KRUPS KM8105, 12-Cup Die-Cast Programmable Coffeemaker Review

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(More customer reviews)Had I read these reviews before buying this coffee maker, I would have stayed away ..... far away. But it looked good in the store, so I went for it. The dripping carafe is the biggest problem. It's really bad. So I called Customer Support (1-800-526-5377) and I must say they were accommodating (must be getting a lot of calls on this one, or they're simply blowing me off!). They took my name and address and said they would ship a redesigned replacement carafe when they become available at the end of December (apparently the carafe's are in the process of being manufactured). I'll wait and see. I like the look and feel of the machine and the coffee is fine, it just makes a mess when you pour.
They did ask if I had the receipt and if I had the machine in front of me (yes on the receipt, no on the machine as I'm at work). However, they did not ask that I fax anything, unlike other reports I've read. So for now, I'll pour over the sink and hope they keep their word.
My one concern is in regards to a company that would actually manufacture and market a product that is obviously poorly designed to the point of being defective. Makes you wonder about the quality control for the rest of the unit. But if you own one of these, and can't or don't want to return it, call Customer Support, ask for a new and improved carafe, and keep your fingers crossed.
Update Dec 18, 2009:
True to their word, my new carafe arrived yesterday. Basically, they widened the spout and removed the baffle. Works perfectly. I'm pleased with the quick response, as I really want to like this machine. No other complaints, although the 2 stage timer advertised on the box would have been a nice addition, especially at this price. So I'm revising my rating from 1 star to 4. If you own one with the old style carafe, call customer service at the number above. The concern someone else mentioned about the removable tank eventually leaking is a possibility, I guess. Time will tell. In the meantime, I'm OK with it.

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Not only a sleek-looking addition to any kitchen counter, this commercial-quality coffeemaker also brews up to 12 cups of great-tasting coffee. The appliance features a durable die-cast metal body with a powerful 1100-watt heating system for reaching optimal brewing temperatures between 195 to 205 degrees F--great for extracting all the flavor without the bitterness. The unit's front-loading coffee drawer opens with a pull of the soft-touch handle and closes with a magnetic safety lock, offering easy access to the removable brew basket inside. It also provides a removable water tank with an integrated folding handle for easy transport to the sink for filling. Best of all, its large LCD screen provides an oversized angled display with soft-touch buttons for simple programming. Set the appliance to automatically brew and wake-up to a fresh pot of coffee; its adjustable keep-warm mode allows for keeping coffee hot for one, two, or three hours before shutting off automatically. A 12-cup glass carafe comes included, complete with a stay-cool handle and drip-free pour spout. Other highlights include a water-filtration system for superior coffee flavor, an electronic descaling indicator, and an anti-drip system that prevents coffee from flowing with the drawer open during the brewing cycle. The coffee machine measures 8-1/2 by 8-3/4 by 13-1/4 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Chef's Choice 695 Electric French Press, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I have purchased (and agrily returned) four of these products. The reason I've been angry is the same as the rest of the reviewers....great product which makes great coffee but leaks! I finally removed the glass container from the unit, cleaned off the cheap silicone that they use to seal it to the heating element, and re-sealed it with a high-temp gasket maker that I purchased from a auto parts store. NO MORE LEAKING!!! If Chef's Choice would simply use a better silicone sealer, this product would fly off the shelves. I've been using my new and improved press for 6 months now with no problems.

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French press or plunge pot coffeemakers have gained popularity with the recent interest in gourmet coffee and coffee products. Fans of this brewing method insist it results in a richer, less bitter, flavor than the typical electric coffeemaker. Many however were somewhat put off by the idea of pouring boiling water into a glass pot. This convenient machine boils the water right in the pot. All you do is add coffee when the water's the correct temperature and insert the plunger when brewing is done. In addition to its brewing virtues, this pot has a decidedly elegant European presence at table.

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Krups Precision 12 Cup Coffee Maker Review

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(More customer reviews)Krups KM4065 12-Cup Stainless-Steel Coffeemaker
This review is for the Krups KM 4065 coffeemaker. I believe this is the first of a new line of coffeemakers designed Bjorn Dahlstrom. At the moment, this coffeemaker is not on the Krups website and there is little information available on the web. I've only had it for a couple of days so here are my initial thoughts.
Pros:
1. Looks fantastic
2. Seems reasonably well built and the top door opens and closes smoothly
3. This has a different water gauge from the FM series and it works well and is easy to read (no bubbles).
4. I've filled the reservoir from both a Brita pitcher and from the included carafe without spillage. (That said the fill area is at the back near the door hinge)
5. Uses #4 Filters
6. Makes a great cup of coffee
7. The included carafe pours well
Cons:
1. Pricey for a unit without a thermal carafe
2. Programming is non-intuitive and a little frustrating
3. Manual could be a lot better
4. Like most stainless steel appliances, fingerprints may be an issue if you are not careful
5. Durability of main button to open top lid remains to be determined
6. Carafe seems a little light and the cover flimsy
Overall, I am very pleased with this beautiful coffeemaker. It looks like the design changes have addressed the water gauge issue with the FM series and so far I've had no leaks. The carafe works well so coffee spillage is not a problem and most importantly my initial experience is that this machine makes good coffee.
I have deducted one star due to the fact I've only had it 2 days and can't attest to the long-term durability of the unit and it is a little pricey compared to competing units.


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With its sleek black housing and stainless-steel accents, this 12-cup coffeemaker not only looks great on the counter, but it also provides an array of convenient features. Enjoy easy reading and programming thanks to its uniquely angled upward-facing control panel and LCD screen. In addition, dual auto-on presets make it possible to wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee before work in the morning, as well as at a later time when sleeping in on the weekends. A 12-cup glass carafe comes included, complete with a stay-cool handle and drip-free spout for graceful serving. Other highlights include an aroma selection for brewing smaller batches; an oversized showerhead for improved extraction; a push-button, soft-open lid and auto-lift brew basket; DuoFilter water filtration, and automatic shut-off for safety. The coffeemaker measures approximately 9 by 7-4/5 by 12-4/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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DeLonghi EC140B Espresso and Cappuccino Maker Review

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(More customer reviews)I owned the maker for a while. It's far better than many of the Krups and other models typically for sale at department stores. If you want an espresso, you'll need a pump machine. Many cheap machines will say "steam driven" or otherwise have "steam" in the title: what this means is that they lack a pump and merely use steam pressure to get now overly superheated water to flow through the fine espresso grinds. (By the way, "espresso" is, for all intents and purposes, a grind, not a roast. It is a very fine powdery grind, just shy of Turkish grind.) This results in charred burnt espresso, with little or no crema.
This DeLonghi, by contrast, does a fine little job of pumping. In addition, it uses a small stainless steel boiler -- not a superheated "thermoblock" [which means the water is run over a heating coil, not heated within a boiler].
That said, the only way to get an espresso, meaning a coffee drink in which properly heated water is compressed through a powdery grind of freshly roasted beans, and thus producing a chemical reaction which releases a frothy caramel colored liquid (called "crema"), is by using a very good grinder to produce a very fine, even grind. This machine, when coupled with a Gaggia MDF or Rancilio Rocky, or at the most economical, an Innova Lux or Solis Maestro Plus, and beans roasted within two weeks prior, can produce good espresso.
As to cappuccino, the machine does a fine job for the price in steaming milk. In order to do this, though, you must "temperature surf" the thermostat. What this means is that you steam while the boiler is heating. It's simple: start steaming your milk and you'll find that the steam power will run out in about 15 seconds. At that time the light for the boiler will come on, indicating the boiler is engaged. Instead of closing the steam valve and waiting for the light to go off, just close the steam valve for a few seconds, and then open it again, as you continue steaming the milk with the light still on (and hence the boiler still heating). This will give adequate steaming power.
I don't believe you can really get a better espresso or cappuccino maker for under $150. If you want to go for a huge step up, consider buying a Gaggia Carreza. It's worth the extra money.

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Delonghi Espresso/Cappuccino Maker with patented "sempre crema" filter holder. Used with ground espresso, this unique filter mixes air into the brewing process to produce a perfect crema. Distinguished by its caramel color, the crema is the seesnce of authentic espresso.

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Farberware Percolators Review

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(More customer reviews)I've happilly enjoyed Farberware's larger 20-cup electric percolator that is still brewing some wonderful coffee after 10 years. All I had to replace was the electric cord, which petered out after 3 years.
I've had this model for a few months and think that it will also last a long, long time (don't know about the cord, though). This machine looks terrifically retro, is easy to clean and keeps the coffee consistenly hot for hours. After tasting coffee here, you won't go back to your old drip machine.
My advice to you is:
1. Don't overfill the basket with grinds, because it's very easy to make a STRONG cup of coffee with this. We like strong coffee, so this is a good thing.
2. Clean it w/soap & water as soon as you are finished with it to protect the pot. I also clean it out with Dip-It every 6 weeks or so to remove the coffee stains from the inside and make it shiny and new-looking.
3. At most supermarkts you can buy little paper disc filters that sit in the bottom of the jar and keep the smaller grinds from falling into the water. It also filters out alleged carcinogens that are not removed by traditional percolators or coffee presses.
I would actually give this 4.5 stars, because sadly, these newer models are now made in China rather than the Farberware factory in the Bronx.

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With a durable stainless steel construction, the FCP240 percolator carries a detachable power cord and cool-to-the-touch handle and base that allows you to bring from the kitchen counter to you table. Provides simplicity to the consumer through a 1-step brewing process, Automatic Keep Warm Mode and detachable Power Cord. Delivers on durability with its sturdy stainless steel construction

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Nespresso D290 Concept Espresso and Coffeemaker Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had 3 of the Nespresso 150 coffee machines for about 5 years divided between my offices and home, which have worked splendidly. Finally the gaskets are starting to harden, and water is starting to leak, and one or two could use cleaning. The 150s are fine and I'll still use one at home, but I just got a fire-truck red D290 for the office. However, after using the 290 for a couple of weeks, I may have to get another for home.
Aside from the shock of paying so much for a coffee machine, I couldn't be more pleased. I rationalize that with three shots of espresso per day, after two years at work (~600 cups), the pod and maker together are just $1 a shot. Similar logic "paid off" for my old 150s, and saved oodles of time in line at coffee shops.
The espresso is very good (at fifty cents per capsule), the capsule delivery is easy and quick ordering from the web page, and the brewing is easy even before I've had my morning caffeine. Plus it looks cool and the lever and buttons all have a solid feel.
My advice - order the special coffees, which show up about twice a year, they taste the best. The spiced flavors are a bit of an acquired taste. Some of the blends are 95% arabica + 5% robusta beans, others are 100% arabica. Look into it if you're a purist who disdains even traces of robusta.
Read the manual, it just takes ten minutes. Put it where it can be admired, and lock it down, and prepare to be asked for an espresso by your friends often.
[7/8/08 - 500 cups of coffee, no problems.]
[9/1/10 - another 1000 or so. No problems yet, still working like a charm.]
[4 year mark - 1/2011 - something is failing. The machine is tossing out less and less espresso, and when I re-press the bottom, the next increment of espresso is not hot. Likely it's fixable, but I replaced it with a Nespresso Essenza C101, rather than mess around. I think I'll use the hulking D290 as a prop, next to the lamp that's not plugged in in my outer office.]

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Briel ES62AF L'Expresso Automatic Cadiz Espresso Machine Review

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(More customer reviews)After searching long and hard (and reading countless reviews) I decided upon this machine because of 1)price and 2)looks. This machine replaced an old Krups steam driven machine. I've now had it about a month. Here are my thoughts: 1)There is a learning curve - I had to adjust my burr grinder to get the correct setting, or adjust how hard I tamped, or else I found the liquid coming out around the edge of the filter holder. So,I suggest first buying good quality preground espresso, and get used to tamping it properly (ie. very lightly!). Then, after mastering the tamp, adjust your grinder so you get a grind that approaches what you bought (I used Illy). I found a 5.5 on my Braun grinder works best. Since then I've had no problem and perfect espressos. (the machine seems to work better with time). 2) It drips - no matter what they say it drips. If it didn't drip they wouldn't have a drip pan. It takes a rinse and its clean - no big deal. I have a sponge I use just for the machine to wipe up drips, etc. (also use a toothbrush periodically to clean the brew head). I don't want to turn anyone off; making espresso is messy and will always be unless you pop for the $1000 machines that do everything. 3)I don't have much use for the automatic serving system (the middle dial). Supposedly you can use it to control the amount of water, but I find it varies considerably between shots. I set it to the highest setting and then just turn the brew button on until my shot glass is full and then hit it again to turn it off. Takes around 25 seconds. In all, those are the problems I found - and they aren't biggies. For the price, I'm willing to deal with them as I don't think any of the other machines at a similar price would offer much difference. I'd definitely buy it again.

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Briel Cadiz Auto Espresso Maker ES62 A FB Coffee Brewer

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Remanufactured Jura-Capresso 13185 Impressa F7 Automatic Espresso Machine, Black and Silver Review

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(More customer reviews)We purchased a refurbished Jura F7 several years ago from Amazon; it has been making wonderful coffee ever since with no issues. You can find much cheaper cleaning tablets than the Jura brand.

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