Showing posts with label water filters online. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water filters online. Show all posts

Austin Air Allergy Machine HM 405 Save 14% Off

Austin Air HEGA Allergy Machine - BlackI live in an apartment and a few months ago I got new neighbors in the apartment below. They smoke constantly and often have parties with 8-10 people in a tiny apartment all smoking all night. The building is old, the smoke comes through not only the ventilation system, but directly through the floors and fills my apartment with the disgusting stench of Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS). This unit saved me from having to move. It''s that good.

The HEGA filter is particularly good at removing gas molecules and thus odors and ETS. I have allergies, but they''re manageable I bought this primarily for odor and ETS control and to that end, it works perfectly.

It''s much quieter than I though possible for something that moves so much air. Even on the highest setting, I can easily sleep in the same room with it. Some may be more sensitive to noise, but it''s much quieter than some IQAir models that I''ve heard. On the lowest setting, it''s barely audible.

I keep the unit in a largish living room/dining room/kitchen area in my one bedroom apartment and it cleans the air effectively. When combined with the air circulation of my AC unit, it does a great job of filling the apartment with clean, smoke free air.

The filters are extremely effective and come with a five-year warranty. If you live in a particularly polluted environment and your filter doesn''t last five years, Austin Air will give you a discount on a replacement filter proportional to the length of its life. The bonus is, it''s for that AND every subsequent filter you purchase. The unit itself also comes with a five-year warranty. Austin Air seems really great about craftsmanship and customer service. They don''t make a huge variety of products (like Honeywell or a lot of other electronics manufacturers that offer air cleaners), but what they do, they do right.

If you''re suffering from annoying odors, ETS, or allergies, this is the machine for you. It''s really made all the difference.

I''ve tried cheaper air cleaners and they just don''t keep my allergies clear like my Austin Air. The Austin Air does not require costly (and often difficult to find) filter replacements. Instead, you just vacuum off the surface and the machine''s good to go for a couple of weeks. Think of it this way, if there''s dust on top, you want to wipe out the vents.

We had one incident with a bearing problem in one of our machines and Austin Air replaced the machine under warranty with us only being out the cost of postage. They''re great people to deal with--friendly, helpful, and they got my machine back FAST during cedar fever season.

Add to that, the white noise the machine generates is great to help you get to sleep. I''d highly recommend the Austin Air and will buy more as money and needs dictate.

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This is so good that a friend whose child suffers from severe asthma [and who has an Oreck air filter that cost about $800--which broke down as soon as the warranty expired], could actually sense how much cleaner the air was when she was in the vicinity of the Austin and asked me where she could buy one. She asked even though I have had this for nearly 10 years [one filter change so far, by the calendar, not because I sensed it stop working].

I can''t recommend it strongly enough.

While it is a bit noisy, it''s an even background noise, not at all irritating [and I am a real noise crank]; in fact when my neighbors have a party [their dining room wall is my bedroom wall], the hum actually is an added bonus and helps me to fall sleep.

I should mention that when the wind shifted one night after 9/11 here in NY I got a heavy dose of the smoke cloud and so could barely breath when I arrived home; I closed myself in the bedroom, turned on the Austin filter, and was fine.

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It''s been over a year since I bought this air purifier, so I figured I''d better hop back on here and review it. I never had a "good" air purifier before owning this one. This is a serious air purifier. I live in a small apartment with 3 cats and I pretty much run this air purifier 24/7 in my bedroom and sometimes push it out to the living room to clear the air out there. My allergy symptoms are much less magnified with this machine running. I sleep so much better at night, cause I can breath a lot better. I used to wake up in the morning with coughing or wheezing from allergies (probably from the cats) and I don''t experience this anymore. On the lowest setting, I can hardly even hear it running in the corner of my bedroom. I crank it up to the highest setting when I''m not in the room, and it''s pretty loud but cleans a lot of air.

I like to run this machine in a room after vacuuming and cleaning, it pulls the dust and other stuff that gets kicked up, it can clear a room fast on the highest setting. Sometimes I''ll vacuum the floors and furniture (lots of cat hair to pick up of course) then push this machine into the room and crank it up to high, then leave and come back in a couple hours. Clean floors, furniture and air await me when I return.

I really like that this is a simple and straightforward machine. Plug it in and turn it to one of the speed settings and that is about it. No electronics to fail or wear out. Just need to replace the filter every few years. I like this machine a lot.

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I love this purifier! I noticed a big difference with my allergies and asthma... could breathe easier in the mornings and not as congested. I live in a dry and dusty climate, we have 2 cats, and i think there might be mold spores in our apartment... this unit definitely made a noticeable difference in a short amount of time. Low setting is quiet, medium is good during the day for heavier air flow, high is very loud... but don''t feel like i need it unless doing some heavy ''cleaning'' of the air for a short amount of time.

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Crystal Quest Chrome Handheld Shower Water Filter (Chrome)

Crystal Quest Chrome Handheld Shower Water Filter
  • CQE-SP-00805

I grew up in New York and absolutely never gave a second thought to the quality of our water. My hair was always soft, manageable, and shiny. Then I moved to the midwest where I found the hardest water in the U.S. It clanks as it comes out of the tap. You have to use a chisel to remove the residue from your counters. It leaves my hair dirty-looking, stringy, dull, and flat. Water softeners don''t do a thing to help. Even moving to a neighborhood with so-called "city water" is no improvement.

I tried every type of shampoo and conditioner, tried rinsing my hair in rainwater I collected in a barrel (that worked a bit though it can be quite a shock in the winter), and concocted a vinegar rinse. Finally, I purchased the Crystal Quest with its super-duper filter. Not only is my hair soft and manageable again, but my skin feels much better, too. It was easy to install and works great. If you live in an area with hard water, treat yourself and get one of these handheld showers!

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I live in Chicago, where the city water is hard. I purchased this showerhead with some reservations because of the previous reviews. So, far, I am very pleased with the product. The showerhead does give you increased water pressure, resulting in a more powerful and cleaner shower experience. LESS RESIDUE!! My skin, scalp and hair is less dryer than before! The installation process was easy and quick, no dripping or leaks. The filter seems to work great, you do have to reverse the filter on occasion. This product is mostly affordable, due to the long filter life (up to one year). One negative, the showerhead only has 3 or 4 water settings, most have 5 settings in this price range.

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This is the best hand-held shower head I have head so far. The filter is great, my skin is smoother, and my hair much much softer. Whenever I take a shower at the gym now with unfiltered water, I feel the difference. The chrome is beautiful! No more chlorine smell and now with the hand-held I can wash my hair without getting in the bathtub, nice!!!

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My hair is softer. Is it the new shampoo I used or the filtered water? My hair is so soft that I cannot help playing with it.

My husband has extreme dry skin. He put cream over all in the morning, by evening he''s suffering from the itchy dry skin again. So bad that I wish he could put cream on during the day. Now, he does not need to put extra cream in the evening!

There was no way to make this shower head stop leaking and leaking badly. It had a funny looking head and it had little water pressure.I replaced it with one that was cheaper and easier to install and has never leaked. I also find the company and its associates to be disreputable. They promised me my return shipping because they didn''t origionally send what I had ordered. But, after having fun at my expense and doing what I could to resolve the situation I was left with them owing me money. I do not recommend this product or this company.

Aprilaire #35 Water Panel Evaporator Save 23% Off

Aprilaire #35 Water Panel Evaporator, 2PKI got the product on time and it was fit correctly as a water panel into my aprilaire water filter

These are OEM and that''s what I was looking for... very satisfied and much cheaper than from my HVAC company. Have tried non-OEM and the clay coating seems to deteriorate more quickly.

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Cant live without my humidifier. Furnace is the only way to go. Portable units are a pain and noisy! Don''t be surprized by the filter''s appearance. It looks like it is plugged with white gunk. That''s normal. Be sure to change it every year.

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a necessary annual cost if you have a humidifier. Cost a whole lot less if you supply it than if the technician "sells" you one when they do fall maintenance.. Got absolutely no beef from the service guy.

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The pad is a genuine Aprilaire part. It fits and functions perfectly in my humidifier. There are some off brands that would have saved me a few dollars but I am very happy with the price and quality.

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Cuisinart DCC-2400RC 12-Cup Stainless Thermal Carafe Save 33% Off

Cuisinart DCC-2400RC 12-Cup Stainless Thermal Carafe, BlackI love my Cuisinart Fully Automatic Burr Grind and Brew Thermal Coffeemaker, Model DGB-900BC, except for one thing, the thermal carafe. You see, it dribbles unless you pour it soooo slowly you practically fall asleep. While visiting a friend who bought the exact same model on my recommendation, I noticed that her carafe didn''t dribble. I discovered the design of her pour spout was different and it made all the difference, so to Amazon.com I went where I found a new replacement carafe for a great price. As usual, the transaction was handled professionally and the item arrived on time, however, it was the exact same item I was trying to upgrade so I returned it. Now, here''s where Amazon shines: I received a prompt and no-hassle refund of the entire amount, including shipping costs. You can''t ask for more than that. After some further research, I found a new item number and was able to upgrade my coffeemaker with the improved carafe, but if you''re out there looking, here''s what you need to know: 12 Cup Thermal Carafes for the Cuisinart DGB-900BC and DCC-2400 come in two varieties: 1) The "Dribble" Carafe Item #DCC-2400RC and 2) The "Happy Java" Carafe Item #DCC-2400CRF. For a really good cup of coffee, I recommend the latter.

2/20/2012 UPDATE: Upon further research, and after reading responses to the above review, I believe I have discovered the real cause of the carafe dribble. The rubber gasket that is seated around the shaft below the lid assembly, and provides the seal between the carafe and the lid, is subject to jamming and causes the leak. By applying a thin film of vegetable oil to that gasket, and therefore reducing resistance (I use a drop of olive oil on my index finger), you will notice the lid closes more smoothly and the leak disappears. I have not experienced a single drip since discovering this remedy, and periodic re-oiling, whenever resistance returns, will maintain the tight seal. Now, I still prefer the newer carafe design, because it pours faster, but the dribble is not a function of the earlier design, rather the jamming of the gasket surrounding the lid.

I purchased this carafe after getting tired of buying glass carafe for $24.00. I figure if it is made of metal, my wife can''t break it. The problem was that the 12 cup insulated carafe is to large to fit in the cuisinart 1200 coffee maker i own. But i went to a store and found that he 10 cup does fit.

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At least five hours after the warmer goes off and still hot; my dream of a coffee pot. This beautiful looking pot replaced the glass one that came with the coffee maker. It keeps the coffee hot for most of the day, and warm into the evening, long after most would be looking for a fresh brew. But I''m one that can enjoy "aged" coffee on a busy day, so I am very pleased with this product. Looks great, exceeded my expectations, and won''t break should it get dropped (perish the thought). Double the price of the glass one, but much more than twice the value, I believe.

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This is a lovely thermal carafe, but be sure to check whether it will fit on your coffeemaker. I bought it to go with my Cuisinart CHW-12 12 Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Hot Water System because it was in the "people who bought this also bought this" section. The carafe is much too big to put on the coffeemaker, so I can''t have coffee made directly into the carafe as I''d hoped.

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If you somehow break one or you want two (my wife and I like different coffee), this is the ticket. But make sure it fits, it''s a 12 cup; the most common one Cuisinart makes is a 10 cup.

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Amazon''s Mildew Stain Away Save 19% Off

Amazon''s Mildew Stain AwayIt''s expensive, but it really works. Best mildew wash I''ve ever used. The trick is to spray it on, leave it sit for 5-10 minutes, then wipe it with a ScotchBrite pad.

We were having a problem with mildew on our boat. We bought some of this and will not ever be without it. This works!!!

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Don''t believe the naysayer reviews here. This is a great product that works when you don''t want to use a bleach based product on mildew. I live in a convergence zone in the Great NW where if you stand still long enough, you will find moss growing on your north (east, south, and west) sides, so you need a mildew remover as a matter of course.

I have an ''85 camry that has to be parked outside. One fall I didn''t drive it for a few weeks and when I finally got around to it, I found that there was mold growing all over the interior carpet, seats, etc. A treatment with Amazing Stainaway killed all the mold and restored the interior of the car to its non mildewed state, and I''m still using the car today.

It is also useful for use on my house siding when I get a green moss/mold on the surface. I''ve given a bottle to my son to use in his basement when a wall leak soaked his rugs.

One caution the mist from the sprayer is very irritating so use in a well ventilated place or take other precautions. Bottom line, use bleach based products in the tub and showers, but use this one most everywhere else.

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Total waste of money; especially when you pay a shipping charge that is equivalent to the product price. Didn''t do squat on my boat cushions.

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this was a waste of time and money on my boat cushions. It did noting to address the problem

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Wysi Wipe Multi-Purpose Wipes 100 Pack

Wysi Wipe Multi-Purpose Wipes 100 Pack - Just Add Water!I recently took a trip to Africa and these were a plus for many reasons. First, typically Kenyans do not use wash clothes so these were a wonderful fill-in whether in a nice hotel or in the bush. Second, I was under severe weight and space restrictions which meant these miraculous little pellets were a blessing in that department. Third, with only 2 tablespoons of water they instantly became large sturdy soft clothes that held up well even for scrubbing. I carried a couple in my pocket during the day while driving dirt roads and was able to refresh in the heat wiping off the dust and grime from time to time.

There is no substitute for these. They were my favorite most valued items in my duffel bag and very inexpensive for the convenience.

This wipes are very convenient, I have taken this on a trail run race, to my yoga classes, to business trips. It is helpful to put few of this in your purse, you just need very small amount of water or toner to make this expand into a durable wipes, very soft and I really like this.

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I have two small children: one who can bathe in Comet and not have any skin reaction and one with such sensitive skin that, for example,I can''t even use regular baby wash he needs to be bathed with CeraVe (a different story for a different day). I saw these at the checkout line at the Container Store awhile ago and thought it was a neat idea. Little did I know that when my sensitive child (he is now 9 months old) started eating out that the Wysi Wipes would become lifesavers. Now when we are out at the end of a meal at a resturant I just use a bit of water and use this to wipe his face and hands. A regular wipe would cause a rash. Clean up is great, the cloths are sturdy and best of all no reaction on my baby''s skin. I use them on my other child too. And since I like to have them in my purse, car and diaper bag buying larger sizes on Amazon was the way to go.

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This item is the best thing since the microwave oven :-). I can''t believe it. They are super small disks, about the diameter of a penny and will EASILY work for those who travel. Once wet, they open up really big, about the size of a normal sized wash cloth. And, yes, they are strong. I''m glad I bought 2 packages which I will save for when I travel. You can easily drop a dozen of them in your pocket and washup on planes or if you go camping. They do not have any soap, so you need to bring your own. I''m so glad I found these at Amazon.

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These are so great to have in the diaper bag/purse! All you need is a little water or your own cleaner . I make a mild soap to use instead of baby wipes.

KitchenAid Personal Coffee Maker

KitchenAid Personal Coffee Maker - In Silver Color kcm0402cu included 18 oz thermal mugPurchased mine directly from KitchenAid.

I have been on the hunt for a single server brewer that doesn''t use those awful Keurig pods. I want to use my own, home roasted coffee and I''m picky about water temperature, spray head design, etc. I''m a coffee professional working in the Specialty Coffee industry. I live a breathe coffee every day. I prefer manual brew methods, but at 7am I want a good cup without the fuss. This brewer has impressed me in that role for sure.

This brewer has really fit the bill. The water gets up to the required 200 degrees, the shower head design disperses the water evenly across the bed of coffee, and it brews quickly through a nicely designed brew basket and gold tone filter.

The gold tone filter works quite well. I would avoid paper. Aside from the waste, paper filters soak up a lot of the volatile oils in the coffee that provide so much of the flavor especially in the body of the coffee. The metal filter allows those oils to extract into the coffee giving a more flavorful cup with better body. If you use paper, go with the Filtropa brand. The white ones.

The water reservoir is handy. It has a nice handle that lifts up on the top for easy carrying. The carafe/travel mug keep the coffee hot. I use it as a carafe instead of a travel mug. I just know I''ll lose it if I take it to the car and I like to keep the coffee hot while I drink a cup waiting for my wife to come get her cup in the morning. It pours very nicely into a regular mug.

You can also put your own regular mug under it, but I prefer the carafe/travel mug so that the coffee stays hot inbetween pours.

This is just the right portion size. I can make one 12oz cup for myself, or 2 12 oz cups for me and my wife (with a little left over for a partial refill makes 18oz total at full capacity). This was very well thought out!

It is tall, but it will fit under your cabinets (well, most cabinets). You may have to slide it out a bit to remove the water reservoir, but what''s the big deal? Every coffee maker I have ever owned required that in order to pour in my water.

The drip tray is fantastic. Most brewers don''t have them, and that''s a shame. KA took a cue from the espresso market and included one on this unit. It''s handy and gives it an upscale feel that is appreciated.

Some may consider the lack of a timer a negative. Not me. Once you grind your coffee, you start losing noticeable flavor in less than 1 minute. Grinding your coffee and leaving it in the non-air tight brew basket for 8 hours should be a crime! Is it that hard to scoop and grind in the morning?

Leaving the timer off is, I''m sure, a big part of why this machine is so affordable. KitchenAid has always been great at including the features you need, and not the ones you don''t so that they can build high quality gear at a reasonable price point.

And, yeah, the blue light on the front is mesmerizing. What can I say?

Really great machine! Coffee is HOT, and flavor is outstanding, never bitter and no funny aftertaste, this really lets the flavor come through. Although I like the design of the Hamilton Beach Scoop better, this KA makes a better tasting cup I had them both side by side for a week and picked the KA, and returned the HB. I think the cone shaped filter and the showerhead design gives this machine what the HB Scoop lacks evenly soaked grounds and a nice bold flavor from the cone design vs. the flat bottom HB filter. Build quality seems okay, and the design works quite well no complaints. I use 5 tbsp''s for 16oz. and it''s just right. I didn''t care for the thermal mug that came with it, seemed to introduce a plastic taste. I found a 16oz Mr. Coffee "Traverse" ceramic travel mug that fits this machine perfectly and this combo is equal to, if not better than anything I get when buying coffee out vs. making it at home, and I''m extremely picky about that.

Edit 3 machines later.... I give up. I really like this machine, but unfortunately it has a fatal flaw. Each of the 3 machines I bought ended up having the same issue after about 3 weeks of use it''s clearly a design flaw. The filter basket hinge is weak, and apparently grows weaker with use due to heat. Eventually it begins to droop, creating a visible gap. But, it''s not just cosmetic, although it does look weird. When the gap grows large enough, the filter basket housing no longer makes contact with a switch that''s located in the center of the shower head housing. This switch must be depressed by the filter basket to make the brewer work, otherwise it won''t get the signal that its okay to send water. So, to make it work you have to manually push and hold the filter basket up to make it brew coffee. Too bad, because I like the coffee and the overall design, but it''s back to the drawing board for the engineers at KitchenAid.

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My main coffee maker is a Cuisinart. Using high-quality beans, grinding my own, I have perfected the art of making coffee -to my tastes, at least. I tried a number of other single cup machines, and this one is the closest to my normal weekend pot. It is really just a smaller version of my main machine: cone gold filter, etc. Note that this machine does not have a hotplate, as the coffee is meant to be dispensed into either a travel mug or a regular mug. The temperature of the coffee is hot, without being too much so, and it takes about 3 5 minutes to brew a 16oz travel mug when I leave in the morning. I grind the beans and fill the water tank the night before, then just hit the power button as I''m getting ready to leave. The unit seems well made, but be aware that the entire body is metal-colored plastic, and doesn''t have the build quality of my full-sized coffee maker (stainless). All in all a good purchase for me. Recommended.

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It''s huge takes up way to much counter space, the drip tray is stainless so if you use a regular coffee cup and move it at all without picking it up it sounds like nails on a chalk board. I find the water fill hatch to be unfriendly for those that need coffee to wake up in the morning.

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High Performance Water Filter Cartridge

High Performance Water Filter Cartridge -
  • Highest grade coconut shell carbon block removes chlorine, taste and odor
  • Provides clean, great-tasting water
  • 5 micron rating
  • Made in USA

When I found this filter I was excited, I have a Kangen machine and they dont sell the regular filter anymore. All you can buy is the Lead one which is 120.00. It said that is would fit the SD501 Leveluk machine, IT DOES NOT< and now I am out $80.00

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Saved a lot of money buying this instead of ordering from kangen website. Worked well with my kangen machine Sd 501.

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This worked great. Just as good as the "OEM", in actuality this IS the company that makes all the filters. Great customer service also.

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OUR KANGEN WATER MACHINE HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES. WE FEEL HEALTHIER, ARE HEALTHIER AND USE IT DAILY. IF FACT, THIS IS ALL THE WATER WE DRINK AND HAVE FOR YEARS. GREAT FILTER, GREAT PRICE!

This filter provides the same result as the factory OEM model for alot less money $$. Highly recommend it. Will buy again ...

Breville BES250XL Cafe Venezia 15-Bar Stainless-Steel Espresso Machine

Breville BES250XL Cafe Venezia 15-Bar Stainless-Steel Espresso MachineI''m not sure why this espresso machine has such a low rating (note: small sample size), but the Cafe Venezia espresso machine has been magical ever since I bought it in March 2010. Since this machine was a bit more complicated than my previous machine, it took a little while to get everything exactly the way I liked it, but now the machine is pretty much perfect.

My one and only complaint would be that it seems to use a lot of water for non-coffee making/milk frothing activities. I''m assuming it''s doing some self cleaning or whatnot, and it''s not all that big of a deal since this thing holds a good amount of water, but the trough (as I like to call it) seems to get filled with water pretty quickly. But really, I''m just nitpicking.

I grind my coffee using a burr grinder on the extra fine setting, and the machine has never blown up on me except for the first time I used it (All espresso machines do this to me for some reason). The frothing wand needs to be cleaned regularly, and if not it turns a weird color, but even if I''m now drinking poison, I welcome my delicious, aromatic death.

We were given this espresso machine as a Christmas present and absolutely LOVED it. We were making our special lattes every morning, the coffee tastes great, everything was working just fine... untillll... water started shooting out of the electronic buttons as tears flowed from my face. It looked like the machine was crying with me. It was a tragic day. We are now debating whether or not we should get the same one and pray for the best or try a different model...

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This machine requires a lot of maintenance to stay functional. Each of the filters needs all the little holes unclogged between almost every use or else it gets clogged a huge time suck. The coffee is luke-warm and although the crema is thick and beautiful, the flavor is mediocre. I wish I still had my simple Kitchen-Aid one that was half the price, reliable & low maintenance.

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This machine looks good, thats it. Everytime you use it you have to unblock the tiny holes in the filter with this needle type tool, washing the filter isn''t enough! This is a major pain! The espresso is not hot, but is does test nice.

So if you want a machine that looks good but aren''t going to use it then this is the one, but if you make espresso everyday like me then buy something else.

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I looked forward to the delivery of this Breville Cafe Venezia espresso/cappuccino machine after much research on the internet as well as phone calls to a few vendors. It was to replace the two units I sequentially owned which were sold by Starbucks, and manufactured by Saeco USA. This Breville model had the same 15 bar pressure, a really nice look, and a similarly large capacity reservoir for water which many units do not. I thought I was home free. NO. It leaked water quite sufficiently between the head and the filter holder (portafilter) which drooled down into the coffee carafe. Then I found that the milk steamer/frother just could not do the job. I''ve been making frothed milk (from half & half, whole milk, 2% milk and soy) for a couple decades now successfully, and this machine just doesn''t do it.

I returned the machine and found that with some adjustments with my Saeco portafilter (the mechanism with a handle which holds the filter basket and inserts into the brewing head) that my original machine itself was still continuing to work just fine. So if you''re looking for a well made espresso/cappuccino machine I''d suggest picking out one that''s made by Saeco. They really seem to know what they''re doing. I''ve had two machines (their current model, Via Venezia, which was sold by Starbucks under two different private labeling: first the Estro Vapore, and later, the Barista). This machine doesn''t grind your beans for you, but it''s a workhorse and a nice looking unit as well.

I found Brevelle''s citrus juicer to be a 5-Star machine and was in hopes that their espresso machine would follow-up with the same quality -but no, I was very unhappy with Breville''s Cafe Venezia.

UVMax 602805 Replacement Lamp for Models C, C4, D/Plus, D4/Plus, IHS12-d4 Save 34% Off

UVMax 602805 Replacement Lamp for Models C, C4, D/Plus, D4/Plus, IHS12-d4
  • Low pressure high output lamp with a black base
  • Fits Trojan UV Max models C, C4, D, D Plus, D4, D4 Plus, IHS12-D4
  • 9000 hour (1-year) lamp life
  • Genuine Trojan Replacement Product

This is the second annual bulb replacement purchased from Amazon and I was happy when the price actually dropped appreciably from last year''s purchase. I have had the Trojan UV system in use for two years with no bulb issues experienced. Another reviewer mentions that these replacements are knockoffs but all three so far (including the original equipoment) have been in identical Trojan packaging and appear the same. So far so good....

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I haven''t seen any errors on my unit, and I haven''t died of water poisoning, so I think it''s very nice and grand!

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The model number is correct, but it does not work properly. Starts to, but then triggers the alarm. Poor quality. We were pleased when we asked to return it and the comapny said they would send a replacement. Upon installing the replacement we realized it was the lamp and its poor quality. When we asked to return both lamps for a full refund we were sent a shipping label....we pay the shipping, of course. Not pleased. Guess we learned our lesson don''t buy a knock off brand.

Danze D301571PBVT 2 Handle Tub Filler TRIM

Danze D301571PBVT 2 Handle Tub Filler TRIM, Polished Brass
  • 2 Handle
  • Tub Filler Trim
  • Plymouth Collection
  • Lever Handle

I purchased some Danze brass faucets several years ago for our sinks and they are standing up well. So when our roman tub faucet needed replacing I bought this Danze faucet and now that it''s installed it appears as good quality as the sink ones..

CRYSTAL QUEST® Faucet Mount Filter Cartridge

CRYSTAL QUEST® Faucet Mount Filter Cartridge
  • The CRYSTAL QUEST CQE-RC-04046 Faucet Mount Water Filter Cartridge is a 5-stage water filter that is designed to reduce many contaminants from water
  • In Stages 1 and 5
  • water passes through pre and post one-micron filter pads
  • which reduces suspended particles such as silt
  • sediment
  • cyst
  • sand
  • rust
  • dirt
  • and other undissolved matter
  • In Stage 2
  • water passes through Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC)
  • which reduces bad tastes and odors
  • pesticides and chemicals that are linked to cancer risks

This Crystal Quest tap filter has proven to be just the bee''s knees for our water problem. We can now drink the water directly from the tap without gagging on the taste or smell of it. It is not perfect but does the job we hoped it would. It is small, convenient, easy to instal, does not leak and has good pressure. I would recommend this product.

Hamilton Beach 49995 FlexBrew Single Serve Coffeemaker

Hamilton Beach 49995 FlexBrew Single Serve CoffeemakerI am very fussy about my coffee maker. If the appliance is too expensive, too bulky, too complicated, too messy to clean up, etc., it doesn''t stand a chance in my three cup a day kitchen. We got this little beauty day before Thanksgiving, just in time for the holiday dessert table. I can''t say enough about it! There are three ways to make your favorite coffee: 1. regular ground coffee goes into the basket (no filter needed) or 2. you can use a coffee pod or finally, for those who like variety, 3. K-Cups are easily inserted into the removeable slide-in tray. To allow for two sizes of coffee cups, the lower portion of the unit lets you place either a large travel mug on top, or flip it over for a higher ledge to place a smaller mug. Water in the back, press the button, and within minutes you''re drinking a hot cup of joe! Realizing it''s only a single cup machine, we don''t expect to use this when we have more than a small handful of guests. But for the daily cups there is nothing better. We love how quickly you clean up, a simple rinse of the grinds from the basket and you''re set for the next cup. Instructions say to run a solution of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cup water through the unit every month or so to clean it out. This makes more sense than the more costly machines that require descaling and fancy solutions in order to keep the coffee tasting great. It''s a tall and thin machine, so you easily slide it beside other kitchen appliances without taking up much counter space. Black and stainless steel finish go with everything. I have other Hamilton Beach kitchen apppliances and honestly have not been disappointed yet. This coffee maker is a keeper!

From my wife Sarah: This is great! At around 1/2 the cost of a Keurig, we really like it. Here''s why:

It''s super easy to use.

It makes good coffee.

You can use any of the K-Cups, and you can also use your own ground coffee beans. I like this option.

It turns itself off so you won''t leave it on by accident.

It looks very slick and fits in nicely with our kitchen with black and stainless steel. It doesn''t take up a lot of space.

It''s very easy to clean.

What else could you want!

Buy Hamilton Beach 49995 FlexBrew Single Serve Coffeemaker Now

I never considered buying a Keurig Coffee Brewer due to the high cost for the maker, the cost per cup of coffee, and the mixed reviews on flavor. When I received my " ", I wasn''t expecting too much, but was pleasantly surprised and impressed. I went out and found my favorite "Eight O''Clock" brand coffee available in K-Cups and on sale at my local supermarket. Setting up and using the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew was simple and fast. My first cup of K-Cup coffee came out perfect. I was impressed. Despite maxing out the water capacity at around 10-12oz, the coffee was not weak or odd tasting. It was a perfect cup of coffee. Next, I tried brewing a regular cup of coffee using standard coffee grounds. The results were good, but not as good as my old $14 Black and Decker 1 cup "Brew N Go" coffee maker. The coffee was good, but tasted a little "off". I tried a couple of other cups adjusting the amount of coffee, but the results were the same. It was by no means bad, but I just like the taste of my old maker, and the K-Cup coffee better. Brew time was fast. It takes a little longer to start brewing, but once it starts, it flows faster than my old machine. Total time is about the same. About 3-4 minutes. One thing that is much better than my old machine is that the FlexBrew''s coffee is hotter. All in all, the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffeemaker is an impressive machine, at a very good price. As long as you''re not looking to make a large cup of coffee, I recommend it.

Pros:

Very good tasting coffee.

Less than 1/2 the price of an average Keurig machine.

Compatible with coffee grounds, K-Cup packs, or soft pods.

Easy to use and convenient.

Well built with stainless steel and dishwasher safe removable plastic parts.

Cons:

K-Cup packs cost per cup.

Maximum 10-oz brewing capacity.

Travel mug not included.

Results using regular coffee grounds are good, not great.

Update 02/2013:

I left my original review up to show that I was at one time happy with this machine. Unfortunately, 2 months later that is no longer the case. I''m experiencing the same "water shooting all over the place" that others reported. The problem are that the nozzle that punctures the K-Cup is either no longer sharp enough to puncture the K-Cup fully, it gets clogged with coffee, or it has shifted to the point it is no longer puncturing it correctly. Either way, these are serious flaws that seems to pop up over time, or in the cases of some other reviewers, affects the coffeemaker right out of the box. Another issue is that sometimes it punctures the cup correctly, but water pressure builds up shooting water all over my kitchen after brewing a partial cup of coffee. I definitely can no longer recommend the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffeemaker.

Update 03/11/13:

I received a replacement unit from Hamilton Beach. The first thing I noticed is that the new coffee maker comes with another basket for using coffee grounds. This extra basket was not included with the first coffee maker. I''ve used the coffee maker several times using grounds and K-Cups. So far it works perfectly. I''m skeptical though since my first one worked perfectly too when I first used it. Has the design been improved, and the bugs worked out? Only time will tell, but it is only fair to report that Hamilton Beach seemed concerned about the problems being reported, and they did send me a working machine.

Final Update 03/14/13: Well, it didn''t take long for my replacement coffee maker to show its true colors. After brewing about 10 or so K-Cup cups of coffee without incident, the new HB 49995 coffee maker decided to spray hot water all over my kitchen. It brewed about 1/2 the cup normally as it should, but apparently as some others have pointed out, the HB 49995 just isn''t strong enough to force the water through the K-Cups all the time, resulting in pressure buildup until the water has no place else to go but out the top of the K-Cup holder and all over your kitchen. This is 2 coffee makers now that exhibit the same exact problems using the K-Cups recommended by Hamilton Beach. I''m done messing with this thing, and highly recommend you look elsewhere.

Read Best Reviews of Hamilton Beach 49995 FlexBrew Single Serve Coffeemaker Here

My wife was all excited when I showed her this coffee maker and told her it can use ground coffee or K-Cups. We currently have a Black and Decker 1 cup coffee maker and although it makes a great cup of coffee, it isn''t the prettiest coffee maker to leave on the counter, it only lasts about a year before you have to toss it and buy a new one and doesn''t fit her taller Christmas mugs. On to the Hamilton Beach...

I put both coffee makers side by side and the Hamilton beach is a lot bigger but it has a very attractive brushed metal finish and it will handle both small cups and tall mugs by just flipping the base. Cool!

I used the quick start guid to make our first cup of coffee on the new coffee maker. I was using ground coffee (Dunkin Donuts) to make the first cup so I removed the K-Cup holder and spooned in 2 Tablespoons of coffee using a regular (not measuring) tablespoon. I noted there is a max fill marker in the basket and I had filled it too much so I removed some coffee and shook the basket gently side to side to ensure it was below the max fill marker. It now was. Next, I filled the water reservoir to just below the max fill marker in the reservoir. You must pour slowly because the water travels down through a funnel like opening. I put my wife''s tall holiday mug underneath. It fits! Hooray!!! I press the start button and walk away to make an omelet. I look over and about a minute had passed and no coffee was dripping yet but it sounded like it was about to start. I was excited. I went about making my omelet. After a few minutes, my wife comes running over telling me the coffee maker is leaking all over the counter. I look and there are coffee grounds all over the cup (inside and out) and water has dripped all over the coffee maker, counter and even into the power switch on the front. All this despite the cup not being even half full! I quickly unplug it.

After I am done eating breakfast and the coffee maker has cooled, I decide to give it another try. Maybe I put in too much coffee or water? So I proceed to round two...

This time, I read the whole manual not just the quick start guide. It says not to use more than 10 oz. of water or 2T of coffee or the coffee pot may overflow. Okay, I did not measure accurately last time so but I did keep the levels below the max lines. Also, what is the point of a coffee maker that can hold such a huge cup if you can only use 10 oz. of water? I know from experience that some of the water stays absorbed in the grounds so 10 oz. of water equates to about 8 oz. of coffee. Okay, 8 oz. equals 1 cup and this IS advertised as a single serve coffee maker so I really can''t complain.

So using a measuring cup, I measure exactly 10 oz. of water and pour it into the reservoir. Next, I add exactly 2 level Tablespoons of coffee using a measuring spoon. I press the start button again. I also put the coffee maker next to the sink this time just in case. Again, this coffee maker is pretty slow. It takes a full minute before it even starts making any coffee, whereas my cheapo B&D starts in about 15 sec. The cup is about half full and no mess so far. I think I am in good shape when I start hearing weird gurgling noises and it starts spraying coffee grinds into the cup again. It only did it for about 15 seconds this time and then shut off. No water on the counter but still wet coffee grinds in and outside of the cup and on the power switch. I''m not sure if the power switch is water proof (I doubt it) but this is just unacceptable and likely unsafe.

Again, the coffee mug is less than half full. I waited about a minute to remove the cup and after I did, water continued to drip out of the coffeemaker onto the drip pan. I did not try a K-Cup but in my opinion, this coffee maker is a piece of garbage!

I''ll post some pictures of the mess and of the 2 coffee makers side by side on the main product page.

UPDATE: I don''t know why but I hate giving 1 star reviews so I tried another batch of coffee using only 4 tsp of coffee and 10 oz. water (all measured accurately). That''s about the weakest coffee I could stand. It still made a mess and spewed coffee grounds all over the cup and front of the machine. This time I smelled the burning smell that another reviewer mentioned as well. Amazing for only 3 cups of coffee with at least an hour cool down between cups!

I can''t tell you if this makes a decent cup of coffee because I have not been successful at it so far. I''m tempted to try a K-Cup but I don''t have any and I am not inclined to buy some just to test this coffee maker. If you want one of these for free, come check my trash barrel. ;-)

-Joe

Update: I bumped this up to 2 stars because I tried it with a K-Cup and it didn''t dump coffee grounds in my coffee or make a mess out of my counter this time. The coffee was good using 8 oz. of water but you only get 2/3rd a cup of coffee. With 10 oz. of water, you get a full cup but it is a bit weak. After it seemed to stop brewing and the light went out, I removed the cup. A few seconds later, more coffee dripped out. The tray caught it but this coffee maker is definitely lacking. Not recommended.

Joe

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Length:: 0:52 Mins

BACKGROUND: I am a fan of single-serve coffee machines. Why? Because it just makes sense. Most people in America do not live in multigenerational households so it is not necessary to brew 4+ cups of coffee at once. In my situation, it''s just my husband and me. I have owned the traditional Black & Decker 12-cup coffee maker (donated), Keurig Special Edition B60 Single-Serve Coffee Maker (returned), Senseo 7810 Single-Serve Coffee Maker (donated), Hamilton Beach Personal One-Cup Pod Brewer for Senseo Pods (still own for the office, but not too satisfied), Hamilton Beach Single Serve Scoop Coffee Maker (still own), and Aeropress Coffee and Express Maker (still own).

I have been looking for a well-built single-serve coffee maker for my husband''s office, since the one he has there is the Hamilton Beach Personal Cup One Cup Pod Brewer, which is a GREAT and inexpensive coffee maker, but the insert basket is fitted for Senseo style pods only and they are discontinued. So to get around this, I taught him to create makeshift pods by folding regular filters. This method works fine, except that it requires a few extra steps and my husband is not the type to want to perform those extra steps. Needless to say, he rarely uses the coffee machine because of "those extra steps." Well, I guess Keurig seems to be the only option left in terms of convenience, freshness, and taste.

REVIEW:

PROS:

+ Accepts K-Cups, ground coffee, and pods

+ Flexible cup size (can hold a tall travel mug or a smaller 10 oz. mug)

+ Great tasting, hot coffee without using a lot of coffee grounds

+ Beautiful black/stainless-steel exterior

+ Easy to operate in 4-steps (Pour in water, put in coffee (cup/grounds/pod), push lever down, press "on")

+ Easy to clean (all you need to do is dump the coffee grounds and rinse), separate parts are washable

+ More affordable than any Keurig coffee machine

CONS:

Hot steam comes out from "Push Down" lever opening

Spits coffee grinds everywhere if the amount of coffee grounds in filter exceeds maximum limit (2 Tbsp)

I am writing this review after testing it for almost two weeks. Using K-cups, the coffee MAY drip slower (it takes about 1.5-2 minutes on average to brew a cup) than a Keurig machine, but it does come out hot and tasty. On the other hand, using just the mesh filter and coffee grinds require a bit of a learning curve. The directions note that you can only use a MAXIMUM of 2 TABLESPOONS of ground coffee. While this is true, I would recommend a MAXIMUM of 2-3 TEASPOONS. Any more and the machine will "spit" coffee grinds into your cup in the last 10 seconds of brewing (VIDEO INCLUDED). I have also learned that I have had more luck with a courser grind, closer to french press than drip. Another thing that may cause some concern is the steam that comes out of the "Push Down" lever is hot, but fortunately, not burning hot. For me, I don''t mind it since I usually walk away after pressing the "on" button anyway.

In comparison between the Hamilton Beach Single Serve Scoop Coffee Maker and this FlexBrew, I would strongly recommend the FlexBrew for its versatility, convenience, and best of all, it makes great tasting coffee with very little coffee grounds. It''s ironic because for the Scoop, the more coffee you put in, the stronger/better your coffee tastes. Even 2 Tbsp may not be enough for the Scoop whereas 2 Tbsp is too much for the FlexBrew. With that said, I will be replacing my Hamilton Beach Scoop with this one.

Bottom line, if you are looking for a single-serve machine that can brew K-Cups, coffee grinds, and pods, look no further but keep in mind that this machine requires a very small amount of coffee grinds or it will start spitting all over the place (as you can see in the video).

Blueair Smokestop Filter for 400 Series Air Purifier Save 14% Off

Blueair Smokestop Filter for 400 Series Air PurifierYou''re probably completely shocked that this Smokestop Filter costs as much as it does. But trust me, if you have any problems with odors, it''s worth EVERY penny.

I normally use the regular Blueair filter for the 402, but I purchased the Smokestop after my neighborhood was flooded with horrible fumes from a nearby methane gas leak. The authorities deemed the gases as harmless, so no evacuations were ordered. However, being very sensitive to fumes of any kind, I became very ill. With no other place to go, I put the Smokestop filter into my 402 and moved the air cleaner into my smallest bedroom, where I camped out for the next couple of days. A trip to any other room of the house left me feeling nauseous, dizzy, with a raging headache and difficulty breathing within minutes (but the fumes were "harmless"!!). The room with the Blueair equipped with the Smokestop filter was absolutely free of odor. It was incredible.

Since not everyone has methane gas leaks permeating their homes (thankfully!), you may never get the chance to test the filter in this way. But it no doubt works wonders with cigarette smoke and other offensive odors that waft into your home.

The filter has 2 "chambers." One filled with activated charcoal, and the other with the familiar Blueair patented white filter. So it doesn''t just stop with odors, it still cleans particles from the air with great efficiency, and best of all, Q-U-I-E-T-ly. Just remember to change it after 6 months, even if it means going back to the regular (and cheaper) filter. Happy breathing!

SEPT. 2008 ADDENDUM: I had another fume problem, this time, toxic deck sealant fumes from a home repair seeping into the house. I purchased another Smokestop filter and this time I noticed an odor coming from the filter itself. It''s not horrible, but I had become so sensitive to odors after a week of sealant exposure that it made me feel sick. I left the Blueair on high and it has reduced the smell after a few days. To be fair, despite the filter smell, the deck sealant odor was neutralized. And finally, I have a balcony-smoking neighbor, and as soon as secondhand smoke wafts into my bedroom, I turn up the Blueair and the smoke odor is gone in a flash. Just be aware of the initial odor from the filter itself. I''d say I''m dropping my rating to 4 stars, or 3.8 if I could.

Difficult to get a bargain with these but buying thru Amazon offers dependability with the order. Reasonable shipping.

Buy Blueair Smokestop Filter for 400 Series Air Purifier Now

If given the option to rate with fractional values I''d give this a 3.5 star rating. Blueair filters are extremely expensive compared to their competitors and their warranty requires that filters be replaced every 6 months, which is often more often than needed. If you are extremely sensitive to noise the Blueair filters offer some of the lowest noise levels of any air filter on the market, but one has to pay dearly for this feature. If you already own a Blueair filter there are only two choices available to you: the particle filter at $60 and the smokestop filter at $120; there are no third party vendors. The smokestop filter has 2 pounds of activated carbon to control gaseous pollutants and odors in addition to the HEPA filter found in the cheaper particle only filter. The smokestop filter also has a foam prefilter in the back that can be brushed to removed dust buildup; thus, it will probably last longer than the particle filter, which lacks a prefilter (although if you choose to use the filter for more than 6 months you void the warranty). The particle filter has absolutely no activated carbon so if offers zero protection from gaseous pollutants and most users will be better off with the smokestop filter unless that are also running other air purifiers in conjunction with the Blueair filter. The smokestop filter does a good job and provides full spectrum filtration, the only negative feature is that it is overpriced compared to filters of similar quality for other air purifiers.

Read Best Reviews of Blueair Smokestop Filter for 400 Series Air Purifier Here

These filters are very good. As well as trapping a ton of particulate matter, they also freshen the air wherever smokers smoke. Highly recommend if you smoke, have a wood burning fireplace or cook a lot.

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I had been buying this product direct from the company because my fiance is alergic to smoke and I am a smoker. Product works great and I found that it''s a lot cheaper on Amazon.

Save 14% Off

Porcelain Water Dispenser Blue Stripe Save 19% Off

Porcelain Water Dispenser Blue Stripe with Wooden StandThis is a good water dispenser. It was easy to assemble and it is sturdy. I think it looks nicer than the plastic/aluminum units I''ve rented from the bottled water companies. Well-worth the money.

I was pleased with the turn around time when ordering this product. The wooden stand was top quality and very easy to assemble and set-up. I am quite satisfied with this product and recommend this company highly.

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I was pleasantly surprised when I received this item: It has a sleek wooden stand and also a nice looking porcelain dispenser. It is so much sturdier than the previous plastic water dispenser I owned! I am glad I switched!

Read Best Reviews of Porcelain Water Dispenser Blue Stripe Here

The directions are not very clear how to assemble the stand. The all important missing line is "Tap the bottom of Part B to remove bottom wooden bar, then insert Part A, replace the bar on part B". The bar that I am referring to is put together with wooden pegs. After a half hour, we started tapping on the parts, and the bar finally came loose. It reminded me of a Chinese puzzle until then. ;-).

The product is excellent and the company is A1.

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We have really bad water where we live and have been extremely pleased with our water dispenser. We shopped around and could not believe the price that we got this for. Very fast shipping. Couldn''t be happier!

Save 19% Off

Capresso MT600 10-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Save 35% Off

Capresso MT600 10-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Thermal CarafeThe Capresso MT-600 was introduced to replace the older MT-500 model. Both models have essentially the same functions and features, but there are two differences:

* The MT-500 has an aluminum die-cast housing. The MT-600 has a milled steel housing.

* The MT-500 was made in Portugal. The MT-600 is made in China.

I recently purchased the MT-600 to replace a Mr. Coffee automatic drip that served me well for over 15 years. I decided on the MT-600 because I wanted a thermal carafe and a built-in water filter. I also had faith in the Capresso brand because both my sisters have owned the Capresso CoffeeTEC model for many years, and their machines make absolutely fantastic drip coffee.

So I was very disappointed when I found that the Capresso MT-600 makes weak and lukewarm coffee. I read the directions carefully to make sure I was using the machine precisely as designed. I tried different beans and grinds to strengthen the coffee. I pre-heated the carafe prior to brewing to increase the temperature. But no matter what adjustments I made, the coffee always turned out weak and tepid.

I called Capresso to ask why the coffee comes out weak even when I double the standard amount of grounds. They told me that it has to do with how the water is dispersed (or rather, not dispersed) over the grounds during brewing. I went back and looked at the filter after brewing a pot, and sure enough, there was a deep divot right in the center of the grounds. So the problem seems to be that the water is driven down the middle of the filter rather than dispersed evenly over the grounds, leaving the grounds along the perimeter largely unbrewed.

I also measured the temperature of the coffee immediately after brewing, and as another reviewer mentioned, the coffee hits the carafe at 180 degrees. But even when the carafe has been pre-heated with boiling water, it loses its heat FAST. The other problem with the carafe is that even when you line up the dots exactly as directed, the coffee flow is more of a heat-depleting trickle than a pour. So while the coffee brews at 180 degrees, the temperature is much lower by the time it hits even your first cup.

I''ve been thinking about why my experience has been so different from that of veteran Capresso owners, and I can only conclude that the newer machines are not of the same quality as the older machines. Take a read through the user reviews posted for the MT-500 model and you''ll notice that it''s those people who have had their Capressos for more than 2 years who love and rave about their coffee makers. The same is true for the Capresso owners in my own family. My sisters'' machines are going strong after 5+ years of heavy use, whereas my brand new Capresso has been a non-starter.

So sadly I will be returning the Capresso MT-600 in favor of a better machine. I doubt I''ll find anything more beautiful in appearance, but there has to be a machine that makes better coffee, especially at this price!

(One final point... there seems to be some confusion about the materials used to build the MT-600. The heating block is lined with stainless steel to prevent water from coming in contact with the machine''s aluminum components. So if you have aluminum concerns, the MT-600 has you covered. But like almost every drip coffee maker on the market, the water reservoir and filter holder are made of plastic. If you want to avoid plastic altogether, a French press or standard percolator may be your only options.)

We had a Capresso ST600 stainless coffee maker for MANY years. It had a clock, feature to set the time to start your coffee in the morning, a filter, and a warning to let you know when to change the filter. To brew the best coffee, we filled the water tank using a hose type faucet from the sink and put it directly into the coffee maker. We did not fill the carafe and then pour it in. This cools down the carafe and consequently the coffee that you brew. We used unbleached paper filters and ground the coffee fresh in the morning and did not use the overnight timer. You turned the top of the carafe to a particular spot to brew and it rested on the counter top and was pushed into the ST600. It would only brew when the carafe made contact with a switch inside. Unit worked fine.

We figured the MT600 would be a natural replacement but were concerned about all the negative reviews about leaks, pouring spout problems, cold coffee and the like. We went to the Happy Cook who sold Krup, Capresso, and a lower priced unit that started with a "Z." The sales person, very knowledgeable, said the MT600 was the top seller and in over a year never had a return. They use one for customer coffee in the store. I asked about spilling and brought me a carafe she filled with water no counter spills when I poured it. I bought the unit.

First off, there are many improvements over the ST600. The carafe mounts into the unit and not on the counter, the clock controls are not under the top lid of the unit, they are easier to use, the filter warning light is a green LED instead of a flashing clock warning, the overall size of the unit is smaller and more stylish, the fill gauge is more visible, and the fill area is larger.

Now the test. We filled it with water and ran it through to clear the filter and the unit as the instructions say. No problem. Put in a filter, fresh coffee grounds, and filled it. Eight minutes later, coffee was done without any counter leaks. Poured the coffee into a cup and it was hot and the spout worked better than the ST600 impossible to spill very well designed.

I think most of the problems people have with the unit seem to be a failure to follow instructions. The instructions say that if you fill the unit with cold water from the carafe, you should refill the carafe with hot water and pour it out. A cold carafe reduces the temperature of the coffee. So you really need to fill it with a pitcher or do what we do from an extendable faucet hose. There is a dot on the lid. You lock it closed (align two dots) and put it into the MT600 which has a cradle for it very hard not to get it right. If you don''t, you would probably get a leak. To pour the coffee, turn the top so the dot lines up with the spout 1/2 turn. Open it more than that and you may have pouring problems. Follow the directions Happy Cook has had no returns on the unit.

We love it better than the old model by far.

Buy Capresso MT600 10-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Now

I''ve had them all KitchenAid, Braun, Krups, Cuisinart, Capresso ST600 and the new MT600 tops them all!

The Good:

Piping Hot Coffee 180 degrees in the Carafe after brewing.

Hot brew temperature really pulls the flavor out of the coffee.

Cone Shaped Filter (I do not like the basket type).

Easy to use timer.

Brews fast, 10 cups in about 6 minutes.

Stainless Steel Heating System.

Small footprint on counter, only 8" x 9" x 14".

Carafe does not drip when pouring.

Carafe keeps coffee hot for hours.

Cord storage in the body.

Very classy looking on the counter.

The Bad:

Water level indicator on the side is difficult to see while pouring water in the reservoir.

This is a great choice if you are looking for a Thermal Carafe unit that brews coffee hot enough to not require microwaving.

Read Best Reviews of Capresso MT600 10-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Here

I was a firm believer that you get what you pay for. If a few more dollars gets you a better built, longer lasting product that maybe even functions better thats money well spent. Buying this machine does not follow that model. With the MT600, a few more dollars gets you something slightly worse than an entry level MrCoffee. I used my MT600 for three days and returned it. The biggest problems I encountered were with the thermal carafe. The first being a raised seam in the plastic spout which ran from the tip down towards the carafe. This caused the coffee to run back up the carafe and spill all over the counter. I tried slow pour, fast pour, contact with my mug, no contact etc. The spill was unavoidable. I ended up sanding the seam away with some fine sandpaper and the problem was solved. The next issue was the very poorly made lid. It has coarse threads that do not want to line up. However, the bigger issue is that it is two parts the threaded section and the top. As you screw it down, if you turn just a little too far, the top makes contact, the threaded portion continues and it actually disassembles itself. Once this started to happen, I knew I was not getting the quality I had hoped for. On the upside, the coffee was very good. Based on this experience, I am a firm believer that you might get what you pay for but definately not if you payed for an MT600.

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This is the first review that I have ever written, but I feel that it is important to share the disappointing experience that we had with this coffee maker. To start, we have had a DeLonghi for about 4 years that we got at Starbucks, we loved and miss that coffee maker! We always buy fresh coffee from Starbucks and grind it right before use. We love our coffee strong. The Capresso MT600 is a very sleek looking machine but it feels flimsy when you open the top to add your grinds and water, I could immediately see my self breaking that. It just didn''t have that well made sturdy feeling that I gravitate to. We found the coffee temperature ok, if you drank it right away it was fine, but my husband often makes the coffee about an hour before I get up (hense our love affair with the thermal carafes) and by the time I made my cup it was somewhat hot but not that super fresh steaming hot that you look for. The coffee was decent, but for the money, I was looking for excellent. It was a little thin and ended up sludgy if you were the recipient of the last cup from the pot. I wouldn''t say it was down right weak, it was just unimpressive. This is also one of the loudest coffee makers that I have ever had. We just picked up the Cuisinart DDC-1150 and are hoping for better luck... but we are still missing our DeLonghi...

Save 35% Off