Krups Crystal Arome Time Plus Coffee Machine: Arg ARG ARG!!!!! The FILTER!!!
Written: Sep 10 '00 (Updated Mar 25 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: attractive, water filtration system
Cons: nearly impossible to find filters, carafe difficult to use
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line is still undergoing therapy for the years of psychological warfare waged by this coffee maker.
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| pippadaisy's Full Review: |
I'm reading down the list of "specific points to consider in [my] review here, and the first question is "Why did you buy this product?" Well, darn it, I didn't. I registered for the Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine for my bridal registry because my husband wanted our kitchen to look like the Death Star. All black, cool-looking appliances. On most items, he did well, because he stuck with Kitchen Aid. But this... this... THING...
::: Well, It LOOKED Nice :::
The Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine really had a very attractive look to it, with its black housing and adorable round carafe. With a 10-cup capacity, it was the perfect size for us, and included features like a filtering system to eliminate chlorine taste, the brew stop feature that would allow impatient types like me to grab a pot of coffee before the pot was done brewing, and a "drip-free" carafe for easy pouring.
The coffee basket was a cone shape, preferred by coffee addicts for making the perfect pot of coffee, and we quickly added the Krups gold filter to eliminate the need for paper filters. Everything looked ideal.
::: When Krups Goes Bad :::
We've had Krups coffee makers and espresso makers before, and LOVED them. The Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine seemed like a no-brainer: attractive, timer for morning coffee when you wake up, filter stop so you can pour while it's brewing. But NOTHING prepared me for the years of hell we had with this coffee maker!
First of all, the carafe is a ROYAL pain. Whether it's the round shape or the shallow spout, you end up pouring whatever is in the carafe everywhere but where you want it to go. All over the counter, all over your table... you name it, but not in the cup or the coffee maker. I bet I spent thousands of dollars on paper towels in the five years we suffered with this coffee maker wiping up its resultant spills.
Second problem is the FILTER SYSTEM. Oh yes, it works wonderfully, but not two months after we got this coffee maker that was supposed to be new and wonderful, they apparently discontinued it, making it IMPOSSIBLE to find the filters ANYWHERE!! I spent over six months on an "alert mail list" at krupsonline.com for the filters and received no status on the filters. So every time I brewed coffee, I was brewing it through a filter I don't want to touch with a ten-foot pole. When I finally did locate the filters through a third-party vender that had one of the scariest store fronts I'd ever seen, I replaced the filter and was so grossed out by the condition of the filter that I drank nothing but coffee from my Bodum Bistro Coffee Maker press pot while I ran pot after pot of white vinegar through the machine.
I spent five years captive to the Krups Crystal Arome Plus Time Coffee Machine because it was an expensive coffee pot and I couldn't bring myself to replace it. Finally, after five years I'd had enough and was able to get a new coffee pot for our wedding anniversary last year.
Would I recommend Krups in general? Yes. This particular coffee pot? No. Even at a garage sale, steer clear. You couldn't pay me to have this coffee maker back in my house.
Review updated 25 March 2005 after 9 months of therapy.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
pippadaisy
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Reviews written: 1085
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About Me:
Divorce seriously cuts into the amount of time for reviewing.
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