Home Reviews


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Buyer reviews for "Home" sorted by average review score:

Square Tablecloth
    Amazon base price: $7.99
    List price: $29.00 (that's 72% off!)
    Average review score:

    Tablecloth
    This tablecloth is surprizingly stain proof and washes well.

    Great Material
    This is really a lovely tablecloth. I put it on my kitchen table. It Looks great and the colors of the fruit are bright and cheerful. Thanks again for another winner.



    Stack-a-Shelf Horizontal Organizer - White
      Amazon base price: $12.99
      Average review score:

      Nothing spectacular, but it does the job!
      I have very simple taste so this little unit was perfect. It's nothing fancy or high quality but it works. I bought two of them to put in my closet underneath the two-drawer organizers I bought from the same product line. It's great for storing slippers and sandals but not for men's shoes.

      Great for closet shelf
      I love these shelves! I bought two to organize our sweatshirts on our closed shelf, they work great and takes a bunch of bulk out of our dresser.


      Steel Can Crusher
      Made by Pacific Fabrications
      • Heavy Gauge Steel Can Crusher, 16" Compaction Arm, Baked Enamel Finish, Crushes Beverage Cans To 1".
      Amazon base price: $
      List price: $16.99 (that's NaN% off!)
      Average review score:

      Great Operation,But ------------- Baked Enamel Finish Peels
      " The Crusher " is a quality appliance - crushing of aluminum cans is simple and the end product is as pictured on the handle of the unit. However,the baked enamel finish is inferior and peels off leaving an unattractive, bare-metal appliance (ours is installed outdoors (in a covered area) and the bare metal is starting to rust. " The Crusher " would deserve a Five Star rating if the enamel finish problem was corrected.

      Amazing!
      What a difference from the other can crusher offered everywhere else (including this site) which was difficult to use and broke after 6 months... This one is SOLID, and works VERY well. Easy to use, very heavy steel construction throughout. No flimsy mechanism, heavy gauge steel construction and very durable looking finish. I am very impressed with "the Crusher" even though I just got it today! Maybe my opinion will change with more use, but I have a very good feeling about this item. If you have a need for a can crusher this is by far the better alternative to the others that are out there. Buy it.


      Tile Top Wine Cart
      • White ceramic tile top wine cart
      • Solid wood with natural finish
      • Two 3-bottle wine shelves
      • Drawer and 2 hanging glass racks
      • Casters for easy mobility
      Amazon base price: $49.99
      Average review score:

      Exchange
      The item is perfect for what I need. However, the one that I received had a couple of cracked tiles on it. I have called the 800 number enclosed with the item but it has been more than 48 hours and no one has returned my call. I need a replacement for the tile top as soon as somebody gets this message. Had I known that it will take forever to even call me back I would have just looked somewhere else. The number I contacted was 800-469-PART (7278).

      Great Purchase!
      This cart is wonderful. It holds all of my wine bottles and even has a drawer for little knick knacks like wine cork screw and wine caps. The top of the rack is ceramic tile so the bottles or glasses you place on top will not slide off. I even have a cat and she can't knock bottles off even by trying to climb it. Very useful and small enough to stay out of the way. I would recommend it for anyone who doesn't want to spend lots of money but wants somewhere to keep their wine. A++


      Vornado EH1-0015-04 IntelliTemp Heater
      Made by Vornado
      • Continuously maintains room at desired temperature
      • With thermostat turned off, functions as two-speed fan
      • Durable, cool-touch, plastic cabinet
      • Non-glowing heat elements, tip-over shutoff provide safety
      • Compact at 12-1/2 by 11-1/2 by 9-1/2 inches
      Amazon base price: $74.99
      List price: $100.00 (that's 25% off!)
      Average review score:

      Comfortable Affordable Economic and Safe
      I have owned Vornado products for over six years now. The products are extremely dependable. The heater is terrific for several reasons: I have pets and if the heater is knocked over it automatically turns off; and, the heater never gets "hot" to the touch, which is convenient because you don't have to worry about your pet's touching it. The Vornado heater can also save you money on your heating bills. I recently was disabled so my income is much lower than before. I have choose to not use my whole house heater and simply use my Vornado heater in my living room (when I am in the living room), the bathroom (when I am there) and the bedroom (when I am there). I will end with this: the heater is also very quite without the irritating on/off sounds that other heaters make. It is obvious that I am extremely happy with this product and would not hesitate to buy again.

      Finally, a hot time in the old town tonight.
      Even though it cost 3-4 times what I'm used to paying for space heaters, my lack of success with a couple of cheap Holmes models (the safety fuses kept blowing out, rendering the units useless and disposable) led me to invest in this one. At first I was suspicious of this plastic, lightweight successor to the heavy metal, tank-like construction of the Vornado that lasted my aunt so long. Not to worry. This understated overachiever performs reliably and effectively if quietly and unobtrusively. Its presence is so low key, in fact, that it's easy to forget about it and discount its contributions to creature comfort. And I've observed no problems related to over heating.

      If your pleasure is sitting directly in front of the heater and basking in its warmth, the Vornado may not be for you. Don't expect it to blow you away or to light your fuse the instant you plug it in. Like my cat, it's quiet and slow to warm up, but once it does, it really purrs. In fact, even the cat should be happy, because the fan's superior circulation insures transmission of heat to all corners of a modest-sized room. Moreover, the thermostat on this model, unlike others I've owned, is both functional and useful. And not least of all, my cat hasn't found a way to sleep on its sphere-shaped surface.

      Best heater available. Vornado makes good products.
      I have had one of these heaters for many years. I have used other space heaters, but none have Vornado's combination of two very important features: safety, and even heating. Space heaters can be dangerous, and they start many fires (I am in the insurance business, and I have seen the fires they start). You must either get a heater which is designed so it can not turn over (there were a few, but they are off the market now), or you must get a heater with a reliable tip over switch, and a cool operating surface. This heater has both.

      But even the "tipless" heaters I have do not heat as well as the Vornado. This heater's fan "mixes" the warm air with the cool air in the room. It can actually heat an entire room, which most space heaters can not. The Vornado does it by blowing the heated air up and out, mixing the heated air with the cool air, and creating an even temperature in the room. It is perfect for rooms in the 12 by 14 foot range.

      And it is quiet. None of my tipless heaters are quiet. So, all in all, this is the best space heater I have ever owned, and I recommend it highly. If it costs more than an inferior heater, that is money well spent in the long run for comfort and safety.

      I am now buying a second Vornado heater, for my home office. It is in the lower level of my home, and cooler than the rest of the house. No point overheating the rest of the house just to make one room comfortable.

      Oh, and Vornado makes very good humidifiers as well. They are quiet, and they put a lot of humidity into the air. I have had lots of other humidifiers, and the Vornados are the best. I have two of them.


      Hamilton Beach 04163 TrueAir HEPA Air Purifier with UV Germicidal Light
      Made by Hamilton Beach
      • Recommended for closed room up to 350 square feet
      • UV germicidal light helps kill bacteria, viruses, and mold
      • True HEPA filter at least 99.97-percent effective; prefilter also reduces odors
      • Digitally displays air quality; three fan speeds or automatic adjustment
      • 3-year warranty against defects; 19-1/2 by 14 by 8-1/4 inches
      Amazon base price: $169.99
      List price: $220.00 (that's 23% off!)
      Buy one from zShops for: $188.95
      Average review score:

      Does NOT work for seasonal allergies!
      So I bought 2 of these Air Purifiers from Amazon after seeing them highly recommemded online and their claim that they remove 99.97% of all allergens from the air including particles as small as 0.3 microns. After continuously running for 2 weeks, they haven't made ANY difference in either the kids' or my pollen allergies. The digital display continues to claim that the air quality is "Good", I even tried running it at High, but it doesn't seem to have removed any pollen from the air whatsoever. Called up Hamilton beach Customer Service today to see if I was doing something wrong and they were quite unhelpful Just said that if it doesn't work for you, return it, which I plan to do!

      Worth every penny
      I ordered this particular HEPA air purifier with the UV light because it was recommended for my two children. They have many environmental allergies and are always sick with some sort of respiratory illness. I also have allergies. I have REALLY noticed a difference in all of us since buying this air purifier. We wake breathing freely and that's unusual for anyone in this house! The whisper quiet mode is pretty quiet. I comfortably watch tv over the sound. You get used to it and soon barely hear it. In fact, the medium is pretty quiet as well. The highest setting is loud, but it is high so I'd expect that. I run mine 24/7 on Auto mode and love that I can see a readout of the air quality and the way the sensor will automatically adjust the speed to clean the air more or less when needed. Once I slightly burned some microwave popcorn - in another room - and I heard it cycle up to high to clean the air! Well worth the money for the features. If I had to point out one negative I guess it would be that I don't look forward to replacing the pricey filters or UV bulb. At least, according to the booklet, they should last a year.

      Excellent Filter !
      I'm really enjoying this HEPA air purifier. It's useful for many purposes, such as eliminating odors from cooking, sucking up airborne pet hair / dander particles and giving the air a crisper, cleaner feel.

      This is also an excellent air filter for anyone seeking relief from outdoor allergens such as pollen, mold and cedar.

      Within two days of using the filter I noticed a significant reduction in my allergy headaches, sneezing and congestion throughout the day, especially when just waking up in the morning. (I used to feel my worst in the mornings) My asthmatic cough has also reduced tremendously over the past month and I couldn't be happier.

      While an air filter itself won't cure all allergies, it's a welcome addition to my home. You won't be disappointed with this product. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION !!


      Eureka 4870DT Upright Vacuum Home-Cleaning System
      Made by Eureka
      • Powerful upright vacuum with 15-inch cleaning path and headlight
      • Equipped with true HEPA filter to trap extremely small particles
      • Onboard tools: upholstery nozzle, dusting brush, and crevice tool
      • Brush-roll adjusts to seven heights, including bare-floor
      • 30-foot power cord; stretch hose
      Amazon base price: $137.49
      List price: $199.99 (that's 31% off!)
      Used price: $103.43
      Buy one from zShops for: $149.99
      Average review score:

      Very good but not perfect
      First may I say that no manufacturer makes the perfect vacuum. Previously, I owned Hoover vacuums but they, too, had their weaknesses. Over all this Eureka 4870DT is a pretty good vacuum. Listed below are the good and bad features.
      The good: It does an excellent job of cleaning carpets and has good suction. It has 7 height adjustment settings, a carpet/hard floor switch which turns off the roller brush when set to hard floor, a hose/floor selector which also shuts off the roller brush when set to hose, an HEPA filter and a motor filter. It has the appearance of a quality made vacuum which was not true of some Eureka vacuums I have owned in the past.
      The Bad: It is heavy (but so are most Hoovers), the on/off switch could be more conveniently located, it is rather cumbersome to maneuver in small bathrooms and closets. The foot pedal that releases the handle is rather stiff and awkward but it gets easier with use. I have not had the vacuum long enough to judge its durability.

      Personally, I prefer a 13 inch vacuum because they are much easier to use in tight spots and small rooms, but every manufacturer has gone to the 15 inch vacuum in their more deluxe models. In my opinion, there are more features to like than to dislike about this vacuum.

      A little heavy, but besides that it is EXCELLENT
      I bought this vacuum after reading all the reviews here. They were truly helpful. As mentioned on previous reviews, the vacuum was a little heavy to carry around. However, the cleaning power was second to none. This was the first vacuum that did not blow dust around as I vacuum. Because of HEPA, air seemed cleaner than before. Again, absolutely no dust in the air! It was amazing. Strongly recommend this product!!

      Cleans Acres of Carpet and Mile after Mile of Tile
      I'll admit that I'm one of the worst when it comes to sweeping the floor with a broom. No matter how hard I try, there always seems to be some elusive dustbunny that resists all efforts to corral it in the dustpan. So, when my wife and I went shopping for a vacuum cleaner, we zeroed in on models that were capable of vacuuming the acres of wall-to-wall carpeting in our home and sweeping the tile and vinyl that make up the rest of our floors. A HEPA filter and disposable dust bags were necessities because of her allergies (your allergist will tell you that bagless cleaners are an exercise in futility unless you take the cleaner completely out of the house and shut the door behind you when emptying the dirt container).

      After we pared down the list, we consulted the leading consumer reporting magazine and bought the highest rated model we could afford. And that's how we came to own this cleaner.

      I vaguely remember reading that Eureka's engineers cobbled together the prototype for The Boss SmartVac series by actually mounting a classic "torpedo" canister cleaner and its motorized carpet brush on a wheeled rig with a handle. Once they determined that it COULD be done, they refined the design into a unit that really does combine the suction power of a canister with the carpet cleaning ability and easy mobility of an upright, with the added convenience of having the cleaning tools along for the ride. You can see the "canister cleaner on wheels" inspiration in the larger photo here on Amazon.com.

      In operation, the cleaner is surprisingly quiet, producing a breathy drone that still permits conversation. Though not self-propelled, the cleaner's brush roller turns so rapidly, it almost propels the cleaner for you. A headlight helps you spot obstacles in the cleaner's path.

      The 15-inch wide cleaning path shortens your vacuuming time and offers right-up-to-the-baseboard edge cleaning ability. For more stubborn debris, you can put together the extension wand and attach the crevice tool. The upholstery tool does an admirable job on carpeting under, say, a bed that can't be moved. One notable feature: When the handle is returned to the fully upright position, as when cleaning with tools, the brush roller stops, preventing worn spots on your carpet. A brush roller switch lets you turn off the brush roller at other times for sweeping bare floors.

      A few engineering features are worth mentioning. The cleaner's motor is completely isolated from the suction path and protected by its own final stage filter, meaning small hard objects like coins, nutshells and buttons won't damage the fan blades or jam the motor. The micron filtration dust bag, motor filter and HEPA filter equal 3 stages of filtration before the air is expelled. The brush roller belt follows a twist-free path, extending its life and reducing the risk of belt breakage. Should debris actually clog the suction path, all of the hoses can be detached and cleared. If a particularly nasty item has damaged the hose or pipe, the parts can be easily replaced by the consumer.

      After vacuuming the carpet in the master bedroom and some of the living room, we already noticed a measurable level of dirt in the first bag, an indication of the dirt left behind by our aging Hoover Decade 80 upright. We expect bags in the future to last a tad longer.

      If you expect to use the cleaner a lot, you can upgrade the disposable HEPA filter to a washable CleanStream HEPA filter. Details are at www.cleanstreamfilters.com.


      Capresso 471.01 CoffeeTEC Digital 10-cup Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Vacuum Carafe and FrothXpress, Black
      Made by Capresso
      • Brews 10 5-ounce cups of coffee directly into a stainless-steel vacuum carafe
      • Virtually unbreakable carafe keeps coffee hot 4 hours without a warming plate
      • Programmable digital clock/timer for "wake-up" coffee; pour a cup midbrew via 20-second brew-pause
      • Permanent GoldTone filter eliminates messy paper filters; push-button, swing-out filter holder
      • Measures 11 by 12 by 14 inches; 1-year warranty
      Amazon base price: $199.00
      List price: $199.99 (that's 0% off!)
      Buy one from zShops for: $179.76
      Average review score:

      customer disservice
      After having this machine for less than two years, it had an electrical problem and I sent it back to the company and for $65 they sent me a new unit. Unfortunately it did not work and customer service after stating we must have a bad electical outlet, sent us another one. It didn't work either and this time I plugged it into my computer plug which is fine as is our kitchen outlet. To get my money back I had to talk to a supervisor, but he didn't call me back. Three phone calls later they finally sent my money back, but still no supervisor called us. I wrote to Mr. Kramm and complained about the shoddy treatment I received from customer service and from the broken units from the repair service. NO RESPONSE from a company that is supposed to depend on word of mouth to buy their very expensive product. Shame on them.

      Quick and easy ... and did I say it's easy?
      This is a fine, easy to use, machine that I'm really enjoying having in my kitchen. I had never used a milk-steamer before, and found the idea a little intimidating. But the process is really quite painless, and now I'm wondering why I did without it so long (even my java-phobic bride is enjoying homemade hot chocolate thanks to the steamer).

      Anyone who enjoys having a pot of coffee on-call throughout a morning should avoid glass pots like a cliché and instead use a thermal carafe like this one. Not only does it keep coffee steaming hot without constant re-heating, but the wide top and easy-off lid make for easy clean up when you're done.

      The coffeemaker is elegantly designed, seems relatively sturdy, and looks nice on a countertop. Plus, it's fast, fairly quiet, and -- as I said -- easy to clean.

      For someone like me who just wants to enjoy coffee without trying to become a home barista ('professional maker of complex espresso drinks'), this is as much machine as I think I'll need ... at least until the one with the built-in burr grinder arrives.

      Capresso scores again!
      I've been impressed with the well-thought out products coming from this relatively small company in the small appliance industry. Their Swiss designers have the leading edge technology in coffee makers and the CoffeeTEC is the latest innovation. Coffee is brewed 10 cups in under 8 minutes, and that's fast. The idea is to have the fresh coffee exposed to hot water for the minimum amount of time, so flavor is extracted without extracting the bitter parts of coffee flavor. CoffeeTEC does this really well. A special 3-5 cup brewing selector makes it possible to brew a perfect small pot of coffee. The coffee goes directly into a stainless steel vacuum carafe, and after removing and sealing the pot the coffee stays hot for hours but never gets heated over and over again as in a traditional hot plate coffee maker. The Auto Cappuccino feature is a genuine plus for those of us who want some frothy milk with our coffee, it turns cold milk into hot milk and froth in seconds. Since all the works are outside of the coffee maker, it's easy to clean and to remove the milk container for refrigerator storage. This is a winner in the category of latest coffee technology.


      Zojirushi BBCC-V20 Home Bakery Traditional Breadmaker
      Made by Zojirushi
      • Bakes up to 2-pound loaves of fresh homemade bread
      • Includes 10 different baking settings
      • Programmable delay timer makes meal planning easier
      • Nonstick bake pan material for easy cleaning
      • Measures 17 by 10 by 12 inches; 1-year warranty
      Amazon base price: $129.99
      List price: $249.00 (that's 48% off!)
      Average review score:

      DOGGGG
      THIS BREAD MAKER IS THE WORST AND ONLY ONE I HAVE OWNED THAT WILL NOT MIX BREAD EVENLY.
      THE DOUBLE PADDLES PUT DISAPPORTIONED AMOUNTS OF FLOOR AND YEAST INTO BOTHSIDES OF THE PAND RESULTING IN A TORPEADO SHAPED LOAF OF BREAD. HIGH SIDE TO LOW SIDE, NOT EVEN ON TOP
      DONT BUY

      Zojirushi V20 Home Bakery
      After major research of available breadmakers, I chose the Zo a couple of years ago and have never been disappointed. It was my first breadmaker. My final choice was based on features, reviews, and support from both manufacturer and the breadmachine community (web forums, etc.).

      In my mind the important features are the size and shape of the loaf, the ability of the machine to produce a properly kneaded loaf, the flexibility to create your own bread making process flow (knead, rise, bake, etc.), and the durability to make any kind of bread (white or whole multi grain). The Zo was the only one that combined all of these in one machine in a way that suited my needs.

      The folks who have had problems with this machine either received a bad machine (and should return it) or can't follow directions. There is no margin for error when using a breadmachine. You must follow the recipe EXACTLY (unless you are at higher elevations).

      If this is your first breadmachine I also highly recommend the books Bread Machine Magic and More Bread Machine Magic. These are well written books with a nice variety of recipes that always worked the first time for me. The machine comes with a good manual with a few recipes that are also good but is a little short on bread making theory (which is nice to have when things go wrong).

      Is it perfect? Nearly, but my wish list includes more flexibility with some of the settings (sometimes there is no need for the preheat cycle) and more programs (create your own bradmaking process). The window leaves a lot to be desired as well, but that applies to almost all of the machines. Don't expect those little windows to work like they do in a regular oven!

      At our house this machine gets used not only to make bread, but for bread dough for baking in the oven and fresh made pizza dough (one of life's important little treats).

      All of our recipes are made from scratch, but in the beginning I also used mixes from King Arthur Flour---highly recommended! The premade mixes are great in the beginning of your breadmachine adventures as they eliminate one source of error (measuring ingredients).

      All things considered, when the time comes, my next machine will be a Zo 20 as well.

      Top of the line
      My mother taught me to make homemade bread as a child and I have been making it ever since, but a breadmaker certainly is easier. I've had two, a Magic Chef which stopped working after I accidentally left the pan soaking overnight (the mechanism that turns the paddle won't budge), and a Zojirushi, which I now use every week, and don't leave soaking in the sink. (I chose the Zojirushi because it had good reviews and because I have their rice steamer and love it.)

      Features I like: Double paddles. This is absolutely the way to go if you want a horizontal loaf, otherwise some of the flour can get stuck in a corner and not get mixed up. You can solve this by scraping the sides during mixing, but having to do that sort of defeats the purpose of a breadmaker.
      Another thing I like is the "Homemade" setting, which allows you to customize the cycle times. The default is for French Bread, which, incidentally, comes out very well. One caution, their recipe calls for 3 teaspoons of yeast, which caused it to overrise. I now use 2 teaspoons and get great results. Also, the "default" setting for Homemade/French Bread wasn't set correctly on mine at first, but the instruction manual listed the correct settings and it was easy to reprogram. Good instruction manual, by the way.
      One other nice feature is the preheat cycle. The trickiest part with bread machines is getting the right amount of yeast for the machine's timed rise cycles. Cold liqueds slow down yeast action, warm ones speed it up. I've found that the preheat cycle helps give more uniform results. (Age and amount of yeast affects it too, but the breadmachine can't compensate for that.)
      Most of the other features, like jam and cake settings, I never use.

      Disappointments: The window gets steamed up during processing and opening the cover causes it to pause so you can't really watch what it is doing. Also, the delay timer only works with the "Basic" bread setting. I wanted to set it to have French bread ready when I came home, and couldn't.

      The thing I use most: The "Dough" setting. I prefer to let the breadmaker mix everything up for me and do all the initial risings, and then throw it in a pan for the last rising and bake it myself. This way the paddles don't get baked into the bottom of the loaf, and I don't have to worry about over or under rising. Honestly, it is the yeast that causes most problems people have with breadmakers. Old yeast, or not enough, and your bread comes out like a brick. Too much and it either overrises and sticks to the top, as it did the first time I made French bread with 3 tsp. of yeast, or it caves in during baking and you have a U-shaped top. (If it rises but the top is flat, rather than rounded, it's not the yeast. You probably have too much liqued or too little flour - adjust accordingly.)

      I don't use mixes, so I can't comment on that, but I have an electric wheat grinder and often use fresh ground whole wheat (which they don't recommend), and this breadmachine handles it beautifully. I like being able to use all healthy ingredients, like whole wheat instead of white flour, and honey instead of refined sugar. In this case though it does need extra yeast, since the whole wheat flour is heavier.

      I recommended this breadmaker to both my step-mother and my best friend, so I guess that's a pretty high recommendation. (My mother still does it by hand. Maybe someday I'll get her to try a machine.)


      FrancisFrancis! X1-Blk/SS Espresso Machine with Bonus Ground Kit Stainless Steel and Black 48-oz.
      Made by FrancisFrancis! USA, Inc.
      • Model #: X1-Black/ Stainless Steel
      • Pressure Method: Pump - 19 bars of pressure
      • Dimensions: 10.4 x 10 x 13.2-in
      • Volts/Watts: 1100 Watts
      • Origin: Italy
      Amazon base price: $
      List price: $649.00 (that's NaN% off!)
      Average review score:

      Pompous espresso crowd has tight wallets ...
      Obviously this machine is an equal show piece and appliance and as such might not be the premium device for everyone. True there are very minor limitations, but the inability for a user to muster the strength to slide the '16 lb. machine' across a foot of counter space to insert water behind the pedestal is sad indeed. I have been using this machine heavily and haven't run into any life altering problems. Much like any unique machine the intrinsic engineering eccentricities are the welcome price to be paid if the user takes the time to learn how to make the machine work for him. I scoff at the complaint about a lack of labeling on the machine- how hard is it to learn the function of 3 switches, a couple lights and a knob??? And frankly, I don't have hordes of strangers running through my kitchen using every available item daily. ... There is a cup heating rail on the top for keeping the china toasty. ... The machine can handle single or double servings of coffee, and if you have a preferable brand of coffee this machine does not turn it to dung as some might infer. Think of this machine as an MGTD, not a '02 Ford Escort and learn to drive it appropriately if you make the purchase choice.

      The steaming function works fine, and cappucino is easily prepared as any machine. I recommend the Illy ESE pods for quick convienient coffee, but everyone has their own particular tastes.

      Better Deals Elsewhere On This Machine
      Do not purchase your machine from AMazon. You can get a much better deal on Ebay. You will save over $200 if you purchase it there, and you will still get a warrantied machine. This is a great espresso machine, by the way.

      THE BOMB
      What can I say? There is simply no comparable home espresso machine on the market. When you buy francisfrancis, you're not buying simple function. You are buying excellent, beautiful design--IN ADDITION to quality materials, construction and function. In response to an earlier poster's comments, the Silvia may provide technically perfect function. But it's also awkward and ugly. Coffee--and particularly espresso--is about a daily ritual as much as it is about swallowing down a cup of this brown brew. It's a sensual, romantic experience. Ever notice that many of the old Italian machines were beautiful, stylized pieces with polished brass, eagle finials, etc? Sure a plain steel drum might be able to do the same job. But that robs you of a meaningful part of the whole experience. The francis recaptures that spirit, and is concieved with that sensibility in mind.

      If the ritual really means nothing at all to you, then the Silvia may be your choice. If you're an espresso enthusiast however, that's not likely the case. As another reviewer said, I love getting up in the morning and seeing the bright red francis sitting on my counter top. It's really a joy. Plus, it makes a damn good espresso.

      One further word. I never thought I would want to go this way before buying the francis, but give the pod thing a try. They are really high quality, consistent, and CLEAN and EASY... and produce great results. Cleanup is greatly simplified. Before actually trying them, I was really the purist about buying and grinding my own coffee. These really make life simpler though. They virtually eliminate cleanup. And again, they ensure you consistent, quality results.


      Related Subjects: Houseware Reviews Apron Blinds Dehumidifier Fan Heater Humidifier Ironing_Board Sewing_Machine Steam_Iron Wallpaper
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