Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful.
The Pinto of cheap coffee makers
By Muzzlehatch
Anybody old enough to remember the problems with the Ford Pinto? Supposedly if you hit the car in a rear-end collision it was very easy to rupture the gas tank and cause a deadly fire. Not really a good thing to happen on a car....Well, I'm sure the deficiencies on this coffee maker aren't going to kill anyone or cause any explosions, but they merit serious consideration before you even think about buying one - no matter how inexpensive it might be. Problems include:the carafe's top doesn't come off easily at all, making cleaning difficult;the filter basket is an odd size, so neither #2 or #4 filters fit perfectly; I had a #4 gold permanent filter which I thought would fit, but it didn't, and #2 is far too small;the machine is set to turn off automatically after 2 hours, probably OK for most but not for me - you can easily hit the button to warm it again though, so this is not a giant issue;and most damaging, because of the way in which the filter basket is loose in its holder, it's a challenge to get it set exactly right, and there's no way that I've found to be absolutely sure that you've got it fitting correctly. If you don't manage to do so, the carafe won't fit exactly right underneath, and it will block most of the dripping, causing the filter basket to overflow and 2/3 of the coffee to be wasted pouring onto your counter! This is where the Pinto comparison is relevant, in case you hadn't guessed...Those MAJOR issues aside, the machine does make pretty decent coffee, better actually than the last Krups I had (which of course is no longer made), and I haven't had issues with the carafe dripping as others have complained about. So it's not QUITE worthless - but there are probably several better coffee makers out there that aren't any more expensive and are much better designed.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
best cheap cone coffee maker I have had
By Milkweed
I'm usually a Krupps/Braun fan but after my husband developed a knack of breaking the carafe and those brands being very pricey, one night, after yet another carafe breakage, I found this one and bought it for "immediate emergency" use at a K-mart. I thought it would be cheesy junk but it was only going to be temporary. Well, I've had it for over a year now and still going strong. It brews just as well as any Braun or Krupps I've ever had. I prefer a simple basic coffee maker that has an auto shut off, pour-while-brewing function and must be cone not basket. This model fits the bill and at a bargain-basement price - The first one I bought was 16.99 - and has been surprisingly durable. I'm buying another as an extra to keep on hand for the next carafe incident. I could just get a carafe I suppose but I've seldom had a coffee maker that lived more than 3 years so I will just by the whole thing - at this price and free shipping it is not an issue.By the way, YES you do need to make sure you push down on the filter basket so it is properly seated in the machine. Just make sure you align the tab correctly and gently press down on the basket so it "seats" properly. You can feel it when this is done correctly. If it is not done correctly the top lid for the whole coffee maker won't close correctly either - it will be difficult to snap the top shut so you will know the basket is not fully set down. I have had no overflow problem with mine. The instruction booklet that comes with the coffee maker clearly explains this but I guess a lot of people don't bother to read it.Also with regard to all the people complaining about the carafe dripping - um, how old are you all? Have you not owned coffee makers during the past 3 decades? The trick is to pour slowly with these things. Drippy carafes are a given in my experience, the expensive Brauns and Krupps have all done this and also Mr. Coffee. You just need to have a gentle tilt on them and not try to pour too fast.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Save your money...
By Gretchen
Bought this on sale at Sears, very disappointed. First of all the carafe top will not come off unless you force it off and if you do, the pieces that hold it in place break off - the tiny nubs that go into the handle. Hamilton Beach did send me a new lid. The poor design of the carafe spout guarantees you will drip with every cup you pour, no matter what you do. Also when you fill the water reservoir you will spill if you use the carafe. Don't bother with this model. Very, very messy to use.
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Marvelous Coffee Maker
Works well but not great quality.
