It's Not Just the MUG That's Fit For Travel!
Written: Jul 11 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: No glass carafe. Tough, compact, light-weight and easy to clean. Has back-to-back brewing capability.
Cons: Dribbling can occur when filling water reservoir. Filter cup drips after brewing cycle finishes.
The Bottom Line: Not just for on-the-go commuting! Saves time & money for busy travelers. These should be sold in travel stores!
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| murphysmom's Full Review: Bodum Chambord 2032 6.34-Cup Coffee Maker |
Gotta Have the Java!
When my husband and I were planning a recent 3-week trip across Italy, I decided to look for a travel size coffee maker. We’re open minded travelers, and I knew we wouldn’t have the same conveniences we take for granted in the States-like ice machines down the hall and in-room coffee makers. We’re not early risers and I knew we'd never be up and dressed in time for the coffee that comes with continental breakfasts. We don’t take trips like this everyday and I wanted to surprise my mate. He was willing to take turns getting up and out for coffee to bring back to the room, but where we were going we didn’t expect a McDonald’s or Starbucks on every corner!
After searching travel stores and websites (to no avail!) I discovered the Black & Decker Brew ‘N Go DCM18 while surfing by small appliances online. The only other coffee maker that came close, the Franzus TJ10, includes 5 oz. cups that looked too small and flimsy compared to Brew ‘N Go’s more rugged, 15 oz. mugs. I decided to buy the Brew ‘N Go after reading the reviews on Epinions and found one at a local store that came with a bonus mug.
When I got it home, my first test was brewing several cups right after the other with plain water. It worked great! I found that no cool-down time is necessary between brewing cycles, so we could both enjoy hot, fresh coffee at about the same time. The second and third cups were just as hot as the first. The unit was now clean and ready for the coffee test. It takes a little adjusting to get the amount right for your taste, but it’s do-able. Glad I did the coffee test before we left home.
Pack-ability!
The unit’s small and light weight enough to be wrapped in a towel and packed in a regular suitcase. I didn’t buy the unit with brushed metal mugs. The plastic mugs that came with my unit are lightweight, shatter and dent proof and both came with lids. Although some folks say the mugs dribble or are unstable, they worked out well for us.
Ground coffee and a scoop from home can be packed in a plastic zipper bag, or you can buy local brands when you arrive-we did both. You can use the mesh filter cup by itself, but we trimmed paper Melitta filters to size. The Melitta filters are cone shaped and fit the filter cup perfectly. Being able to just dump the paper filter saves time between brew cycles and makes cleaning much easier before re-packing. Also, the unit itself cools down quickly-simply wipe it dry and stow.
Brew responsibly!
The towel you packed around the coffee maker can be used under the unit to prevent damaging surfaces from the heat and to catch drips when refilling the water reservoir.
For European travel, be sure to always use a compatible converter with the Brew ‘N Go, and not just an adaptor. Sadly, I tried just using an adaptor close to the end of our visit and I blew out the whole unit. Luckily, I didn’t trip a circuit breaker! We bought a small 5-cup, glass carafe coffee maker as a replacement, but the carafe dribbled a lot and we feared the glass would break, so we ended up leaving it behind.
When in Rome!
We did grab an occasional espresso or Café Americano at the bars. It’s always fun soaking up the atmosphere and doing as the locals do, but after a tough day of sightseeing it was nice stopping back at our room for coffee while we freshened up or changed for dinner! We also saved a ton of money-Café Americano was between 2.00-3.50 Euro each. For us, this coffeemaker paid for itself in about a week.
I was so impressed with the Brew ‘N Go that I bought another one as soon as I got home in anticipation for our next trip abroad, no matter when that might be!
If you get up early enough to take advantage of continental breakfasts, or can manage to get out the door without some java, then this product might not be something you need.
The Brew ‘N Go is perfect for coffee loving travelers that don’t rise & shine early. My husband is definitely happier that he doesn't have to leave the room just for coffee! What little space and weight it takes up in the suitcase is totally worth the money and timesavings and convenience!
It isn’t just the mug that’s fit for travel!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
murphysmom
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Location: San Francisco
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Married with 'children'-our two girl cats Murphy and Charly!
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