Durgol 0291 Swiss Espresso Decalcifying Liquid for Coffee/Espresso Machines 2-bottle

It has my machine working again!!!
I bought a De Longhi Magnifica Super Automatic espresso machine from Starbucks about 2 years ago. I use it almost everyday and since buying it, I have descaled it usually once a month, even though the automatic descaler indicator did not warn me to do so. I was using the descaler that was sold at Starbucks not knowing that the powder was actually not good for the internal components of the machine. Eventually, the steam wand would not work and I would constantly get a message that the beans were too fine and to adjust the grinder. When I called CS, they told me to use the Durgol. Thank goodness they did! After 1 cycle of descaling and dark, dirty deposits, the steam wand was back to normal. Yeah!!!

Durgol Decalcifier Works Like a Charm
Before purchasing Durgol I read through the Amazon custmoer reviews. One person had the same espresso machine as me (Breville Cafe Roma) and the product had worked as promised. Same here. It's great product that unclogged my espresso machine, which now brews the perfect espesso and frothy, steamed milk. The only thing I would recommend is that the instructions indicate only one time through with fresh water after decalifying is necessary. I would suggest at least twice or even three times to get all the Durgol cleaned out, and you'll be amazed at how much stuff will still be coming out of your machine.

Durgol gets the job done!
We first came across this product as a sample included with our coffee machine purchased through Starbucks (we have a de Longhi). This was the easiest de-scale we had ever performed, so have continued to use this product for the past six months on both of our machines. The De Longhi has an automatic sensor that tells us when to descale and we keep at least 2 bottles of Durgol on hand so we are always ready. This has lead to a longer life span for our coffee machines and keeps the coffee free flowing. Try it and see, I am certain you'll never go back to the powders you have to mix...

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Capresso 4440.01 10-cup Stainless Steel Vacuum Carafe with Lid for Capresso MT500 and MT500 Plus Coffee Maker

Sleek Design. Great Coffee. A Keeper.
Having been sorely disappointed with the Cuisinart Grind & Brew, I moved on to the Capresso MT500. I have not been disappointed.

Aside from being a superior coffee maker, the MT500 is a sleek, elegant appliance that looks great on any kitchen counter.

The keypad is simple and easy to use, and includes a digital clock for 24-hour programmability (a key must-have for me). The unit has a 3-5 cup small batch setting for fast and efficient brewing of smaller quantities (another must-have for me).

Perhaps most importantly, the unit brews very satisfactorily hot coffee, unlike the Grind & Brew, which I found luke warm (less than 170F). The thermal carafe does an excellent job of keeping unused coffee hot, particularly when you pre-heat it with hot water.

My only criticism would be that fill-level is inconveniently positioned and somewhat hard to read.

All in all, I'm very pleased with every aspect of the MT500.

Tried it! Returned it!
I love coffee! Unfortunately, for most of my life,

I have been drinking brew from the likes of Mr. Coffee.

Their machines, and most others in their

price range, provide adequate flavored coffee that is

never delivered hot out of the machine.

The ULTIMATE Question

Is there a PERFECT coffee machine in the $100-$200

range and is such a machine possible?

My needs were simple. I needed a maker that brews

piping hot coffee, does it quickly and effectively,

and is easy to operate and clean.

Based on recommendations I received from coffee

drinkers on many Internet discussion forums, I

decided to spend about $170 for the Capresso MT500.

The machine is certainly beautiful, but not without

design flaws, mainly the way your carafe must sit

pinpointed beneath the filter cup to avoid overflow.

I am not also very...

You need to order the charcol filters too!
It's not mentioned anywhere here but this unit requires charcoal filters that are replaced every couple of months. Only found this out after giving it as a gift to my parents. A web search only turned up a 2-3 sites that sold them so I don't think they're very common. I would recommend that you purchase a goodly supply with the coffee maker. Amazon sells them as "Capresso 4440.90 3-pack Charcoal Water Filters" in case you're trying to hunt them down.

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Crock-Pot 3060-W 6-Quart Round Slow Cooker, White

Great for chili, soups, etc...
This is a great value and enduring product. I've had my Rival crock pot for over 10 years, and have used it literally HUNDREDS of times. This is another one of those very low cost but high value kitchen tools.

The low setting allows for slow (12 hour+) cooking overnight or all day. I love to put on a pot of chili before I go to bed or work, and let the house soak up the aroma!

Just be careful with the countertop placement, as the sides get very hot!

We're a Rival Family
When I was looking for a crockpot, I wanted something affordable and durable. My Mom had a Rival crock pot when I was younger (it was orange and older than the hills). My Dad also has an older version of this one, only it has a plastic lid. After 10 years, the lid broken, but it still works.

I got this one and love it. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles that are available with some of the more costly models, nor does it have a design. It is just a nice crock pot that is big enough for a small roast or a pot of chili (which is great on a winter's day)

Bad Crock
I have a thirty year old Rival Crock Pot that still has not one crack in it. Therefore, I was shocked when I used this large beautiful piece of cookware for the first time and it cracked. Multiple cracks after the very first use. It wasn't an expensive purchase but a very disappointing one. Was it bad luck... I have no clue. I'd love for Rival to exchange my cracked crock for a new one so I could find out and I'd be happy to say, it was just bad luck.

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Winekeeper Wine Preservation System

A wine preservation system that really works
The Keeper system has changed the way I drink wine. In the past I'd hesitate to open a favorite bottle of wine, knowing that it wouldn't be finished without more guests over. Or we'd use a spray preserver for the 2nd half of that Napa Cab after our steak dinner, but then the next dinners wouldn't be Cab-friendly.

With The Keeper system (and two extra taps), I can have a Cab, Pinot, and even a 3rd bottle (Zin, Italian, or even a vintage Port) open and ready for drinking. Since it's a closed system and air doesn't touch the wine, it stays in perfect condition until I'm ready to drink it. A glass of Cab one night, Pinot the next - and no rush to finish the bottle before the wine goes off.

This system is more expensive than the vacuum pumps and sprays, but it works much, much better. Those other systems help a wine last a couple more days, but this system keeps the wine in top condition for weeks. The nitrogen tank lasts at least the stated 20 bottles of wine, if not...

Must have for Wine Lovers
This is one of the best gifts I have ever received. I love wine, but it's rare that we can go through an entire bottle on an average night. I do not like the way wine tastes the next day - even with those devices that sucks out all the air. This system is fantastic. It keeps wine tasting as if it was just opened, for days. Now I can open a nice wine on Monday, and it's OK if I don't finish it until Friday. :-) Highly recommend this product. Make sure you order extra canisters!

wine keeper system
pro:
1) it works
2) easy to assemble and use
3) the spout makes it easy to pour wine into glass

con:
1) difficult to store the wine bottle in fridge with the dispenser head
2) there are 2 pieces of rubber tube which are telescoped to each other. One tends to fall of when removing/placing the dispenser on the bottle.

recs:
1) place the dispenser on the bottle immediately after it opens. This limits the volume of air already exposed to air.

uses:
1) enjoy great wine without the pressure the finish same day
2) great for volatile wine

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Cuisinart DCC-1200BW Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Matte Black Metal

Plusses and Minuses
I've had the Cuisinart DCC-1200 for about a week now. I was hesitant to spend so much on a coffee maker but I'm happy to report it's well worth it. Sure, you can get other brands of coffee makers for under $25 if economy is the most important feature, but I've had those machines and I decided that, this time, a good cup of coffee was most important for me. This unit makes the best coffee I've had in a home or office machine and better than most coffee I've had in restaurants.

This coffee tastes smooooooth! I suspect the charcoal water filter is the reason for that. I also like the "shower head" design of the water spout. The water actually runs up a track onto the underside of the lid and is sprinkled over the ground coffee like a rain shower.

It's an attractive unit but it also looks like a serious coffee maker. This unit is no toy. It looks and feels solid. The carafe has a good solid feel and balance. The plastic parts (like the plastic carafe lid and...

Fantastic coffeemaker - if you have the space
When my Braun FlavorSelect coffee maker unexpectedly stopped working, I had to scramble to find a new machine. I wanted another Braun, but unfortunately, they seem to have stopped making a 12 cup coffee maker. So I had to begin an intense search for a machine that had the features I wanted combined with good value. I finally found it with this Cuisinart model.

The advantages? For one, it makes excellent and HOT coffee. The carafe is solidly constructed and fits securely in square body so there's no chance of someone accidentally knocking it loose. Because the lid fits tightly, the pour is precisely narrow and smooth, with no side leaks even when the pot is full. The basket fits inside the housing instead of swinging free like so many models which prevents a misalignment between the water and the filter; the conical (Krups/Braun style) basket accepts both paper filters and gold-tone, although I learned the hard way that not all gold filters fit. The timer is very easy to...

Finally Found It!
After purchasing 3 other coffee makers, the 4th one is the charm! This coffee maker makes great tasting coffee. I never knew there was a difference -- it's worth spending a few more dollars on. It also has all of the features I was looking for such as: adjustable warming plate, 1-4 cup selection, water filter, programmable. It is a rather tall machine, but certainly not a problem as it fits fine underneathe most cabinets. Als, the carafe is well-made and has a spout that pours nicely without spilling. No complaints about this one!

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Le Creuset 3-Ply Stainless-Steel 4-1/4-Quart Covered Casserole

The Best Clad Cookware
After doing rigorous comparison shopping, including looking at commercial clad cookware like Vollrath Tribute, I consider the new Le Creuset cookware to be the best available, hands down. The lids are thicker, the pot bodies are heavier, and the handles are more comfortable. These pots and pans put brands like All Clad to shame.

Yes, they are made in China. Only All Clad, which now makes their handles and lids off-shore too (they don't tell you where) and Vollrath are made in the US. All Clad is no better than Cuisinart (which would be my second choice, and a lot cheaper) or Calphalon, now discontinued, in the clad cookware category. And All Clad is ridiculously expensive, which in my opinion is completely unjustifiable, not to mention that their handles are as uncomfortable as they come.

If I didn't care about looks I would have gone with Vollrath, but the Le Creuset are very attractive (for pots and pans). The new handles are thick and easy to grasp. The...





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Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 5-1/2-Quart Round French Oven, Flame

You'll never own a better piece of cookware!
I have had a 5 1/2 quart Le Creuset oven for years. I still have my vintage one and I also have a new one. You will never own a better piece of cooking ware than Le Creuset (especially the vintage pieces) in my opinion. These ovens are very versatile. I fry, boil, simmer, stew, bake, brown and saute all in this oven. I have dropped these ovens many times as well and they are very durable. My vintage one has been through many years of cooking and moving and it still looks almost as good as the day my grandma purchased it! My grandmother passed her Le Creuset cookware to me so, I also love the flame color as it has wonderful memories for me.

I'd highly recommend this oven to anyone who loves to cook for their family or to any professional chef for that matter.These are expensive but, they will last for your lifetime and probably your children's, children's lifetime. This one economic splurge that I never regret.

*Sometimes you can find used vintage Le Creuset ovens...





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