DeLonghi DCR902T Retro Drip Coffee Maker with Timer Review

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(More customer reviews)Below is my ORIGINAL review...and one year later, I am adding these notes:
February 2005
As others have noted - the carafe does seem to have a "loose" seal around the rim where the plastic doesn't seal well to the glass. However, I don't notice more than a bit of leakage once in awhile...and I'm sure a little silicone could be used to repair it. It is still a very nice carafe with a great handle & hinged lid and has stood up well with lots of use.
We've also had the "flashing light" syndrome...but customer service told us how to reset...not a big deal now that we know.
Sometimes water does pool under the coffee maker - I don't really mind wiping it up when it does.
The bottom line is that I still LOVE this machine. I like the looks, the ease of use (especially the removable water basket for filling) and ease of cleaning. But most important...it makes great coffee and I haven't been sorry for a minute that I bought it. Maybe I'm just not as fussy as some...but I still recommend it highly.ORIGINAL REVIEW - January 2004
Finally decided to upgrade to a better coffee maker after years with a cheap one. Christmas seemed the perfect time to buy it for my coffee addicted husband. Read dozens of reviews. Didn't want to spend over $100. Couldn't find any reviews of this newer Delonghi maker and it was priced over my limit wherever I saw it. So, I went out and bought the Cuisinart retro maker despite a few small reservations about some features. It looked like it was almost perfect and the reviews were great. Then, the Delonghi was advertised as a sale item at a store where I had a discount coupon, and I was able to purchase it for much less than the Cuisnart. So I returned that one and risked the "unreviewed" Delonghi.
After a week of coffee making, I know I made a great choice. The first pot of coffee Christmas morning was before unwrapping. The second was with the Delonghi - same water, same coffee...but a world of difference! I wouldn't have believed it could be so much better.
The features that convinced me to buy this one over the Cuisinart were the swing out filter basket, the water level indicator and the hinged top carafe. Little things lacking on the Cuisinart that I knew were going to bug me.
The design of the Delonghi makes coffee prep a pleasure and clean up easy. Being able to remove the water reservoir for filling and cleaning is something I wouldn't have imagined as a big plus, but now I can't imagine not having this feature. I don't think we ever really cleaned the water reservoir on our old maker and I shudder to think about that...but like most makers, it is not very easy or accessible. And the Delonghi "bucket-like" reservoir lifts out and in easily and really makes a water indicator superfluous.
Programming is very simple. Setting the start time is a no-brainer. Auto light button and regular "start on demand" button are easy to use. Setting it to turn off any time after the coffee is made - from 2 to 12 hours - is equally easy to figure out. And setting 1-6 or 7-12 cups as well. Each day now starts with coffee that has been perfectly brewed at the same time each morning...just before we wake up!
Other features include a "dark" or "light" setting for coffee strength (we only use dark), a swivel control panel for easy access if your maker is in a less accessible counter place (not something we use but I imagine others might)a replaceable charcoal filter for better water taste, and a platinum fiter that fits in the basket, if you don't want to use paper filters (something else we probably won't use unless we run out of paper filters which we prefer).
The only small drawback is that the outside water level indicator is hard to read because it's so dark and the water doesn't easily show inside the tube - but since I use the removeable reservoir which is clearly marked, I don't even look at the indicator.
No problems with spilling water or coffee and the carafe is very well designed and seems quite durable and comfortable to handle.
You won't go wrong with this coffee maker. Consider it HIGHLY reviewed!

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De'Longhi 12 cup retro drip coffee maker with advanced water filtration. Includes pause and serve with swing-away basket with permanent platinum filter. 24hr programmable time with 2- 12 hour programmable auto shut off

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Capresso MT600 10-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Stainless-Steel Thermal Carafe Review

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(More customer reviews)The Capresso MT-600 was introduced to replace the older MT-500 model. Both models have essentially the same functions and features, but there are two differences:
* The MT-500 has an aluminum die-cast housing. The MT-600 has a milled steel housing.
* The MT-500 was made in Portugal. The MT-600 is made in China.
I recently purchased the MT-600 to replace a Mr. Coffee automatic drip that served me well for over 15 years. I decided on the MT-600 because I wanted a thermal carafe and a built-in water filter. I also had faith in the Capresso brand because both my sisters have owned the Capresso CoffeeTEC model for many years, and their machines make absolutely fantastic drip coffee.
So I was very disappointed when I found that the Capresso MT-600 makes weak and lukewarm coffee. I read the directions carefully to make sure I was using the machine precisely as designed. I tried different beans and grinds to strengthen the coffee. I pre-heated the carafe prior to brewing to increase the temperature. But no matter what adjustments I made, the coffee always turned out weak and tepid.
I called Capresso to ask why the coffee comes out weak even when I double the standard amount of grounds. They told me that it has to do with how the water is dispersed (or rather, not dispersed) over the grounds during brewing. I went back and looked at the filter after brewing a pot, and sure enough, there was a deep divot right in the center of the grounds. So the problem seems to be that the water is driven down the middle of the filter rather than dispersed evenly over the grounds, leaving the grounds along the perimeter largely unbrewed.
I also measured the temperature of the coffee immediately after brewing, and as another reviewer mentioned, the coffee hits the carafe at 180 degrees. But even when the carafe has been pre-heated with boiling water, it loses its heat FAST. The other problem with the carafe is that even when you line up the dots exactly as directed, the coffee flow is more of a heat-depleting trickle than a pour. So while the coffee brews at 180 degrees, the temperature is much lower by the time it hits even your first cup.
I've been thinking about why my experience has been so different from that of veteran Capresso owners, and I can only conclude that the newer machines are not of the same quality as the older machines. Take a read through the user reviews posted for the MT-500 model and you'll notice that it's those people who have had their Capressos for more than 2 years who love and rave about their coffee makers. The same is true for the Capresso owners in my own family. My sisters' machines are going strong after 5+ years of heavy use, whereas my brand new Capresso has been a non-starter.
So sadly I will be returning the Capresso MT-600 in favor of a better machine. I doubt I'll find anything more beautiful in appearance, but there has to be a machine that makes better coffee, especially at this price!
(One final point... there seems to be some confusion about the materials used to build the MT-600. The heating block is lined with stainless steel to prevent water from coming in contact with the machine's aluminum components. So if you have aluminum concerns, the MT-600 has you covered. But like almost every drip coffee maker on the market, the water reservoir and filter holder are made of plastic. If you want to avoid plastic altogether, a French press or standard percolator may be your only options.)

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Brew up to 10 cups of delicious, full-flavored coffee in under eight minutes with this programmable coffeemaker. The machine provides an illuminated, 24-hour, LCD digital clock and timer with soft-touch controls for easy operation. Set the timer so that fresh, hot coffee awaits dinner guests when it's time to serve dessert or so that the aroma of a freshly brewed pot fills the house a few minutes before the alarm goes off in the morning. The coffeemaker supplies a 10-cup stainless-steel thermal carafe with an ergonomic stay-cool handle, brew-through lid, and drip-free pouring spout. Removing the carafe from the coffeemaker stops the flow of coffee and allows for sneaking a quick cup before the end of the brewing process. Simply replace the carafe to restart the flow of coffee. Another thoughtful detail includes its special smaller-amount setting, which ensures maximum aroma when brewing just 3 to 5 cups at a time. For added convenience, the coffeemaker features a stainless-steel-lined heating system that eliminates contact with aluminum and reduces the need for decalcifying, the ability to retain programming during short power outages, and automatic shut-off after two hours for safety and peace of mind. Other highlights include a handy water-level indicator, a washable gold-tone filter (no need for disposable paper filters), a charcoal water filter that removes up to 82-percent of chlorine and other impurities from tap water, and an electronic indicator that shows when to replace the charcoal filter, as well as milled steel housing for superior strength and style and concealed cord storage to keep countertops looking tidy. The coffeemaker measures approximately 9 by 8 by 14 inches.

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Espressione CM-475 Digital-Filter 10-Cup Coffeemaker, Stainless Steel Review

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(More customer reviews)Am very happy with this machine! Brews fast and coffee tastes GOOD!
Looks very nice on the counter, easy to operate.

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The Espressione Digital Filter Coffee Machine is a slick and sophisticated coffee maker that will turn heads and bring smiles, not just for its looks, but for its great quality brew. Advanced features, such as the amazing AccuFlavor Selector, allow you to choose the strength and type of brewing, producing your favorite coffee the way you want and at the time you need it, in fact keeping a step ahead of you, thanks to its Electronic Programmable Timer which will have coffee ready for you before you wake up. Beautiful back lit display, De-scale warning indicator, 1.5 liter capacity glass carafe, removable water tank with handle for easy filling, Aroma control for perfect tasting coffee, Integral water filter to reduce chlorine and improve quality of taste, Powerful 1000 Watt heating element for commercial quality performance. Easy to operate and clean up. Brushed Stainless Steel body.

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Timex TX5170 Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer with Indoor Hygrometer and Clock Review

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(More customer reviews)After one week of normal use the Timex TX5170 stopped functioning: The readout displayed random digits. The battery tested fine (1.5 volts on my voltmeter), but I decided to give the TX5170 the benefit of the doubt, so I went out and bought a new alkaline AAA battery and installed it. And, lo and behold, the TX5170 sprang back to life -- for six hours. Then it gave up the ghost completely. Installing ANOTHER new alkaline battery did no good.
I once met a retired advertising executive who purported to be the guy who came up with Timex's classic slogan, "It Takes A Licking But Keeps on Ticking." My problems with the Timex TX5170 recalled this slogan to my mind. "Perhaps that's the problem," I said to myself. So I covered the TX5170 with chocolate syrup and proceed to lick it. Alas, still only random digits in the readout. [Just kidding.]
The online product description states that the TX5170 is covered by "Timex's one-year warranty." That sounds good, only the "instruction manual" included with the unit does not mention a warranty, nor does it provide any contact information for the manufacture. The fine print on the back of the unit itself states that it was manufactured in China for the Maverick Corporation of Edison, New Jersey, and that the name "Timex" is used under license in the United States and certain other territories.
Very helpful.
So the question is, how much time and effort am I going to expend to gain satisfaction for a non-functioning fifteen dollar thermometer?

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They say it's not the heat, but the humidity. Well fret not, because the versatile Timex TX5170 electronic thermometer displays both at the same time. The compact unit--which sits unobtrusively on a desktop, table, or shelf--sports a three-line LCD panel with bold, conspicuous readouts. The top line displays the indoor temperature, the middle line displays the outdoor temperature, and the bottom line shows either the indoor relative humidity or the time, depending in your preference. As a result, you can instantly gauge whether to wear shorts or pants on a seemingly mild summer day, make sure the humidity level is correct in the greenhouse, or crank the air conditioner as the afternoon progresses. The temperature readings range from 32 to 122 degrees F (0 to 50 degrees C) for the indoor temperature to -4 to 158 degrees F (-20 to 50 degrees C) for the outdoor temperature. The relative humidity, meanwhile, is measured on a scale of 20 to 90 percent, with the hygrometer performing best between 40 and 70 percent.
The display is remarkably easy to read--even from across the room--thanks to the bold digits and crisp readout. At the same time, the TX5170 includes an integral minimum/maximum memory function that records the high and low temperatures of the day. The values are available at the push of a button, with a second button clearing and resetting the memory on command. Best of all, the unit is notably compact at 2.88 by 5.44 by 0.81 inches (W x H x D), making it a great choice for home offices, backyard greenhouses, and everywhere in between.
The TX5170 comes with a wired, weather-resistant temperature probe (with a 10-foot cord) for gauging the outdoor temperature, along with an integral folding stand. Because of the wired probe, the main unit will need to located near a window to enjoy the outdoor temperature functions. And should you want to mount the unit on a wall rather than place it on a shelf or desk, simply suspend it from its rear hanger hole (you'll need to provide the nail or screw). As a final bonus, the TX5170 is streamlined and attractive, with a sleek white plastic housing and a snazzy seven-button control panel on the front.
The TX5170 requires a single AAA battery (not included) and is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box Base station, wired weather sensor with 10-foot cord, integral folding stand, user's manual.

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