Tea and Coffee: Looking Good, Not Quite Right
We have been focusing on coffee and tea makers as we all know the issues we have we getting out of bed in the morning and being productive (or trying to look productive). And if espresso on the go isn’t the right option for you, and one of the K-Cup brewers doesn’t fit your needs, we have a couple of interesting options today to help you get your caffeine fix.
We’ll start with the Kalorik Aztec Copper 12 cup Coffee Maker. A fancy name, and we were equally impressed at the attractive appearance… but ultimately disappointed in the quality of this model.
First, there are the overall looks. We loved the contemporary design and the way it looked sitting on our counter. What we didn’t necessary like was how the coffee maker felt. Made out of plastic, the exterior materials don’t vibe with the price point as it is merely a matte-copper color. Other brewers that we’ve tested and in functionality definitely offer an edge in performance and materials.
The water level was easy to read but pouring water into the Kalorik itself was another task entirely. To pour water in you might want to use a funnel as the track is very narrow and it would take a lot of practice not to spill. Another annoyance was that if you accidentally got water in the filter area, it went right through to the hotplate. Noise was also an issue. It became really noisy towards the end of the brew cycle. Not very pleasing at 7 am on a Monday morning. We also noticed a fair amount of steam coming out of the vents, which means that you should take extra care in placement.
Results varied a bit, as temperatures seemed to be a bit inconsistent, but it does offer decent capacity (12 cups) and a keep-warm plate, as well as a timer that is fairly straightforward. Available on Amazon for around $70, for those of you who like the copper looks.
And for those of you who prefer tea to coffee, we haven’t forgotten about you. Recently we had the opportunity to check out Capresso’s PerfecTEA Glass Water Kettle. Making water can be sexy- we wanted to leave it out and have a tea party just to show company how awesome looking it was. Grandma might not recognize this kettle, but it offers plenty of bells and whistles for the modern crowd.
The temperature guide was a nice touch as it provided us with various settings for different kinds of tea, from black to oolong. Results were fairly accurate, losing only a couple of degrees by the time the water his the glass or cup. You are able to create the ideal temperature for your tea thanks to five temperature settings from 100° to 195° (or boiling) with the press of a button. Water boils pretty quickly and the automatic shut-off was an added bonus. The PerfecTEA uses an efficient heating element that boils water faster and uses less energy than stovetop kettles.
Instead of slightly changing the taste of your water with plastic or metal, the safety-glass body is fairly durable, attractive, if a little harder to clean. At least that was the hope- the reality is a bit different, as there is a silicone seal and the heating element is covered with steel. Imagine our dismay when our water featured a slightly odd odor and taste, more noticeable directly out of the container and pure (without tea or coffee). This is an issue that is addressed in Capresso’s brochure, and they suggested a water/vinegar solution to clean the unit. It was a bit annoying, though had a slightly positive effect, but we’re still able to taste the difference even after some use.
We’re a bit disappointed, as the design is certainly appealing. For around $50 on Amazon, this could be a great product with some changes.
