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Hamilton Beach 43254 Ensemble 12-Cup Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe, Black

March 11th, 2010
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Review

I don’t remember ever having so much trouble trying to find a quality coffee maker, nor having to buy one so often before the last few years. The things I need are pretty basic: no leaking when coffee is poured, a handle that doesn’t wobble, easy water fill, a way to tell how much water is in the reservoir, no coffee grounds in the pot and coffee that is hot when brewed. Perks are things like a timer and automatic shut-off. To me, that is what a coffee maker is supposed to do, and it amazes me that the manufacturers can’t seem to get this. Sometimes they break down after a year, or just start making a mess on the countertop. Sometimes they have all the bells and whistles, but coffee has to be microwaved to get it hot enough. And sometimes the perks are added to machines that don’t even have all the basics. If you’re sick of the lack of quality too, and are searching for the least awful coffee maker, then good news. The only thing I can’t attest to is how long this Hamilton Beach will last. All the requirements for a good machine are met in this model. The price is excellent and the style is great. The handle is substantial and the pour spout is flawless. Preparation is an ease and the coffee is rich and hot. It has the perks to make life easier, looks great on the counter and makes a wonderful pot of coffee. It took quite a bit of searching, so I hope I can save others some time. This is the one!

Feature

  • 12-cup coffeemaker with user-friendly control panel and digital display
  • Programmable clock/timer for “wake-up” coffee; brew-pause function
  • Glass carafe with stay-cool handle, measuring marks, and drip-free pour spout
  • Nonstick hot plate; 2-hour automatic shut-off for safety; easy-to-clean removable parts
  • Measures approximately 11 by 8 by 14 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Overview

Combine function and fashion with the Hamilton Beach 12 cup Classic Stainless Steel accented coffee maker. The coffee maker has accelerated brewing and chlorine removing water filter to enhance the taste of your morning beverage. The drip free carafe eliminates spills.

Specifications

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 11, 2010 11:21:38

Flapper Costumes Anodized Cookware Reviews

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Bodum 3004-586USA Mini Electric Santos, Orange

February 25th, 2010
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Review

I have had a mini-Bodum for about 5 years. It brews an excellent pot of coffee–although I find the measure spoon (1 measure per cup) is too strong for my taste–I use about 1/3 less. (I get the best results with Starbucks Verona coffee ground on no. 5 setting.)

Yes, the machine will break eventually–I had to replace the nylon filter after 4 years, and finally the rubber vacuum seal failed on the original pot, so I bought a new unit. Never had problems with the heating unit. But what do you expect? It’s made of plastic. For I can afford to replace the unit every 4-5 years.

Bottom line, its better than drip coffee, and a whole lot cheaper than buying an automatic espresso machine.

Feature

  • Unique, electric, vacuum brewing process
  • Built-in nylon filter provides better coffee
  • Brews 5 cups of coffee in 4 minutes
  • Easy to assemble and quick to clean
  • Measures 7-1/2 by 13 by 14 inches

Overview

Forget reading the paper at breakfast—watching the Santos Mini Electric 5-Cup Coffeemaker brew up your morning java is much more entertaining. During the unique 4-min. vacuum brewing process, water is heated in the jug and the resulting steam forces water up through the riser tube and into the funnel. The water mixes with the grounds, and is gently heated to develop the coffee’s full aroma and flavor. Features an auto shutoff and a built-in nylon filter for fresher-tasting coffee. Constructed of durable polycarbonate, the machine is simple to assemble and quick to clean. 1200 watts. Imported. 10-1/4Hx6-1/2Wx9L”.

Specifications

Many products are touted for their uniqueness, or how they’re revolutionizing this or that, but few live up the hype. Bodum’s Santos coffeemaker is different, as it really is unlike other coffeemakers on the market. First off, it uses an electric vacuum brewing process, and secondly it lets you watch the whole thing. Fill the jug with cold filtered water, and place it on the power base. Then twist the funnel onto the jug. Next, add fresh coffee (a handy scoop is included) to the funnel and press the start button. As the water heats up to boiling, the vacuum created between the two parts moves water up the funnel, where the hot water and coffee mix together. Once the correct brewing time has elapsed, the heat turns off and the coffee drains back into the carafe through a nylon filter (nylon doesn’t affect the taste of the coffee like paper filters).

In this system, coffee and hot water mingle for the optimum time, providing the best-tasting coffee possible. The process takes around 4 minutes for up to 5 cups of coffee. The jug and the funnel are both made of sturdy polycarbonate, and the funnel is dishwasher-safe. (Clean the jug by hand, as it’s not submersible.) Neither the bottom of the jug nor the top of the power base gets hot during brewing, because the heating element is in the middle of the jug’s base.

There are a couple of things to remember when using the electric Santos. Always use fresh coffee, ground medium, for best results (stay away from using coffee from a can or powdered coffee), and use one level scoop of ground coffee per cup. So, for a full 5-cup pot, you’ll use 5 scoops. After testing, if the coffee is too strong, begin tapering off the number of scoops. Also, remember that there will always be a small amount of water left in the coffee pot during the brewing process. This is a normal safety feature.

When cleaning the Santos, don’t scrub the nylon filter clean–it should be rinsed under warm water. The coffee grounds from the upper section can be scooped out into the garbage can or compost using a common kitchen spatula. Then, simply wash the top section with dish soap and warm water. Also rinse the coffee pot with warm water as soon as you are finished drinking coffee. After rinsing, leave the lid open and let the coffee pot air dry. Every so often, clean the pot with a basic de-liming agent.

The original 12-cup Santos won a prestigious gold Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA) in the consumer products division. Award-winners are selected by the Industrial Designers Society of America. There were 1,260 entries from around the world in the contest, and only 44 gold awards were given. –A.J. Rathbun

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Feb 24, 2010 18:21:53

Mini Skirt

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