KRUPS KM7000, 10-Cup Grind-and-Brew Coffeemaker, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After my fifth Cuisinart Grind and Brew Coffee maker (3 different models) stopped functioning I decided on choosing a different brand. There were no reviews so I crossed my fingers and hoped that Krups worked out the kinks with this new model. I had to wait 2 months for the coffee maker as it was ordered before it was released and I am so happy to say that the 2 month wait was MORE THEN worth it!!
Pros:
Quality Construction:
This unit is sturdy and heavier then the other grind and brews that I have owned. It appears to be well constructed. The hinges on the water canister are plastic but I don't see them breaking off anytime in the future. The basket handle also feels light, but only time will tell with that part. Also the plastic top on the carafe feels "heavy duty" (all 5 of the lids on my previous coffee makers' carafes lost their connector pegs within a few months and I had to purchase replacements that did the same thing). The levers all appear sturdy and are easy to move. The levers all catch and hold on the first attempt as well.
Ease of Use:
Super easy to set up and program! I love the fact that there are not multiple pieces that need to be cleaned and then replaced before and after brewing. The aroma setting really does make a difference when making small batches (2-4 cups) of coffee!
Noise:
I was surprised how quite this machine is compared to the other grind and brews. The loud grinder of the coffee pot would wake me up before my alarm would go off on my previous pots and I slept right through this one!
Appearance:
The coffee maker looks like a quality piece of kitchen equipment. It is a bit bigger then I thought it would be, but its size gives it a presence on the counter. The LCD displays a ton of information and adds to it's "high tech" appearance.
Function:
Everything is contained! The way the machine is made allows for the grinds to go directly into the basket without them falling into the water reservoir! The other review mentions that they had grinds on the counter, but we did not experience this as we only had a few grains that were easily wiped off (ours is set to one dot before the biggest grind). We have not experience any jamming of the automatic lid - it closes by itself and functions properly.
Taste:
One of the best cups of coffee I have had in a long time! I love that you can program the strength of the coffee and after brewing a few test pots - we could easily see that this function really works and is not a gimmick! The coffee was the perfect temperature! The automatic shut off will shut the idle pot off after two hours, but I think you can just hit the "On" button to start the warmer plate up again (Not sure about this yet).
Clean Up:
If you have owned one of the multiple piece grind and brew machines you will love the ease of clean up on this one!!! Basically, you clean out the removable filter holder. The clear plastic that shoots the grounds into the filter basket is removable for cleaning, but it does not have to be removed and cleaned after each use! How cool is that!
Extras:
The water filter in the bottom of the coffee pot is a nice touch and I love that you can program the coffee maker to tell you when it is time to change it. The smile face on the the LCD display is just too cute!
I wish.....
I wish it stored more coffee then it does as I was hoping to avoid purchasing another coffee canister. You will still need to purchase or use an airtight canister. NOT a big deal at all!
I wish the clock was able to be programed in regular time (it is in military time). There may be a way to change this, but I have yet to figure it out. So for now, it is a 5 Star Coffee Maker for me! We have made 5 pots of coffee so far and all were consistent. I will come back and edit the review as time goes on if things change. Obviously after using the Cuisinart Grind and Brews for years the tiny flaws of this machine are easy to overlook! Right now I highly recommend this machine because of its appearance, ease of use, construction and wonderful tasting coffee!!!
***********************************************************************
UPDATE: After three months of perfect use the grinder stopped working. One morning it just wouldn't go on. I tried everything. I called Krups and they told me to ship it to one of their work centers and I should get a new one in two weeks.... it has been a month and I still do not have a coffee maker. I am so sad because this machine worked really REALLY well. Maybe my problem was a fluke. I hope anyway. I am very disappointed.


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Make the perfect cup of coffee in just minutes with this grind-and-brew 10-cup coffeemaker. The programmable unit features a conical burr grinder with automatic functionality--it grinds the coffee to match the number of cups and the strength chosen. Choose from five grind levels and three coffee-strength settings. The solid-steel burrs turn slowly to protect the flavor of the bean, providing optimal results in the cup. The unit offers 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, or 10-cup digital settings that control the coffee-water ratio, plus it provides a 2- to 4-cup aroma function for the proper brewing of small quantities. Even more, the brew basket lid closes automatically after grinding to prevent steam from reaching the coffee channel and grinder. Other highlights include an anti-drip valve for the pause-and-serve function, water filtration, automatic shut-off, a high-quality 10-cup glass carafe, and a backlit LCD with clock and programmable timer. The 1000-watt coffeemaker measures 11-1/2 by 11-1/8 by 15-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Hamilton Beach 80365 Custom Grind Hands-Free Coffee Grinder, Platinum Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I too read all the reviews... I spent several hours, so let me save you the trouble. This item is sturdy, washable, compact, and grinds beans for anywhere from 4-12 cups of coffee.
I use it for both my 2 cup french press and my percolator, when my mill & brew coffee maker, which I have two carafs and 3 baskets for, is busy. We really get into coffee here - I must have 10 varieties of beans in the freezer.
It also did a fabulous job grinding hazelnuts very fine for a cookie dough where the hazelnuts were, in effect, part of the flour.
I do love that the grinder basket and top can go in the dishwasher, and the little brush that is stowed on the back is a thoughtful and utilized addition.
The only drawback would be that if you are only making 2 cups of coffee and you want a course grind, you have to let the machine think you're making 8 cups, by moving the cup setting, as this machine is intended to grind beans for a minimum of 4 cups. When I make enough coffee for my percolator, I can get an intermediate course grind with no problem.
What sold me was this: After I read all the reviews I went to my local "megamart," found the grinders, opened up the boxes of the makes I wanted to compare, and I literally took things apart and put them back together.
Like another reviewer warned, stay away from those other grinders with the tiny (you can barely see them) plastic pins that engage the start button. Once those bits of plastic break off, you're SOL.
This is a very reasonably priced maker which I've had for 6 months. I love it so much, that for much of that time I've felt just a bit guilty that I hadn't yet praised this maker on Amazon. With that done - it's time to grind some beans. :) Enjoy.
PS: It looks very pretty/handsome on the counter.

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La Pavoni La Moka Burr Grinders Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Cheap, grinds adequately. The moniker "La Moka" should've clued me in that this was a mediocre manufacturer's lame attempt to make a coffee grinder sound hip or trendy.
It grinds fairly well, but the two-piece plastic hopper for the grounds is awkward and tends to fall apart easily, spraying grounds all over the counter and the machine itself.
Also the dial used to select coarseness can be confusing. 9 is for coarse, 1 is for fine, but there is a left arrow ( ) each pointing away from the number, so that if you move the dial all the way to the right, you think you're choosing FINE since the word fine is at the right, but in actuality you're choosing COARSE even though it's on the opposite side. The fine grind is pretty fine, but coarse really isn't, there doesn't seem to be much difference between coarse and fine with this grinder despite your selection.
I regret this purchase.

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Housed in durable ABS shock-resistant plastic, this grinder with steel burrs works great for producing freshly ground coffee. The unit provides a large 8-4/5-ounce bean hopper with a seal-tight lid, and its nine grind settings range from French press coarse to espresso fine. In addition, the unit automatically dials-in the exact amount of coffee required, from 2 to 12 cups, and adjusts to espresso, coarse, and drip settings. It also introduces beans to the grinding chamber a few at a time to ensure a consistent, even grind. Other highlights include an on/off switch with auto start, raised feet, and an ETL safety listing. It's not suitable, however, for Turkish grinds or lever machines. The 120-watt grinder measures 6 by 5 by 10 inches and carries a two-year warranty on the motor.

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Cuisinart CBM-18N Programmable Conical Burr Mill Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)**See July 18 update below.
Original Review:
I've been looking for a replacement to my "Lello 45800/3006 Ariete Burr Coffee Grinder" for at least a year. I've probably read a good portion of the reviews for every burr grinder sold by Amazon, and the combined reviews in general left much to be desired for every single one. Finally a few weeks ago I noticed this unit in my search results, and from what I could tell, it was a new release! There were no reviews at all at the time, so frankly there was nothing to dissuade me from purchasing this one. I couldn't even compare prices, because it seemed Amazon was the only one selling it at the time. In addition, the black/stainless styling matched my new coffee maker (Cuisinart DCC-1200 12-Cup Brew Central Coffeemaker). So I ordered it, received it today, and I just had my first cup of coffee using its coffee grinds.

I'm no expert on coffee. But I must say this is the easiest coffee grinder I have ever used. There is an LED display alongside a button allowing me to select number of cups. The LED display also shows the selected grind setting dialed on the hopper. First I pressed the button to select number of cups, then I adjusted the dial to select the grind setting. Finally, I pushed Start and let it go. I think the noise level is about half that of my previous grinder, but that's not saying much. The LED display counted down the seconds until completed. I was surprised by the amount of output, which seemed much greater than from my old grinder. But in retrospect I don't think this was due to this unit using more beans. I noticed when I poured the grinds into my coffee filter that the grinds were much looser than I'm accustomed to. I think my previous grinder had been compressing the grinds and there were always clumps. I did not notice any clumps in the output from this unit, and the grinds seemed very even and loose.
Now that I've used the grinder several times, I must say it does spill some grinds onto the base when I remove the bin unless I work the grinds out somehow. I now gently lift the entire unit about an inch off the counter and gently tap it down to release the remaining grinds into the bin. I then remove the bin and tap the lid of the bin a few times before removing the lid. This just minimizes mess and waste.
The grind setting of 6 seems perfect for the relatively dry beans I used this time, even though I used it for auto-drip coffee, not espresso. For oily beans such as Starbucks, 7 might be the optimum grind setting.
Two other differences between this grinder and my previous one were the lids, one for the hopper and one for the grinds bin. In both cases, the lids for this unit snap shut, whereas the ones for my previous unit just nestled precariously on top of the respective containers.
One curious note: there is no way to turn the LED off, which concerned me because it is very bright and I don't want the display to burn out and quit working any time soon. But I think this is why there is no switch: within the entire (tiny-but-informative) manual for this unit, there is only one sentence in all caps: "UNPLUG FROM OUTLET WHEN NOT IN USE...". So there we have it -- that is why there is no on/off switch; the manufacturer expects us to keep the unit unplugged when we aren't actively using it. In response to the other reviewer's comment on needing to reprogram the number of cups after plugging the unit back in, it takes about 4 or 5 seconds to cycle through the number of cups (the default is 12 cups) until the desired selection is displayed, an extremely minor issue.
In spite of it's brevity, the manual is very descriptive and I found it sufficient. It provides a very detailed set of instructions for cleaning. The bean hopper, hopper lid, grind chamber, and grind chamber lid are all dishwasher-proof (top shelf). Then it also provides instructions for removing and cleaning the burr unit.
A dual-purpose scoop/stiff brush is provided.
Regarding it's appearance, it actually looks even nicer in my opinion than my new coffee maker. The body has a sleek, brushed stainless steel appearance, and the blue LED is very attractive when it is on.
The grind chamber is not made of glass, but I live in a humid climate; dry air here is almost a luxury and I rarely have problems with static anyway. Problems with static are dealt with the same as with any other grinder. I personally minimize loose grinds spilling everywhere by the following method. First I remove the hopper lid, then I cover the top of the hopper with the filter (opened wide, placed top down), then I turn the filter/hopper over and place it into the cup, keeping hold of the hopper which is now upside down. Then I tap the bottom of the hopper and remove it from the filter. Finally, I remove the filter from the cup and place it in the appropriate area of the coffee machine. I do this on top of a full sized paper towel, and clean up merely involves folding up the paper towel afterwards to contain the few stray grinds. However this method probably only works well for me because I rarely make more than 4-5 cups of coffee at a time and I always use paper filters.
I didn't find cleaning the unit difficult at all. Dump the beans into another bowl, twist the hopper hard right twice until the arrows align and then lift up, lift up the burr sleeve using a combination of the handle and grasping the sides (if the handle pops off, just pop it back on), and brush, brush, brush. Then twist the sleeve back on, twist the hopper back on, clean up the mess, and you are back in business.
By the way, contrary to the product description, there is no true cord storage; but one can wrap the cord around knobs underside the base.
This product has a 3-year limited warranty.
UPDATE APRIL 30, 2010: I've had this unit for about 15 months and all of a sudden it started whining a high pitched noise and almost no grinds were coming out. I called customer service and they are going to ship me an entirely new unit -- they specified "NEW"; they only asked that I return the old unit in the same box the new one comes in, when I receive it. They said there is a 4.00 shipping charge but they waived it. At this moment I am very impressed with Cuisinart. They surprised me.
UPDATE JULY 18, 2010: The brand new (2-month old) replacement grinder is now doing the same thing my original one started doing after 15 months; after grinding for 14-cups, I'm lucky to get a tablespoon of grinds from this nearly new one. The grinder can work for 20 or more seconds without a single grind coming out, and then I hear it finally grab a bean and a few sparse grinds fall out. Getting enough grinds to make a cup of coffee really heats up the unit. Apparently this is going to happen to these grinders sooner or later. I had one that went bad "later", and one "sooner".
After considering my options, I decided to see if Cuisinart would honor their warranty yet again. Surprisingly, they did! This time they sent UPS to pick up the old (second) one and sent me a third one, brand new. I haven't yet used this third one, but even if it turns out to be as good as the first (lasting more than a year, the duration of my original warranty), I can no longer endorse this product. Even so, I can say this: Cuisinart does honor their warranties!

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Gaggia 16100 Evolution Home Espresso Cappuccino Machine, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After many happy (and dare I say, naive) years with our DeLonghi Caffe Espresso, it was time to replace our old workhorse. Having just spent the summer in Spain, where no bar is complete without the standard superautomatic Gaggia espresso maker, I decided that truly great espresso was a daily necessity. I was tired of incompetent teenagers / college students who work at local coffee shops mangling something as simple as a cappuccino (one part espresso, one part milk, one part foam) into a milk-drowned latte with no foam.
I wanted something in the range of $200, with a dependable track record and plenty of power to spare. I waded through a myriad of reviews for the Gaggia Carezza, hailed as a champion of its class, but read a number of negative reviews concerning design shortcomings.
Enter the Gaggia Evolution. Although the Gaggia Carezza and Evolution share the same innards, the Evolution boasts several improvements in design. With its 17.5 bar pump and high wattage, dual element boiler, the Gaggia Evolution is ready to brew in around 5-10 minutes (I always prime the boiler first).
Design improvements over the Carezza include: a larger drip tray, a cup warmer (although, as usual, it's more effective to preheat your cups by filling them with hot water, which can be done during priming), anti-vibration mounts (once primed, the Gaggia Evolution is nearly whisper-quiet), and a brass commercial portafilter (the spouts on the Carezza were changed to plastic). My Evolution came with the Perfect Crema device (which is supposed to go under the single filter basket in order to create additional pressure/allow a coarser grind), but having read numerous negative reviews of the ineffective device, I simply left it in the box with the packing material.
Five stars for the instruction manuals and CD-ROM: the Gaggia Evolution comes with not one, but two instruction manuals: one from the manufacturer (Gaggia), and one from the North American importer (Importika). The Importika manual is intuitive, easy to read and injected with coffee humor, although the Evolution is not among the Gaggia models listed in the Appendix. The included CD-ROM walks you through setup in the form of short movies and narration, along with more advanced tips and techniques for coffee connoisseurs. We put our laptop on the kitchen table and followed along after unpacking our new Gaggia (thankfully, nothing was broken in the mail, as happened to several Gaggia Carezza owners). Although the manual hinted that your first coffee might not be potable, we'd followed various tips online (prime your new machine several times to remove any residue and plastic-y taste), and our first espresso was laden with crema. The Turbo Frother attachment made the creamiest, densest microfoam I have ever seen-it looked more like meringue (hint: use skim milk for best results). My only complaint would be the cheapness of the included coffee scoop, and you definitely want to invest in a better tamp for maximum extraction (the Gaggia takes a 58 mm tamp at a recommended 30 pounds of pressure).
If you're not in the market to buy a $200-300 grinder (Rancilio Rocky or Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder) to go with your new Gaggia, Illy makes a delicious, dependable espresso grind, available in tins (decaf, too) or Pods. The Evolution is Pod-ready, simply use the single shot basket with the portafilter. Tip: "classic" double shots should take around 20-25 seconds to extract.
The Evolution is a steal for the current price, since it contains the same innards as other Gaggias in the $400-500 range. Although it runs around $50-100 more than the Carezza, I appreciated the design improvements, stylish lines (I have a Tuscan kitchen with hand-painted ceramics and terra cotta tiles and was afraid that the "modern" styling would stand out, but the Evolution is much more traditional-looking and unobtrusive than the Carezza), and performance. (Note: the Evolution is also available in an all-silver model, but it will set you back another $50. The black model features a black base and sides and a silver front and silver drip tray.)
Excellent for the espresso novice or connoisseur, easy to use and clean, and it makes better espresso than some $500-1,000 machines I've tried!


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Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill (CCM-16PC1) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Don't believe that ANY grinder in this price range will be the ultimate grinder for all your grinding needs. I read with amusement as some reviewers slammed this grinder for not grinding well enough to use with their espresso machines. I own this machine for use with my drip coffee maker only. I own a $500+ Mazzer Grinder for my espresso machine. The point being, that for the absolute consistent grind needed for use with espresso, you better be willing to step up significantly in price. That said, on to this grinder review.
Considering there are no decent blade grinders on the market - including those in the $25 price range, the best grinder to have is a burr grinder. Burr grinders do not create the heat that destroys the flavor of your beans and creates a more uniformed grind. Burr grinders do not produce the large "chunks" of beans in varying size that a blade grinder does. I have yet to see any missed "untouched" beans find their way past the burrs (as one reviewer claimed) and find that hard to believe, considering beans can only pass through the small space between the burrs and would thus be ground on their way through. You may get some bean smaller than your setting, but will not get anything larger than your setting.
As with any burr grinder under $200 this grinder does create some powder. It creates a lot of powder if you attempt to grind at its' finest setting (called Turkish Coffee). For drip coffee makers though, a mid-range toward coarse setting doesn't produce enough powder to be a concern when using paper filters in your coffee maker and a GOOD bean to start with. I sometimes wonder if the complaints of "bitterness" from some reviewers isn't a problem with their bean choice or their water temperature. As a drinker of 100% Kona in my drip maker, I have yet to taste a bitter cup of coffee, even with the less than a tsp. of powder that is present in my freshly ground coffee.
Noisy? Yes, but no more noisy than some and less noisy than most in this price range. A grinder of this size will create noise, but unless you plan on grinding 24/7 that is to be expected. My guests are actually enthralled by the noise and the ability to watch fresh beans meet their demise (I hang with a morbid crowd) as the beans slowly disappear down the hopper. The timer is a nice touch if noise is a concern. The fact that you can turn it on, leave the room and return in a minute or two (avoiding the noise) to find the unit automatically shut off should make those with sensitive hearing happy.
This grinder has a decent weight to it, making it feel sturdy on your countertop. The S/S body also gives the appearance of a well built machine and makes it more stylish than your standard black plastic neoprene models being produced by other manufacturers. This is a solid, sturdy, and well built machine for this price.
If there are complaints that you should be warned about, it is the age old problem of static cling caused by the use of plastic for the grounds receiver. Cuisinart should have used glass to receive the grounds. I would have gladly paid an extra $3 on the final price in order to avoid dealing with the static cling found in every machine that uses plastic for this purpose. The other is the clean-up, if you are as anal as I am about coffee equipment. Again, the static cling is annoying, but I keep a slim painters brush nearby for the purpose of brushing out the chute and receiver which makes the task quick and easy. It loses a star for the static cling issues, but I guess every grinder in this price range has the same problem because they use plastic.
Overall, for under $50 this is a very good machine for the price.

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Elegant SS styling

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