Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
For me, it's been a splendid little coffee maker, December 3, 2009
I really don't understand the complaints about this unit. I haven't had any of the problems reported by others. In fact, I've found it to be one of the most convenient gadgets in my kitchen. As the only coffee drinker in the house, I don't usually make more than 1-2 cups in the morning, and the "microbrew" setting is perfect for this. Even such a small batch comes out tasting just as good as coffee that is brewed on a larger scale. It slows down the water flow so the limited amount of water has a chance to soak up the flavor of the grounds. The two "to go" cups included with the unit are wonderful, and fit nicely even into the pull-out beverage holder of my little compact car. They don't splash when you're trying to drink a beverage on the road, and they keep the coffee at a nicely drinkable temperature for quite awhile (my commute is ~25 minutes and the coffee is still hot when I get to work). What surprised me was the carafe itself. I have just made the transition from glass to steel carafes, and I was surprised how hot the coffee stays in it. The lid has a little release button you need to press to get the coffee to pour while the carafe is tilted, which is great if you are filling up multiple cups.
A couple of caveats, though: this isn't your typical coffee maker. The mug vs. carafe design is great for flexibility but it does have its limitations. Because you can stand either the travel mugs or the carafe under the coffee drip, there is no warming plate underneath (lest the mugs melt...) Also, the unit is designed so that one or two mugs can be filled at the same time. There are two spouts placed about 3 inches apart, and they are not pressure sensitive, so whatever you are brewing into, you need to either wait until the pot is finished brewing before you can remove the container. There are no volume markings on the carafe, but on the inside of the coffee maker is a very easy-to-see plastic insert that has both cup markings and one or two little travel-mug-shaped symbols, so if you're brewing travel mugs you know exactly how much water to put in.
I wanted a coffee maker that could produce decent-tasting small batches of coffee, let me use my own grounds instead of those expensive prepackaged tubs, and give me the flexibility of making large amounts of coffee when I had company over. This little unit really delivers on all counts. I will say I had to play around a bit to figure out the right amount of coffee to use (2-3 T fresh grounds for each travel mug seems to fit the bill), but it did a great job once I figured out what strength I wanted.
I highly recommend this coffee maker.
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2.0 out of 5 stars
too much money for the quality you get, November 10, 2009
I find the coffeepot leaks when it pours. Wish I had read the reviews before I bought it. I also cannot for the life of me get it to set to program. I do like the stainless steel carafe, and the 2 travel mug features but mostly am unsatisfied with the quality of the product.
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2.0 out of 5 stars
Spils on poor, drips, eventually malfunctioned, July 15, 2009
Had this maker for a few months and had the same complaints as seen on other web sites. Its nearly impossible to pour from the container without it spilling. The coffee maker continues to drip a lot of coffee when you remove the pot after brewing. I unplugged the maker to move it and the display started going crazy. It has not returned to an operation state after cycling power several more times. So why do I even rate it a 2? It has a stainless steel pot that doesn't break in your hands when washing. Also important, is that you can get your hands into it. So many makers today have a small hole.
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