Review of Zojirushi CD-WBC30 Micom Electric 3-Liter Water Boiler and Warmer

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $142.00
Sale Price: $108.29
Today's Bonus: 24% Off

My old Zojirushi water boiler conked out after 8 years of regular use, so I ordered the CD-WBC30. Features have gotten better in 8 years: the LCD display shows the temperature, and I have 4 thermostat settings instead of two. I used to have to choose between 208 degrees (too hot) and 140 degrees (too cold). I can now also select 195 degrees and 175 degrees. The 175 degree setting is just fine for instant coffee and oatmeal. I've used this boiler for two months without problems.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This is my second Zojirushi hot water pot. The first one is still going strong after years of use my daughter stole it and took it to college! The best thing about having a hot water pot is the instant availability of nearly-boiling water. I use it for tea, coffee (I make drip coffee through a single-cup filter) instant oatmeal, cup noodles, etc. It is much more efficient than using the microwave or stovetop.

The inside of the pot is easy to clean it has a Teflon-like coating. Any mineral build-up comes right off if the cleaning directions are followed to the letter. There are three choices for the "ready" sound silent, three dings, or a little melody. There are four temp settings and a timer it is nice to fill the pot and have boiling water ready when I get up in the morning.

I would not have any other brand of hot water pot, and I would NOT want to go back to heating everything in the microwave.

Best Deals on Zojirushi CD-WBC30 Micom Electric 3-Liter Water Boiler and Warmer

The 3 liter Zorjirushi is exactly what I wanted and I've been very happy with it. It heats and then holds 3 liters of water at your choice of 4 temperatures: 208 F, 195 F, 175 F, or 140 F. Whenever you want to make a cup of tea, you simply place your cup under the outlet and then press the button. Hot water is electrically pumped out in a nice controled stream. It's designed to hold water at a temperature so that you can quickly make tea, but it's not designed to heat one or two cups of water as quickly as a microwave. If you want a quick water boiler, that isn't the intent of the Zorjirushi. If you have a little counter space that you can leave the unit on all day, then you will always have perfect temperature tea water available instantly.

Any time you add water, whether it's just to top off after you've made a cup or it it is a complete fill, the Zojirushi will heat the water all the way to boiling for about a minute before letting it cool back to your temperature setting. The manual said this was to remove chlorine, but it is also a way to ensure pure water in case some users don't dump their water every day like I do. Originally, I would have liked to have the option to skip the boiling step when I was just topping off my water, but now I agree there's good reasons to have it. The only time any steam or humidity comes out of the top of the unit is for about 1 minute while it boils. I pull the unit out from under the cabinets when it's going to boil or else the steam makes the bottom of the cabinets damp. After the boiling is done, I slide the unit back under the cabinets and everything stays completely dry for the rest of the day. I really like the delay timer that allows you to fill the unit before you go to bed and not have it heat up until just before you get up. It probably takes about 15 minutes to completely heat a full load of water to boiling and then have it cool back to 195 F where I leave it.

Honest reviews on Zojirushi CD-WBC30 Micom Electric 3-Liter Water Boiler and Warmer

Having had good experiences with other Zojirushi products, such as their bread and coffee makers, I decided to try this in my new office. While my old office had a kitchen, my new one doesn't so a water pot seemed to be a good solution.

Filling the pot with water is fairly easy, although the pot may prove a bit heavy to some when full. The directions aren't clear on this, but the lid does come off easily. Emptying the pot is easy as well. Emptying the pot at the end of each day is a good idea to keep down lime build up.

The water level indicator on the front of the pot is a bit hard to read at first. At least it doesn't have some sort of floating ball that can become stuck.

The pot has some sort of timer that I haven't quite figured out yet. It seems to be a timer to turn on, but a automatic off timer would be more useful.

The pot allows different temperature settings. But what the pot does is bring the water up to a boil and then somehow lowers it back down to the set temperature. Timewise, this makes for a counter-intuitive estimation of how much time it will take. You would think that a lower temperature would be quicker, but the opposite is true. The pot certainly does take longer to reach any temperature as compared to my electric Bodum pot, but not so much longer as to be a real bother. I save time in the long run by just having the water ready throughout the day.

As noted, the water is first brought to a boil. That was a concern as it may result in flat or lifeless water. However, the water tasted just fine. I'm using it exclusively for tea, mostly oolong and green. Tea, more than coffee, can reflect bad water but the tea doesn't taste any different than tea out of my regular electric pot.

The water temperatures are geared to tea, with the proper temperature for white, green, oolong and black tea. There is a setting for 205 degrees, a good temperature for coffee, but I haven't used it.

Speaking of coffee, there are two dispensing methods. One is to dispense at a normal (but by no means gushing) rate. The other is a slow dispense that I imagine would be great for drip coffee.

The thing is a bit noisier than I would have expected. When it reaches it first boil you can hear it. Thereafter, it is quiet. There's also a chime to tell you when it is set at the desired temperature.

The power cord is normal at the plug but is different at the pot. It has some sort of short plugs and a magnet. This makes it very easy to unplug when filling or not in use (there's no power switch, you just unplug it). In some situation, say on a busy kitchen counter, the plug may be knocked undone easily.

Clean up should be easy. The pot is fully open at the top and the lid comes off. There is some sort of small wire filter on the bottom that is easily struck when wiping out the pot and could become dislodged. The manual warns of this.

As may be seen in the photo, the dispensing nozzle is far enough away to fill a fairly large teapot. The entire unit swivels on the base. The exterior of the pot does not heat up appreciably and appears to be well insulated.

The only reason I knocked it down a star is that I don't see why it can't simply bring up the water to the desired temperature without having to come to a full boil first. While I didn't note any taste differences, it does add time unnecessarily.

September 2010 update: I've now been using this for over two months. Great product.

No funny smells. A light calcium scale deposit appeared soon after the first use but did not get appreciably heavier after that. I just cleaned it for the first time with a lime cleaner from the local grocery store.

The timer works well but I wish it had a longer time. The 10 hour limit does not enable me to set it when leaving work unless I want it to start at 3 a.m.

I loved it so much, I bought a second one for home.

August 2011 update: Been a year now with two of these units. No problems whatsoever. Lime does build up some on the inside but cleans up easily with some coffee machine cleaner juice from the grocery store. Use the cleaning cycle. I clean them every month or two, just to keep ahead of the build up. It helps to pull out the wire filter every week or so and give that a rinse. I do notice that the home unit builds up lime a bit quicker than the office. At home we use filtered water but at the office we have a service bring in water.

I probably just got used to the noise, but I really don't notice it any more, as noted in my original review.

Very good value.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Zojirushi CD-WBC30 Micom Electric 3-Liter Water Boiler and Warmer

I've used Zojirushi products all my life, rice cooker, water boiler, thermal lunch boxes, pressure cooker you name it. Ask any member of my family, the first thing they can tell you is that these machines are well made and they last!

I had to replace my 8 year old smaller 2L Zojirushi model because 1. it was 8 years old and the plastic inside started to deteriorate 2. 2L is too small for us, we make tea almost daily in the winter 3. when I moved, the shipping company banged it up real good so I need an upgrade

We picked this particular one for a couple of reasons.

Appearance: We like the simple champagne color without all the tacky flowers, would be better if it came in the sleek gray color, but this actually looks quite nice on the countertop and is not too gold

Functionality: As with any Zojirushi product, this does not disappoint. Easy release / dispense button prevents "accidental" leakage / pouring especially if you have young children. 4 different digital temperature control selection allows you to adjust (and hold) your water temperature as needed. We use it for tea, but imagine it'd be pretty convenient for a person who needs to make baby formula, coffee, instant noodles etc. etc.

Reliability: It's Zojirushi!

The price could be a bit steep for some, but considering the number of years you'll get out of this machine, it really is not that bad.

Tip on maintenance: save your money on the "cleansing tablets". Every month or so, I cut up a lemon, fill the machine with water, let it boil with the lemon and sit for about an hour. It smells nice, it's natural, and removes any deposits without problem!

ENJOY!

Best DeLonghi TCH7090ER Safeheat 24 In. Ceramic Tower Heater with Remote Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $98.00
Sale Price: $64.99
Today's Bonus: 34% Off

This heater is an excellent buy. There is really only two heat output settings. The "third" setting is the "econo" setting and really uses the two different heat settings based on temperature difference between the setting and the room. The fan is not to loud and not too quiet. It is perfect for background noise for sleeping. The safety cutoff switch when the unit tips over works just as described when I tested it. The displayed temperatue setting and other lights are fairly bright and bothered my wife when while we slept. I put a couple of layers of translucent tape over it and it took care of that problem. The stand does not have adjustable height. Ceramic heaters are also safer because their elements do not get glowing hot like most heating elements. When this is combined with the safety cutout, it is much safer than the older style units.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I purchased two of these units. One for a home office that is approximately 10 x 12 with 9 foot ceiling and the other one to be used in various other rooms of the house as needed. For the unit in the office, it is the perfect size and does a great job of keeping the room warm. I like the fact that the unit does not get hot to the touch if accidentally touched and that is is fairly quiet. It does have an "Econ" button on it which changes the fan speed from low to high as needed, a nice touch. It has a big bright display that is easy to read from anywhere in the room. Also comes with a handy remote control, not necessary, but a nice to have.

I did try the other unit in our family room which is a large 15 x 17 with 15 foot ceiling and the unit really did not warm the room at all, which I didn't expect it would. So know the limitations of the unit. Even still, in the big room the heater did take a slight chill out of the room, but not enough to justify it running non-stop for several hours.

The unit has a sleek modern design and does not take up much space. I'm really happy with the units.

Best Deals on DeLonghi TCH7090ER Safeheat 24 In. Ceramic Tower Heater with Remote

Like every other DeLonghi heater I've owned (2 or 3), this one worked great, until it suddenly decided not to! With this particular model the fan just quit working, but the heater still heats up! I'm afraid it is going to catch fire! I've never had a DeLonghi heater last a full year. I'll never buy another one!

Honest reviews on DeLonghi TCH7090ER Safeheat 24 In. Ceramic Tower Heater with Remote

Michigan: We have an 1800sq ft house with a very open floor plan with central heat that works great except for our closed-off master bed/bath/closet that occupies about 400sq ft and there is a 10 degree difference in there on cold days. We insulated the attic to R60 and had foam injected into the walls, but it actually made my bedroom colder since the heat isn't running constantly now that we have proper insulation. The HVAC guy wanted to sell me on zoning, which is very expensive. So I bought this little heater to see if maybe that would work. It does, and it works great! I have it set up on our dresser, and I just set it to "ECO" mode at 70 degrees. It kicks on only when it needs to, and oscillates warm air around the room. It is very quiet and makes less noise than my tower fan does on low. I'm not sure how it would do if you were heating a room with no supplemental heat, but it works great for making up the difference to get my bedroom on par with the rest of the house. No more cold noses and cold feet at night! It doesn't take up a lot of room and it looks quite attractive. I am quite happy with this solution.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for DeLonghi TCH7090ER Safeheat 24 In. Ceramic Tower Heater with Remote

NEW FOUR STAR REVIEW (OLD 2 STAR REVIEW IS SHOWN BELOW):

I upgraded this product from 2 stars to 4 stars. I now like this product. I moved the location of this product away from the house heating vent (my husband had placed it in the corner near the house heater vent). Customer service also recommended that I unplug the unit to 'reset' it so now I turn it off and unplug it after each use. I have also had great temperature success using the ECO mode instead of the Level 1 mode. I set the device to 67 degrees, ECO mode, and oscillate and it keeps the room in a range between 65F-70F (when set at 67F). This range is acceptable to me. The oscillate mode still makes a slight clicking, but seems to smooth out after it has been in use for awhile. In any case, it does not seem to bother my daughter. Now I'm sleeping much better.

OLD TWO STAR REVIEW:

The first week, this product seemed to work nicely. I had it set to 68F and it seemed to come on and shut off with a +/3 degrees max difference from the setting (I have my own thermostat in the room). This week (week #2), I woke up at 4am and noticed that the temperature in my daughters room was 72 and the heater was still going (I had it set at 67F that night). Last night I was awake almost all night monitoring the temperature. I do not have confidence in the thermostat setting on the heater because it seems to not shut off even after the room is over 3 degrees from the setting (or even +5 degrees as I found out when it was set at 67F and the room was already at a hot 72F and the heater was still going). My daughters room isn't that big and I have a thermometer set on the opposite end of her room. Also, when the heater is on oscillate, it makes a slight clicking sound. The heater fan by itself is quiet. Another minus is that there is no confirmation light to show you if you've got the heater in oscillate mode. Sometimes I think I've got it on oscillate (by pressing the button), but when I check later, the heater is on without oscillating. There is no way to know if you've pressed the oscillate mode On or Off (no light for that). I would like to return this unit.

Discount Dimplex CKHA20D31 Fan-Forced 1800-Watt Kick Space Heater, Black

Customer Ratings:

I have had 2 units. The first one I had for about 5 years but never used it, was too expensive to run the electric heat. We had a tenant move into the house and they used it regularily for about 4 years. The fan in the unit broke and began to char the cabinet wood (this was placed under our kitchen sink) The safety mechanism did not work to shut off the heat. We thought that perhaps the unit being 5+ years old, it was just worn out. Amazon.com had the Dimplex model, I knew it would fit so we reordered the same model.

We replaced the unit and within 3 days the fan broke, again charring the cabinet wood. I have tried to contact customer service at Dimplex and the waits are over an hour on the phone. Email doesnt work either. I submitted an online request on Dec 22now is Jan 26th and I still have not heard back. Extremely annoying!! Not sure what is more annoying.. my tenant bugging me to have this fixed or Dimplex's wait time.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I purchased this heater on the recommendation of a neighbor. My bathroom remodel isn't finished yet so I can't comment on it's functionality, although they love theirs and I expect to feel the same. The only issue is that I thought I was ordering white, what with the word "White" in the description and all. What I received was black. Bummer.

Best Deals on Dimplex CKHA20D31 Fan-Forced 1800-Watt Kick Space Heater, Black

My daughter needed a little more heat in her living room and had an unused fireplace so I investigated these. Right off the bat there are a lot of idiotic places that don't think listing the dimensions is important but how else can you fit one to an existing fireplace? Finally I found one that would fit! Almost all of these fireplace inserts have the exact same BTU's which is just barely enough to do anything in a chilly room. A screw came out of the inside of it shortly after I installed it. The flames are hard to see, also! Nothing like the ones in their pictures! So do not expect a good heater that glows like a real fireplace!

Cheap 51.5" Folding Screen

Customer Ratings:

I ordered this item because it was lauded as better and heavier duty than others on Amazon that look very similar. It was more than twice the price. When it came, it had come apart in the box and we almost threw away small parts. We found them and my husband put it back together, but it keeps coming apart and now we've lost a screw that is what holds one of the sides on, because it was black and tiny and got swept up with the ashes. It's much lighter than I expected and my husband is going to have to spend considerable time figuring out how to repair it in some way that it will stay together. I would NOT recommend this product. I also ordered several other Minuteman Int. items and have been disappointed with them as well. They're lightweight and cheap--but cost more than most other brands. It came with a bright gold "Made in China" sticker. It lived up to the stereotype of cheap imitation crap. Sorry for the language, but it's a fact. I know that some quality products are imported from China, but this one is one of the reasons for the negative stereotype.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This screen is exactly what we wanted. It also PERFECTLY matches the fireplace tools we purchased previoulsy. These items should be paired together!

Review of Dimplex BLF50 50-Inch Synergy Linear Wall Mount Electric Fireplace

Customer Ratings:

We absolutely love this fireplace. It is very modern, yet traditional. We have a smaller family room and did not want to be blasted out of the room by a gas fireplace.

This is just perfect. It throws just enough heat to warm things up. I love that I can run it flame only, also. It was very easy to flush mount in our existing wall. We did hire a friend to help with the installation, especially the electrical wiring.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

We saw this fireplace at a neighbor's house while looking for an electric fireplace for our home. We liked the look and the fact the blower for the heater directed the heat horizontally versus vertically. For an electric fireplace the flames are about as realistic as you can get; not quite as natural as a gas flame but close enough. We like it and it adds a nice touch to our family room.

Best Deals on Dimplex BLF50 50-Inch Synergy Linear Wall Mount Electric Fireplace

I saw this fireplace in a house for sale featured on the New York Times and had to have it, and now I do.

I bought it with a best offer on eBay for $900 shipped. My boyfriend thought that was *rhymes with started.*

It is gorgeous. It doesn't stick out of the wall too far (while an in-wall mounting would be preferable I settled for on the wall). I love looking at it.

As for functionality, I appreciate that in the summer, I will be able to run this fireplace for show, but without heat. As for the heater part... My apartment building is old, and poorly maintained, and therefore not energy efficient, which is why I needed some sort of space heater, and opted for this one. That said, I'm grateful it hasn't been too cold in Boston yet... When it does get colder (like tomorrow), I'm worried that this thing just isn't going to cut it. My room is 12'x18' with a 13' ceiling. The loft bed in my room does benefit from the heat being 8' up, but the lower level doesn't quite benefit enough. I see no reason to run it on low heat always high.

I don't understand why you either have to switch to remote or manual, but can't do both... But I really like having a remote.

Conclusion: good for show, less so for heat (very glad I didn't pay full price which, while searching for this one at a more affordable price, seems to average $1,400 new).

Honest reviews on Dimplex BLF50 50-Inch Synergy Linear Wall Mount Electric Fireplace

This product is fantastic. It's everything it says and more. The flames are so real! It will also take the chill off of our big family room. It runs quietly too. I am so happy I found this product on Amazon. I've looked for months after having our huge corner brick fireplace removed. I am so pleased with Dimplex. Please, don't be afraid to buy this product. You will not be disappointed.

I hired a professional contractor to install it. It only took about an hour.

The electric fireplace was here before the scheduled date.

I love my Dimplex!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Dimplex BLF50 50-Inch Synergy Linear Wall Mount Electric Fireplace

I wasn't sure on these fireplaces and it was a lot of money for an electric FP. I have to say we are more then happy with our purchase. They are beautiful and better then expected. Everyone comments on them and how cool they are. We were going to do propane but for a fraction of the price found these and thought we would try them. It was so easy to install and we love the look so much we ordered two. We bought one for our living room and one for our bedroom. We are so happy with this choice.

Koldfront AP12000S-KF Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Review

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $599.00
Sale Price: $399.00
Today's Bonus: 33% Off

I'm on my 3rd season with this unit.

1. Its way more powerful than my GE portable. Keeps the LR cool when the GE would not.

2. This unit, though powerful, is very poorly made.

Example:

All four wheels broke off the first season (my season is June-Aug)

The unit emits a "burnt tire" smell. finally stopped smelling in the 3rd season. Friends are no longer asking, "what's that smell?"

The digital lights went out at the start of the 2nd season, so no warranty to fix.

The directional blades fell off the machine during the second season. Can not be repaired.

The exhaust hose lasted only one season, then fell apart, even though properly stored ($29 + s/h for replacement)

To all those who see nothing but good ratings at the Compact Appl site: They refuse to post any of the real negative stuff. They fix the comment section to reflect only good reviews of 4 stars and more. Not too ethical, no?

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Do not buy this item or any item from this company. The product was broken right out of the box. If you buy something them and it works, you're lucky. If it does not, good luck getting any kind of customer service for repair.

Best Deals on Koldfront AP12000S-KF Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air

I purchased this air conditioner from another site. We've had it for one day and it is going back. The first problem is the stupid window kit. It is thin and flimsy. The other problem is that the window kit does not fit flush in the window. There is about a half-inch difference between the extension and the window. Plan on using some duct tape to close the gap. The next problem was the first day it arrived it was 80 degrees but the lowest the unit would cool the room down to was about 74 degrees even though it was programmed for 65 degrees. Our old unit was only 6,000 BTU's and it kept our room really cool for 5 summers so I do not believe this unit is really 12,000 BTU's. I left the unit on overnight because the exhaust opening on the window plate is little more than the kind of plastic grates you see on milk crates. They supply a plastic cover but it takes a bit of force to twist it off. As I mentioned earlier, the window kit plate isn't the sturdiest so I was worried if I used too much force it might fall out the window. The final straw came the next day when the unit shut off because we had to drain out the water. This is crazy how often would it need to drain on 90 degree days? I am so happy I purchased this unit early enough to return it before it gets too hot. BUYER BEWARE THIS PRODUCT IS JUNK!

Honest reviews on Koldfront AP12000S-KF Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air

Compact Appliance sent me a piece of junk (Portable air conditioner EdgeStar model # AP1200S). It kept tripping the breaker and the one time when it did run for 3 hours it never cooled the room. Compact Appliance told me to contact EdgeStar then EdgeStar said to contact Compact Appliance. It is very frustrating to deal with these two Companies. No one wants their piece of junk portable air conditioner back.

The return policy with Compact Appliance is horrible Compact Appliance makes you pay for shipping back to them no matter what. There is no satisfaction guaranteed even though they say there is on their website.

The manufacture warranty through Edge Star is also horrible. They make you pay for shipping on the extremely heavy portable air conditioner to an EdgeStar authorized repair facility (wherever that isas it does not say on the warranty).

I find it hard to believe that there are so many great reviews on this air conditioner on the Compact Appliance website. The Amazon reviews are not as good.

It is very frustrating when you are looking forward to getting cool air after you paid a lot of money to Compact Appliance and took time carrying it up the stairs and unpacking and installing it and still not having cool air. Then having Compact Appliance and EdgeStar blame each other and you is even crazier. It has been a very upsetting two weeks. It is not worth buying from them.

I am happy to report that I purchased a Sharp portable air conditioner at Costco and it is working beautifully. If for some reason it stops working (even 5 years down the road) I can take it back to Costco and get me money back instantly. Costco is a company that does guarantee satisfaction unlike Compact Appliance.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Koldfront AP12000S-KF Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air

live in the Northeast, not a big air conditioning area, few weeks in the summer. first thought the room was to big (15 x 25) but for curiosity sake placed in a 8 x10 bath...never moved the thermostat after running for three hours. Spent $271 at S ears for a 12000 btu window unit works like a pro. Expensive lesson in air conditioning. Best advice...buy a window unit

Reviews of USB Heated Shawl and Lap Blanket - Blue Color

Customer Ratings:

This product worked great at first. It doesn't get as hot as a traditional heated blanket, but it does heat.

After about 6 weeks, it just stopped working. I still use it to sit on, but it no longer heats.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This thing barely heats up at all and it is way too small. Don't waste your time or money on it!

Best Deals on USB Heated Shawl and Lap Blanket - Blue Color

This blanket is a decent size to go across your lap or shoulders. There is a button to use for your shoulders to keep it on. It has two USB ports, one for low and two for high. However, low doesn't seem to work too well and two gets is warm, but not very much. Its okay if you don't want something too hot, so it works for me.

Honest reviews on USB Heated Shawl and Lap Blanket - Blue Color

The blanket does not really get warm. It is barely warmer than a conventional blanket -and sometimes I think that the warmth is only in my imagination. The USB cord is not very long, even with an extension. Every time I move my chair it pulls and I have to disentangle it many times a day. It is pretty with a fluffy cover (navy) and the size is nice.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for USB Heated Shawl and Lap Blanket - Blue Color

I was hoping for this to be warm but it is not. It is warm in some spots but not throughout the blanket. Our office is really cold and it is disappointing that this does not help. It's also not very big, so using it as a regular blanket is not an option either. Too bad.

Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer TAS1000UC Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: $99.99
Today's Bonus: 23% Off

I purchased this machine because I like to drink various drinks as the whim takes me. Tassimo allows you to do this. Also, most of the time I'm by myself, so don't need to make a large pot of coffee. Before I made the purchase, I was comparing Keurig with the Tassimo. The reason I chose the Tassimo was a) the price b) the T-discs were more available than the K-cups and the only K-cups the stores here carried were Van Houtte coffee, which I detest c) reviews said the Tassimo makes better lattes and cappuccinos. I'm extremely happy with the machine for the following reasons:

absolutely no mess

the availability of different brews, from very dark roasts to light roast, hot chocolate (which IS a bit sweet), teas, lattes (in particular my fave, chai latte), cappuccinos, espressos, cremas and even decafs I like a darker roast but was even able to find t-disks that were too strong for me

I like that I can have 4 friends over and give them their preference of hot brews

the tank is big enough that I don't have to fill it for each cup

the bar code reader means a perfect brew each time

the size is relatively small, smaller than my old espresso machine and my regular drip coffee machine (both of which have now been sold off)

you have a cup of coffee in a matter of minutes vs a drip coffee machine or even a french press

using just the cleaner disk, you can also simply spit out hot water for your own tea bags

most of the t-disks are a reasonable price, brewing a cuppa can be less than 50 cents a cup. The Starbucks disks are more expensive, taking you closer to a dollar a cup, but what the hey, what did you pay the last time you actually went into a Starbucks? :)

Cons and yes, even though I LOVE this machine, there ARE some cons:

most of the disks make a small cuppa (10 oz)unless you get the breakfast blends, which will make a bigger cup, or you can simply brew 2 disks.

the cup stand doesn't have finite adjustment you can fit a regular sized mug, the stand adjusts for smaller mugs, but then it's a big leap to a large mug. If you have a slightly bigger mug, you have to set it on the bottom and then you get some splashing

the foam is not as stable as coffee shop foams, but then for $99, I didn't expect it to be. As well the foam stability depends on the t-disk manufacturer as well. Nabob cappuccino was quite firm foam that lasted the duration of the drink.

t-disk storage takes up a bit of space but I'm still in the "try all the varieties until I find my favourite brew" stage, so I have a lot of selections at the moment

In Dec 2009, Tassimo is coming out with packages of just the latte cream. You will then also be able to use it simply as a milk frother if you wish, or you can make any of your favourite brews into a latte.

Aug 2010 this machine has been updated somewhat. The newer machines are a bit smaller, taking up a bit less room yet, on your counter. This is mainly due to a redesign of the tank. I just bought my second machine and will be taking the older one to use at work.

Apr 2011 I just had an opportunity to compare the Tassimo system to a Keurig. To be fair, the Keurig was the single cup model, which requires you to add water each time. I found the Keurig to be incredibly slow to brew, in comparison with the Tassimo. I don't know whether it's the single-cup model or whether all Keurigs are that slow. I didn't like the coffee, but do realize that different brews can be found in the K-cups, other than the one that I was provided with (Timothy's).

Tassimo has just released more T-disks, there are now decaf cappuccinos available as well as a black tea disk. As for the Starbucks disks being discontinued, I'm not aware of that as they are still widely available in Canada.

July 2011 I can now voice displeasure at Tassimo customer service. In Canada, when you purchase a brewer, you are promised coupons for two packages of free disks. I registered for my coupons, yet several months later had not received them. I contacted customer service again, now several months ago and was promised replacement coupons which I also have not received. If you purchase one of these brewers, DO NOT expect free disks with them. If you get them, bonus.

As well, I've noticed a swing in t-disk availability. T-disks seem to have dropped off drastically in popularity in terms of being available in local stores. K-cups have increased greatly. Though I still think the Tassimo is the better machine, I have now purchased a Cuisinart K-cup machine. At present I continue to use both. The K-cup advantage is the ability to use your own coffee blends, which Tassimo still does not offer.

August 2012 I have now made a complete switch to the Keurig system. My reasons for this are following:

the selection of K-cups is HUGE compared to t-disks.

Starbucks switched from Tassimo to Keurig meaning that I could finally get K-cups that I liked still don't like strong coffee, but too many of the other K-cups are too bland, forcing me to brew them at 8 and even 6 oz

never did receive my free t-disks, which really kind of made me angry

the second Tassimo machine now has the red light problem light comes on for descaling, but despite going through the treatment, the light has remained on, this is obviously an issue with the Tassimo machines

stores don't carry the full line of t-disks, so limited selection of t-disks AND limited availability

the Keurig machine tanks are a little easier to fill as they are either on the side or at the front top, instead of the Tassimos which are at the back, making accessibility difficult if you have it sitting on a counter under upper cupboards

I still say Tassimo has the better system, but they need to improve their customer service, their machine descaling light and their selection of t-disks as well as their marketing to major retailers. Keurig still does not do any foaming drinks and is still a much slower machine, but I find I'm using it more than I used my Tassimo simply because I can find a lot of K-cups that I like (iced tea, variety of hot teas, and lots of different brews). When a friend recently asked me which system I preferred I used the analogy that the Tassimo was like a Beta machine and the Keurig was like the VHS (yes, I date myself with that one!). The Beta machine was a much better system, but everyone bought into the VHS.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I have to say this item has impressed me more than any other kitchen appliance I have purchased in the last fifteen years.

Like all new "concepts", you tend to raise your eyebrows a bit about a new method of preparing an age old food preparation, whether it be a blender, chopper, or in this case the traditional coffee maker. Frankly, my only real concern was the future availability of the Tassimo Coffee "T-discs" as without them, the system becomes useless of course.

But after my father passed away two years ago, my mom began to drink "instant coffee" after being a brewed coffee devotee for over 65 years. Brewing 8 cups of traditionally made coffee for a single elderly person just seemed to be a big waste of time, as well as unused coffee. She seemed to be, a perfect candidate for this unique individual cup coffee brewer. Having tried this item once in an upscale Resort Hotel on a business trip, I was convinced to give it a try as an answer to my Mom's particular situation.

The coffee was absolutely WONDERFUL! She has fell in love with Starbucks Columbian "pods", but I also purchased the Verona, Cappucino, as well as the Expresso Pods and will continue to purchase new blends as they beome available. As my tea drinking Sister lives nearby and visits often, I also purchased the Twinings Chai Latte as well as the Earl Grey Tea "T-Discs" so she could enjoy a hot beverage with our Mom while they are together.

Although I traditionally grind & brew my own Gevalia Coffee Beans here at home in a 8 cup brewer, I decided to purchase an additional Bosch Tassimo maker for my home as well; as the availability of Expresso and Cappuccino brews is something I can now enjoy as I desire. Now, my Sister's best friend who lost her husband recently has tried it at my Mom's home, and they purchased her a new Bosch Tassimo maker for her home for her recent birthday gift.

Incredibly easy to operate, my 87 year old mother has no problem in brewing the wonderfully fresh hot brewed coffee she had enjoyed for over 65 years.

I want to thank Amazon.com for once again searching out yet another unique and quality made kitchen appliance that has become a big winner for our entire family of coffee and tea lovers. I just received an Email from Amazon notifying me of a new shipment of Tassimo T-discs that has arrived at their central warehouse which is just another way this fine Internet Products purveyor does an outstanding job for their regular customers.

THANK YOU AMAZON!!!

Best Deals on Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer TAS1000UC

Easy to use, great tasting latte and cappuccino, much cheaper than coffee house, what more could I ask for? The answer is: nothing. Okay, maybe a smaller unit I can buy as a 2nd unit to keep on my desk at work.

Instead of spending $4-$5 dollars everyday for a coffee house latte on the way to work; I just make a double or triple latte straight into my insulated travel mug and I'm all set for the morning.

I also enjoy the bolder brews such as the Starbucks Verona T-discs. The Twinning Chai Latte is also excellent as an alternative to the daily espresso. If you go more for hot chocolate, I definitely recommend the Milka over the Suchard (which is way too sweet for my taste). Either works well to make your latte into a mocha. For espresso and latte; I prefer the Gevalia.

Maintenance so far has consisted of a descale after 9 months.

Honest reviews on Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer TAS1000UC

I've owned one of these for a year, purchased at Bed, Bath, & Beyond (I guess this qualifies as "beyond"). I'm not very impressed by this product, in spite of the hype and high price.

I bought this (instead of Senseo or Keurig) because it was totally automated, and had this way cool bar code reader. Huh... I also wanted Starbucks coffee, which wasn't available from the other brands.

First off, I've found that the coffee tends to be either too weak or too strong. The remedy for too strong is to manually add hot water, which is fine if you like standing next to the coffee maker with your finger holding the button for 15-20 seconds. There is no remedy for too weak other than not buying that product. There is no provision for manually determining the portion size; this is set by the bar code on the pod automatically.

Second, the pods are quite expensive, and not easily available. None of the grocery stores around where I live carry them, and very few "boutique" stores carry the coffee types I like, including the BB&B where I bought the maker originally. I've had to buy the pods mail order, mostly from Amazon. I've ordered a few items directly from Tassimo, and found that their service leaves a lot to be desired. Their shipping charges are high, even for ground shipment, and the items took over a week to arrive the last time I ordered.

Third, the "head" of the thing (whatever it's called) seems to require frequent removal and cleaning with soap and water. This can be a pain in the neck.

Fourth, there is no way to use your own blend of coffee or make your own pods as there is with the competition. You're stuck with whomever Tassimo negotiated. (For example, they don't sell a REAL cocoa mix; it's "chocolate FLAVOR", which tastes like crap to me). I also found I didn't really like the selection of coffees, even Starbucks.

In conclusion, I'd recommend one of the alternatives if you want a single-cup brewer. I just bought a Keurig from Amazon, and so far I'm impressed. I'm selling my Tassimo...

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer TAS1000UC

I like coffee but I don't drink it everyday. To me the coffee tasted pretty good. My wife loves coffee but drinks only like a cup a day. So take my review for what it's worth. If your lucky enough you can try a cup or sample if you know someone who has one or catch it on demo somewhere. The main competitor of this is the Keurig coffee maker which you can also catch on demo. These machines are great so you don't have to wash a coffee pot everyday for just a cup or two of coffee. If you drink a lot, then stick with the pot. These machines advertise no clean up. Yeah right... You need to rinse any parts that come into contact with liquid and wipe it. Still easier than washing a pot and filter tub. If you don't then your coffee will taste off and the build up will cause problems later. And not to mention that is just gross.

The difference between the Tassimo and the Keurig is that the Tassimo reads a barcode on the coffee discs and it adjusts the brew temperature amount of water, pressure,etc. and by doing this you can have a regular cup of coffee, espresso, make a latte, americano etc. with the milk discs. So you can make different types of coffee drinks. It won't be as good as the rob you blind coffee shops but still decent. Imagine how much money you would save after a month. But keep in mind, most of these type of single cup coffee makers make about 8 ounces of coffee. Most orginated for the European market and they drink like 4 ounces. You can manually press a button and send more water through but your coffee will be watered down. You don't have the option of buying your favorite flavor with a larger serving. There are only a couple coffee flavors out there that makes an average Amercian mug sized serving.

The Keurig is basically a drip machine. You choose from like four programed drink sizes and the machine will dispense as such. The premeasured coffee grind cups are more suited for the smaller serving. The bigger the size, the more watered down the flavor will become. Since this is more of a drip machine, it can't make an espresso or latte style drink. The coffee on the Keurig also tasted decent.

Here are some points that might help in the decission proccess.

Tassimo can make drip, lattes, cappucino, americano, and espresso type drinks. But remember, it won't be like from a real coffee shop. Just an imitation. Keurig, only drip. Both offer teas as well.

Tassimo small selection of varieties compared to Keurig. Keurigs offerings is huge. Keurig also has a reusable cup filter that you can put your own coffee grinds in and make your own so basically your selection of coffee is limitless. It comes included with the machine depending on where you buy it.

The Tassimo coffee is not as available in stores. You can find them mainly at Bed Bath & Beyond and Target. And they carry only a small selection. The Keurig coffee you can find just about anywhere and more selections.

If you drink mainly just drip coffee more than lattes, espressos, etc. Then probably better off with the Keurig and treat yourself to a real latte, espresso, etc. at a real coffee shop because it will taste better. If you like changing up and can live with it's not the real thing but better than paying $$$ for a cup. Then maybe the Tassimo. If a good cup of coffee with the fancy names is the world to you and you can afford it, then stick with what you are doing now.

I didn't bother to mention the other single cup disc/cup coffee machines out there because they are not as popular and you might be stuck with a machine that you can't find coffee for. Hamilton Beach now makes a single cup coffee maker unit and also a dual single cup / 12 cup coffe maker called the Scoop and the Dual. The single is a small unit that comes with two premeasured reuseable filters that you use to scoop your grinds in and then place directly into the unit but it doesn't have a timer. The dual unit is a full size coffee maker with a seperate single serve maker on the side. The dual does have a timer function that works for both sides. Both units have two brew strengths to choose from. The units can take the senseo coffee discs also, but be aware that the senseo discs are designed to be used with a pressurized system. The Hamilton Beach does not use pressure and you won't get the full intended flavor out of them. The reviews have been pretty positive on the Scoops.

So bottom line is flavor and availabilty of coffee. You can buy online also if you can't find what you like in the store. Something you should take into account if you don't live near any stores that carry your favorites. And mind you, the stores carry only a limited selection of offerings. You have to go online if you want the full line of flavors. And with Tassimo you are really limited in the stores compared to Keurig. Next time you go to a store, take a look at what they have and you will get an idea of what I am talking about.

Update: Starbucks did not continue thier contract with Tassimo, so your selections is dwindled down even more now with Tassimo. I down graded my review from 4 stars down to 3 stars now because of the even less limited varieties of coffee available for Tassimo.

Buy Boston Ceramic Space Heater with Fan, Black (25962)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $79.96
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 65% Off

i unwrapped the heater, made sure it was on 0 as per instructions, started to put the plug in and there was a loud POP!, burning smell, part of the metal part of the plug melted and it was blackened. didn't even get the plug in more than a centimeter. wasn't the socket, b/c that still worked (for my air conditioner--a dedicated outlet) right after. am sending it right back! it really should be given zero stars.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Sending it back. A little bit too audible of an air flow sound for my cubicle environment. Should be fine for home use.

Best Deals on Boston Ceramic Space Heater with Fan, Black (25962)

Hi. I bought this Boston Ceramic Space Heater, black (25962) October 13, 2012. It quit workinhg on HI about a week and a half ago. (Until then it worked very well). That's about four months of being happy with the product. I had a milk house heater type that worked very well for years. So I almost bought another one. I should have. Don't buy this Boston ceramic heater. I am exceedingly disappointed! Thanks, Richard

Honest reviews on Boston Ceramic Space Heater with Fan, Black (25962)

This is a great little heater. It is just right for my office. Kind of loud, but I loved it.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Boston Ceramic Space Heater with Fan, Black (25962)

It was a little smaller than what I had anticipated, but it is perfect for my small bathroom. I don't have ventilation in the bathroom, and this heater dries out the humidity in it.