Bodum Chambord 1923 3-Cups Coffee Maker
- Operation: Manual
- Type: Coffee Maker
- Family Line: Bodum Chambord
- Capacity: 3 Cups
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Black & Decker VERSABREW: Best $15.00 Coffeemaker Buy
Pros
Excellent inexpensive coffeemaker
Cons
Basket to pot is slightly tight
Recommended it?
Yes
The Black & Decker VERSABREW 12-cup coffeemaker has lived up to all my expectations and fits my needs perfectly. I am actually one of those consumers that uses a coffeemaker for mostly hot water for instant coffee and tea bag use and the Versabrew heats the water very well. And, at only $14.97 from Walmart, this small appliance fits my budget, too.
I purposely have never purchased a coffeemaker with a timer and this model comes sans clock: I've heard too many horror stories about home fires associated with coffeemaker timers. Plus, since I don't mind waiting for coffee to brew on the rare occasions when I use regular coffee grounds, I'm perfectly happy with minimal bells and whistles.
I like the water view window as well; it lets me know how much water is going in without having to peer over the top of the appliance. The overall construction is excellent, especially compared with the first model I brought home for only one day.
I had originally purchased a less expensive Black & Decker model ($9.97) but found that it's water well lid had no hinges, only a couple of molded plastic tabs which held the lid on...well, they sort of held the lid on. The first time I opened the cheap thing, the lid stayed up about a half an inch because the tabs were poor excuses for hinges. It refused to close flush with the top again due to the cheap design choice. I could just see dust and dirt falling in. Yuck. Remember to check this part of any coffeemaker before you purchase.
I returned the cheaper one and looked closer at the other offerings before I exchanged it. The Black & Decker Versabrew has regular metal/plastic construction hinges and the water well lid closed flat against the top with a well thought out spring effect. So, I brought that one home in place of the cheaper one.
The swing out basket is nice, too, but if it was a regular basket, that would be just as fine. The pot is sometimes stubborn when coming away from the basket arrangement when "sneaking" some hot water before the brewing is done, requiring me to stabilize the coffeemaker before removing the pot by placing my free hand on the top. But that's okay and doesn't bother me much because it assures no leaking from the basket to the pot. The swing out basket takes regular filters as well, not the more expensive kind. And, even when just heating water, you should always have a filter in the basket.
The lighted On/Off switch is great because I usually need reminding that the coffeemaker is turned on. I'll make a cup of coffee, sit down at the computer, and type merrily away, forgetting all about the dreaded "wasting of electricity". When I happen to look up, I see the light and am reminded to either get another cup or shut the thing off. That cheaper first model did not have a lighted switch, either.
Unless you just have the hots for a Braun or some other more upscale coffeemaker, I highly recommend the Black & Decker Versabrew. It suits my needs perfectly and, if you are on a tight budget, it's a great value for your money.
I purposely have never purchased a coffeemaker with a timer and this model comes sans clock: I've heard too many horror stories about home fires associated with coffeemaker timers. Plus, since I don't mind waiting for coffee to brew on the rare occasions when I use regular coffee grounds, I'm perfectly happy with minimal bells and whistles.
I like the water view window as well; it lets me know how much water is going in without having to peer over the top of the appliance. The overall construction is excellent, especially compared with the first model I brought home for only one day.
I had originally purchased a less expensive Black & Decker model ($9.97) but found that it's water well lid had no hinges, only a couple of molded plastic tabs which held the lid on...well, they sort of held the lid on. The first time I opened the cheap thing, the lid stayed up about a half an inch because the tabs were poor excuses for hinges. It refused to close flush with the top again due to the cheap design choice. I could just see dust and dirt falling in. Yuck. Remember to check this part of any coffeemaker before you purchase.
I returned the cheaper one and looked closer at the other offerings before I exchanged it. The Black & Decker Versabrew has regular metal/plastic construction hinges and the water well lid closed flat against the top with a well thought out spring effect. So, I brought that one home in place of the cheaper one.
The swing out basket is nice, too, but if it was a regular basket, that would be just as fine. The pot is sometimes stubborn when coming away from the basket arrangement when "sneaking" some hot water before the brewing is done, requiring me to stabilize the coffeemaker before removing the pot by placing my free hand on the top. But that's okay and doesn't bother me much because it assures no leaking from the basket to the pot. The swing out basket takes regular filters as well, not the more expensive kind. And, even when just heating water, you should always have a filter in the basket.
The lighted On/Off switch is great because I usually need reminding that the coffeemaker is turned on. I'll make a cup of coffee, sit down at the computer, and type merrily away, forgetting all about the dreaded "wasting of electricity". When I happen to look up, I see the light and am reminded to either get another cup or shut the thing off. That cheaper first model did not have a lighted switch, either.
Unless you just have the hots for a Braun or some other more upscale coffeemaker, I highly recommend the Black & Decker Versabrew. It suits my needs perfectly and, if you are on a tight budget, it's a great value for your money.
