Model TFX20 This is the worst coffee maker I have ever owned.I will never buy a mr coffee product again. It doesn't just drip it leeks all the time when the pot is pulled away from the coffee maker Its a mess. It sweats,spits and is a horrible design. Even the buttons are all wrong. I can't take it back because I threw out my recipt,thats my fault, but I am not stuck with it. and I won't even give it away its so crappy. I will be their worst advertisement. There I vented!!!!!!!!! I even sent them this note
A french press is a great way to make truly superior coffee. It does have some issues, though. I have one on my sailboat, and it makes better coffee than any drip coffee I have ever tasted with the possible exception of the Chemex.
The downsides:
French Press requires you to boil water seperately, then time the brewing, then press the coffee. In other words, you won't have the convenience offered by many automatic drip units where you can load everything and set it to brew the next morning while you are in the shower.
Cleaning a french press properly after each use is critical to the quality of future coffee, and is a lot more labor intensive than the cleanup of an average automatic dripper. Even doing a bad job of it is harder!
Once you brew coffee in a french press, you MUST either serve it immediately, or immediately decant it into another carafe. If you leave coffee in the press, it continues to get stronger and stronger very quickly. You cannot keep it in the press for even a few minutes while you slurp the first cup.
I have never seen a french press that makes more than a very few mugs at a time. Brewing a second batch involves a LOT of work and time. My 8 cup bodum press does not make even half as much coffee as a 12 cup automatic. I qwould term it a "2 mugs plus a bit" size
All that said, you can buy a nice 8 cup Bodum press in most department stores for about $15. The coffee is makes is a real treat.
"Once you brew coffee in a french press, you MUST either serve it immediately, or immediately decant it into another carafe. If you leave coffee in the press, it continues to get stronger and stronger very quickly. You cannot keep it in the press for even a few minutes while you slurp the first cup. "
I leave mine in there for up to a couple hours. Then if I feel like a cup later, I reheat it. Yes, it is strong, but some of us like it that way. Ever hear of espresso?
No, you're wrong there. The worst is the new model Black & Decker SpaceSaver.
We've had one for years and loved it. But it wore out. So we got the new model (~$65).
It doesn't have a heating element for the pot; instead the pot is heavily insulated (about six pounds worth!). So insulated, in fact, that to get coffee to pour from the pot at a rate faster than one cup in ten minutes, you have to remove a 4" rubber O-ring from the screw-on lid.
The rectangular resevoir into which you put fresh water has its hole in the center 5.5 inches from the edge. The kitchen sink faucet extends a fullsome
4" from the edge of the sink. This design flaw can be overcome with a short length of rubber hose (not supplied).
On the earlier models, there existed a pair of LEDs to tell you the status of the damn thing, especially ON and AUTO. These lights have been replaced with an LCD display, dark grey on a light grey background. In 6-point type. Unreadable, except in bright light. Repeatedly mashing the "Auto" button doesn't help, because it's a toggle: 1 mash for on, 2 for off, 3 for on, 4 for off, etc. If you can't count, or get unsynchronized, you'll awake in the cold dawn with an empty pot waiting for you to do something.
Black & Decker DOES have a superior warranty procedure, though. We had the above pot for about two months. Then it's "on" cycle dropped to about two minutes - long enough to brew 1/2 pot (you can tell because the resevoir isn't empty). Called customer service, followed their procedures, and got a replacement unit at no charge. We've had the replacement about two months. It now fails in the exact same manner.
Not to worry, B&D's superior customer service is on the case, the "We get that a lot" division! A third pot is on the way to us as we speak. Can't wait. I intend to sell it on Ebay.
In the meantime, I'm soldiering on with a $9.95 Mr Coffee machine and a $3 timer from Walmart. Frankly, I can't tell the difference in the output.
We bought a Crups FM4 $98 POS. Read the reviews for coffee makers o at Amazon. I think we are entering the world of the VCR coffee maker buy the cheapest thing you can, so you wont feel bad when you toss, throw or take apart with a hammer.
If you like it, enjoy it. Espresso is not made by leaving the coffee on the grounds for a long time, it is made by using a very fine grind and a lot of it to get a strong flavor. Leaving it sit for a long time tends to make it better and acidic. If it suites your taste, continue to make it that way, but please don't confuse it with well made espresso.
And you pay electricity to keep that water hot 24/7.
Braun had a winner with their KF180, but they're gradually discontinuing it. We got lucky and got another after the first only lasted 9 years. Tried a fancy looking Melitta but the coffee sucked after Braun has spoiled us.
I've never liked any of those countertop coffeemakers. My old stovetop percolator is still makes the best coffee and dont require buying coffee filters and all the costly parts to repair those makers. AND the expense to replace them every year or two. My percolator is at least 25 years old and never cost me a cent in repairs, except a little vinegar to thoroughly clean it once or twice a year. Most modern technology is only there to make money, and is not making life any easier.
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