Customer Reviews

Zojirushi Gourmet Duet Dual-Mug Personal Coffeemaker, Black

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I originally gave this coffeemaker only an average rating... but I've come to understand it better and totally love it. Perhaps I can make up for my doubts by showing you how well it works when you have gotten to know it... far better than the others.

Preface: The lids on the mugs are updated and have air holes that open and close, so the other reviews that complain about that are out of date. There is no problem drinking through the lids.

1. This machine makes exquisite coffee ONLY if you start with good coffee in the first place. If you dump in preground store name coffee that is bulked up with innert fillers, you will have a very average cup of coffee. But if you grind good beans and brew properly, you'll have as good a cup of coffee as the very best machines can make... for considerably less bother and less expense.

2. Cleaning of this machine is simpler than any other. The coffee only touches the little funnel where you put in the filter and ground coffee... it lifts right out with a little handle, rinses easily, then falls right back into place with a nice detent that lets you know it's home.
I live in the country and have a lot of minerals in my water. They build up in everything, pipes, faucets, water heater, showerhead... and coffeemaker. All it takes to remove them is a cup of vinegar every few months. You know when the Zojirushi is having problem because it stops measuring the water properly and you get less than a cup at a time. Simple to see, easy to remedy.
Outside cleanup is very easy because there are no grooves or corners, wipe it and you're done.

3. Speaking of measuring water, most machines bubble out all of the water you put in. This one gives you exactly one cup of water or two cups of water. It measures them for you. So there's no worries about how much water you need to put into the machine. Adding water is very easy, unlike some of the other single or double cup machines.
The only caution here is that it's possible to put in too much water, in which case it will run out the back of the machine. I guess that would happen with any coffeemaker, but since you usually dump it in with the coffeepot in the old type, it's not a big deal. With this machine you fill it to a mark inside... with the cup or with a pitcher or a water bottle. With me, the only reason it's a problem is that I don't see well in the morning and coffee comes before thought for me... meaning I fill it blind quite often. Solved the problem to some extent by keeping the coffee machine in a little oval tray, which at least contains my silly spillage.

4. The coffee mugs work well and keep the coffee warm for quite some time if you put the lid on. Closing the slide between sips helps even more. Originally I brewed the coffee without the lid and found that if I took too long to retrieve it, sometimes it was cool already... of course because the heat escapes through the top! Keep the lid on and this is not a problem. But of course, you need to remember to open the slide when brewing!...hah! Otherwise once again you have a mess. Another good reason for the oval tray.

I'm sure there are more secrets I've forgotten. You'll learn them quickly if you buy one. Main point here is that if you're single or even a couple, this machine makes fast, easy and delicious coffee for a low price. Keep an open mind, learn it's quirks and you'll never be sorry you bought it. It's well worth the original price and it's a steal at the discounted Amazon price. Go for it!

You really can't drink coffee from the mugs which come with this coffeemaker, unless the lids are off the mug... a definite design defect which defeats the purpose of a travel mug. It is a very simple oversight: there is no "vent" hole in the mug's lid, so that coffee barely dribbles out of the sipping hole, even when the mug is full, and even if you tilt the mug as high as if you were drinking the last drops from the bottom of the mug. It is a very frustrating experience. Please also consider that the two cups may not fill up evenly as the coffee brews; one may slightly overflow while the other mug is not full. Then there is the instruction book. The English is fine, but does it really make sense to instruct the user to heat up the mugs first with hot water, and then to instruct the user to measure cold water into the same mug to fill the reservoir? Of course, the user can figure his way around that, but the only way to use these mugs would be to drill an extra pinhole in each mug's lid for venting, or just use the mug around the house, without the lid. The mug is comfortable to hold, but the thermal value is not too good, even when preheated with boiling water. I regret having made this purchase.

I'm glad I received my Zojirushi Gourmet Duet Dual-Mug Personal Coffeemaker before I read some of the reviews. My husband and I used ours for the first time yesterday morning and the coffee was fantastic. I have a big 12 cup coffee maker that I may never use again. As a coffee purist, I like my java fresh. I'm a sipper so by time I finish my mug a regular pot of coffee will have been sitting on the warmer for 30 minutes or longer. With the Zojirushi I can make another fresh mug in hardly any time. I have used the 2 cup and 1 cup feature and it worked perfectly. As far as lid problems, I have had none. My lids don't have a slide that closes. Following the instruction I warmed the stainless steel mugs with hot water before using. The coffee stayed hot for a very long time-over and hour. It only has the one drinking hole(no little air hole) but have had no problems; no leaks and comes out easily. It is important to align the lid up correctly on the mug so that it fits snugly.
I have to add that I received my "Z" as an incentive from BOCA JAVA. I am very impressed with the coffeemaker and the coffee.

I read the other reviews on this product before I purchased it; in particular the complaints about the mugs and the 1-cup feature. On the 1-cup feature: fear not, this maker does indeed dispense a full single serving, not the 8-ounces that one reviewer described. I'm not sure what he was drinking, but it wasn't fine coffee. The mugs could use a larger opening, but that is a quibble. This thing performs beautifully and is easy to operate. Four little Melitta spoons per cup (they are 16 oz after all) and the coffee comes out great. I think the stainless mugs themselves are practically worth the price of the machine. I'm a Zojirushi fan, and this product confirms my belief that this company simply makes great stuff.

We just got our Zojirushi Gourmet Duet Dual-Mug Personal Coffeemaker this weekend. We used Boca Java blended coffees and our well water (we live in the boondocks). The directions were simple to understand. The amount of coffee that fills the cups was perfect. We used regular #2 filters (not the unbleached kind). I was stoked! This is a great cup of coffee! We have used $400 coffee makers that didn't perform like this. I definitely recommend this!

A few times it worked great, but mostly it brewed uneven. I'm not being a nitpicker here... Literally one cup would overflow and the other would be 3 inches below the brim. There was no pattern to it, sometimes it was the left one, sometimes the right one, sometimes neither. Filling the reservoir and seeing where the water level falls is challenging... don't mess up because there are holes in the back and the water will pour right out the back and all over your counter! It only took two days before I realized this was not worth the money or the time.

The lid is unusable, the thermos effect is not effective and there seems to be no permanent filter available. Paper filters are passe and they should consider having a mesh filter available.
The brewer does make a good cup of coffee and it is very hot if used immediately.

I just received my Zojirushi Duel Coffeemaker and it lives up to my expectation. It distributes coffee evenly into both cups and the cups are great for home or travel. I was very surprised at the great cup of coffee this machine makes. I would purchase again. GREAT LITTLE COFFEE MAKER!!!

pros:
1. no mess or leak like my proctor silex
2. uses less coffee than my same style melitta for a significantly better cup of coffee. 3 heaping tsp for this machine, 4 for the Melitta.
3. smaller footprint means more counter space for other things.

cons:
1. i wish it had a brew to carafe option. that would have made it absolutely perfect.

This coffee maker really surprised me with its excellent quality and taste. Easy to set up for 2 quick cups of coffee. Really glad I purchased this before they were gone.