Hamilton Beach 42116 3-in-1 Hot-Beverage Center, Black and Brushed Metal Review

I wanted a coffee maker that would: a) make one cup at a time; b) allow me to use my own coffee (and not expensive pre-packaged "cups" or "pods"); c) be reasonably priced; d) not take up a lot of counter space. The Hamilton Beach Hot Beverage Center fits these criteria perfectly, although there are a few things I don't like.

The first problem I encountered was the power cord--it's too short, only about 1.5'. Because of the way my kitchen is laid out I have to use an extension cord, which bothers me because I worry about spilled liquid. This thing seems big enough that they could have made the cord longer and incorporated a way to store extra cord in the base.

I don't like the permanent filter. The first cup of coffee I made had a layer of mud at the bottom. To be fair this is not a problem with this machine, but with permanent filters in general. I bought some Melitta #1 paper filters and use one inside the permanent filter, which works great. This has the added benefit of making cleanup easier between cups.

It says that you can use coffee pods, and since I had some left over from my previous machine I tried it but was unhappy with the results. The coffee was too weak. The pod sits in the bottom of the permanent filter and I think a lot of the water flows out of the side of the filter without going through the pod. There is an included pod holder, but that's only used if you want to use two pods at once. If what you want is a coffee maker that uses pods, look elsewhere.

Incidentally, if you buy one and can't find the pod holder, it's hiding in the base of the cup rest. (It would be nice if the manual told you this.)

These problems aside, overall I am quite pleased with this machine. The coffee tastes great. There's no carafe to clean. The spout is high enough to handle those tall travel mugs, and the pull-out platform lets you use smaller cups without splashing. I spent an extra $5 and got the brushed metal version, which looks great. This could be a 5-star machine if they just improved a few things.

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Product Description:
From fresh-brewed coffee to tea and hot chocolate, this single-serve three-in-one hot-beverage center makes them all--directly into the cup and in less than two minutes per cup. The versatile unit can drip-brew coffee grounds or coffee pods, steep tea bags or leaves, and make hot water for instant hot chocolate, cereal, and soups. It can even make iced tea and coffee. Configured to offer the ultimate in flexibility, the appliance accommodates any size travel mug, cup, or bowl, and its two-level cup stand reduces splatter. The unit also comes equipped with a removable 14-ounce water reservoir, which slides out like a drawer and offers measurement marks for easy filling at the sink. Providing added convenience, its compact design takes up minimal space on the counter--great for the home office, college dorm, or for anyone short on kitchen space. Other highlights include a stainless permanent filter with a built-in pod adaptor, automatic shut-off after brewing, and dishwasher-safe parts for quick cleanup. The hot-beverage center measures 8 by 7-1/2 by 12 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

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Black & Decker GT300 Home Café Coffeemaker, Black Review

UPDATE AFTER A YEAR (1/2/06): I have been using this coffee maker for a year now.No problems with the machine.It has performed flawlessly.I follow the maintenance schedule which basically entails running a 50/50 white vinegar/water solution through the maker roughly every 30 cups.This is to prevent scale build-up.I didn't do it every 30 cups.I've run over 200 cups of coffee through this and have done the maintenance 3 times.

The primary reason I prefer this maker over the Senseo maker is the fact that it was almost designed for my Black and Decker 14 oz travel mug which fits nicely underneath; the Senseo is too short.

I have narrowed my preferences for coffee down to the Senseo brand of coffee.The medium roast is my favorite.

For those people who did not like this coffee maker because of a plastic taste in there coffee, I can say that 2 things could cause this:

1. Leaving water in the plastic water tank for an extended period of time.I always use fresh cold water straight from the water filter.

2. Make sure you are using a fresh coffee pod or pods (for 14 oz mugs).Reusing a pod, or trying to use just one pod for 14oz will water down the taste considerably.

ORIGINAL REVIEW (12/28/05): Received this for Christmas from my wife.I upgraded from a B&D "Brew N' Go" single serve coffeemaker, and can use the same travel mug with the Home Cafe.The main reason my wife chose the B&D over the Senseo was the fact that my travel mug fits easily in the B&D model.I understand this particular model is a redesign of another B&D model which received horrible reviews.In my opinion it's always a good thing to get the "2nd generation" as all the bugs have been worked out.

I am impressed with the ease of use, including how fast it makes a cup of coffee, and how easily it cleans up.I also prefer the taste of the coffee over my old maker.The coffeemaker itself is not too big, and the water reservoir holds enough water to last me a couple days.

If you're like me, you need more than just a cup of coffee in the morning, you have to have a GOOD cup of coffee.At some point I'll know which pods I like best as there are a number of different pod brands out there.The manual says only to use Folgers or Millstone brand (don't like the taste of either), but from what I've read elsewhere it doesn't make a difference which brand you use as long as the pods are the correct size.

The cheapest pods I've found online are the Senseo brand which run roughly 20 cents per pod.Ultimately you weigh taste with price, and you decide which is more important.

Overall I am very happy with the B&D Home Cafe.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Black & Decker GT300 Home Café Coffeemaker, Black

Product Description:
Enjoy the convenience of having the corner coffee shop in your own kitchen.Home Cafe brews 7, 9 and 14 ounce beverages as well as creamy specialty coffees and a variety of teas in one minute.The removable cup booster / drip tray minimizes spatters and is easy to clean.

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Toastess TFC-1T One Cup Coffee Maker with 8oz. Bonus Mug, White Review

This was the worst item I have ever bought. The very first time I used it, I had a hard time pressing the button to the On position. When I finally got it to go to On position the switch burned out and smoked.

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Product Description:
Perfect for home or office use, this single-cup coffeemaker quickly brews a delicious cup of coffee. Brew directly into a favorite mug--most will fit inside the compartment--or brew into the mug that comes included. The unit fits a variety of mug sizes and comes with an extra base to fit large mugs. In addition to making coffee, the coffeemaker also produces hot water for tea, hot cocoa, instant soups, and more. Other highlights include an illuminated "on/off" switch and a permanent nylon filter. The coffeemaker measures 5-2/7 by 6 by 8-2/7 inches and carries a two-year limited warranty.

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Keurig Single Serve Gourmet Coffee & Tea Brewing System Review

I have just purchased a Keurig Model B66 "Ultimate" and tried it out within the hour. My first opinions on this model are:

On a negative note... I found that the sound is noticeable when the unit is pumping the water into its heater. The individual K-Cup coffee containers while convenient, are costly per cup.

On the positive side... I drink black coffee and I feel that this unit does heat the water to a sufficient temperature and brews a drinkable cup of coffee very quickly. Another plus... Keurig also offers a solution for the "costly per cup servings" in that it sells a reusable coffee filter as an accessory. (This filter will permit you to use your own coffee which relates to a much lower cost per cup.)

My biggest regret about purchasing this particular model is that I didn't notice that the largest cup this unit brews is only ten (well 9.25) ounces... and not the twelve ounce mug size that I consider to be "my" standard size cup. In all fairness I can't find fault with Keurig for that because it clearly states the cup brewing size right on the back of the box.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Keurig Single Serve Gourmet Coffee & Tea Brewing System

Product Description:
The gourmet Keurig® Ultra B66 single serve coffee system offers easy one-touch brewing with two brewing sizes, an advanced programmable LCD control center, 24-hour digital clock and removable drip tray. Includes a bonus pack of 72 K-Cups® variety pack plus one My K-Cup reuseable filters. Each K-Cup is sealed air-tight for freshness and is available in over 150 varieties of name brand gourmet coffee and teas to meet the most demanding taste profiles. All coffees available are 100% Arabaca beans. Includes Variety Bonus Pack: 18 K-Cup Variety Pack Additional K-Cup bonus pack includes: 18-pack: Green Mountain Nantucket Blend 18-pack: Tully's French Roast 18-pack: Caribou Blend 18-pack:Newman's Own Organic My K-cup Reuseable Coffee Filter: allows you to use your own ground coffee Features: Color: Silver/Black Patented microprocessor controlled technology Removable 48oz. Water Reservoir w/ blue light Programmable LCD control center w/ blue backlight 24-hour digital clock Programmable on/off 1-touch brewing:3 sizes 5.25 oz. brew 7.25 oz. brew 9.25 oz. brew Chrome handle Removable Drip Tray Power: 1500 watts Voltage: 120VAC/60HZ UL / c-UL approved for household use only Includes: My K-cup Reuseable Coffee Filter: allows you to use your own ground coffee, 18 K-Cup variety pack + 72 K-Cup bonus pack (90 total K-Cups included) Dimensions: 13"H x 10"W x 13.25"D Weight: 12 lbs. empty; 15 lbs. full 1 year limited warranty Made in China

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Bunn My Cafe Pourover Commercial-Grade Pod Brewer Review

I have been using this new BUNN My cafe for several weeks and I really like it.It keeps the water hot all the time so when your ready to make a cup of coffee or tea it's ready instantly. My wife likes tea and I drink coffee so the tea setting works great for her and the unit comes with two Pod holders so we make one for coffee and the other Tea. It's and expensive unit but really has a commercial quality look and feel.I would recommend this to the busy family always on the GO!!

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Product Description:
A morning cup of French Roast for the commute to work, an afternoon pick-me-up Earl Grey, or an evening lavender infusion are all easy to prepare with Bunn�s MCP My Caf� Pourover commercial-grade pod brewer. Compatible with a wide variety of tea and coffee pods or tea bags, the unit fast-brews a cup of coffee in about 30 seconds and tea in about 50 seconds using Bunn�s patented �time, temperature, and turbulence� philosophy for optimal flavor extraction. It also has a removable easy-fill 46-ounce water reservoir and accepts many styles of 4- to 12-ounce cups and mugs. Simple controls on the front panel make operation a cinch, and the modern black and silver design looks clean and professional in the kitchen. Two-year limited warranty. Happy brewing!

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Hamilton Beach 42115 3-in-1 Hot-Beverage Center, Black Review

This is replacing a 4 cup Melitta coffeemaker (couldn't find a replacement carafe that would fit the brewer, which sat atop the pot).
This appealed to me in that this product has the following good features:

1) no pot/carafe to crack or clean
2) no waste (since you didn't have to brew 1-3 cups to get 1 decent sized mug + waste)
3) no hot plate/pot to turn off - nothing to worry about if you started a brew and then were unexpectedly called away or forgot about it
4) no paper filters required (but see below)
5) looks interesting - doesn't look like a coffee maker, takes up less space on counter, easier to keep clean.

I read some reviews - good and bad- and decided to get it anyway. AM SO GLAD I DID- I REALLY LIKE THIS THING!

Reasons:1)-4) above, plus:
5) water resevoir + filter assembly is dishwasher safe (top rack)
6) capability of using pods (I wasn't about to buy an expensive 'pod-processor', so this is a very nice 'perk' - pun intended! ;o)

Very easy- load it up, walk away, come back to beverage.Lovely!

Some tips to head off any/all problems-

1) Read the manual.Hey, things happen, but really - use COLD WATER ONLY.

2) If brewing multiple cups- WAIT AT LEAST 30 SECS after light goes off before starting another brew.To be safe, I wait a full minute- have not had any problems.

3) I could see the potential for 'filter fouling', so I buy generic #4 Melitta filters (huge pack can be bought for <$2/pk) (& since #1s are almost impossible to find/expensive).I cut them down to fit the little filter basket, and I can go back n forth from tea to coffee to hot cocoa to soup without carryover effects (dump out coffee & rinse assembly after coffee).
4) Be careful with pushing down on plastic parts- again- read the manual. You might have to double-check to be sure that the water resevoir is pushed in all the way some times (it happened to me once).Use the handle/flap assembly to open/close the filter assembly - this is covered in the manual.

I agree- it would be nice if this were made more robustly (less plastic), and I do worry about the ability to get a replacement brew basket if need be. But I paid less than $20 for this (at Meijer), so can't complain.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hamilton Beach 42115 3-in-1 Hot-Beverage Center, Black

Product Description:
From fresh-brewed coffee to tea and hot chocolate, this single-serve three-in-one hot-beverage center makes them all--directly into the cup and in less than two minutes per cup. The versatile unit can drip-brew coffee grounds or coffee pods, steep tea bags or leaves, and make hot water for instant hot chocolate, cereal, and soups. It can even make iced tea and coffee. Configured to offer the ultimate in flexibility, the appliance accommodates any size travel mug, cup, or bowl, and its two-level cup stand reduces splatter. The unit also comes equipped with a removable 14-ounce water reservoir, which slides out like a drawer and offers measurement marks for easy filling at the sink. Providing added convenience, its compact design takes up minimal space on the counter--great for the home office, college dorm, or for anyone short on kitchen space. Other highlights include a stainless permanent filter with a built-in pod adaptor, automatic shut-off after brewing, and dishwasher-safe parts for quick cleanup. The hot-beverage center measures 8 by 7-1/2 by 12 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

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Toastess TFC-2T 450-Watt Personal-Size Coffeemaker with Thermal Travel Mug Review

Do you live alone? Are you the only coffee drinker in the house? Do large portions of your coffee go down the drain? Then this is perfect. I gave it a 4 because I really do not like the mug, but that is another thing, you can use any mug. Measure the water with the alternate mug, pour it in, put the coffee in the little wire basket and flip it on. You have coffee in about 5 minutes. Great of office, dorm rooms, bachelors/ettes and lonely guys like me!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Toastess TFC-2T 450-Watt Personal-Size Coffeemaker with Thermal Travel Mug

Product Description:
Perfect for people on the go, this 450-watt single-cup personal coffeemaker quickly brews a delicious cup of coffee. Its permanent nylon coffee filter means no more time or money spent dealing with disposable filters. And in addition to making coffee, the unit also produces hot water for tea, hot cocoa, instant soups, and more. Other highlights include an "on/off" indicator light and an easy-to-clean design. The unit brews coffee directly into the included 14-ounce thermal travel mug, which fits in most car cup holders and provides a snap-tight lid to help prevent spills. The coffeemaker measures 5 by 7-2/5 by 10-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewers Review

Ordered this new Bosch Tassimo machine on-line directly from Tassimo.Same price as Amazon at $139.99.www.tassimo.com. We have been using it for about a week now and I absolutely love it!We had used the Braun Tassimo machine for about 5 years and the new Bosch has much improved the Tassimo coffee maker.Here's a list of the Improvements:
1.It's narrower and doesn't take up as much counter space
2.There is a power button on the front of the machine so you can easily turn it off at night.
3.There is essentially no water warm-up time.It is almost instant after you insert the T-disc and push the green button.
4.It is extemely quiet.
5.It even makes the coffee a little stronger than the old machine did.
6.It does not collect waste water that you have to empty all the time.Only the few drops of coffee that don't make it into your cup are collected.
7.Much better filtering system. It also has a change filter indicator to tell you when its time to change the filter.
8.Higher construction quality, more solid feel to the machine.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewers

Product Description:
Better brewing by design, Tassimo is a brewing system unlike any other. Remarkable in its ability to offer an exceptional combination of quality, convenience, consistency and versatility. Only tassimo offers a choice of coffee, cappuccinos and lattes made.

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