocoa K-cups. So far, the Green Mountain has been the preferred K-cup, especially by the adults (there are some sweeter ones out there that some of the children like better). When I saw this new Cafe Escapes Dark Chocolate I decided to give it a try.

The first thing that I noticed was that it is made by Green Mountain! A couple of interesting notes on the box:

* You should shake the K-cup before using

* They suggest using the 8 oz. cup size

* They recommend that you run a hot water brew cycle (without a K-cup) after brewing the Cafe Escapes

It did taste a little richer than the regular Green Mountain Hot Cocoa but I didn''t get the Dark Chocolate taste that I was hoping for. I also like it better when I used the next smaller cup size on my Keurig B70 (about 5 1/2 oz.). It''s not as good as the Ghirardelli packets made for the Keurig but it''s more convenient. I like it better than the Gloria Jeans which tends to be a little sweeter and lighter on the chocolate taste. There is not getting around the fact that the best hot chocolate drink is the one that you make yourself with milk, cocoa and sugar, but this is still very good and I will buy it again.

Ghirardelli Premium Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa 20ct

I bought this after reading high reviews in various places about how this is supposed to be one of the best hot cocoas. It does a better job of getting the flavor of cocoa out than others have but the improvements are ruined by the inclusion of sucralose. It provides that off putting after taste to the whole thing. If you don''t mind the taste of sucralose/splenda then this is probably pretty good for you. I just really wish they''d just used sugar for the whole thing. Oh well, back to cocoa packets for now.

Buy Cafe Escapes Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa K-Cups Now

I was extremely disappointed in this product. I was expecting the rich, hint of sweetness of quality dark chocolate. My senses were assaulted with a sickening sweet, unpleasant taste of sucralose with no detection of the richness of dark chocolate. If you are a lover of dark chocolate, this is not the product for you. The exorbitant price lulled me into thinking this would be made with quality chocolate and real ingredients. Alas..

Read Best Reviews of Cafe Escapes Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa K-Cups Here

This was OK but not as rich as we would like. Would NOT reorder this but would like to try others if they are available.

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I was really excited about trying this after reading the reviews. On the bright side it is more chocolaty then the Green Mountain Hot chocolate, unfortunately it''s not very sweet......in fact it almost has a bitter after taste. I added 1 tsp of sugar and it was much better. If you like creamy, some what sweet hot chocolate......keep looking.

note...my wife posted this review.....hot chocolate is hot chocolate to me...that is all.

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